CHAPTER 3

By the time Pamilerin got home, the sun has already gone down, giving way to dusk. She voiced her appreciation to her chauffeur as the car came to a stop in front of her father's house. Stepping out of the car before he could come down to open the door for her. She gently waved him away before making her way into the house. It was a Terrace Apartment, definitely not a mansion but its home and they are comfortable.

"So how was your first day at work dear? Did you meet the king, and is he as handsome as he looks on television?" Pamilerin's mother, Ireti, demanded the minute she walked into the house.

"Mom!" She groaned in exasperation. "One question at a time," she said, dragging her tired form in the direction of her bedroom.

"Don't mom me. Are you saying you did not notice that he is good looking? Even I noticed" she replied with a knowing smile.

"Alright mother, what as working with him, got to do with if I noticed his good looks, any way to answer your questions, yes I met him." Toeing her shoes off as she enters her room, rearranging it on the shoe rack, purposely avoiding the last part of her mother's enquiry. But her mother is like a bull dog once she has an idea stuck in her head to disabuse her of it is always difficult.

"You have not answered me Pamilerin...?"

"Fine, mother, he's good looking if you like the old silver-fox look, but he's on a power trip," she begrudgingly added. "So are you happy now?" She raised her hands and dropped them.

Ireti knew that the king must have made an impression on her daughter for her to act like this, but she did not want to press her luck. Maybe next time, when she is more relaxed and less suspicious of her motives.

"Uhm, that's quite an observation from you, being the first day." Ireti observed, "But you do realize that you did not mention anything about how your day went?" Eyes twinkling, with mischief.

"God, mother!"

"Fine I'm going. I will just assume your day went well. Love you, darling. Freshen up and come out for dinner" closing the door behind her.

Pamilerin could hear her mother's chuckling as she leaves, sighing tiredly, she removes her cloth and step into the adjoining bathroom. Her mother is up to something, what's up with the fifty questions? She refused to play her mind games today. She towelled her body dry after washing, leaving the bathroom. Pamilerin selected a short cotton gown to wear. It was one of her favourite comfortable casual gowns. She was sure that her mother would update her dad on the conversation they just had. Her parents were just like that; they enjoyed gossiping. She smiled at the thought. She loves the way they adore each other, and she hope to find the kind of love they had someday, not that she is thinking of getting married soon. In the main time she will enjoy her singleness.

"Darling situation report?" David asked his wife has they prepare for bed,

"Which report, you this old man have you now turn me to a reporter" she asked with mock irritation, standing before the vanity mirror to wipe off her make-up.

"Come on love, you know I'm not in her good book tonight, seeing how she blames me, for making her take the job, and that is why we agree you should cajole her to tell you, so it will be unfair not to tell me" standing behind her, before drawing her into his arms. Their gaze locks with each other through the vanity mirror where she stood. He pressed a kiss on her nape causing her shiver with desire. "Pretty please, tell me" he whispered, knowing she can't resist his charms.

"Fine, I will tell you" giggling like a girl.

David knew his daughter can be stubborn when things are not going her way, but this time around he is sure she has met her match and it will be delightful to see how things will play out.

"Are you sure it will work out like you planned darling?" Ireti asked her husband, worried that her husband's plan may back fire on them, leaving her daughter hurt and broken.

"Yes, it will, my dear. Stop worrying. Just watch how your man does it." He grinned lovingly at his wife, and they both became entwined in each other's arms.

~*~

Pamilerin was surprised to hear that the King has travelled out of the country, when she got to work the next day. Apparently, it was a trip that he needed to make urgently, seeing how he did not give her any inkling about it.

"Anyways it's not like he needs my permission before he can travel..." She mutters to herself. So why are you getting upset? Her subconscious demanded. "I just thought it is a simple courtesy, being his Secretary, temporary or otherwise" she retorted aloud, glaring at her computer.

She sets about checking her mails, when a mail from Alexander pop up, she clicked the mail open to read, "Good morning, I had to travel out of the country urgently, but will be back soon. I need you to work on the water project file and get in touch with Adebayo, need it to be ready for my approval once I get back. If you need anything ask Adebayo. Take care."

His mail was very impersonal. "Just like him," she thought as she searched for the water project file. She has only met Mr Adebayo twice and both occasions were at her father's house. Though they did not talk at length but she likes him. He has a gentle nature around him, working with him will definitely not be a task for her.

