Chapter 1
Olivia’s POV
“Olivia?” “Where is Olivia?” I hear my boss say.
I ran to meet her and say, “I am here. What is going on?”
I see the runway staff panicking. My boss is pacing up and down the room. The tension in the room is rising, and I am not quite sure what is going on.
“Olivia, two of our models are not here, and we start in two hours,” my boss says.
I see Kelsey, who is the designer’s assistant, walk towards my boss.
“Olivia can do it. She is almost the same size as the models. We can use her,” Kelsey says.
Wait. What? No way. I am not model material. I am just supposed to be working on this event as a part of our marketing and promotion company.
“Um, I don’t know everyone. I don’t look like a model,” I say.
“Olivia, can I talk to you for a second,” my boss says.
Uh oh. My boss, Kristy, is great. She is a certified badass Lady boss. She is five foot six, brunette, blue-grey eyes, and a body to die for. She is one of the kindest people I know. She is like my big sister, and we have grown very close. However, I know when she uses this tone of voice that she is about to lose it. So it is in my best interest to just do whatever I can to calm her down.
“Olivia, I know that this isn’t the best situation, but their team is desperate, and we are in charge of making this event a success. So you need to do it. Please will you do it?” she says.
“Okay, I will do it,” I say back to her.
“Alright, let’s get this girl in hair and makeup!” she yells.
All of a sudden, I am getting ushered to the make-up and hair room. One hour later, I have extensions in my hair, and my make-up is done. I look in the mirror, and I take a second to look at myself. It’s been a while since I felt confident in what I am wearing. I run my hands over the fabric while I look in the mirror. Maybe I am desirable. Perhaps I can love myself and not be afraid of him... I need to stop thinking about him… He isn’t in my life anymore.
Sasha, who is the designer, comes in to make sure all of the clothes fit.
“Olivia! You look stunning! Thank you for filling in. I might have to use you for other projects. Let’s get you on the runway to practice,” she says.
“I am happy to fill in. I love your designs. I hope I make you proud,” I say.
I try on the other clothes, and they fit like a glove. This fashion show is a combination of swimwear, lingerie, and fun night out clothing. I practiced walking on the runway, and I feel more confident pulling this off. Since I have a background in dance, I was added to the opening number. A lot of pressure, but I need to make this work.
“Places everyone!” someone says.
Alright, here goes nothing….
Prince Rainier POV
I am sitting in the audience for my friend’s fashion show. She is one of the top designers in the world. We have been friends since I moved to New York to relocate my business six years ago. I told her I would be here, but I rather be anywhere but here. I have so much going on between my company and my home country’s responsibilities. I dragged along my best friends Leo and Justin to come with me, not that they mind looking at gorgeous women in lingerie.
Leo is charming, handsome, and the class clown. He is the opposite of me in every way. Leo has blonde hair, blue eyes, and everyone likes him. He and I have a similar build of mostly muscle and no body hair.
The press loves him, the ladies fawn over him, and the guys want to be him. Even though he acts like a pubescent teen a lot of the time, he is loyal, and he can change from a pubescent teen to a king in less than a second. Never underestimate his Playboy persona as a weakness.
Justin is more like me, a dark soul. Black hair, onyx eyes, and lean but toned body. We have incredibly different upbringings, but we understand each other. He grew up in a poor Arizona section with his single mother, but he worked his way up to owning his own tech company.
He has experienced things that have shaped his outlook on life, but he lets people in more than I do. We are both hard-working individuals that care for the special people in our lives.
The show is about to start, and I see Sasha walking towards us. Justin has had a huge crush on her for a very long time, but she hasn’t given him the time of day. I’ve never been in that position, but he always looks like a sad puppy whenever she ignores him.
“ Rainier! I am so glad you are here. I am kind of stressing right now. Two of my models didn’t show up and one of the event staff members that is producing this event is standing in. She is gorgeous. I actually like her better than those two models but she has never done this before. I hope it will all work out,” she says in a nervous tone.
“ Sasha, it will be alright. You are one of the top designers in the industry. I am sure she will pull through,” I say to her while giving her a hug.
“Alright well make sure you stop backstage before you leave. I am sure you will love to meet some of the models,” she says with a wink.
I roll my eyes while watching her walk away. She knows I don’t have time for women in my life. I am a one night stand or just a fling kind of guy. Ever since Christiania… I’ve never allowed myself that pleasure of wanting more. I don’t deserve it. I close my eyes and try to clear my mind of those dark thoughts.
This is why I am called the cold and cocky prince. I don’t let anyone in. I am kind enough that I can be cordial to most people but no one ever sees the real me except Justin, Sasha, and Leo. It will stay that way for the rest of my life.
Lights dim, and we sit in darkness for a few minutes. It allows me to collect my thoughts and steel my feelings away.
Ariana Grande’s God is a Woman starts to play. There is one model on the stage. She walked towards me, and as soon as I saw her, I was intrigued. She normally isn’t my type, but she is beautiful. African American woman with black hair, voluptuous build, and striking black eyes. She is wearing a black lacy long sleeves lingerie top and sheer panties with ties on the side. It barely covers her breasts and ass.
There is something that draws me to her. She has a lightness in her that makes my dark thoughts shed away. Even though she is wearing all black, I can see the light illuminate from within her. What the hell? I don’t even know this woman. Why am I having these thoughts?
I try to push down those thoughts and concentrate on the other models that come out. However, I can’t take my eyes off her. She walks with ease, and her moves are hypnotic. I am not the only one that has noticed. The press junket is loving her.
