The Enchanted Dominion resort was heaven on Earth—

If you were a member.

The club-house gleamed with brand-new paint for the new summer season. Surrounding the swimming pool, people sprawled on lounge chairs underneath the beach umbrellas to avoid the hot summer sun. On the patio, members enjoyed their lunch outside during the beautiful summer day.

It was the perfect day . . . until a modest convertible rolled through the front gates, purring up the driveway to the portico. A valet rushed forward to greet the driver and her passengers. Of course, Audrey was in the driver seat, Chad was in the passenger seat due to his excessive begging, while Carlos politely agreed to sit in the back seat with Dude in his lap, stroking his fur every now and then to keep his dog calm.

"Miss Rose, Mr. de Vil, Mr. Charming," the worker greeted with a sharp nod. "You are all looking nice this summer."

"Thank you, Lumiere," Audrey said as she climbed out of the vehicle, moving out of the way so Carlos could get out safely with Dude. "Are my parents here?"

"Your mother is working on paper-work for the new employees," Lumiere informed. "As for your father, he is still out of town for a business deal regarding the resort."

"I told you they're selling it to my parents," Chad stubbornly repeated to the girl.

"I don't believe it was with your parents," Lumiere corrected with just a hint of hesitation in his tone. "Mr. Rose mentioned he would be speaking with three men, not the Charmings."

"Told you they would never sell it to you," Audrey retorted with a slightly sinister smile. "That means you still have no power here."

Twirling around so her back was facing Chad, Audrey and Carlos—who was walking Dude on his worn-out leash—walked toward the clubhouse while a slightly fuming Chad went to his room to change for the pool.

Audrey kindly waved to the other club members and staff, giving compliments here and there to brighten people's days.

As the duo entered the lobby, Audrey inwardly sighed when a certain employee, dressed in too nice of a suit for a resort, approached them. "Hello, Grandfather."

"Audrey," Stefan Rose greeted with a simple nod. "So glad you have returned home. How are you feeling about the resort being sold any day now?"

"It's not sold yet," Audrey insisted as she gazed at a display cabinet, where a picture of her mother and father sat with nameplates stating they were the Club Founder and President.

Next to the pictures, the cabinet was filled with trophies from the Rose family's triumphs in swimming, diving, tennis, golf, and ballroom dancing competitions. Audrey's gaze moved to a poster advertising the club's annual social event: Enchanted Dominion's Midsummer Night's Star Dazzle Talent Show.

"Have many people signed up this year?" Audrey questioned, now looking at a stack of embossed programs lying on a reception table.

"Half the usual amount has signed up for the audition," Stefan claimed all-too-knowingly. "News went around about the resort being sold. Your grandmother and I thought it was best to limit each auditions to thirty seconds. Amateur performers can be very . . . draining. You and Mr. Charming will still have the same amount of time as usual for your duet."

"Did Mom or Dad approve this?" Audrey automatically interrogated. "I mean, with there being less candidates, wouldn't it be best to keep the time limit the same? Or even increase it? I'm sure the employees would enjoy having the extra time to show off their talents."

"The Star Dazzle Talent Show is meant primarily for club members—"

"But it is tradition for the employees to participate as well," Audrey interrupted with an annoyed eyeroll. "Since there are less people auditioning, there will be less people participating in the show. Adding more employees will keep the show at the normal length and may inspire more people to work at the resort. Mom and Dad said quite a few employees quit last summer because of certain people. They hired new workers, but I think that problem and the financial problem we are facing would be solved if they just fired those people."

Stefan clenched his jaw at the suggestion. "Young lady, your grandmother and I work very hard to run the resort for the benefit of the members—"

"But you are not the owners," Audrey firmly argued. "And it is about time you start acting like it."


Sometime later, Audrey emerged from the locker room wearing a gorgeous pink swimsuit with a cute baby-blue cover-up. Carrying on her shoulder, her bag contained sunscreen, her cell phone, and notebooks and textbooks for her summer classes. With being so involved in the Drama Club, every summer Audrey has to take summer classes to make up for classes she missed or failed during the previous school year. If she doesn't pass the summer classes, then she would have to take more classes during senior year.

Waiting for her at their usual spot under a large umbrella, Carlos gentlemanly pulled out a chair for Audrey at their table. "How many classes do you have this summer again?" Carlos wondered as he helped push in the chair afterwards.

