“It’s been my pleasure. I do hope we’ll have a chance to talk again before your departure in a few weeks.” He tipped his head her direction then walked away, talking quietly to his aide as he did.
“Right this way, ma’am.” Mrs. Powers directed her toward a different hallway.
There weren’t as many twists and turns as Elise would have expected and, in just a few minutes, she was alone in her quarters for what was left of the night. The furnishings weren’t as over-the-top as she might have expected. They were definitely among the nicest Elise had ever seen, but not ostentatious.
A glance at her watch told her she should try to get some sleep, but her schedule was so messed up after the travel oddities that she wasn’t certain she’d be able to.
Rest.
She needed to at least get some rest. Her luggage hadn’t arrived yet, but the clothes she wore were comfortable enough that she didn’t worry about it. After kicking off her shoes, climbing under the covers, and snuggling down, Elise wondered if her bags would show up before she needed to get ready for the day.
At least the strange bed was comfortable.
It wouldn’t have surprised her too much if the mattress was closer to a hard rock than a pillowy haven. A palace seemed like it would favor furniture for form rather than function.
Sinking down and pulling the covers up to her chin, Elise closed her eyes and succumbed to the sandman.
When she woke to a buzzing sound, the heavy curtains over the windows meant Elise had no idea how much time had passed.
The buzzing continued from the side table. Rolling to the side, she reached for her phone to see a call coming in from a local number, but not one she had saved in her phone.
Odd, but probably one of the producers or production assistants to discuss the first day of shooting.
“Hello?” She tried to keep the sleepy sound out of her voice but knew she failed miserably.
“Ms. Stephens, please hold for the king’s assistant.”
Before she could reply, the line clicked and music began to play. Guess the operator - or whoever placed calls on behalf of the king’s assistant - didn’t need to wait for an answer. Elise wondered if anyone would say no or just hang up before the next person…
“Ms. Stephens?”
“Yes?” Had the king ever told her the name of his assistant? She didn’t think so, but he likely had more than one anyway.
“Your presence is…” There was a slight hesitation. “…requestedby the king in his office. Your escort will arrive in five minutes.”
Elise sat straight up. “Um…” What time was it? How long before she needed to be at the set?
But the call had already been disconnected.
For about fifteen or twenty seconds, she just sat and stared at her black phone screen, but then realized the implications of what she’d been told.
A meeting with the king. Probably in his office, but possibly somewhere else. Unlikely in the private residence.
It only took a few more seconds to determine her luggage hadn’t been delivered - at least not where she could see it.
Moving to the well-appointed bathroom, she found her suitcases stacked neatly near the far wall. How had she slept through someone carrying all of it through the bedroom?
No matter now. Her time had likely dwindled down to under four minutes. Several seconds were spent unzipping her main suitcase. A pair of jeans and a hopefully wrinkle free shirt were right on top, next to her small toiletries bag.
Jeans wouldn’t be her first choice, but she didn’t have time to dig further.
Changing took longer than she wanted. Of course she fumbled with buttons and zippers when she was in a hurry.
Did she have time to brush her teeth?
Nope.
Instead, she swished some mouthwash around as she pulled a brush through her hair. There were too many knots to get them all out, but as she gathered it into a ponytail, the mouthwash went into the sink.
