Chapter 6

"I can't believe it."

"Believe it."

"Feel the soothing, peaceful, silence."

Susanna and Vivian were at their weekly yoga class, attempting to feel the soothing, peaceful silence. Susanna and Ryan had flown into New York just two days ago, but Susanna hadn't heard from him once. Vivan was still in shock over the whole matter, although Susanna just wished to forget about it.

They stood in a rather uncomfortable position, the morning sun drenching the airy studio. With one leg out to the side and one arm reaching behind her back, Susanna tried to stay on balance, and was actually doing so quite well. Vivian, however, wasn't. She suddenly fell to the floor with a thud, and Susanna couldn't help but laugh. The teacher glided over and helped Vivian get back into position, but Vivian was laughing so hard herself that the teacher finally clicked her tongue and walked away.

They were finally allowed out of position and the class was over. Susanna and Vivian grabbed their bags and headed for the showers. Susanna still had to go to work, although it was already ten o'clock.

The two stripped off their sweaty yoga clothes and hopped into the shower.

"So when do I get to meet him then?" Vivian asked through the wall separating them.

"I don't know, I haven't even heard from him yet," Susanna answered. She turned the faucet so that the water was steaming hot; her muscles were stiff and not functioning properly.

"I hope he hasn't gotten himself killed."

Susanna laughed. "I think we would have heard about it."

"Then maybe he's lost. Maybe he got stranded in SoHo or something."

Susanna didn't answer as she dunked her head under the water. She hurriedly finished washing her body, and then got out.

"I really need to get to work," she said to Vivian, who liked to take immensely long showers. "I'll call you later."

"Alright. Ciao, babe."

Susanna dried off to her best ability and quickly put on black chinos and a white top. She braided her hair without drying it and left the building swiftly.

She wasn't far from her office when her phone rang. She cursed silently and rummaged through her bag for it.

"Hello?"

"Where do you work?" It took only a moment to figure out it was the prince.

"Why? And where have you been?"

"Sightseeing, of course." She rolled her eyes. "I want to visit you at work."

"Because?" she asked, not really caring about the answer.

"Because, I have to ask you something."

She sighed. "Get a cab and tell them 5th and 59th, the Brittania store. I'm on the tenth floor."

"Thanks. See you soon!" He hung up.

She made an irritated sound in her throat, and crossed the street to the store. She pushed through enthusiastic shoppers and finally reached the elevators.

Walking hastily to her office, she was joined by Mr. Simmons.

"Good morning, Susanna," he said, walking alongside her.

"Good morning, sir."

"Yoga morning, I presume?" he said with amusement.

She laughed. "Yes, how could you tell?"

"You're wearing flat shoes, and you only wear flat shoes on yoga days."

She smiled. "You know me well."

They reached her office, where Darcy hopped up and handed Susanna her messages. She looked through them quickly before setting them back down.

"Now," Mr. Simmons continued, "what's all this about the prince in town?"

Susanna was brought up short. "What? How do you know?"

"A very excited Vivian Zyan came into the office yesterday looking for you. I suppose she couldn't help herself."

Susanna sighed. "It's the younger one. He wanted to see New York, so he came home with me. He's dropping by later if you want to meet him."

"I would, but I've got to catch a flight to L.A. What time is it?"

"Ten fifteen, sir," Darcy piped up, and then resumed her typing.

"I've got to get going. I'll see you in two days," he said, walking away.

"Have a good flight, sir," Susanna said. She turned back to Darcy.

"Darcy-"

But Darcy held up a cup of coffee and a blueberry muffin before Susanna could finish. Susanna smiled.

"Thanks, Darcy. If a man with blonde hair comes, tell him-"

"Susanna!" Susanna clenched her jaw and turned to see Ryan striding down the hall, all the female eyes watching him. She rolled her eyes; he wore faded jeans with a polo shirt, and instead of smiling at her, he smiled at Darcy, who had stood up and was gawking at him.

"Good morning, ladies," he said, switching to his suave, charming voice, which was obviously working on Darcy but not on Susanna.

"What do you want, Ryan?" she said shortly.

He reluctantly turned to her. "Aren't you going to introduce me?" he said with a smile. She pursed her lips.

"Darcy, this is Ryan. Ryan, this is my assistant Darcy Clevell," she said flatly.

He smiled and took Darcy's hand, giving it a light kiss. Darcy blushed furiously, her meek face going into a smile. Darcy was actually quite pretty, in that modest, docile sort of way. Her curly blonde hair was always pulled up, and she wore black reading glasses on her pale blue eyes. Susanna watched them with an eyebrow raised.

