Charlotte Kutaway was a native born Genovian but had spent much of her teen years and early twenties in England, first at boarding school, then college and then finally at a specialist school specialising in diplomacy and politics- she had ambitions to eventually enter parliament back in Genovia when she had had enough experience, although she had to admit that it was a long shot, considering His Majesty King Rupert Renaldi, the current ruler of Genovia, had made known his opinion of women in parliament (as proved by his record of having none in parliament), the only exception being his wife, Her Majesty Queen Clarisse Renaldi, and even then that was rare.

But Charlotte was determined- and when she was determined, there was nothing that would stand in her way. She could do this.

She had returned to Genovia upon graduation from the diplomatic academy and enrolled with the Genovia Attaché Corp as a junior personal assistant to one of the diplomats- any experience would help- and she was surprised to discover that while she had to initially do menial tasks including getting coffee and doing the mail run, that she enjoyed it, particularly, a year or so into employment, she was promoted to being a personal assistant to one of the diplomats attached to the palace (and she also hoped that she might be able to accompany one of the diplomats if they were sent overseas, representing Genovia in one of the European countries, especially if they were posted there for a couple of years) and she began to spend time at the palace, accompanying her boss to meetings with the palace press secretary, meetings with His Majesty's personal secretary and even… attending the rare parliament meeting.

She very rarely saw Her Majesty, but the first time she saw her, Charlotte couldn't believe how beautiful she was in person- she had seen her in the papers and in the news when out in public, but seeing her up close… she couldn't help but admire her more.

She also noticed that she was accompanied by an entourage of dark suited men (almost as many as the King himself) and she couldn't help but notice that one of the older men was a little closer to her than others but Charlotte assumed that he was her Head of Security and had to stay closer to the Queen than the others.

She asked her boss who the Head of Security was for the King and Queen on their way back to the embassy and he shrugged.

"They have two- his Majesty's is Anthony Dubois, has been there for at least twenty five years and doesn't do a bad job; Her Majesty's is Joseph Bonnell and while he's only been her Head of Security for a couple of years, he has always been a good guy."

"Why separate Heads of Security?"

"Exactly why they have two separate personal assistants and press secretaries… they are two separate units that represent the Crown- and I have to admit that it's a good idea, particularly in regards to His Majesty."

"Why is that?"

"You've surely heard that he has a reputation of being… difficult?"

"No, I hadn't heard that." Charlotte fibbed, although she had heard that, as well as the reputation he was gaining as being a 'ladies' man' and that that reputation wasn't as innocent as it would seem.

"Well, it just seemed easier if there were two separate units formed for them and I have to admit that it works well… why do you ask?"

"I was just curious… I want to know as much as I can about the political and diplomatic system in Genovia… and that includes knowing about who works around and with their Majesties. I find it fascinating."

"So I can see," he gave her a smile, almost visibly impressed at the attention to detail that Charlotte Kutaway was interested in- the interview had impressed him and her work had been fantastic, hence the promotion to his personal assistant, but he also knew that this position was only a stepping stone to an extraordinary career, and he was keen to help her in any way he could, and he already had an idea that could possibly help her….

0

A week later, her boss called her into his officer, something that surprised and worried Charlotte- had she done something wrong?

"Don't look so worried," he said upon seeing her expression as she sat down opposite him in the chair in front of his desk. "This is nothing bad… in fact, I have a feeling that this might be very good news for you…"

"What is it?" Charlotte couldn't help but ask eagerly, curiosity piqued- she had only been with the diplomat for a year, what could it be?

"There is a position available at the palace, as the Queen's junior private assistant… you would answer to her private secretary but it also includes accompanying her to parliament when necessary and dealing with us on certain diplomatic issues, as well as assisting in planning her schedule and her foreign trips."

"What… does….that have to do with me?"

"I have put you forward for the position, and you have an interview with Her Majesty and her the Head of this office in two days."

