The Billionaire's Little Princess

h of Isabella Monroe's cozy dreams like a vengeful blade. The digital device screeched on the nightstand

e. The alarm, persistent and merciless, blared on; an unrelenting enemy in the war against sleep. She smacked at the clock blindly,

into her pillow, voi

ved off the blanket and sat up, blinking into t

on the blinking red digits: 10:03 AM.

h

n. She had a test. A very important, unsch

nk. As she peeled off her oversized t-shirt-an old one from high school that had long lost its print (although she didn't like some of the memories from high school)-she caught a

er breath. "You were suppo

Isabella to face the chaos alone. The two girls usually looked out for each other, but Ava's morning silence felt

tes, she was out, toweling herself dry with a towel that smelled faintly of lavender and last week's laundry detergent. She grabbed the cleanest outfit she could find from the s

her backpack from the floor. Just before she rushed out the door, she caught si

o-do

cou

re Important, and Less Important-the way a soldier checks battle plans befor

by 11

er's Lounge and

esis lecture

Anne's Restau

was going to

ng for. Frisher's wasn't like the usual cheap diners or rundown cafes she'd waitressed in before. It was sleek, upscale, alive with the hum of jazz music and glittering lights. The interior was a bl

PM, she'd be offic

st prop

thing before her official resumption by 7pm, although she'd suggested she'd do everything when she resu

eeded to do first when the manager is around. She's free to do all other things and even starts her official re

spite the panic rushi

iple jobs to keep herself afloat. Orphaned at twelve, she'd been taken in by a kind but modest family who did their best to provide f

other bills-textbooks, groceries, rent-and Isabella had learned early on that independenc

She worked evening shifts-6:00 PM to 10:00 PM, Monday to Friday-pouring coffee for students and occasion

changed when

beds, secrets, and leftover Halloween candy as kids. A few months ago, Cindy had been diagnosed with gallst

thin, and with her finals looming, the pressure mounted. She'd given no

ind, fleeting fate-l

the owner of the lounge itself when she'd gone to inquire of a

r immediately. Isabella's resume might've lacked shine, but her experience and charm

at, Isabella had

asn't taking

lamorous than Frisher's, Anne's had a rustic charm to it-light oak tables, warm

rt over flash. The pay obviously wouldn't be as high as Frisher's but it was closer to where she stays and since it wou

her back to he

. Lecturer.

ly and checked th

ad to

-

row flight of stairs, taking them two at a time. Outside, the city had already come alive-cars honked impatiently, the scent of street food wafted from nearby

r gave her a half-annoyed glance, but said nothing. She took the nearest seat and pulled out her notes,

cycle... Mitochondrial DNA

able to focus. But she

ination that could rival Olympic athletes. She burst into the lecture hall with two minutes to spare. Her professor gave her a look that hovere

paper's hardness isn't what she cannot handle. One question at a time. She attacked the paper with controlled

she didn't stop. There was no time to savor the small victory.

er phone from her bag and checked the time. 1:14 PM. That gave her just under an hour to get to the lounge, chan

sleek black pants and a fitted white blouse-Frisher's signature uniform. She tied her hair up into a

this," she

ft glow. Crystal glasses clinked in rhythm with mellow jazz music that flowed from a live band in the corner. The bar gleamed under the ambient light, lined with liquor bottles arranged like artwork. The lounge chairs were de

e employee entrance with a br

s, and absorbing the quiet rhythm of the place. Her movements were precise. Calculated. She smiled through the ac

ief orientation and was dismissed

rson who believed in punctuality the way most believed in gravity. The meeting was tense but productive. Isabella took notes furious

Anne's Re

er the address with a voice tinged in urgency. As the car sped through the city, sh

d a creamy beige with green shutters, and hanging plants trailed down from flower boxes by the windows. Inside, the place smelled like rosemary and fresh bread. The floors were w

erb-encrusted lamb chops. Truffle mac and cheese. Grilled sea bass with a citrus glaze.

n turned to rush toward the restaurant entrance. Her thoughts were on the interview, on remembering the m

collided

olt her. Her eyes widened as she stumbled slig

ed, instinctively b

words

ive. It was the kind of scent that didn't come from corner-store colognes. No, this was designer. S

to face the man s

rds died o

s stu

but hugged his form just right. On his wrist was a sleek silver watch that glinted in the fading light. His hair

, she couldn't tell-stared

iting her lower lip to keep

t could wreck an entire week of composure. It curled at the ed

e said, voice

made her feel warm. Not just in the cheeks, but deepe

g to gather her thoughts. "I really have to

to say something else, but

nd she did something stupid-like ask for his name. Or

e took a deep breath and forced herself to focus. Interviews were more important than fl

ance over her shoulder once, just

as alrea

t her mind-traitorous as always-

lothes like a whispered memory. She shook her head hard as if that would shake him off too. She had no business standing there,

r the restaurant door handle. But her fingers

the rush. Not from the test, or the j

was

tra

t one collision her whole life. Which made absolutely no sense. She didn't have time

y mind," she mutter

lashes slightly clumped from her rushed makeup, a sheen of sweat on her forehead from

Maybe he'd be halfway down the block by now, already forgotten her

e didn

of him was already burned into

ile. The smooth confidence in his voice when he said, "It's f

finally pulle

d her, grounding her in reality. Her heels clacked against the polished hard

ed between tables, balancing plates of creamy risottos and grilled meats. The scent of thyme lingered in the air. A small family laughed

she barel

way he looked at her, as if she mattered. As if she wasn't just another hurried s

nd scolded herself silentl

ng borrowed heels, rushing to job interviews to make ends meet, whose biggest

was-it had passed. And

il

fted unconsciou

ght. What is

ne from her bag and ch

ager, put on her practiced smile, and get this intervie

feet did

eart still fluttering, that damn

t maybe-there was something behind the collision. She wondered who he was. Wher

she tol

cu

a spoiled heir to some empire, someone used to women falling at his feet. Probably alr

ye

st a little at the

d exhaled slowly, willing

fantasy. She'd already mapped out her evening-interview, shift at Frisher's, home b

distraction. And certainly not on beautif

reath, Isabella turned an

face, tugging gently at

anger w

of the lounge, back straight, steps f

ll part of he