“I know who you are,” the man said, still smiling. It was then that Sabrina realized she was still gripping his hand. She quickly released and sat back down. “I came in to offer you the job.”
“Really?” Sabrina said, a little shocked that she was being offered the position on the spot. It was a good thing she was sitting, or her knees might have buckled.
“Really,” Marco assured her, taking a seat in the chair Valetta had vacated a moment earlier.
“Marco and I feel that you would be great for the position,” Valetta said and turned toward Marco, who nodded in agreement.
“I think you would be wonderful,” Marco said, every word sounding like its own subtle, musical note. His accent had a slightly different ring than Valetta’s, whose chipper voice overshadowed her inflections.
Marco was directly across from Sabrina with both forearms rested against the table. The sleeves of his white shirt were rolled up to his elbows, creating contrast against his tan skin. At the end of his wrist was a tightly fitted gold Rolex.
Sabrina’s first thought was that she’d just been hired to assist some sort of model, a rather wealthy one, looking to spend some time in the United States in order to escape his fame. She also toyed with the idea that he was a foreign athlete. Although concealed, his frame and shoulders indicated a sturdy figure beneath a layer of expensive clothing.
“Wow,” Sabrina said, taken aback both by the sudden offer and the aura of the man sitting in front of her.
Both Valetta and Marco smiled back at her, as though they anticipated her level of shock.
“Take your time making a decision,” Valetta said. “But do keep in mind that we hope to begin traveling before the end of the week.”
“Can I accept the job right now?” Sabrina asked, giddy with excitement.
Valetta’s eyebrows rose with a smile. “Of course you can.”
Sabrina allowed herself a soft laugh. “Is that okay or did I just make myself look incredibly desperate?”
This time it was Marco who answered. “It’s very okay,” he said. “I was hoping you’d say 'yes'.”
Sabrina forced herself to meet his gaze, which was concentrated and direct. His dark eyes were highlighted by the definition of his facial features. They were large and carried a deep and intriguing intensity.
“Okay then,” Valetta said, feeding off of Marco. “You’re hired!”
A weight that she didn’t even realize was there lifted from Sabrina’s shoulders. For the first time that morning, she felt at peace. At peace and ecstatic. Her chest, which had once been crowded with nervous butterflies, was now filled with a delighted energy. She inhaled, feeling her breath all the way into her lungs. A goofy smile had slowly consumed her face, but she didn’t care.
I can’t believe it, she thought, her excitement spreading to each of her four limbs. This is really happening.
This job offer was a promise that in only three months’ time she’d make enough for four years of college without another job in between. She could concentrate on her schoolwork and finally live the life she wanted. The reality of this amazing opportunity was just starting to set in.
“You said you’re from around here?” Marco asked, a question that helped to bring Sabrina out of her daze.
“Yes, I am,” Sabrina said. “Born and raised.”
“Yes, you have a thick accent,” Marco said, gesturing with his hands.
“Really?” Sabrina blushed. She'd spent most of her life trying to hide her southern accent. She'd worked hard to learn how to speak like she'd grown up on the right side of town rather than in a trailer park. 'Non regional diction', they called it.
Marco chuckled. “You do, but I like it. And don't feel bad, everyone in America has an accent to me. I'm sure you can hear my accent very clearly as well.”
“That’s not a bad thing,” Sabrina said, scanning his beautiful features and taking them in all over again. “I like your accent, too. Can I ask where you are from?”
In her peripheral vision, Sabrina saw Valetta look to Marco, awaiting his response.
“I’m from the Mediterranean,” Marco said, without returning Valetta’s glance. “From a very small island.”
With his finger and thumb he made an indication of something small.
“Welcome to America,” she said enthusiastically.
“Thank you, Sabrina from Memphis,” Marco said with his warmest smile yet.
She giggled. “You’re welcome, Marco from 'small Mediterranean island'.”
This time his laugh came from deep in his chest.
His smile is going to consume me, she thought. How am I going to survive working for this hunk for the next three months? Making ridiculous money won’t hurt, so maybe that’ll keep me focused. What a wonderful combination, though. Am I dreaming?
“Now I have some paperwork for you to sign,” Valetta said, moving to put yet another set of papers in front of Sabrina. “This is your contract. If you'd like a lawyer to look over it, you are welcome to.”
Sabrina knew she couldn't afford a lawyer. Besides, she didn't even know what kind of lawyer she would need to hire. The only lawyers she knew were the ones from TV and the car accident commercials, and somehow neither of those seemed like the kind to look over a contract.
“There are a couple of things that I would like to point out as non-negotiable,” Valetta continued before Sabrina said anything. “First, my client is to remain anonymous. This is per his wishes. You are not to attempt to obtain outside knowledge about him. Any attempts will be met with immediate dismissal and legal action.”
“You mean, I'm not allowed to Google him or look him up on social media?” Sabrina asked slowly, making sure she understood.
“Correct.” Valetta nodded. “Also, there is another nondisclosure agreement in there. You will be a part of Marco's life, and as such, you are never to reveal personal details without his permission.”
“I never would,” Sabrina assured them both. “I don't talk about people behind their backs.”
Marco smiled and looked at Valetta like he had expected Sabrina to make such a statement. His dark eyes sparkled with an inner warmth that Sabrina couldn't help but smile back at.
“You came very highly recommended,” Marco informed her. He held out a pen for her to sign with. “It will be a pleasure working with you.”
Sabrina grinned and took the pen. It was a nice pen with a good deal of weight to it, but as she signed her name with a flourish, it felt like it weighed nothing. With the ink of the page, the door to her future opened.
Chapter 2
Marco
Prince Marco strolled across the floor of his hotel suite. It was a nice room, there was no doubt about it. It had the best amenities of any hotel in Memphis, at least that's what Valetta assured him. It was filled with big leather furniture, stainless steel kitchen appliances in the over-sized attached kitchen, and floor to ceiling windows alone the outside wall. It also included a hot tub in the bathroom and a massive balcony that overlooked downtown Memphis.
Despite its grandiose appearance, the place was significantly smaller than his own bedroom at his palace on Orsino Island. He didn’t mind, though. It made the trip feel more real. He didn't care if it was the biggest or the best because he was on his own. This was the last time his life would be his own and he was going to enjoy every moment of it.