Prince Charming of the Yellow Chariot (eBook)

Gregg Cannizzaro (Autor)

eBook Download: EPUB

2025 | 1. Auflage
188 Seiten
Publishdrive (Verlag)
978-0-00-095669-9 (ISBN)

Infos

Prince Charming of the Yellow Chariot is a witty, modern-day fairy tale set in the heart of New York City, where glittering high society collides with the grit of chasing dreams.

Charlie Matthews, a struggling actor moonlighting as a cab driver, is one audition away from giving up when fate throws Eloise Fairfax into his backseat-a debutante torn between art and aristocracy. Their chance encounter sparks a whirlwind romance full of stolen moments, mistaken identities, and champagne-soaked secrets.

As Eloise rebels against her mother's rigid expectations and Charlie navigates the unforgiving theater scene, the two find themselves drawn into a love story that defies the rules of class and convention. But in a city where appearances are everything and ambition cuts deep, can their fairy tale survive reality?

Charming, clever, and brimming with heart, Prince Charming of the Yellow Chariot is a delightful romantic comedy about finding the courage to be yourself-and the magic of finding someone who sees you for who you truly are.

Textauszug

Chapter 60: Crossroads and Complications

The Fairfax Industries boardroom crackled with tension. Eloise stood at the head of the table, her usual confidence noticeably shaken.

"Ladies and gentlemen," she began, her voice steadier than she felt, "in light of recent... developments, we need to reassess our strategy."

Mr. Thornton leaned forward, eyes narrowed. "Developments? Is that what we're calling the spectacular implosion of our partnership with Astor Corp?"

Eloise flinched internally but kept her face neutral. "The situation with Astor Corp is fluid. However, our sustainable energy initiative remains viable."

"Viable?" another board member scoffed. "Without Astor's distribution channels, we're back to square one."

As the room erupted in heated debate, Eloise's phone buzzed. A text from Harrison: "We need to talk. Urgently. Meet me at our spot?"

She ignored it, focusing on the crisis at hand. "If I could direct your attention to the projections on page three..."

Across town, Charlie sat in a sleek television studio, makeup artists fussing over him. A producer approached, clipboard in hand.

"Alright, Charlie, you're on in five. Remember, keep it light, plug the show, and if they ask about Mel's absence, just say she's pursuing other opportunities."

Charlie nodded, a knot forming in his stomach. "Right. Light. Plug. Lie. Got it."

As the producer walked away, Charlie's phone lit up with a message from Mel: "Callback went great. Might have big news soon. Miss you. How's the show?"

Charlie stared at the message, thumbs hovering over the keyboard. Before he could respond, a stagehand appeared. "You're on, Mr. Davis."

The lights blinded him as he walked onto the set, the host's overly enthusiastic voice washing over him. "And now, the star of the off-Broadway sensation 'Hearts in Havana', Charlie Davis!"

Meanwhile, in a quiet corner of Central Park, Harrison paced nervously. He checked his watch for the tenth time, then pulled out his phone to call Eloise again. Straight to voicemail.

"Damn it, Eloise," he muttered. "Where are you?"

A jogger passing by did a double-take. "Hey, aren't you that Astor guy? The one from the news?"

Harrison's face darkened. "No comment."

As the jogger shrugged and continued on, Harrison's phone rang. His father's name flashed on the screen. With a deep breath, he answered. "Hello, Father."

Mr. Astor's voice was cold. "Harrison, I assume you've seen the headlines? 'Astor Corp in Turmoil: Heir Apparent Missing in Action'?"

"I've been dealing with the fallout from your little boardroom stunt," Harrison retorted. "Someone had to do damage control."

"Damage control?" Mr. Astor laughed humorlessly. "The only damage here is what you've done to this family's legacy. Get back to the office. Now. We have a press conference in an hour."

The line went dead. Harrison stared at his phone, then at the park entrance where he'd hoped to see Eloise appear. With a heavy sigh, he turned and walked away.

Back at the television studio, Charlie stumbled off the set, his fake smile fading. The producer intercepted him, beaming.

"Charlie, that was fantastic! The host loved you. We've already had calls about booking you for more appearances."

Charlie nodded absently, making a beeline for his dressing room. Once inside, he collapsed onto a chair, loosening his tie. His reflection in the mirror looked like a stranger – polished, successful, and utterly miserable.

He pulled out his phone, finally replying to Mel's message: "That's great news. Show's fine. Miss you too."

His thumb hovered over Eloise's contact. Before he could overthink it, he pressed call. It rang once before going to voicemail. Charlie's heart sank.

"Hey, El," he said after the beep. "It's me. Charlie. I, uh... I don't know why I'm calling, really. I guess I just... I miss talking to you. About everything. Nothing. I saw you on the news. You looked... Anyway, I hope you're okay. If you need a friendly ear, or just someone to share overpriced coffee with... I'm here. Always."

He hung up, feeling both lighter and heavier at the same time.