She relaxed has there is no king to make her feel agitated. Connecting her iPod into the system, she soon starts moving her head to the slow jam as she works. She missed lunch, far engrossed to remember she brought one along, has there were a lot mails and calls coming in. Pamilerin separates the ones that are urgent from the ones that can wait. She was replacing the phone on the receiver, when a soft knock sounded on her door. It was Adebayo.

He did not miss the surprise on her face "good afternoon, Pamilerin. How are you settling in? I came to check up on you." He gave her a warm smile as he stepped into the room. She stood up to shake his hands, "Hello sir, thank you, I'm doing just fine" she smiled back has she offered him a sit.

"Please don't call me Sir, you will make me feel so old," he said, chuckling as he took the seat she offers.

"But I still can't call you by your name" returning his smile. She guessed the king must have called him to check up on her, but she tries not to let it rub her in a wrong way, "I was about to even put a call through to you after I finished sorting out this mail, but I sort of lost track of time" she explained.

"Please don't feel bad, you have a lot on your plate as it is, you can reach out to me when you are ready." Rising to take his leave, he paused at the door, "hope you've had lunch?" Glancing back at her. "From the look on your face you haven't.

"Ops I forgot, was pretty much swapped." A bit self-conscious.

"Please do, the King will not want you to collapse at work from exhaustion" he teased.

She looked mortified, imagining how it will look like if what he said happens, "no we won't want that" she replied embarrassed, causing him to grin at her, closing the door after him.

She swallowed the last bite of her food, putting the food flask away and resumed back to work after. It was past five in the evening by the time she started packing up for the day. The gentle knock on her door gave her pause while she switched off her system. "Yes, come in please."

She looked up to see the man who had driven her home last night. "Excuse me, miss, I wanted to check if you were ready to go home. I can drop you," he explained.

She was taken aback, "But surely there is no need to trouble yourself I can find my way home, thank you" she replied politely.

"I'm sorry but his Highness left strict instructions, so you will have to allow me," he replied has he took the bags from her, already leaving without waiting for response, expecting her to follow him.

She followed him, seething inside. Even when he wasn't around, he still found a way to irritate her. She is not a damsel in distress that needs to be help or taken care of, I mean where did he get off, thinking he can just make her do things. She was almost stamping her feet in fury, but she refrained from throwing a tantrum.

Relax, it's just a ride home.

She wondered if this was how the other staff working for the king were driven home, or if it was just her, but she scoffed at herself, "It's not like he even likes me or anything."

The fifteen-minute drive back home was smooth but silent, both lost in their thoughts. He did not allow her to open the door for herself this time, insisting on doing it. Pamilerin finds it amusing but still allows him to, it must be part of his standing orders, she mused.

She found her father outside strolling in the compound, when she came in.

"Hello, baby girl, I thought it must be you when I heard the sound of the car outside. I wonder why you won't take your own car to work, instead of using them as your so-called Uber," he said, dropping a kiss on her forehead and hugging her to himself.

"No dad it was one of the Kings guards that drove me home, and don't remember I told you I want to have some work done on the car?" Walking by his side into the house.

"Oh that's true, but tell me darling didn't he drove you home as well yesterday?" He asked, peering down at her.

"Well, yes, I was driven home yesterday, but it's no big deal, dad." She missed her father's knowing smile.

Pamilerin completed her nightly routine, discarded clothes for sleep trousers and top. Lying down, thoughts of Alexander crossed her mind; she wondered how long he would spend out of the country. Her mobile phone ringing tone, brought her back to awareness. It was a withheld number, "Hello?" Weariness laced her voice.

"Hello Pamilerin… Hello? Are you there?" Alexander mutters gruffly. "hello, are you there?" Sounding impatient.

"Oh, I'm sorry, sir. Hello, your highness, I was not expecting your call," she stumbles on her words, surprised, quickly sitting up straight as if he could see her.

"It okay, have not seen your daily report in my mail, what happened?" He demanded, without preamble.

"But sir...I already sent it. I did so before leaving the office."

"Well I'm staring at my mail now, and I can't find it. Oh, it just came in now. Later then." ending the call.

"What's the deal with this man, just because he is the King does that mean he should be this rude, she hissed glaring at her phone. She silently promised herself to stay away from him as much as her work would allow. She needed to repair her car as soon as possible. No more freebies, especially not from him.