"This time four," Audrey answered while emptying her bag of the textbooks and notebooks. "The main thing I'll need your help with is Chemistry and Algebra. For English, I just have to read three books and do a report over each. I don't suppose you know how to speak French."

"You're out of luck there," Carlos claimed as he picked Dude up to sit on his lap. "And I'm not that good at Chemistry either. I know Evie Queen had the top grade in both the regular and advanced classes. I suggest asking her for tutoring sessions. For French, maybe you should ask—"

"Hey!"

The two turned their head toward Chad, who looked angry about something, stormed over to them. Once he was near them, Chad gestured to the pool area. "Have you seen who the workers are?"

Gazing at the general area, the two actually perked up at seeing the particular workers. Up by the lifeguard area, Uma—dressed in a teal one-piece swimsuit with shorts—was speaking with Harry—dressed in black swim trunks and a dark red tank-top—as they constantly scanned the pool area. A few feet away on one side of the pool, Mal—dressed in her pretty purple dress while wearing her blonde hair—had a set up for her art supplies as she drew portraits of members that wanted it done.

"Why are they here!" Chad demanded, then he noticed another group of students being led around by an employer. "What are they here for!"

"Mal is the new artist and Uma and Harry are the new lifeguards," Audrey informed. "The rest are being given a tour of the resort before they start tomorrow. They needed summer jobs, I told my parents, and they were hired. It's not that big of an issue."

"It is to me!" Chad exclaimed angrily. "This was supposed to be my summer away from those losers."

"Don't call them that," Carlos ordered forcefully. "They're my . . ."

"Friends?" Chad scoffed at the suggestion. "Please. You haven't hanged with them in three years and now you want to call them that? You are such a hypocrite."

Glancing at the artist once more, a mischievous scheme formed in Chad's mind. "I'm going to remind her what happens when she hides her hair."

"Chad, what are you—"

Completely ignoring the duo, Chad casually strolled over to the side of the pool. Meanwhile, Mal had just finished a portrait for a member when she stood to stretch her legs. As she went behind the easel—

SPLASH!

Somebody pushed her in! Mal floundered in the water, sputtering desperately as Uma and Harry both dived into the water to save her. The group of students, led by Ben, ran to that side of the pool as Harry helped her sit on the edge of the pool, while Uma laid Mal's now drenched blonde wig next to her. Ben immediately placed his jacket around his girlfriend's shoulders in a vain attempt to dry her.

"CHAD!" Carlos shouted as he stormed toward the blond bloke. Shoving him angrily, Carlos screamed, "What the hell is wrong with you! Mal can't swim!"

"Security!" Audrey called out before gesturing to Chad. "Escort Charming out of the resort and don't let him return. He is now banned from the resort for putting the well-fair of an employee at risk. If he returns, he is to be charged with trespassing."

"You can't do that!" Chad yelled angrily.

"I JUST DID!" Audrey barked louder than the convict, challenging him to challenge her authority. "I am one of the owners of this resort. NOT! YOU! You have one minute to get out of my sight before I have you arrested!"

While security practically dragged a belligerent Chad away from the pool away, the rest of the students focused their attention on Mal, who was still trying to catch her breath from the near drowning experience.

When things couldn't get any worse for the girl, Stefan Rose strolled over with a woman about his age, wearing a pale pink dress suit. It didn't take anyone long for anyone to figure out the woman was his wife, Leah Rose.

"Well, well," Leah greeted as she examined the soaked girl with a snarl of her nose. "What do we have here? Now, why is your hair that unusual color? That is simply improper."

Mal didn't answer. Her eyes were as wide as saucers when she gazed upon the married couple. Ben, who had his arms wrapped around Mal's waist, couldn't tell if she was shivering from the cold . . .

Or from fear.

"There's no rules against dyed hair," Uma quickly intervened. "I checked the employee handbook when I arrived today."

"That may be true, but we can always add it." Stefan narrowed his eyes at the damp girl. "You will be excused this time. I suggest drying yourself quickly and getting back to work. I won't allow you to slack off, Maleficent."

Danger flashed through Ben's mind at hearing the name said in such a disgusted tone. Quickly escorting his girlfriend away from the couple and pool area, Ben waited until they were out of hearing range before interrogating, "Your perspective: what do you see him as?"

Mal glanced up at her prince with tears in her eyes, announcing, "The man that stole my mother's wings."