The Royal Treatment Read Online Free PDF

when is that going to be?”
    “You’ll get an in-depth report on it once you’ve gone through a quick Level Two initiation. You do feel ready to take on a higher-level princess, yes?”
    “Yeah. Sure. Slap a job right on me.” I smacked my lips and reached for the box of chocolates. “I’m easy.”
    “No, you aren’t easy. That’s exactly what I wanted to talk to you about.” Meredith set her cup on the saucer. “Although you did well enough in court, no more meddling in the princesses’ lives, or kissy business, unless it is specifically noted in the princesses’ profiles, which I sincerely doubt because most girls don’t like subs kissing their prince.”
    Kissing their prince. Ah, Karl. Such a nice mouth. I rubbed my lip-glossed lips together. I wondered if I’d ever run into him on a job. It would be fun to see him. And his soft lips. Did I mention those?
    “You’re not answering. Darling.” Meredith rubbed her temples. “If we get some time in between gigs, I’ll take you around town and introduce you to a nice Parisian boy. They’re far more entertaining and real . I’m sure our cover agency, Mirage, has a cute male model they can spare.”
    I pushed away my Karl thoughts and pasted on what I hoped was a professional expression. “Meredith. It’s fine. I’m too young for all of that anyway.”
    “Really?” She snorted. “Because I saw you buying a certain magazine the other day, and I’m guessing it wasn’t for the ‘Ten Steps to Better Thighs’ article.”
    I almost choked on my anger. “Don’t you have better things to do than run surveillance on my grocery shopping? Yes, okay, so I might have had a tiny, fleeting crush, but I let it go. Just like you did with your prince, right?”
    It was a low blow. When I’d last seen her, Meredith had written a text to the very prince whom she’d dumped after a nearly career-crushing relationship during her days as a sub. It must have been years since they’d last been in touch. True love or not, Façade employees dating royals is way taboo. I had no idea what became of that text, but this wasn’t a secret she would ever want exposed.
    We stared at each other before Meredith dropped her gaze. Point to Desi.
    “Yes. Exactly,” she said. “Now, Miss Professional, if you’ll step out of the bubble, we can get your Level Two initiation done.”
    “We’re here? But…”
    “I wish I could say I’ve missed your endless questioning, but insincerity makes me itch. Yes. We’re here. Smoother landing and improved parking privileges are all part of the upgrade. Leave your gift basket here, and I’ll make sure you get it back later. If you think that makeup in there is a hint, then you’re right. Would mascara really hurt?”
    “You sound like my mother.” I squeezed through the bubble wall. I didn’t need mascara when I was just going to look like someone else soon anyway. And by someone, I meant an important, cultured, Level Two princess.
    Once we were in the lobby of Façade, the bubble floated back into Meredith’s remote. She gave the gadget a squeeze of affection. “I so love my ride.”
    And I so loved the regal grandeur of Façade. The reception area glowed from the sunlight reflecting through the stained-glass windows. Museum curators would salivate if they knew about the collection of priceless royal artifacts—from golden toothbrushes to a marbled baptismal font—neatly displayed throughout the vast hall. But the artist creating a Façade tile mosaic behind the reception desk was new. So were the tables being set up near the tiara wall. Anticipation hummed in every corner.
    “What’s going on here?” I asked.
    “Genevieve’s seventieth birthday is this month, and we’re renovating for the event. Everything needs to be perfect so we can show Specter who is king. Or queen, rather.”
    “Who is Specter? Is he on the council?”
    “Specter isn’t a person. It’s another branch of the agency, a bit of a rival,