Page 21 of Tabloid Princess

Without meeting anyone’s gaze, I almost slunk my way towards the main door.

I concentrated very hard on not tripping on the flat surface of the floor. It wouldn’t be the first time. All eyes were on me.

It was the green eyes I wanted to ignore.

Despite the fluttering in my stomach.

“So,” Freya said, pulling the attention away from me. “We’ve got amazing plans for the ball. It’s going to be fabulous and will really set the launch of your new foundation on the map.”

“Sure.” He didn’t sound like he was listening. I couldn’t look to check because I needed to keep my focus directly on my feet.

“Night everyone. Sorry I’m leaving early.” I said when I was safely at the door—I added the last bit as a tagged-on afterthought. That’s when I did it. Stupid eyes, stupid reactions. I glanced up even though I desperately didn’t want to. Even though I knew it was foolish and stupid. I glanced up to find those bright eyes focused solely on me. They watched me as though they expected one thing but were getting something else.

“Leia.” My stomach dropped at the ringing lilt that lingered over my name.

I needed to get out. Now. Needed to breathe. The door was only two steps away… one… two… Instead, I hesitated.

“Everything okay?” One of his brown eyebrows lifted.

“Yep. Uh, I’ve just got a headache.” Was I supposed to bob a curtsey? I really didn’t know the protocol. He wasn’t supposed to come back… we were told he wasn’t going to come back.

So then like a fucking idiot I said, “I thought you weren’t coming back.” My voice trembled a little. I was going to remove my voice box as soon as I got home. Better to never talk at all than to talk stupid shit. But then who would read to Daisy at bedtime or tell her to clean her teeth...? No, better to just not talk to princes.

What the hell was I thinking?

I’d lost my mind.

Officially.

He didn’t answer, but his steady gaze rested on my face.

Somehow, I got my feet to move. “I’m going home sick. I’m sorry. Bye.” I shouted the word as I opened the door and slipped into the street. Thankfully there weren’t many people around, so no one saw me bend and place my hands on my knees, dragging a deep and painful breath into my lungs.

No one except the prince who stood behind me, his hands sliding into his pockets as he hovered just inches from me. “Leia?” God, he needed to stop saying my name like that. It wasn’t fair. “Are you okay?”

I straightened up, swallowing hard. “Yes, fine thank you. It’s just a headache.”

“Forgive me for saying this, but you don’t look fine.”

“No?”

“No.”

A man in shirt sleeves and smart trousers approached us. As he got closer, I saw a small communication device in his right ear. “Everything okay, Sir?”

The prince didn’t take his eyes off me. “Fine.”

“Sir, I don’t think you should be out in the street like this.”

I watched wide-eyed. Was he standing out, exposed in the street, because of me? Why?

“Bill, I’m sure you will manage any situations arising. Leia and I are going to talk for a moment.”

Bill didn’t say a word and walked a safe distance away. Wow, I needed to teach Daisy how to respond like that. “Do people always do exactly what you ask, whether they think it’s right or wrong?”

My question just blurted out. Shame for me I couldn’t take it back.

“Usually, yes.” There was no escaping the intensity of his response. It glued me right to the pavement.