Prince Charming (Behind the Screen, #1) Read Online Free Page A

as she sped away.
    ****
    S he put the keys to the side table. Harmony felt great. Both dates had gone well. Things were looking good, and everything was going to plan. She moved towards the kitchen, switched on the light and stood by the window. The outside light was on. The perfect garden was something she was proud of. She had her mother’s green fingers. The green lawn and the colourful row of flowers made it a good reason to always look outside. It warmed her heart when she looked out there. It was a place where things were made right. Flowers gave light and joy.
    She smiled, and then left the kitchen. Satisfaction was a great feeling and something to hold onto. There was time for a shower and reading, and finally at twelve Monday morning sleep took over.

Chapter Three
Back to Normal
    T he alarm went off at five. It was another quick shower, downstairs for a cup of coffee, back upstairs for light makeup and sorting out hair. Harmony was back downstairs and ready to leave at six.
    The shift started at seven. It was busy right from the start. Work was escapism. It allowed her to get away from it all. It occupied her mind pushing away other things for the time being.
    A man was brought into the A&E with a swollen ankle. He’d been checked by the nurses, and because of the injury they forwarded him onto Harmony to make sure the ankle wasn’t broken.’
    ‘How did this happen?’ she asked.
    ‘Wet floor, tripped and twisted my ankle.’
    ‘Hmmm, it’s bruised and swollen.’ She slipped on a pair of gloves and examined the man’s ankle.
    The man winced when it was rotated. She asked him to wiggle his toes, but he found it difficult.
    ‘I’ll send you for an x-ray, see what’s going on.’
    The man’s file was given to the nurse and they left for x-rays. The day didn’t get better, from children with mild coughs, to open wounds and everything in between. As always it was busy. Later that afternoon Harmony had surgery.
    ****
    H e was up at the crack of dawn. He carried a tray into the first bedroom. Rose was still asleep.
    ‘Wakie wakie.’
    She opened her eyes and gazed at the man in the black dressing gown with a tray in his hand.
    ‘Breakfast.’
    ‘I’m not hungry.’
    ‘You have to eat. I need you alive, not dead.’ He sat down.
    ‘I don’t want to eat.’
    ‘This isn’t a request, it’s an order.’ He picked up the spoon that was in a bowl full of oats. ‘You will eat.’
    Rose had gone past caring. If she were to die, so be it, but she wouldn’t let him force her to do something she didn’t feel like doing.
    ‘Things didn’t go to plan as you may have noticed. The third piece to my painting is a little difficult. Not like most girls I date. She’s stronger, tougher, which makes her more attractive. It’s strange she’s a receptionist.’ He spoke more to himself. ‘Anyway, perhaps Thursday things will change. If they do, well, it’s progress.’
    He held the spoon out towards Rose’s mouth so she could eat, she looked away.
    ‘Eat!’
    ‘I’m not hungry, and you can’t make me!’
    ‘Eat!’ He pushed.
    She kept her face away from the spoon. He put down the tray and with his free hand grasped her chin, pushed his index and thumb to force her mouth open and tried to force the spoon into her mouth. Like a toddler, Rose gritted her teeth.
    ‘Eat god dam it!’ He hit against her teeth, but she wouldn’t let up.
    Anger rose, without thought he slapped her across the face. That snapped her out of the tantrum quick. Rose burst into tears and as soon as her mouth opened, he pushed the porridge down her throat.
    The bowl was clear in a few minutes. Rose felt sick to the stomach, but kept the porridge down. The orange juice helped wash it down.
    ‘You need a shower,’ he said a matter of fact.
    He disappeared into the on-suite, the sound of water travelled through the room. Rose lay afraid of what might come next. He walked back into the room. Fiddled for the key in the gown pocket and