As the sun set over New York City, Eloise stood on the balcony of her office, the weight of the day heavy on her shoulders. She pulled out her phone, seeing the missed calls from Harrison and the voicemail from Charlie.

Her finger hovered between the two notifications, indecision paralyzing her. The Astor Corp building loomed in the distance, a symbol of everything she'd worked for professionally. But Charlie's voice, even just the thought of it, stirred something she'd tried hard to bury.

With a deep breath, Eloise made a choice. She pressed play on the voicemail, Charlie's familiar voice filling the air around her. As she listened, a single tear slid down her cheek, quickly wiped away.

The city lights blinked to life as night fell, a reminder of all the dreams and heartaches contained within its borders. Eloise looked out at the skyline, feeling more lost and more certain than she had in years.

Chapter 61: Echoes and Crossroads

The New York skyline glittered in the fading twilight as Eloise stood on her office balcony, Charlie's voicemail still echoing in her ears. His words, tinged with a mix of hope and resignation, stirred something deep within her – a longing for simpler times, for dreams untainted by corporate machinations.

With a deep breath, she dialed a number she knew by heart.

"Lily? It's me. I need... I need my best friend right now."

Across town, in a dimly lit dressing room, Charlie stared at his reflection, barely recognizing the polished actor staring back at him. His phone buzzed – another message from Mel:

"Great news! They loved me at the callback. Looks like I might be Hollywood-bound for real this time. How'd the TV spot go?"

Charlie's fingers hovered over the keypad, a storm of emotions swirling within him. Before he could reply, there was a knock at the door.

"Mr. Davis? There's someone here to see you."

The door opened, revealing Harrison Astor, looking decidedly less put-together than usual.

"Harrison?" Charlie blinked in surprise. "What are you doing here?"

Harrison ran a hand through his disheveled hair. "I... I'm not entirely sure. I suppose I'm here to talk about Eloise."

Meanwhile, at a cozy cafe, Eloise sat across from Lily, her hands wrapped around a steaming mug of tea.

"Okay, spill," Lily said, eyeing her friend carefully. "What's got you looking like you're carrying the weight of Wall Street on your shoulders?"

Eloise sighed. "Oh, you know, just the usual. Corporate takeovers, family legacies, and the small matter of my heart being torn in two."

Lily leaned forward. "Harrison and Charlie?"

Eloise nodded miserably. "Is it that obvious?"

"Only to someone who's known you since you thought Barney was the height of theatrical excellence," Lily quipped. Her expression softened. "El, you can't keep running from this. You need to make a choice."

Back in Charlie's dressing room, an uncomfortable silence hung between the two men.

"So," Charlie began, "you wanted to talk about Eloise?"

Harrison nodded, pacing the small space. "She's... she's something special, isn't she?"

Charlie's jaw tightened. "She is. But I'm guessing you didn't come here to state the obvious."

Harrison stopped, turning to face Charlie. "No, I didn't. I came here because... because I think she's still in love with you."

Charlie's eyes widened. "What?"

"And I think," Harrison continued, his voice strained, "that you might still be in love with her too."

Before Charlie could respond, his phone buzzed again. Mel's face flashed on the screen.

Harrison gestured to the phone. "You should get that. It seems we both have some decisions to make."

As Harrison left, Charlie answered the call, his mind reeling.

"Mel? Hey, I..."

"Charlie!" Mel's excited voice cut him off. "I got the part! They want me to start filming next week!"

Charlie's stomach dropped. "Next week? But what about the show? What about..."

"Us?" Mel finished softly. The line went quiet for a moment. "Charlie, I think... I think we need to talk. In person."

Across the city, Eloise and Lily exited the cafe, arm in arm.

"So," Lily said, "what are you going to do?"

Eloise took a deep breath, gazing up at the city lights. "I'm going to do something I should have done a long time ago. I'm going to follow my heart."

As they parted ways, Eloise's phone buzzed. A message from Harrison: "We need to talk. It's about us, and about Charlie."

Eloise stared at the message, her heart pounding. With trembling fingers, she typed out a reply: "Meet me at our spot in Central Park. In an hour."

As she pocketed her phone, Eloise caught sight of her reflection in a store window. For the first time in months, she saw a glimmer of the old Eloise – the dreamer, the artist, the woman who believed in love above all else.

With renewed determination, she hailed a cab. "Central Park, please," she told the driver. "It's time to write my own ending."

As the cab merged into traffic, Eloise felt a mixture of fear and exhilaration. Whatever happened next, she knew one thing for certain: the next chapter of her story was about to begin, and this time, she was holding the pen.

The city thrummed around her, a symphony of possibility. In its concrete canyons and glittering towers, dreams were born, hearts were broken, and second chances were waiting to be seized. For Eloise, Charlie, Harrison, and Mel, the...

Produkt-Details

• Erscheint lt. Verlag: 18.6.2025
• Sprache: englisch
• Themenwelt: Kinder- / Jugendbuch
• ISBN-10: 0-00-095669-4 / 0000956694
• ISBN-13: 978-0-00-095669-9 / 9780000956699