Justin looks over to me and says, “ I guess we are going backstage after this?”
I give a sharp nod, and he smirks at me. How can he tell me that this woman is affecting me? Does everyone see it? It’s been a long time since I have been attracted to someone at first sight. I certainly have a type, but this woman is blowing my typical type out of the water.
What the hell is wrong with me. Leo shoves my shoulder, and I guess he can hear my inner monologue. It is funny how my two best friends know what I am thinking. It isn’t like I wear my emotions on my sleeve. I look over, and he gives me a look like, are you okay? I nod while I look back to the stage. My eyes meet hers, and my heart is beating faster. Don’t get me wrong, I can be a romantic, but I have no interest in romance.
I will need to find a woman to marry before I become king. It will be easier to lead with a partner. I always thought I would just have an arranged marriage after Christiania died. I let my mind wander again, and I get into my headspace.
The show ends, and Sasha walks onstage.
“Thank you so much for coming. I want to bring out one special person that saved the day. In my personal opinion, she killed it on the runway. I hope to work with her on future projects. Olivia, can you come out here?”
One of the models walks forward. It is her. The one I haven’t been able to take my eyes off of the entire night. She looks a little bit uncomfortable, but she was the star of the night. Some reputable models were working on this show, and she stood out.
The show ends, and we wait for people to leave the room.
“Hey, you okay, Rain?” Leo says.
“Yeah, I don’t why, but that one model piqued my interest,” I say.
“You sure that is all she did?” he says with a smirk.
I roll my eyes, and he chuckles. He doesn’t push the subject anymore. We head towards backstage, and I see a lot of beautiful women. One of them walks up to me, and it is Carissa. Ugh….
“Dude, you shouldn’t have slept with her,” Leo says.
Leo and Justin hate Clarissa. I expected Justin to hate Carissa, but I never thought Leo did until I dumped her ass. However, he couldn’t stand Carissa because, in his words, she was just a leech using me to try to get my title.
Leo is always down for a casual lay, but I don’t know how, but she got under his skin. Maybe he saw it before Justin or me, but he always acted weird around her. They were both happy when I told her we couldn’t be fuck buddies anymore. They never wanted to share her, which was odd, but I never pushed them to understand why they made that decision.
She used to be my staple fuck buddy, but she wanted more. She didn’t want me. She wanted my title. She wanted an elevated status. She never cared actually to get to know me. Not that I allowed her too. I shed some of my walls for her, but I never thought she was wife material. She got too clingy, and I cut her loose. She wasn’t what I wanted.
“Hello, Rainier. I didn’t know that you were going to be here,” Carissa purrs.
“Hello, Carissa. I hope you are doing well. I have to go,” I say back to her.
“Oh, come on, Rainier, can’t we have some fun tonight?” she says flirtatiously.
“ Carissa, I told you. I am not interested. Please move on,” I say. I pushed past her and walked over to Sasha.
Ugh, Leo is right. I should never have fucked her for so long. I know I should have seen the red flags, but I didn’t feel like having to find someone to get off. She served my needs nothing more, nothing less.
“I knew you would come back here. Did you see something you like?” she says with a smirk.
I roll my eyes.
“Here, let me introduce you to a few of my models,” she says.
We walk towards a group of women, and none of them are Olivia. I let Leo and Justin interact with them. I try to find Olivia.
“Where is Olivia?” I ask
“Oh, she had to leave. She had an early flight with her boss,” she says.
“Why? Are you interested in her?” she says with amusement.
“I don’t know. I just couldn’t take my eyes off her,” I say.
“She was great. I am going to offer her to be my new brand ambassador for my new line. She is gorgeous, smart, and talented. I hope she accepts, but I know she has a full-time job that she loves,” she says.
I look over, and I see her. For some reason, my heart is beating faster. My palms are getting sweaty. Why does my body react to her like this? Maybe I just need to get her out of my system.
“I guess she didn’t leave yet,” I say to Sasha
“Well, let me introduce you to her,” she says with a hint of amusement. I nod my head, and we walk towards her.
“Olivia, I would like to introduce you to one of my good friends Prince Rainier of Andorra,” Sasha says.
Olivia gives me a small smile and says, “Hi, nice to meet you, Prince Rainier.”
“It is a pleasure to meet you, Olivia. You were great out there. Everyone is talking about you,” I say back to her.
She gave me a small nod. She looks uninterested. Maybe she was playing hard to get? I don’t know. I’ve never had a woman not shown their interest in me.
“I am not sure what you are doing later, but it would be my honor to take you out for drinks and dessert,” I say.
“I am sorry, but I have to decline. I have an early flight. It was a pleasure to meet you, though,” she says with a small smile.
Did she just say no? Sasha smirks and glances at me. She has never seen someone decline my invitation. Sasha has been my wing-woman before. I’ve always gotten a girl to say yes. All it takes is a flash of my smile, and they are mine. Maybe I didn’t hear her right. I go to ask her again, but she is walking away. She turns around and smiles at Sasha.
“I hope you both have a great night. Thank you, Sasha, for the opportunity,” She says.
Olivia walks away, and I am still in shock.
“Wow, I never thought I would see the day that someone told Prince Rainier no. I think I like her even more,“Sasha says. I roll my eyes.
“Well, I guess I just have to change her mind,” I say to her.
She laughs and says, “ Rainier, I don’t think she wants you. So why not leave the poor girl alone.”
I groan and say, “ whatever.”
I have no intention of leaving her alone. We will meet again, Olivia….
