The Royal Contract

She had to tilt her head up to look at his face because her boss was one of the tallest people she had ever seen. If he did not make it to the media, he could have become a basketball player. But that was beside the point.

Her boss disagreed with her idea to downplay her interview with the Prince by just reporting the information she gathered about him and playing some clips.

“But, Sir,” Eida stared at his boss, pleading with his sensibility. “Prince Wellington is adamantly refusing live interviews.” Turning to her other side and looking at the man sitting beside her.

If she could not convince her big boss, she hoped her director might back her up. He always believed in her, supporting her mostly with her ideas. Maybe this time, he would also back her up.

“What do you think?” Her producer also shifted his head, following her gaze, questioning the man, scratching his nape, probably weighing his options.

She could only wait in anticipation as he mauled over her idea for her program. But based on his apologetic expression, he was about to side with their boss in this one.

.....

“I am sorry, Eida, but I think it is better if you do the live interview.” Her producer told her as he explained the possible benefit compared to what she had suggested.

Her boss also turned to her as if she was not seeing the point he was making. It would seem that he was trying to convince her that their idea was better.

Under any other circumstances, she would also agree with them. In truth, she would never propose this setup, not if she could help it.

“As you had seen, he never allowed any reporter or media to come closer to him before.” She was not giving up yet, because looking the Prince in the eye would not be easy.

She stood up from her chair, feeling slightly out of breath. She moved towards the window, trying to calm herself down. Her eyes fixed on the people below them, thinking many of them were waiting for her big story.

“That had never stopped you before.” The producer turned to her, a little bit confused by her actions.

He was right about that about her. Something like that would not stop her from pursuing an interview. She would do everything she could to get to the story, using every means possible.

At least legal or just a bit borderline immoral, but not that would warrant an arrest or persecution from her peers. She would not risk her reputation going under if she used something shady business.

“But this is different.” Her eyes still did not look at the two men with her in the room. She was afraid that they might read her like a book. They would know if she was hiding something this big.

“How?” Her producer asked, also slightly suspicious now at her seeming reluctance to do this segment.

She could not blame the two of them because they had never seen her in this state before. Usually, she did not bring problems but usually created solutions.

“Is there something wrong with this Prince that we do not know? Did anything happen that we should know?” Now, it was her producer jumping the gun and making conclusions about her odd behavior.

“No, you don’t understand.” She finally faced the two. Her resolve set because she believed she had no choice in the matter.

Either she did the assignment her bosses wanted her to do without complaint, or she had to tell them a plausible reason why she could not do it.

However, what justification could she give that would explain her way out of this situation. She could not tell them that the Prince was a terrible man. It was not the truth. But she could not also admit her valid reason.

“Well, then what is it?” His producer’s voice was laced with his concern that she might be hiding something, which she was, but he did not need to do that.

“He has become a friend, and I promised I would never bug him about this.” She was sure that her bosses were quite aware of her recent association with the Prince.

“Precisely, why you should capitalize on this. You could become our source inside the Palace.” Her producer said, excited about the prospect of getting more stories through her connection to the Prince.

She slightly cringed at the prospect of using the Prince as a source. Although, she would have grabbed this chance if that night did not happen.

“Fine. I will do this one. I will find a way to convince the Prince.” She moved back to her seat but remained standing in front of the two. “But after this interview, that is the last time I will ask the Prince for information.”

That was her condition, or she would drop this entire story and find something else to write. She still believed that this issue was not enough for them to fire her. They still needed her for the show. She wanted to believe that anyway.

“Ok. I am good with that.” Her producer finally took her side, but her producer still looked hesitant.

“Well?” She crossed her arms across her chest, tapping her foot on the carpeted floor, waiting for the verdict from the person who would decide her fate.

But how could she convince the Prince to join her on stage when he adamantly refused any live interviews. Aside from that, she still felt awkward after what happened to the two of them.

“Fine.” He breathed an exasperated breath as if he disagreed with her decision, but still, he had no choice. “But I want results in this one.”

There was an undertone in his voice that meant he meant business. After all, he had a company to run, and stories were his number one priority.