Chapter one

"Lily!"

That's me!

The banshee shrieking my name or otherwise known as "the prince" is River.

If it's not already clear, I would like to put it out there for catch that I absolutely hate him.

He gets on my nerves as much as a toddler does and I don't appreciate being yelled after two hours before six in the morning.

"What do you want River?" I all but growl as I make my way toward him.

I was only standing there three seconds ago.

"What did my mother say to you?"

Really? He shrieked my name only to ask about the meeting I had with his mother?

Damn was he lucky to be a prince!

"She briefed me about your break up with Sophia and how it apparently ruined your image. I have to fix it." I tell him truthfully.

I might hate him, but I'm answerable to him since 3 AM this morning.

"I didn't hit her," he exasperates and I sigh.

It is not up to me to know the details. I just need to clean everything the media decides to trash. So far, I hate all publishing houses that I've had the pleasure of contacting.

Hopefully, this blows out before the day ends else I'll lose my mind.

"It doesn't matter at the moment. I have a long day and I'd appreciate it if you left me to my work." I tell him and pinch the bridge of my nose as a sharp intense pain runs across my head.

Isn't it just so convenient that I get a migraine at four in the morning?

"But-"

"I've called your lawyers so they know what to look out for. As for Sophia, we've arranged a small meeting this afternoon and it would help if you were there to diffuse the problem. Can you do that?" I ask slowly, giving myself the chance to calm down as I wait for his answer.

I've been riled up since midnight when the news about his breakup surfaced the internet together with the allegations his ex posted about him. It didn't help that she had a cute picture of her bruised face to go with her caption on Instagram.

"I could give you my statement and have it published by morning." He suggests, putting his hands in his pockets.

Even as early as now, he looks impeccably groomed that it is almost atrocious. All I have to my name is the fact that at least my hair is tied back in a neat ponytail.

"A statement won't help much. It's your word against hers and not to pop your bubble but she has pictures. She's also a woman and would most likely get more sympathy than you." I tell him and turn around to leave only to have him jog beside me.

"I need you to believe me," he pleads as his hand wraps around my arm to bring me to a halt, "I really didn't hit her. We've not met for over a week."

"Do you have proof?"

"Yeah. There are texts, phone ca-"

"Then you'll show it to Ali. Can we meet at eleven for a short while? I'd like to know what to put on my media briefing." I wait patiently for his affirmation while acutely being aware of his hand on my arm.

When he nods and lets go of my hand, I start to walk away as quickly as I can. The last thing I want is for any insane conversation to ensue between us. God knows I've avoided those like a plague.

I hear him say something from behind me but the wind carries it away as I turn around the corner to head to the North wing where my office is located.

I can't afford to go back to my room because the temptation of sleep will be almost impossible to resist. I have to answer to the queen, River's mother, at around seven and I can't have a blank paper to present.

Damn him for not knowing how to deal with his relationships.

"Hey there mole?"

"Mole?" I ask with a raised eyebrow as I push the door to the building open.

"You know, cause you're walking blind?" Richard shrugs as he walks me to the elevator despite the fact that he should be manning the entrance. "What brings you here so early?"

"The prince ran into a little problem with his girlfriend, " I tell him as I rummage through my bag for the key card. "I have to fix it."

"I hope they're paying you well," he says with a soft smile and I smile back. "With all the dirt you have on them you could bury this castle and no one would save them."

"I'm a good person, Ricky."

"Just proves you're one by having to say it out loud a thousand times," he says with a laugh and I shake my head. "I'm a good person too. Have I told the queen about her son's obsession with you?"

"Ricky-" I start sternly only for him to cut me off.

"Get to work. We're going to fight over it again and he's going to walk in through those doors and prove me right."

He says with a small smile. One that almost tells me he doesn't enjoy the fact that he is right.

But I know he is not. River and I have barely been in each other's presence for four years. Yet I've known everything that's happened in his life for the past four years, we've barely interacted for three months in total over those years.

It has only happened that the day I walked in to my office for the first day, he'd been a little too happy to welcome me with an enthusiastic hug that may have given people like Ricky the wrong ideas.

We were the best of friends once upon a time but I should be witness to the fact that on my eighteenth birthday, anything that could have been termed friendly between us shattered the very moment he walked away.

Now, he is just a prince and I'm a royal employee that loves to clean messes just as the next person. I blame my mother for putting me on the spot.

"Hey Lily?"

Ricky just had to be right!

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