Page 8 of Tabloid Princess

“Eventually, but it wasn’t just Emilia who was affected. She’d chosen her path and was on it, not seeing what she’d left behind. She had a baby sister, Annabel, who was devastated. Barbra was worried Annabel would think this was the norm and that she’d copy her older sister. The parents were on the verge of a breakdown; not only with themselves but with each other. The day Barbra walked in she sat and cried for an hour before we could get her to open up.”

“What did you do?” I blinked under the intensity of his gaze.

“Bright Futures is about making the life of those affected by drugs and alcohol easier. We arranged for Annabel to go to a summer camp where she would be occupied and having fun, making her own memories and choices away from the influence of her elder sister. We arranged for Barbra and Colin to have marriage counselling and then we also sent them out on dates and arranged babysitting care of Annabel so they could try to learn to talk to one another again without recriminations and accusations flying around.”

I shifted under his direct gaze and swallowed hard. “You see this is what addiction does. It makes those on the outside feel as though they are to blame. We try to stop that from happening.”

He nodded, his fingers landing on the file. “What about Emilia? Did you ever manage to help her?”

“Slowly. Janine didn’t give up. We work closely with a homeless shelter down the river. With them we managed to make sure she was safe and away from the squats where she could be taken advantage of. Last year she started rehab.”

Prince Oliver licked his lips, his expression thoughtful. “And now?”

“If you go next door, she’ll serve you a latte and write your name on the cup.”

His eyes widened. “Really?”

“Well, if she’s on shift.” I laughed but it came out all breathy and well, dumb. “She’s studying, finally sitting the A-levels she should have sat three years ago. She wants to be a fashion designer.”

“Let’s go see if she’s there.” He jumped up and I realised I’d almost been laying across his lap I was that close.

“What? We can’t. What if you are seen? I thought you wanted your visit to be secret?”

He stopped, frozen for a moment until his long fingers lifted and rubbed at his face. The excitement in his eyes dimmed and I felt that little piercing dart of pain again in my chest.

What was I doing? Feeling sorry for a prince? I was going soft.

He slid his hands into his pockets, and I could visibly see him battle to bring his emotions and excitement under control.

“What can I do to help?”

“Other than tell everyone you know about us, and give us a trillion pounds, not much.”

“Why doesn’t the charity have much social media presence?”

I narrowed my gaze. “What are you saying about my marketing manager skills?”

His smile made that pain in my chest deepen in an unexpected way and I shook my head to try to clear my muddled thoughts.

“Most of the stuff we do is confidential,” I explained. “It’s hard to create social posts when everything you do is secret to protect the people we are helping.”

He perched a hip on the desk. “Forgive me for saying this. I’d hate to be rude.” He shot me a downright delicious smirk. “But you don’t seem to be the sort of woman to hold back on her views.”

“That is rude.”

“I did apologise.” His lips curved, breath stealing beautiful. “So why don’t you create content that helps bring awareness to the issue?”

“Most people don’t want to know the truth about what it’s like.”

“So make them.”

I glanced up at the clock on the office wall and gasped loudly. “How is it six o’clock?”

He seemed almost as surprised as I was. “Sorry. Do you have somewhere else to be?”

Flipping heck. I’d say. “Uh, yes. Uh.” I hesitated. How did one say goodbye to a prince you’d never see again? “Thank you, I think. I do hope you’ll consider keeping us on. I’m sure Janine is out there waiting, probably wondering what we are doing. God, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to talk for so long.”

Prince Oliver reached forward and held his hand out to mine. “It’s been surprisingly refreshing.” I slipped my fingers into his, shivering a little as a dart of warmth settled itself in my lower belly.