Trouble with the Boss.

Elizabeth decided she would break the silence. 

"How are you, Prince Williams?"

Williams was determined to keep the conversation short and quick. 

"I'm well, Lady Elizabeth"

Elizabeth nodded. 

"Mum's been worried about you. She wants to see you."

Oh, Mum. He wanted to see her too, she was the only one he was comfortable with to be himself. The other two units of his family were a part of his nightmare. He cleared his throat and looked at his wrist watch.

"I'll see her after my meeting" he responded

"Do what you see best, Prince." she said, and that was all. They had no more to say. Their conversation couldn't possibly be more than that, else it would be very wierd and uncomfortable and would in a way transform into an argument.

Williams nodded and took a step alerting her that he was done talking. Well, she too was done and she raised her foot to continue her journey down the hall. As she passed by Mario, he bowed his head and looked downward. 

"Your highness." 

She nodded and walked away, and Mario thought- 'as usual', and he mentally shook his head. Williams resumed his pace and walked his way out of the passage.

Getting to the black car packed beside a wide, well-groomed garden, Williams was startled by the young maid who suddenly ran into them, breathing heavily. Her hair was rolled up and hidden in a small white cap. She trembled, scared that she might have upset the Prince as she jumped into their midst.

Williams stared at her, already tired of interruption on his way out.

"What do you want, maid?"

His voice was hitched in a high tone and it only made the maid more fearful and unable to speak.

Mario who was standing behind Williams signaled to her from where he stood. He placed his hands above his chest and moved it up and down slowly, noddinh his head according. She got the quick therapy and finally managed to speak.

"Her Majesty... needs y-your attention. She says she needs to s-see you this minute. "

"Right now?" Williams asked with a frown. 

That was strange. Why did the Queen suddenly send for him? She hadn't done that in all the three days he had refused to see anyone. Williams stood there wondering what could be the issue. Mario nodded at the maid and signaled for her to leave.

Williams turned to Mario and his eyebrow took a worried curve.

"Do you think it's what I'm guessing?" Williams asked, hoping to hear him say no. Mario's guess was almost always right.

It had better not be what he was thinking. He was not ready for that part of his life yet- not that he was ever going to be ready for it. Mario pressed his lips together and nodded in confirmation.

Man, it really could be what he was guessing. 

***

Rays of the bright sun hit against her bare shoulders. She rubbed them quickly with her palms and increased the pace of her feet.

Getting to the front of the market, she scanned the whole building to be sure danger was out of sight. From a distance, she could see Temilorun standing behind a roll of racks. They glanced at each other and exchanged winks.

Gwenvere walked some meters into the shop and went through a white door. Threading carefully on the stairs, she looked from left to right at intervals to be sure she was safe. Safe from Mrs Gallewart.

The half Japanese, half American woman had carefully warned Gwenevere not to go out during working hours again. She had yelled and even threatened to cut her pay, but here Gwenevere was again, breaking the rules.

She carefully navigated her way up the stairs and pushed open the changing room door. Like fate was against her, standing before her was the same Mrs. Gallewart. Her big, cranky boss. She stood straight, face to face with her, speechless and shocked. What was she doing in the changing room?! She should have been down stairs in her office. Was she monitoring her?

The round faced woman looked at Gwen for a while and decided to give her a benefit of doubt that she wasn't doing the obvious.

"Miss Malton, Did you go out of the shop, or are you just arriving?"

Gwen cleared her throat. She accessed both options. None was palatable. She had to think outside the box. She could either choose to lie, or narrate the tale of her horrific and sad interview to Mrs. Gallewart. Sadly, taking the second option would shake the legs of her money-table and that would give her a heart attack immediately.

"I'm so sorry, Mrs. Gallewart, I got a call from Harry's school. It was urgent and I needed to leave immediately. I'm sorry I didn't inform you, I was so much in a hurry." Gwenevere presented her lie on a golden plate. Her boss just had to buy it.

"But you had enough time to change your clothes..." Mrs Gallewart asked still trying to figure out if Gwen was lying or not. She folded her hands above her stomach. She wore a white polo that hugged her body, exposing the numerous foldings that had formed on even sides of her waist. The red lipstick on her mouth spread beyond its boundary and spilled to the edges of her mouth. Gwen would have pointed that out playfully, but now was not time for play, it was time to save the shaky legs of her money-table from crashing. 

"I had to change, ma'am , since you're always particular about wearing the uniform only in the shop..." Gwen held her thumb in between the rest of her fingers, keeping it safe.

Mrs Gallewart took another long look at her, then let go of her folded hands.

"Gwen, you know I'm not a wicked person." She began and Gwen could not find herself answering that. She almost asked her if she was being sarcastic.

"I'm just a person who stands by polices and I don't bend them for anyone, no one. I don't want to be unkind to you, Gwen, but know that I won't hesitate to trash out a bad fish from the fridge immediately I notice it, even if it's a big one. Please don't make me be unkind to you."

Mrs Gallewart said and she was being the most concerned she could be. Her eyebrows were arched in worry. Gwen could actually see her concern, it was just really hard to heed to her rules.

"I understand ma'am" Gwen replied.

The woman nodded her head and walked out of the room. As soon as she was out of sight, Gwenevere closed the door and let out a big sigh. That was not good at all. It was a mess she would have to cope with because she knew that today wasn't going to be her last, she was going to break the rules many more times. She needed to, she couldn't relent on the interviews.

She sat on the long bench by the side of the small room and brought out a white polo from her bag. On it was written in big red letters "Palmy's Shop". She took of the sleeveless blue top she was in and threw on the white polo. It was time for work. She sighed audibly and grabbed a hold of the door knob.

" Come on, Gwen. We still have a busy day ahead."