The CEO's Royal Princess

Chapter 6

INAY MARIA AND Mrs. Ausejo's talk was at eleven o'clock in the afternoon. Also, it will happen in the Ausejo’s house. I've always been curious to see the inside of this white house since that day I arrived. The palace has guards but I don't know why the Ausejo's house needed one. Are they that wealthy they also have their own vault of heirlooms, gold bars and the like?

I carefully picked what I want to wear today. I didn't want to look like the trying hard type. I actually want something soft and light. I looked at the clothes in my closet and saw a red dress with short sleeves. It was plain red and cute but I don't feel like wearing red today. I moved over to the next dress and it was white with thin straps on. Nope. If I wear that, I will look like I'm going to a party in the middle of the day. Meanwhile, it's a meeting. I looked further and saw something I liked. I chose a yellow sundress to wear and flat sandals with two thin straps. The dress had a square neckline with one-inch-wide straps, holding it up to my shoulders. It's decent. Even if my chest is busty, it's not too showy.

My eyebrows are naturally thick, so I don't need an eyebrow pencil. I'm too lazy to put on makeup, so just lipstick is okay. The point is not to look sick, although I’m exhausted to the hilt. I stayed up reading Ate Charissa's pointers last night. Goodness! She even said on the tips that she doesn't like Molo. Batchoy is her favorite. Why didn't I remember that right away? Maybe I was too hungry? Or maybe, I was just too excited to try something new. 

It was a little while later that I heard Mom knocking. I found out that Ate Charisa’s room has been on the main floor since her high school. I re-read the pointers, and my gosh! I'm so going to get myself in trouble because of my stupidity.

"My dear, it's fifteen minutes to eleven o'clock. Are you ready? You don't have to come if you’re still sleepy. You can rest." I heard Inay said. I can tell that she doesn't like being late. Ate Charissa's the same when she's at work. She likes to follow a schedule and always says that she would rather be the one waiting than the one being wait on. 

That is when I opened the door. "I'm okay, Inay. I'm ready. Is my outfit fine? Is it not overly done?"

She covered her mouth and gently stroked my hair, I fixed it earlier. "You're so beautiful, dear. At this rate, Jacob will fall in love with you," she said with a smile. I almost smirked at what she said but I didn't want to offend her. 

And it's not like we can have that. Jacob should fall in love with Ate Charissa, not me. "Thank you, Mom. But I think he's too busy looking at Ramona to even notice me." I said while chuckling.

"Gosh! You're so much more beautiful than her. Put the two of you side by side, and she'll look like sludge. I don't even know what he's seen in her. Sure she's got a nice body and her face isn't too bad looking but there's something about her that I don't like."

"Maybe the fact that she's very. . ." I was about to say slutty but it's not nice so I opt for, "showy?"

"Yes! That's the one. I don't mind mild public displays of affection but that woman -- oh my God!" She even did the sign of the cross and closed her eyes while doing it. "She acts like they are the only ones around." She shook her head and then caressed my face. "But you my daughter, you're different. And because of that, you deserve Jacob more than Ramona."

I burst out laughing at what she said. "Love your own 'Nay? I love it that you’re self-supportive."

We are still giggling when we started down the stairs and headed for the door.

"Of course. Who else would you inherit that look from but me? But wait, speaking of that. You haven't shown us a picture of the princess yet. Her parents are always the only ones in magazines and online when Abigail once looked it up. Even Julian can't find anything about her."

Okay. That made me swallow hard. It got me so bothered that my throat felt dry.

"Is it forbidden to take pictures of the princess? I don't think they're too fond of taking family pictures because Abby and Julian haven’t seen any. But, alas, for me, we must have one because it will serve as a memory whenever we’re not together. Weirdly, most of the princess pictures were taken from afar."

"Let it go, Inay. It's not allowed at the moment as the princess's life is very private. Plus, her family is also going through some rough patches right now. Thus, it's like that."

I almost sighed when she nodded in acknowledgment. After crossing the street, she rang the doorbell of the Ausejo’s residence with me just standing behind her. A moment later and a lady guard opened the gate for us.

"Who is it?" she asked politely. By my estimation, she was around forty years old—mildly wrinkled forehead and physique that is a bit to the skinny side. 

"Good morning. I'm Maria Abellana. We live across the street. I have a meeting with Mrs. Ausejo at eleven o'clock about catering."

"Is that so? Wait a minute, and I'll just call her for confirmation. She didn't mention anything about visitors today." She scratched her head. She then used his phone and called Mrs. Ausejo quickly. After the confirmation, she went back to us with a smile and ushered us inside.