"What?!" Charlotte gasped in disbelief, sitting back in her chair and letting out a long breath, a breath she hadn't realised she had been holding.

"You heard me," the older man sat back in his chair with a warm smile- he appreciated her stupefaction and he knew that he would miss her, she was that good in her position but he knew that this position would be perfect for her, hence he had already given his boss his reference for her.

"But… but… aren't I too young for the position?"

"I wouldn't think so… why? Don't you think that you could do the job?"

"No, no, no- I'm sure that I could, it's just…."

"You don't want to leave here?" he joked gently and she smiled slightly.

"It's not that- and I do enjoy my position here… it's just…why me?"

"Because you are quite capable of doing the job, you and I both know it and I want you to have the opportunity to extend yourself professionally… and I think you're going to be fine."

000

Two days later, Charlotte found herself driving her car through the palace gates, up the driveway and parking in front of the front doors, two small figures waiting for her- one was a black suited security man who, Clarisse assumed, was present to collect her car; the other figure, an older woman with dark, greying hair and dressed conservatively in a dark grey skirt and matching blouse.

"Good morning, Ms Kutaway," the woman said as Charlotte stepped out of the car, the door held open by the dark suited man. "My name is Jane Kent and I'm Her Majesty's private secretary."

"Good morning," Charlotte said shyly, but before she could say anymore, Jane spun on her heel and headed back towards the palace stairs, a clear indicator that Charlotte was to follow her.

When she stepped into the foyer of the palace, Charlotte looked around at her in awe- she had been in the foyer of the palace quite a few times in the past two years, but it still took her breath away, the grandeur, the well placed and well decorated paintings and the flowers that adorned every table in sight- a touch she believed the Queen contributed.

"Ms Kutaway?" the nasal voice broke into her thoughts and she glanced over to see the older woman looking impatiently at her and Charlotte had the sense that the woman didn't like her. "This way, if you please. Her Majesty is still upstairs, but you will have your interview in her study."

Again, Charlotte was taken aback by the opulence of the Queen's study, although it was much simpler than she had assumed- several good pictures were arranged on the wall, the windows looked out on the garden, there were a few framed photographs on the adjacent table and behind her desk was a wall length book shelf, full of books.

"Please sit," Jane instructed curtly, pointing to one of the chairs opposite the Queen's large, wooden polished desk and Charlotte did as she was asked, smoothing down the skirt of her navy blue suit and hoping that it wasn't too short to be considered inappropriate. "Her Majesty will be with us in a moment…"

"No need, I'm here," came the clear, crisp English accent from behind Charlotte and she immediately stood up and turned to meet the eyes of the woman who was Queen and could be her new boss and she knew that the pictures and the news clips didn't do Her Majesty any justice.

She was in her late forties, early fifties, Charlotte surmised, and while there were the usual signs of aging around her eyes and mouth, she was still youthful looking enough to pass for younger, particularly with her bright sapphire blue eyes and peaches and cream complexion, still visible under the layer of makeup she was wearing.

Charlotte immediately felt that her skirt was too short, considering Her Majesty was wearing a pale blue linen suit, similar to hers but the length of her skirt was just below the knees, and her heels were shorter than hers, but she was still tall enough to meet her eye length.

"Good morning, Your Majesty," Charlotte gave her a brief curtsey and Her Majesty smiled warmly at her as she stepped forward, her right hand outstretched.

"You must be Ms Kutaway, I've heard so much about you."

"Really?" Charlotte couldn't help but blurt out as she stood up and took Her Majesty's hand in her own and immediately wished she hadn't, although the Queen didn't look bothered- in fact, she looked amused.

"Yes, your boss was quite… effusive in his reference for you. I b, believe you have met Jane, my private secretary," she waved towards the woman who was standing beside the desk.

"Yes, I have."

"This is my personal bodyguard, Joseph Bonnell," the queen stood aside and a dark suited man stepped up to take Charlotte's hand in his.

