Chapter 2 Two

The student center audition room was packed, but you could hear a pin drop. The silence was heavy. Dozens of students sat in rows of plastic chairs, clutching their resumes, their faces pale with nerves.

I sat on the edge of my seat, keeping my back perfectly straight. I practiced my sharpest, most professional posture, imagining the hard plastic chair was the edge of a high-fashion runway.

“Next. Princess Rodriguez,” a loud voice called out from the doorway.

I stood up smoothly, smoothed down my simple denim skirt, and took a deep breath. I walked into the private interview room. A strict-looking woman in a tailored business suit sat behind a large desk. She didn't look up immediately. She just flipped through my paperwork with a frown.

“Sit,” she said, gesturing to the chair across from her.

I sat down gracefully, keeping my hands folded neatly in my lap. My top-of-the-class brain was ready. I knew how to manage chaotic schedules. I managed a whole twenty-room mansion every single day for free!

“Your resume is impressive, Miss Rodriguez,” the woman said, finally looking up. Her eyes were like a hawk tracking its prey. “Top of your class. Multiple extracurricular activities. Leadership roles. But this job isn't just about studying. The person you will be managing has an incredibly high-stress life. He has a terrible attitude. He is cold, stubborn, and completely refuses to follow directions. Can you handle someone like that?”

I smiled, keeping my voice calm and confident. “Ma'am, I have lived with difficult, stubborn people my entire life. I promise you, I can handle anyone.”

The woman looked at me closely, trying to see if I would blink. “There is a zero-tolerance policy for slacking. If you miss a single schedule, you are fired on the spot. We need someone who won't break under pressure.”

“I don't break, and I don't miss schedules,” I said firmly, looking her right in the eye. “I need this job, and I will be the best at it.”

The woman stared at me for a long, tense moment. The silence stretched between us until my chest felt tight. I needed that $3,000. I needed that $600 dorm fee. I needed my freedom more than anything.

Finally, she closed my folder with a snap.

“Very well, Princess. You have the right qualifications,” she said, her voice completely unreadable. “However, we have several highly qualified candidates to interview today. We will review everything and contact you later with our final decision.”

My heart sank a little, but I kept my professional smile locked in place. “Thank you for your time, Ma'am. I look forward to hearing from you.”

Three hours later, I was back in my living nightmare.

I was on my knees, wearing thick yellow rubber gloves, scrubbing the tiles of Chloe’s private bathroom. The scent of harsh bleach filled the small space, making my eyes water. Chloe had purposely tracked mud all over the floor after her tennis practice, laughing as she told me to clean it up before dinner.

‘Just hang in there,’ I told myself, scrubbing the stubborn dirt fiercely. ‘You just need a chance. Just one chance.’

Suddenly, my phone began to buzz violently on the edge of the marble sink.

I scrambled to my feet, accidentally splashing soapy water onto my apron. I ripped off one of my rubber gloves and snatched the phone. It was an unknown, official number. My heart leaped into my throat.

“Hello?” I gasped out, trying to catch my breath so I wouldn't sound like I had just been cleaning a toilet.

“Is this Princess Rodriguez?” the loud voice from the interview room asked.

“Yes! Yes, this is she,” I said, gripping the phone so tightly my knuckles turned white.

“We have finished our reviews,” the woman said plainly. “The family is incredibly particular, but after looking over your disciplinary record and your academic standing, we believe you are the only one stubborn enough to handle him. The job is yours.”

I froze, a massive wave of shock and joy washing over me.

“Really? Thank you so much! You won't regret this!”

“You start tomorrow morning at eight AM sharp. The first month's payment will be wired to your student account once you arrive. Do not be late.”

“I won't be!” I promised.

The line went dead. I lowered the phone, a huge, triumphant smile breaking across my face. I looked down at the scrub brush in the bucket, then up at the mirror.

“Goodbye, house help,” I whispered, my eyes shining with excitement. “Princess is finally leaving.”

I took a few steps forward, unable to stop smiling. Then, something suddenly slipped from beneath my shirt.

Clink. A silver pendant landed on the tiled floor.

I quickly bent down and picked it up, gently rubbing away the water droplets with my thumb. A small smile curved my lips as I stared at the delicate pendant. Engraved on its surface were the words: Princess Rodriguez.

It was the only thing my birth parents had ever left me.

The orphanage caretaker had told me that I was found wrapped in a blanket on their doorstep when I was barely a year old, wearing this very pendant around my neck. It was the only clue to my identity and the only trace of the people who had abandoned me. The orphanage cared for me until I turned two, when I was finally adopted by this evil family.

My smile faltered as I looked down at the pendant again. It was beautifully crafted, the kind of jewelry that couldn't have been cheap. ‘Then why did they abandon me?’

The question lingered in my mind, but only for a moment. I shook my head and let out a quiet breath.

“No,” I whispered to myself.

Carefully, I slipped the pendant back beneath my shirt, where it rested against my heart, and a smile slowly returned to my face.

The past could wait. Right now, I am finally chasing my dream.