The Princess Problem

by Diane Darcy

Alicia cleared her throat. “No. It doesn’t require that kind of talent. It’s all voice-overs. She’ll just need to sit there and look pretty.”

  Mike handed Jonas the pictures of the model and he studied them, then shook his head. “I still don’t think so. She just doesn’t have the right look.” He reached past her to pick up the discarded photos and rifled through them one by one. “I don’t like that one.” He set the photo down and looked at the next one. “Or that one.” Another photo joined the pile. “I don’t like her, or her.” He looked at Alicia. “Are there any more photos?”

  She finally looked straight at him for the first time. “Don’t mind me, I’m only the director. Do I get a say in this?”

  “You know I’m right.”

  “I know. But we’re still looking through photos and watching film. You’re getting ahead of yourself.”

  “Well, let’s see the rest then.”

  Mike slid another photo across the table.

  “No,” said Jonas.

  Alicia rolled her eyes. “We haven’t even looked at her film yet.”

  “She’s too aloof.”

  Alicia studied the picture. He was right. But they had to choose someone. “She’s very pretty. Maybe with different makeup she could work?”

  “Nope. Next one.”

  He didn’t like the next three. Willa agreed.

  Alicia was ready to scream. “We have to have a princess.”

  Jonas snorted. “If I’m forced to choose a princess, is it too much to ask that she display a little warmth and passion? Isn’t that what commercials are supposed to do? Show something awesome, like warmth and passion, and lead the viewer to associate those feelings to the product?”

  “Yes.”

  “Well, we’re trying to sell mattresses here and, in my opinion, extra warmth and passion are required. We’re not looking for an ice princess. So keep looking.”

  She had to agree. He was right. And Alicia was dismayed to realize that maybe models weren’t the best idea. Maybe what they needed was an actress who could project warmth and passion. She closed her eyes and rubbed her forehead. Maybe they were going to have to start over.

  “Mike.” Jonas threw the photos onto the stack. “Did you take any shots of Alicia?”

  “As a matter of fact,” Mike pulled out a separate envelope. “I did.”

  “No.” Alicia tried to snatch them away, but missed when Jonas jerked the envelope out of reach.

  “I’m the director, not the model,” she said.

  Jonas took out a stack of photos and, one by one, studied them. He set them in front of her.

  There were shots of her laughing, holding the crown to her head, long hair spilling around the dress. There were more shots of her looking amazed, angry, confused, and contemptuous. Two guesses who she’d been looking at in that last one.

  Jonas laughed and set down a picture of himself, arms crossed, looking stubborn. Alicia couldn’t help it. She laughed, too.

  Willa shuffled through them looking delighted.

  “Do you have film?” Jonas asked Mike.

  “Sure.” He skipped forward until Alicia’s face filled the screen as she passionately defended her ideas, and Jonas argued with her. When Alicia accused him of being insecure in his masculinity, Willa laughed. When onscreen Jonas stated that he got final say over the model they hired, he turned to look at her, triumph in his expression. “You heard that. I get final say.”

  “Just because you said it doesn’t mean it’s true.”

  “You’re doing it. You’re the princess.”

  Willa stepped forward. “You have to agree you’d be perfect, Alicia. Please say you’ll do it.”

  Alicia looked down at the photo in front of her, at the dress hanging around her neck. Even she had to admit her dark hair looked stunning against the fabric, and her eyes sparkled with the excitement she felt for the project. “Okay, I see what you mean. Now that we’ve pinned down exactly what we want, that’s what I’ll look for.”

  Jonas shook his head. “Why waste any more time? You do it. You’re perfect for the role.”

  “I agree,” said Willa.

  “Me, too,” said Mike.

  “But I’m directing.”

  Jonas shrugged. “Lots of directors act in their own films. How is this different?”

  She inhaled a long breath and shot Jonas a dirty look. “Fine. I’ll try it. And when I fall short of everyone’s expectations, then will you stop bugging me about it?”