"A pleasure to meet you," Charlotte said quietly, blushing slightly at his intense gaze- for a personal bodyguard, he was quite handsome but he wasn't her type. He was about Her Majesty's age, if not a little older, with thinning hair, an earring in his earring and a tanned complexion, emphasised all the more by his dark suit and dark eyes.

"It's a pleasure to meet you as well, Ms Kutaway," he responded in a low, husky voice and Charlotte finally looked up to meet warm, welcoming eyes and smile.

"You will be working closely with Joseph as well, hence he will be sitting in on the interview," Her Majesty interrupted as she moved around her desk towards her chair, Jane stepping aside so she could get there, while Joseph dropped her hand and stepped to the other side of the desk and Charlotte sank back in her chair, feeling more than a little apprehensive, particularly given at the trio sitting opposite her- could she really do this?

Her Majesty smiled warmly again, as if sensing her discomfort.

"It's perfectly alright, Ms Kutaway, we won't bite… May I call you Charlotte?"

"Of course, Your Majesty," Charlotte said quietly.

"Charlotte… well, let's begin, shall we?'

0

Charlotte let out a deep breath as she finally stepped out of the palace and took a long, deep breath in of fresh air- it had only been an hour, but it had seemed like more. She had expected the questions (and she was fairly sure of her answers and knew what she was saying) but she hadn't had an interview in about five years and she had forgotten the intensity of the process, the way you always had to know exactly what to say and how to say the right thing. Her Majesty had been non-committal but pleasant, as had her personal bodyguard, but her secretary… it had felt like a grilling.

"Are you alright?" came a voice from behind her and she turned to see Joseph strolling across the foyer and joining her outside on the step.

"Yes, I'm fine," she said ruefully. "I had forgotten how intense interviews can be."

"Yes, they can be quite intense," Joseph agreed musingly. "However, in all other interviews, you don't have Ms Kent shooting questions at you."

"Yes… she was a little…."

"You don't need to explain to me, I know what you're talking about… I don't know how Her Majesty works with her," he said, rolling his eyes and Charlotte looked at him questioningly- she hadn't thought that her comment would evoke such sentiment from Joseph, but it was clear that he didn't like the Queen's personal secretary.

"Hopefully…."

"Yes, hopefully you will be able to work with her… she's difficult but I'm sure you can handle her."

"Me… handle her? How do you know that I've got the job?"

"Her Majesty likes you, I could tell, and I'm very much impressed with the interest and knowledge you had about the job… did you do some research beforehand?"

"Yes…" she looked down, abashed and Joseph smiled.

"Don't be ashamed of being prepared, it's a quality that is very much admired when doing interviews, and I have done quite a few in my time."

"You….?"

"Yes, I'm Her Majesty's personal bodyguard but I'm also her Head of Security, hence I've done a lot of interviewing over the years."

Just then, the sound of a car engine broke the silence and Charlotte saw that her car being stopped in front of the steps, precisely as she had done earlier.

"I…"

"Thank you for coming," Joseph turned and offered his hand. "You had a good interview… and I hope that you will accept the job, when it's offered to you."

"I…." Charlotte still wanted to know how he knew that she would get the job (and she still had doubts that she would, she was still fairly young) but before she could say anything more, he had turned and strode back into the palace, leaving her alone on the doorstep, many, many questions swirling in her mind, but there was one thing she knew- she wanted the job.

0

"Is she gone?"

"Yes… I think she found the whole process rather… intense."

"That was Jane's doing, not mine- I don't know how I let her get control of the interview."

"I don't know either, but I'm sure that young Ms Kutaway will handle her quite well."

"So you think I should offer her the job?"

"Yes, I do… and I think you already knew that. I think you made up your mind almost as soon as you saw her."

"Joseph! Really!"

"It's the truth, and we both know it."

"Yes… yes, I was going to offer her the job anyway… do you think she'll take it?"

"Oh, I think she will. Yes, I think she will."