Chapter 1

• Keep your head down, hand over the tray, and get out. No lingering in the VIP Suite. No staring, no trying to chat up the prince, and absolutely no flirting. Prince Lucian’s reputation with women precedes him, and it isn't pretty. Maya, are you listening to a word I’m saying?”
• Maya dragged herself out of a haze of self-pity to nod. “Yes,” she rasped. “I hear you, Brenda.”
• “Then what did I just instruct you to do?”
• Maya’s mind was numb from exhaustion and a relentless loop of self-doubt. “You said, you wanted me to—” Her voice trailed off. “I’m sorry, I lost my train of thought.”
• Brenda’s expression hardened. “What is going on with you today? You’re usually my most dependable worker; that’s the entire reason I assigned you to this box!”
• Dependable. Maya winced at the word, just another bullet point on the list of reasons why Julian had ended things.
• Disregarding the impact of her tone, Brenda carried on. “I shouldn’t have to remind you that this event is the pinnacle of my catering contract serving the royal enclosure at Wembley. This is the championship final! The biggest match of the season. The whole industry is watching. If we deliver today, we’re set for the year. More business for me means more shifts for you. So I need your head in the game!”
• A tall, sharp-eyed server strode past, balancing a heavy tray of empty crystal flutes. “Give her a break, Brenda. Her fiancé dumped her last night. It’s a miracle she even showed up. In her shoes, I’d still be under the covers.”
• “He called off the wedding?” Brenda looked between them. “Maya, is Chloe telling the truth? Why on earth did he do that?”
• Because she was predictable. Because her hair was deep auburn instead of sun-bleached platinum. Because she was too reserved, too quiet, and her hips were too wide for his liking…
• The sheer weight of her flaws pressed down on Maya, threatening to crush her. “Julian got promoted to Senior Vice President. He said I don’t fit the new lifestyle.” She hadn't shed a single tear yet, which felt like a strange victory. She had loved Julian. They had planned a life together. “He’s expected to entertain board members and investors now. He bought a Maserati, and he wants a partner to match.” She offered a frail shrug, trying to laugh it off. “I’m more of a reliable commuter car.”
• “You are a million times too good for that arrogant jerk,” Chloe snapped, the glasses on her tray rattling dangerously. “He’s an absolute—”
• “Chloe!” Brenda gasped in horror, cutting her off. “Remember that you are representing my firm!”
• “Then budget for some stress management, because I’m getting gray hair serving these entitled snobs every weekend,” Chloe shot back, her eyes flashing. “Maya’s ex is sitting two boxes down with his shiny new trophy, tossing back champagne like he owns the place.”
• “He’s here?” The blood drained from Maya’s face. “I can’t go up there. Their box overlooks the corridor to the VIP Suite. It’s too humiliating. His colleagues will stare, she’ll stare what am I supposed to do?”
• “Trade up. The best thing about awful men is that there’s never a shortage of better options.” Chloe thrust the tray into Brenda’s startled hands and grabbed Maya’s arm. “Deep breaths. In and out. Now, here’s the plan: you walk into that royal box, look Prince Lucian in the eye, and give him something to remember. If you’re going to fall for a reckless bad boy, make sure he’s an actual prince. They say he’s breathtakingly handsome anyway. Give your ex something real to talk about.”
• Maya let out a weak laugh despite her dread, pulling back. “I think one humiliating rejection is enough for one weekend, thanks. If I’m not glamorous enough for a middle-manager, I’m hardly going to turn the head of a playboy prince. It’s a terrible idea.”
• “What’s wrong with it? Go straight from a heartbreak to a fairy tale.” Chloe gave a conspiratorial wink. “Unbutton the collar, walk in there, and flash a smile. It’s what I’d do.”
• “And thank goodness she isn’t you!” Brenda glared at Chloe in frustration. “And Maya will keep her uniform properly fastened. Aside from the fact that I hire you to serve food, Prince Lucian’s personal life is a PR nightmare, and the organizers were crystal clear—no lingering servers, no distraction, and specifically no flashy blondes. That’s why I chose you, Maya. Plain, quiet, brown-eyed—you blend right into the background.”
• Maya shrank back. Blend into the background. Perfect for remaining invisible.
• She reached up, touching her neatly pinned auburn hair, feeling her remaining confidence dissolve entirely. Walking into that suite felt impossible. “Brenda—I really can’t do this today. I just, I can’t face them.”
• “If you’re doing your job properly, no one should even notice you’re in the room,” Brenda said briskly, taking the heavy tray from Chloe and handing it back. “Chloe, take these down to the dish pit. Maya, if you want to keep this job, you’ll head up to the suite immediately. And keep your head down. A prince isn’t going to waste his time looking at the staff anyway.”
• Noticing another staff member leaning over the railing to catch a glimpse of the athletes warming up on the field, Brenda gasped in exasperation. “No, no—we are working, not admiring the team!” She hurried off to scold the offender.
• “Of course we’re admiring the team,” Chloe muttered under her breath. “Why else would anyone work stadium catering? They’re built like gladiators.”
• Maya stared blankly at the floor. “I don't know why I’m surprised,” she whispered. “I was never his type to begin with.”
• “Stop talking like that,” Chloe scolded gently. “Tell me you didn’t spend all night crying over him.”
• “Actually, I didn’t. I couldn't even manage a tear.” Maya frowned. “Maybe I’m just numb.”
• “Did you eat any comfort food?”
• “A few cookies.”
• “How many?”
• Maya flushed. “Two boxes.” She lowered her head in shame. “And I hated myself right after. But I was starving! Julian broke off the engagement over dinner—probably thought I wouldn't make a scene in a fancy restaurant. I should have known something was up when he ordered appetizers. He never lets us get appetizers.”
• “Unbelievable,” Chloe shook her head. “The night he dumps you, he finally orders extra food.”
• “It was for him, not me,” Maya corrected quietly. “I could never eat comfortably around him anyway. The way he watched what I ordered always made me feel self-conscious. He told me it was over between the entree and the check, drove me home, and left. And I just sat there, completely dry-eyed.”
• “Because you were exhausted and underfed,” Chloe said firmly. “Carbs are step one of recovering from a bad decision. Step two is selling the ring.”
• “I was going to give it back.”
• “Give it back? Are you insane?” Chloe gripped the edge of the service counter. “Sell it. Buy the most expensive pair of boots you can find, and stomp all over his memory. Next time, keep things casual and save yourself the headache.”
• Maya forced a small, uncomfortable smile, too embarrassed to admit that intimacy had been another point of contention between them. Julian had constantly complained she was too reserved, too distant.
• A practical hatchback with central locking.
• Would she be more confident if she fit some arbitrary standard of perfection? Maybe, but she wasn't about to starve herself to find out.
• Looking toward the grand double doors of the VIP corridor, Maya sighed. “I really don’t think I can go in there.”
• “It’s worth it just to see the infamous prince up close,” Chloe insisted.
• “He wasn't always like this,” Maya said softly, distracted for a moment. “He was engaged years ago, wasn't he? To that high-fashion model. They were everywhere in the news. Then the accident happened on that ski trip six years ago—she and his brother both died. It was devastating. He lost his brother and his fiancee on the same day. It’s no wonder he closed himself off. He probably just needs someone genuine.”
• Chloe grinned. “Then go up there and show him some genuine kindness. And remember my favorite piece of advice.”
• “If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen?”
• Chloe offered a mischievous wink. “If you can’t stand the heat—change the rules.”