  “You said the model didn’t need talent for the role. That she just had to sit there and look pretty. How could you possibly fall short?”

  Alicia looked a Jonas through narrowed eyes. “I really want to hurt you right now.”

  Jonas grinned.

  Willa laughed. “His father used to have that same effect on me, dear.”

  Alicia was uncomfortable with the comparison. Especially when Jonas winked at her.

  She picked up the stack of photos, straightened them, and took a deep breath. “Okay. What are we doing sitting around? Let’s get this show on the road.”

  Chapter Six

  A few hours later Alicia’s nails were done, her hair professionally styled, and her makeup professionally applied. She had a whole lot more respect for her friend Katie--and anyone else who modeled for a living. Two hours of sitting still in a chair and being treated like a dress-up doll were more than she had patience for.

  She headed for the women’s restroom and found the dress Willa had retrieved from the dry-cleaners after a good pressing. Alicia stripped down, and carefully slid into the gown. She wrestled with the side zipper for a moment, finally got it all the way up, then slipped into her white satin pumps. She turned and looked into the mirror. Wow. The dress fit, hugging her curves in all the right places, and falling in graceful lines to the floor. She moved her body back and forth and watched the dress resettle. The white satin, netting, and beading were simply beautiful. Her makeup made her eyes large and mysterious, her cheekbones stand-out, and her pink lips full and kissable. Nice.

  She adjusted her hair over one shoulder, and tilted her head to get a better look at the tiny crown perched off center on her head. It seemed vain to even think it, but she was absolutely gorgeous. She really did look like a fairytale princess.

  She headed out toward their set, which now shone brightly in the center of the store with all the lighting in place. Most of the employees were standing out of the way and watching, as well as a few customers.

  She heard Jonas before she saw him. “It’s too high. Someone could get hurt.”

  Alicia passed Mike fiddling with his camera and rounded the corner to see Jonas talking to his mother. “We should make it half the size.”

  Alicia hurried forward before he could talk Willa into changing anything. “It’s not too high. It’s perfect.” She pulled Jonas’s hand off the top mattress and quickly dropped it when a sizzle of attraction shot between them. She ignored it. “It’s no higher than a bunk-bed. In the story there are twenty mattresses and twenty featherbeds. So the few I have here are not to be touched.”

  “Forty in all?” He snorted. “You’d have to tie them with ropes to get them to stay in place.”

  “Well, be that as it may, you aren’t touching this bed.”

  “Fine.” He stared at her.

  After a moment, she lifted her chin. “You’re staring.”

  “I can’t help it. You look great.”

  She couldn’t hold his gaze and glanced away. “Thank you.”

  “And it would be a shame if you fell off this bed and got hurt.”

  “You’re like a dog with a bone. The bed is sturdy.”

  She noticed Mike was filming and was about to ask him to stop when Jonas’s hands landed on her waist.

  “Let’s test it out.”

  Before she knew what he’d planned, Jonas lifted her up, and set her on the top mattress.

  Eyes wide, arms flailing, Alicia almost fell off the bed, and would have if Jo
nas wasn’t holding her in place. “What are you doing?”

  “Seeing if you’d fall off. If I wasn’t holding onto you, you would have.”

  “You didn’t set me back far enough, and you know it. You barely set me on the edge.”

  When he gripped her waist again and lifted, setting her back further on the bed, she gasped, impressed by his strength.

  He cautiously let go and she crossed her ankles, set her hands primly on her lap, and gave him a superior look. “See. I’m fine.”

  He gazed up at her. “Yes, you are.” He said it like he meant it.

  She blushed, and hoped the heavy makeup she wore hid the color rushing to her face.

  Jonas set a hand on her leg and she slapped it away.

  He laughed.

  She grinned. She liked looking down on him; liked the admiration on his face.

  Mike cleared his throat. “While you’re up there, let’s get a few shots. Move all of your hair over one shoulder.”

  She did.

  “Good, good.”

  “Jonas can you back away?” asked Mike.