"An honor, Miss Clevell," Ryan said smoothly, still holding her hand. Darcy's pale face was beet red, but a grin now adorned her face. Ryan was obviously going for this effect, but Susanna cut in.

"Darcy, go see if you can catch Mr. Simmons, and give him this," Susanna said forcefully, putting a pack of pictures in her hand, making Ryan drop his.

Darcy nodded, and with a quick look at Ryan, she scurried away. Ryan watched her walk away, and then turned to Susanna, who gave him a reproachful look.

"What?" he said defensively.

"You're sickening," she said, opening her door and going into her office.

"Me? You're the one who's sickening," he said, following her.

She turned around. "Me? How, pray tell?"

"You ordered her around like a slave!"

"I do not!"

"You didn't even say 'please'!"

"She's my assistant. It's her job," she retorted, "you moron," she added quietly.

"I heard that," he said.

She rolled her eyes, plopping her bag onto the desk.

"What do you want?" she said again.

His jaw tightened, but he said, "Well, I was going to ask you to come with me to a dinner the Countess Alera is having, but I think I'll ask someone else."

"Who else could you possibly ask?" she said, before it dawned on her. "You can't ask my assistant!" she exclaimed.

"Why not?" he said amusedly, sitting on the arm of a chair.

"Because! It just…"

"Isn't right?" he finished. "I know! It's brilliant! Yesterday, my mother called my and told me that countess' daughter was in town-"

"Jennifer? I hate that girl."

"I know, but my mother seemed to think this was a great matchmaking opportunity. How great would it be if she heard that I showed up to the dinner with an assistant?"

"So you are going to use my assistant to get back at your mother."

"I'm not going to use her. It just happened to work out that way."

"Well, it won't be just you're mother that you'll be shocking."

"I know! Everyone wants me to fall in love with a countess or a duchess or some noble. It's perfect!"

"Are you sure you're not just trying to be rebellious? Everyone goes through a phase like this," she said, as if talking to a child.

He snorted. "Yeah, when they're eighteen. I'm a grown man! I don't go through phases," he said.

She sighed. "It's very… Cinderella-esque."

"Yeah… except you're the fairy godmother."

"What?" she exclaimed.

"Take her shopping, get her hair done, the whole works. It's Friday night at seven."

Susanna's jaw had dropped. "Oh no, I'm not being part of your little scheme."

"Why not?"

"Because! It's sad and pathetic."

He grunted, but before he could answer the door opened. Darcy stood there, trying to catch her breath. Ryan turned his head and smiled; Susanna crossed her arms.

"I'm… sorry, Miss… Bennet, but… Mr… Simmons… already left," Darcy got out.

Before Susanna could answer, however, Ryan had stood up.

"Say, Darcy, I know we only just met, but I was wondering if you'd like to go to dinner with me on Friday?" Ryan said, smooth and debonair.

Darcy blushed, and looked to Susanna. Susanna, however, made no expression, so Darcy turned back to the prince. Her mouth opened and closed a few times, before she said, "Yes, I suppose so."

He smiled. "Excellent. I'll pick you up at six thirty." He reached for her hand again, giving it a longer kiss this time. "Goodbye," he said to her, but she only smiled and nodded. He turned to Susanna. "Goodbye, Susanna."

She rolled her eyes for what felt like the umpteenth time that day. He began to walk away, leaving a dazed Darcy in the doorway. Susanna walked after him.

"You're despicable," she said, holding her hand in the elevator to prevent it from closing. He was inside, smiling at her.

"I would think you'd be more supportive," he said with fake shock. "What if this is true love? I would have you to thank for it."

She grunted, and he pressed the close button. She stepped away and the doors closed on his smiling face. She turned on her heel and walked back to her office.

"Darcy, make an appointment with Ralph Lauren for Thursday afternoon," she said. Darcy still stood in the door, staring at her hand. Her head snapped up when Susanna spoke.

"Yes, of course. What is it for?" she asked.

Susanna sighed. "It's for you."

"He's taking your assistant?" Vivan squealed a few minutes later.

"Yes, and I have to get her ready." Susanna was beyond angry; she squeezed her stress ball so hard it popped and the gooey stuff inside oozed out. "Eh, shit."

"Isn't that, like… not proper?"

"Yes! Everyone will freak," Susanna said, wiping her hands off. "Especially his mother."

"Does he really like her?"

Susanna dropped her voice. "I don't think so. He's just going through a phase."

"It's very Cinderella."

"That's what I said."

"Well, listen, I gotta run, but I'll talk to you later?"

"Yeah," Susanna said.

"See you, fairy godmother!" Vivian hung up.

Susanna hung her phone up with a click.

"I wonder if Ralph Lauren makes glass slippers."