The Cinderella Princess Read Online Free

Sandwiches. Salads. Coffee.”
    “I prefer tea.” Luc sounded like he was speaking to a servant. “Earl Grey.”
    “Tea and coffee,” Emily said to Addie.
    His gaze narrowed. “No need to order coffee.”
    Jerk. Guess royals didn’t consider the needs of peons, only themselves.
    “What?” He raised his glass of water.
    “You drink tea, but Addie and I drink coffee.” Emily waited for an apology or simply an acknowledgment. None came.
    He sipped his water.
    She wasn’t surprised he hadn’t said a word. Prince Charming existed only in fairy tales. And even then, he left a lot to be desired. Emily preferred men who were uncomplicated and convenient and didn’t act superior.
    “Order whatever else you want,” she said to Addie. “Use the phone in the sitting room.”
    “I’ll stay in here.” A worried look crossed Addie’s face. They’d been friends since grade school, roommates for a few months last year. She knew Emily’s patience was draining. “You might need something.”
    Emily tilted her head toward the doorway. “I’ll yell if I do.”
    Addie hesitated, then walked out of the bedroom.
    Luc watched her go. “She seems sweet. Nick’s a lucky man.”
    “The luckiest.” Though Addie hadn’t made out too badly herself. The two belonged together.
    “Are you married?” Luc asked.
    His question surprised Emily. One glance at her ring finger, and he’d know the question. “No.”
    “Divorced?”
    The word prickled. Divorce was a four-letter word in her vocabulary, and the last thing she’d ever be. Not that she’d tell Prince Nosy that.
    She raised her chin. “My relationship status is none of your business.”
    “If we’d just met and were never going to see each other again, I’d agree.” He took another sip of water. “But you’re here to help me find a wife. Knowing your relationship background is relevant to your job.”
    She’d bet matchmakers didn’t have more successful relationships than the couples they introduced. Love was a crapshoot no matter who you were. But Emily was too tired to argue. She didn’t have much to tell about her love life, and she doubted he would remember what she said.
    “No current boyfriend.” The last man she’d dated had been a pilot she saw whenever he flew into town, which wasn’t much. The perfect arrangement until he’d wanted to get more serious. Her job didn’t leave time for that. “Never engaged nor married.”
    “And they chose you to help me.” Luc didn’t sound impressed.
    She didn’t care what he thought. “Last year, I casted a honeymoon reality TV show that broke rating records. I also fixed problems during the production. My boss trusts me to do the same here.”
    Luc set the empty glass on the nightstand.
    She stared down her nose at him. “Anything else you’d like to know?”
    His mouth slanted in a lopsided grin. “Do you hate all men or is it just me?”
    Her blood boiled. She pressed her lips together to keep from cursing. He was being obnoxious on purpose, trying to get a reaction and piss her off.
    Five days. One hundred and twenty hours. Seven thousand two hundred minutes. That was how long she had to stay on this continent with him. After she returned home, she would be one step closer to making partner. She could put up with anything and anyone, including Prince Luc, for that to happen.
    “Neither.” She imagined business cards with her new title. That lowered her blood pressure. “The only things I hate are dentist visits, paying taxes, and fava beans.”
    “Fava beans?”
    “Never quite developed a taste for them. You?”
    “Does my answer matter to you?”
    “I asked the question.”
    His gaze narrowed, as if he were trying to analyze her. “You’re different.”
    “I’ve been called worse.”
    “What about nice?”
    She shook her head once. “I’m too preoccupied with work to be described as nice.”
    “Doesn’t that bother you?”
    Emily shrugged. “My job is my focus. But I’m not