  “What? Oh, sure.”

  “Don’t you have work to do?” asked Alicia.

  “Nope. I’m all caught up.”

  “You’re micromanaging.”

  “I’m just here in case you need me to give my two cents.”

  “More like twenty-two dollars and two cents.”

  He chuckled.

  Alicia looked at Willa. “What time is the prince coming?”

  “He should be here any minute.”

  “You have a prince?” asked Jonas, frowning.

  “Of course.”

  “What does he look like?”

  “Don’t worry,” said Alicia. “He’s about my age and he’s really good-looking.”

  “Oh?” For some reason, Jonas scowled.

  “Luckily for me he was free to take the job. He was an easy choice. As soon as I met him I knew he was perfect.”

  Jonas thrust his jaw forward and his hands clenched and unclenched. “Perfect, huh?”

  Fascinated, Alicia watched Jonas. He almost looked jealous. She knew she shouldn’t say anything, but couldn’t seem to help herself. “Are you jealous?”

  Jonas scoffed. “Don’t be ridiculous. What’s his part? What’s he going to do?”

  Alicia, still perched on the bed, shrugged. “The first shot will pan to a frazzled girl on a plain-looking mattress. She’s tossing and turning and not getting much sleep. So this--”

  “It’s not one of my mattresses, right?”

  “No. It’s just a generic one, okay?”

  “Why can’t it be made by one of my competitors?”

  “Fine, whatever.” Alicia waved a hand. “Anyway, back to the story line. The prince comes in and--”

  “What is the prince wearing?” asked Jonas.

  Alicia frowned. “A royal outfit, including a cape, and crown.”

  Jonas’s eyes narrowed. “He’s not wearing tights, is he?”

  “Yes. Why?”

  “No.” Jonas shook his head. “Not going to happen.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean, you sold me on the girl being a good selling point for mattresses. A guy’s going to feel good about buying a mattress that has a pretty girl spread out on it. But a guy in tights? No way.”

  “Are you trying to sabotage us?”

  “No.”

  “So what do you want him to wear?”

  “What’s wrong with jeans?”

  “Jeans?”

  “Sure, why not?” asked Jonas.

  “A guy in jeans isn’t going to say, hey, fair maiden, do I have a mattress for thee.”

  Jonas smirked. “Those are his lines?”

  Alicia took a deep breath. “Yes. Those are the lines I wrote for the prince.”

  Jonas’s lips pressed together as he tried to hold back laughter and Alicia’s temper flared. “And what lines would you give the prince? Please,” she waved a hand, palm up, in a gesture fit for a princess. “Enlighten us.”

  He rubbed a hand over his mouth, then let his arm drop. “Okay. I’d say, hey, this is my family’s mattress company. We make really good mattresses. Come on down and get a mattress from us. We make the best in the industry and we don’t overcharge like some of the competition.’” He gestured toward the audience. “These are some of our employees and they work very hard for you. Same with the employees over at the factory. Any mattress you purchase from us will be very comfortable, and of such good quality that it will last you for years.” He gestured toward Alicia. “And for you guys out there, if we could give away girls who look like this one, we would, but since she’s not included, you’re on your own there, buddy. You’ll have to put in the work like the rest of us.”

  Jonas bowed slightly to Alicia. “That is how you sell a guy a mattress.”

  “Let me remind you that it’s women who make most big household purchases.”

  “Couples rarely buy mattresses alone.” He looked at his mom. “Am I right?”

  “He’s right,” agreed Willa.

  “So, in fact,” said Jonas, “you do have to appeal to both genders for this purchase. I’ve told you how to sell to the guys. What I want to know now is, what would you say to a woman who wants to buy a mattress? Do you honestly think she wants fairytales?”

  Alicia leaned forward. “That’s where you run off the track Mr. Know-It-All. Women do, in fact, want the fairytale. We also want comfort and a fair price, and quality, but definitely the fairytale.”

  He crossed his arms over his chest. “Explain.”