"Kindly stay here.” The lady guard said, leading us to a beautiful set of benches located on the terrace. “Chona will bring you something to drink shortly."

"Thank you." Inay Maria led the way and I followed. When we sat down, a woman came immediately with juice and bread. This is probably the ‘Chona’ the guard was talking about.

"Oh my, God! Charissa, is that you?" Chona asked me, and then she smiled so vastly, I saw all her teeth. She looked friendly. 

Is she friends with Ate Charissa? I can’t tell. I'm pretty sure that she's not on Ate Charissa's list. "Ah, yeah. Chona, right?"

She slapped me lightly on the arm. "Yes, it's me! Seriously, you're so pretty. Spain suits you. Aren't you the maid of the princess there? Is she nice? Have you seen the king and queen? Wow! You're a real hot-shot now. If only everyone were as lucky as you to be able to work there. You see, since Mom passed away, I have stopped studying. I can't go back because I have to prioritize my two brothers and sisters. So, alas, I'm stuck here serving the Ausejo family. The salary is decent though." Wow. That's a lot of information in less than a minute.

The salary may be decent, but is Mrs. Ausejo good to her? I wanted to ask her that. However, I just nodded at her and she eventually said goodbye. 

We stayed there for more minutes. I've finished my juice, but Mrs. Ausejo still hasn't shown. Inay Maria is starting to look as bored as well. A few more, and I could feel my bladder acting up. I need to use the washroom.

"I have to pee, Inay. Is there a bathroom I can use here?"

"I think it would be okay to ask them. You can go inside and find one there. Anyway, Chona’s inside, Just ask her to lead the way."

"Alright, Inay. I'll be right back." I stood up and did as I was told. I found Chona inside the house and asked her, "Can I use the bathroom? I need to pee."

"Sure, I'll come with you. The washroom here is near the kitchen. It's always clean, so no worries."

"Okay, thank you."

"I just need to finish my laundry outside.” Chona gestured her head to the door. “You do know the way back to the terrace, don't you? Just go straight down the hall. I'm glad we got to see each other again. I hope we can go out sometime when I have a day off."

"Alright, give me your cell number, and let's text so we can go out sometime."

I saved her number and I rang her phone. After that, I went inside the washroom and did my business. I felt a whole lot better afterward. I'm glad there's a bidet here because I don't have wipes. Seriously, who likes it when they feel icky down there? 

Done with washing my hands, I walked to the door and opened it. It was to my shock that I collided with a broad chest just in time I stepped out. It was my fault. I wasn’t looking my way because I had to turn around and checked if I had turned off the faucet properly.

"Watch it!" A booming voice suddenly shook not just the walls but my eardrums too.

"F--" I mean to say f**k, but then my breath halted upon recognizing who was looking down at me. That face! It's Jacob!

I don't know how it is to be mesmerized by something or someone until this moment. I'm so close to freaking out; he looks even better up close than what Ate Charissa said. Fair-skinned, black-haired, extremely tall, and everything else that I did not relate to him. And wait, is that a dimple on his right cheek? Oh yeah, that's an extraordinary breathtaking masculine dimp—

"Don't be stupid so you don't inconvenience others. Don't you know who I am?"

My jaw slacked when he cut my mental ogling off. I wish I could tell him that I know him and his name is Jacob Ausejo, but then the way he interacts with me is just so disappointing.

Ate Charissa used to say that her crush resembles Jacob in high school. Well, now that he's a grown man, they definitely look alike. The urge to kiss the brute is tempting. However, punching his face after the nasty things he said sounds more enticing, not to mention appropriate at the moment. How could he be so rude?!

I don't have a clue of how long I ended up just standing there, partially baffled. I was thinking. I wanted to say something sassy. Yes, a statement that would require an evil laugh by its end. 

Finally coming up with something I want to say, I opened my mouth to spat. That was when another man, exactly the opposite of the rude man standing before me, came in from the other side of the lobby.

"Charissa! What brings you here? I'm so happy to see you," the newcomer said. It was James. How could I forget that he also lives here?

"So, you know this woman?" Jacob wrinkled his nose when he turned to his brother. His annoyance is so apparent; I can almost see it seeping out of his pores. Look at his face! Any attraction I had for him because of his resemblance to the actor Jacob just went poof! He's probably just as arrogant as his mother. It's a far cry from James's humble personality. Also, he was wearing a white t-shirt and… boxers? Oh, okay. Now, what is that huge thing that I'm looking at— Never mind.

"Yeah, we were on the plane together. Kuya, this is Charissa. Charissa, this is my big brother, Jacob," James introduced us while smiling.