Page 27 of Tabloid Princess

This must have been because of what I said yesterday. A churning sensation of sick washed over me. This was all because I couldn’t keep my mouth shut or my prejudices to myself. All because my filter was permanently stuck to off.

I sank in my seat, my heart heavy in my chest. I’d offer to resign. I had enough experience now that I could try to get a job somewhere else. And it wasn’t like I didn’t have any GCSE’s or examinations, I did. Maybe just not as many as other people. I did have a six-year-old instead, which I was sure counted for more, but it wasn’t what people looked for on CV’s.

When Molly came in and recovered from her shock at seeing me in my chair before her, she cast me a questioning glance which I returned with a shrug—but it was a lie. I knew why everything had gone wrong. It was all on me.

I spent the next hour searching for hashtags I could use if I kept my job and could explore the idea Emilia had.

What would people respond to?

I also wrote dutiful notes of what I did, so whoever took over my job would be able to pick it up easy.

When Janine’s door opened, and she looked expectantly in my direction, I knew it was time. On shaking legs, I stood and pushed my chair in leaving my desk neater and tidier than I’d ever kept it.

“Oh.” The word huffed out of my chest when I walked into her office.

It wasn’t just Freya sat clustered around the table. His beautiful face lifted to meet mine, expectation lighting in his gaze; almost a question I didn’t know the answer to.

“Leia.” Freya’s voice was curt, but I barely looked in her direction. I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the face of the prince. As I stared at him, ogled him really, I recalled the tears that had dropped absently down my face last night as I’d watched the news.

I wondered what he would say if I told him the truth, that he was the only man who had ever made me cry. Ever really made me have any response at all.

He nodded a greeting before lowering his gaze back to a notebook in front of him.

“What’s going on?” I asked, hesitation tightening my tone.

Freya practically huffed out a sigh and darted a candid glance in my direction.

It was Prince Oliver who spoke, his melodic and careful tones dancing into my ears. “I’ve decided that instead of just highlighting Bright Futures at my birthday ball, which only rich people would go to, I’ll be using a week here to bring some publicity down to street level.”

It was like the whole room evaporated when he spoke. I wasn’t actually listening because I was far too busy just staring at his face.

“I saw you on the news.”

His mouth curved, just at one side. I had a brief crazy thought of what it would be like to kiss it.

Stupid brain.

“And it garnered your approval, I hope?”

My own lips curved just a fraction. The pounding in my chest threatening to deafen the sound of everything else. “Garnered, it did.”

I stared at him, unashamedly, while he stared straight back. I wondered what he saw. A young woman, rude, arrogant? Something he didn’t understand, judging by that unsatisfied expression flitting across his face.

“Listen.” I pulled at the edge of my T-shirt which had somehow stuck itself along a crease in my stomach. “I’m sorry if I was offensive.” I hated apologising in front of Freya, her judgement of me rolled off her in waves, but I swallowed hard and saw it through. “Sometimes I don’t think before I speak. It’s not a thing I’m proud of.”

Janine chuckled, although what she was laughing at defeated me. She’d almost lost an amazing opportunity because of me. “Leia, relax.”

“Easy for you to say,” I grumbled.

Prince Oliver’s lips flickered. “Leia,” he said, my name sliding off his tongue. It should be made illegal to say a person’s name like that. “It’s okay. Thank you for your honesty—” his eyes met mine, “—again. The ball can’t be cancelled. It’s a long running tradition.”

“Tradition?” I all but whimpered.

“Yes, the heir to the throne always has a ball for his thirtieth.”

“Oh. I didn’t know that.”

He shrugged and glanced at his watch. “So, I’ve changed it. I’m going to spend the week doing some press calls here, hoping to grow your awareness, and I’m going to make an investment that will hopefully push you to the next level.” His voice was business-like and abrupt. I’d upset him. My rudeness had affronted him.