  “The reality may be that when a woman goes to bed at night, the guy next to her is an overweight, unshaven slob. But he’s her slob, and she still wants some romance. She hopes that the guy she’s with, even if they’ve been together for years, still wants to look into her eyes, and still worships the ground she walks on.”

  Jonas snorted. “We’re selling mattresses, Princess.”

  “No, you’re selling dreams coming true. Fairytales.” Alicia lowered her lashes, gave Jonas a seductive look, and patted the mattress beside her.

  Warily, he walked forward.

  “Now look at me like you’ll die if you can’t accept my invitation and join me.”

  Jonas reached up and she slapped his hand. “Look at me.”

  With a growl he reached up, pulled her off the mattress and into his arms, he lowered his head and kissed her, his firm lips claiming hers in a slow, fierce, devastating kiss.

  “Whoo hoo!”

  “Go for it, Highborn.”

  “My goodness!”

  The catcalls in the background slowly penetrated Alicia’s awareness. When he broke away and looked into her eyes, his brimmed with an emotion she didn’t recognize.

  “What did you do that for?” she asked softly.

  He lowered his gaze and helped her stand upright. “I thought you wanted the romance.”

  She struggled in his grasp. “So you grabbed me like a caveman?”

  One of the female employees sighed. “I thought it was romantic.”

  “Me, too,” said Willa.

  The way Alicia’s heart was pounding, apparently it agreed.

  Jonas sucked in another breath and released her. “Well, I guess you have this well in hand. You can, of course, do what you want. I bow to your expertise.”

  Still feeling stunned, her heart still pounding, Alicia watched him go. Yesterday the love-at-first-sight rose, and now a kiss? He was doing a great impression of a guy who believed in fairytales and happily ever afters. She blew out a breath and shook her head. “Okay everyone. Time to get back to work.”

  * * *

  Later that afternoon, Jonas opened the glass doors and headed inside. He’d been at the factory most of the day where there was always plenty to do, but the entire time he’d fought the urge to come back to the store. He had to admit he hadn’t gotten much work done.

  Which was Alicia’s fault, of course.
She had incredible drawing power. He couldn’t seem to stay away from her.

  He could see that she and her crew were still working hard, and considered joining them. He wanted to go see what they were doing, but didn’t want to interrupt and knew he’d be a distraction, so he headed upstairs to his office instead.

  He walked to the window overlooking the store. They were gathered around a laptop, watching something, Alicia using her hands to get a point across, her animated face visible as she talked to the others. A minute later a makeup artist retouched her face, then Alicia stood beside the bed and walked through a shot with the prince, who was indeed, wearing tights.

  Jonas grimaced. He might not agree with Alicia’s vision for the project, but still, he had to admire how hard she worked. Her enthusiasm was still going strong, even after a long day on the job. He turned away. She was too attractive for his peace of mind and he wasn’t acting normally. He shouldn’t have come back here.

  There was a knock on the door and his mother stuck her head inside the office. “Hi. I saw you come in.”

  “How’s the commercial going?”

  “Great.” His mom walked in, then sat in the chair across from him. “We’re almost done with the filming. It’s really coming together.”

  “Well, as long as you’re happy with it.”

  “I am. We all are. We went over to the house for a few hours today and took some shots of Alicia in the rose garden for the magazine ads. She looked beautiful surrounded by my roses.”

  “Oh? Well, that’s good.” Jonas wondered what Alicia had thought about the rose he’d given her the night before. He wondered if she’d looked up its meaning.

  “Son, I need to take you to task for something.”

  “Am I in trouble?”

  She took a breath. “Yes, you are, young man. And you need to make it up to me.”

  Jonas eyed his mom. He knew when she was upset and when she was only acting upset. This definitely fell into the later category.

  “Okay. What did I do this time?”

  “You know very well what you did. It was completely inappropriate to make fun of Alicia’s ideas this morning, and to kiss her like that.”

  He managed not to laugh. He knew good and well his mother didn’t mind him kissing Alicia.