The Billionaire Prince and His Secretary

Chapter 3

Ember POV

The thrill of the shopping spree had barely worn off when John took me to another boutique, one that was even more exclusive than the last. As he led me through the racks, I couldn’t help but marvel at his generosity. The boutique was a haven of luxury, filled with racks of exquisite dresses and the soft murmur of polite conversation. The staff had been meticulously preparing for our arrival, and I could sense their excitement as they ushered us into a private fitting room. The room was adorned with plush chairs and large mirrors.

John settled into a chair, looking relaxed but attentive. “Let’s find you more dresses, Ember,” he said. “I forgot how these events happen. There should be a dinner rehearsal and probably an after-party. I’m not sure, but it is better to be prepared, right? Anyway, please.” He motioned me to the staff waiting to assist me.

I nodded, feeling a mixture of excitement and nervousness. The dress we bought at the other boutique was already gorgeous. I didn’t know if I could find a more beautiful dress than that! It was a long, fitted, silver, crystal-studded dress. The royals were still conservative, so I picked one that completely covered my chest and my shoulders.

At the new boutique, the first dress I tried on was a stunning emerald green gown that hugged my figure and flowed elegantly to the floor. As I stepped out of the fitting room, John’s eyes widened slightly, a look of genuine appreciation crossing his face.

“You look…incredible,” he said with a voice softer than usual. “But let’s try a few more.”

The next dress was deep blue, with delicate beadwork that shimmered in the light. As I twirled in front of the mirror, I noticed John leaning forward, his eyes never leaving me.

“What do you think of this one?” I asked as I turned to face him.

“It’s beautiful,” he said with an intense gaze. “But I think we can do even better.”

The third dress was a bold red, with a plunging neckline and a daring slit up the slide. As I stepped out, I felt a surge of confidence, the dress making me feel powerful and elegant. John stood up, walking over to get a closer look.

“Wow,” he breathed as his eyes locked on mine. “You look absolutely stunning.”

“Really?” I asked with a feeling of delight and disbelief. I never thought he would see me in that way. A few years ago, I was a chubby girl, but I worked hard to be fit, with John as my inspiration. I thought I would make John look better in public if his secretary looked good as well. It was a real sacrifice. I used to stress-eat and keep a few snacks inside my office drawer and a couple of chocolate bars inside my bag, but then I stopped. I would instead prepare a low-calorie sandwich and bring a fruit with me, either a banana or an apple. On weekends, I worked out. I was still far from my target weight, but I felt lighter and better.

“Yes. You look wonderful,” John said, which brought me back to the moment. “I like this dress, but it is a bit provocative and not up to royal standards, you know? Let’s keep looking. I want to see everything.”

Dress after dress, I could feel John’s admiration growing. Each time I emerged from the fitting room, his eyes would light up, and he’d offer genuine compliments that made my heart race. Finally, I tried on a dress that felt like it was made for me. It was a soft, blush pink with intricate lace detailing and a flowing skirt that made me feel like a princess.

As I stepped out, John’s breath seemed to catch in his throat. He stood up again with his eyes wide in wonder.

“Ember, we will take this one,” he said with awe in his voice. “You look perfect.”

I turned to look in the mirror, and for the first time, I felt it too. The dress was everything I had ever dreamed of and more. “I love it,” I said when I turned to face John with a big smile.

He walked over, his eyes never leaving mine. “You’re going to steal the show at Alya’s wedding,” he said softly. He stopped, but he was too close for my comfort; I had to take one step back.

“I wouldn’t want that!” I exclaimed. “I’ll still wear the silver dress. This one can be for another occasion.”

“That will work,” he said as he nodded.

“Thank you, John,” I said with gratitude and affection.

He smiled, a warm, genuine smile that made my heart skip a beat. “You deserve it, Ember. You deserve the best.”

I didn’t know what to say, so I continued to smile at him. He took my hand and then made me twirl. It was ironic, but my whole world seemed to stop at that moment.

“Perfect,” he mumbled before going back to his seat.

We spent the next hour choosing a few more dresses, each one more beautiful than the last. Finally, we were done. Five more dresses–two formal ones, including the red dress, plus three cocktail dresses–along with matching shoes and bags, all paid for by John. When I tried to protest, telling him one dress was enough, he waved me off.

“This is to show my appreciation for all your years of service, Ember. You deserve even more,” he said as we waited for the staff to pack everything we purchased.

I was thrilled beyond words. It felt like a dream come true, the kind of moment every girl fantasizes about. Just when I thought the day couldn’t get any better, John asked if there was anything else I wanted to do in New York.

“Something you haven’t tried yet?” John asked as we left the boutique, his eyes sparkling with the same excitement I felt.

“I’ve always wanted to watch a musical play,” I confessed.

“Consider it done. I’ll get us tickets for a show tomorrow. You can even wear one of these dresses,” John said.

As it was already late at night, we prepared to go back to our respective places. John had his apartment, a luxurious penthouse a couple of blocks away from mine. He had once offered me a smaller unit in his building, but I declined. It was only an offer anyway, not an order I had to accept. I needed space away from him and thought I didn’t belong in such a lavish environment. He needed that space as well. He valued his privacy as much as I did. Anyway, I found a neighborhood that suited my middle-class sensibilities while still reflecting the prestige of working for a royal who was, in addition, a CEO. Our places were not that far apart but not that near either.

It was customary for me to accompany John to his apartment to ensure everything was in order. As we entered the classy building, an elegant woman bumped into John. My heart sank when I recognized her–a woman from John’s past. They dated briefly, but she had disappeared as quickly as she had arrived.

“John! It’s been ages!” she exclaimed.

John’s face lit up with a smile. “Claire, it’s good to see you. We should catch up sometime.”

Before I could react, Claire said, “Tonight’s a good time, if you are free.”

John glanced back at me when Claire led him to the elevator. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Ember.”

Nodding, I tried to hide my disappointment and frustration. My excitement from the day evaporated, replaced by a simmering anger. I went to my apartment, showered, and changed into a big shirt, hoping to sleep off my irritation. However, sleep eluded me. The thought of John enjoying dinner with Claire gnawed at me. We were supposed to have dinner together–I had even ordered it for delivery.

My grumbling stomach and restless mind kept me awake until my phone rang. To my shock, it was Her Majesty, Queen Nathalia. “Ember, dear, we’re in New York and heard you and John have arrived. Can we meet for dinner if you haven’t eaten yet? We have something to tell John, as well.”

Panicked, I explained that John was already in his apartment and not answering his phone. The queen decided they would head to his place since they were nearby. Before I could protest, she thanked me and ended the call.

I knew I had to prevent the queen and king from seeing John with Claire. Frantic, I called John repeatedly, but he didn’t answer. Realizing I had no time to waste, I threw on a pair of pants and a coat over my big shirt. After grabbing my purse, I rushed out of my apartment.

In the lobby, I struggled to find a taxi. Desperation drove me to start running towards John’s building. People stared as I sprinted through the streets, my hair in disarray and my face sweaty. By the time I reached John’s building, I saw the official car of The Royal Kingdom of Solandia pulling up.

Heart pounding, I dashed into the elevator just as King Jerry stepped out of the car. Pressing my key card on the screen, I pushed the close button repeatedly. Luckily, I managed to avoid sharing the ride with anyone else. As the doors shut and the elevator ascended, I sighed in relief, though I knew my task was far from over. I had to warn John.

Busting out of the elevator, I pressed the down button before running down the hall and banging on John’s door. “John, it’s Ember! Open up, it’s urgent!”

The door swung open, revealing John, the top two buttons of his shirt undone. “Ember, what’s going on?” John asked. Concern was etched on his face.

“Your parents are on their way up,” I panted. “ You need to get rid of Claire. Now.”

John’s eyes widened in shock, but he kept himself composed. He turned his back on me as I heard him say, “Claire, I’m sorry, but you need to leave. Now.”

“What? Why?” Claire asked with hurt in her voice. I heard a quick shuffle of things inside. Not wanting to imagine what had transpired before I got there, I went back to the hallway where the elevators were and pressed the down button. A door opened revealing an empty car.

“We have an emergency meeting, and I need to be there ASAP,” John said, appearing in the hallway with Claire, who was fixing herself. John zipped up her dress as Claire stepped inside the car. “I’m so sorry, but it’s really urgent. I’ll call you soon.”

With Claire out of the way, I ran back to John’s apartment and quickly scanned to make sure everything was in order. “You owe me another meal tomorrow,” I muttered as I was trying to catch my breath.

“Thank you, Ember,” John said. “I know this isn’t easy for you. I just want it when no one is pressuring me about my love life. Claire is definitely not the one girl that my parents should meet,” he added while watching me in bemusement. “I think everything is okay here.”

Before I could answer, a knock on the door sent a jolt of panic through me. The king and queen had arrived, just as I spotted Claire’s red, lacy bra on the floor next to the sofa. I dove for it. I was too late, though.

John opened the door, and his parents walked in just as I stood up, clutching the bra in my hand. The King and Queen of Solandia stood frozen, their expressions a mix of shock and confusion. John’s eyes widened as he understood what had happened.

“Your Majesties,” I stammered, bowing awkwardly while trying to hide the bra behind my back. My mind raced, searching for an explanation, but nothing came to mind.

Queen Nathalia’s eyes widened as she took in my disheveled appearance–my hair a mess, my face and neck sweaty, and my oversized shirt, which looked like I had grabbed it from John’s closet in a hurry. The situation couldn’t have looked worse.

“Ember, what’s going on here?” King Jerry asked. His tone was surprisingly gentle but laced with curiosity.

John, every quick on his feet, stepped in. “We went shopping earlier, and some of Ember’s items have gotten mixed in with my bags,” he said, calm and composed. The look on his parents’ faces, though, showed they weren’t buying it.

“It looks like you’ve been in quite a rush,” King Jerry noted, a mischievous glint in his eye as he pointed at the huge hickey on John’s neck.

Queen Nathalia glanced between us, her expression softening. “John, Ember,” she began, “You don’t have to hide anything from us. You’re both adults, and it’s perfectly fine if there’s something more between you two. In fact, we’d be delighted. We’ve always loved Ember.”

I stood there, my cheeks burning with embarrassment. “Sir, Ma’am, it’s not what it looks like,” I managed to say, though my voice wavered. “I was just…”

John placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. “Mom, Dad, I assure you, there’s nothing inappropriate happening here. Ember is my trusted assistant, and we were just sorting out some things.”

The Queen smiled knowingly. “John, it’s obvious there’s a special bond between you two. We won’t pry, but just know that you have our blessing, whatever the nature of your relationship.”

I felt my heart swell with a mix of emotions–relief, embarrassment, and something warmer. John’s hand on my shoulder felt reassuring, and despite the awkwardness of the situation, there was a strange sense of comfort. I knew there could be nothing more between John and I, but a girl could dream, right?