Page 53 of His Royal Request

She handed me her phone. It was pulled up to a web search of my name. Over three hundred thousand results populated and the top all had to do with me and the prince of Lochland.

“American steals Prince’s heart. They’re in love, but will it last? Insider says the relationship is a sham.” I finished reading and shook my head before looking up. “What’s going on?”

Isla sighed and sat next to me. “Pictures of you and Aiden were released. I promise our staff is looking into it. No media was allowed in yesterday so that means guests sent the pictures in. We’ll find out who did it.”

I was stunned. “So, people know about me and Aiden?”

She nodded. “Not just people, Charlie, it spread from Lochland press across Europe and it made it to the US.”

I searched her face waiting for her to say she was kidding. She didn’t.

“Are you serious?” I asked.

She nodded slowly.

“But why? Why do they care about me?”

She reached out and touched my arm. “Honey, I know Aiden is just a person to you, but to the rest of the world, he’s a prince. He’s a celebrity. People are fascinated by all royalty. He hasn’t publicly dated in the last eight years, since he was a teenager. Now, he shows up to a private event hosted by the King and Queen with an unknown woman. Of course, everyone’s going crazy. They’re trying to find out who you are and the story.”

“So, they don’t know who I am yet?”

Isla smiled, but it was a fraction of her usual grin. “Just your name, but it’s only a matter of time.”

I groaned and covered my face.

“Charlie, I’m asking this as a friend.” I lifted my head and my eyes met hers. “Is there anything we need to know about before it comes out?”

My jaw dropped but it was a fair question. I just couldn’t believe it was happening to me. “No.” I shook my head thinking through my entire life in just a few seconds.

“No affairs, disgruntled ex’s, no cheating, no problems at school?”

I sighed and shook my head. “For the first time ever, I’m grateful I’ve had a remarkably boring life.”

She relaxed and nodded.

“What if they find out that Aiden and I just met?”

She rubbed her temple and blew out a breath. “That’s likely. They can get their hands on his itinerary and if they dig into your life, they can piece it together.”

I nodded. “I should call my parents.”

Her eyes held compassion and worry. “You haven’t told them?”

“I told them I was going to Lochland, but I haven’t exactly been keeping them up to date.”

She nodded and took my hand. “It’s best you tell them before someone else does. They might get hounded soon, so at least they’ll know it’s coming.”

I felt horrible this would affect them. I just hoped the press would leave them alone.

“What do I even say, Isla? I’m pretending to be Aiden’s girlfriend for the week?”

She stood and gazed down at me. “You still think you’re pretending?”

With that she walked out of my room, closing the door behind her. I leaned against my soft pillows and considered hiding out until this whole thing blew over, but she was right. Aiden was just Aiden to me. To the rest of the world, he was a powerful CEO and prince. I should have known this week wouldn’t be easy.

I reached over to the nightstand where my phone was waiting. I hadn’t needed it this week except to send a few texts to my dad and Liza that I was still alive. I dreaded the call I was about to make, not just because of the bomb I was going to drop but thinking about the phone bill pulled my stomach in knots.

I might have forgotten about my real life while I’ve been at the palace, but the second I leave it will all come back to me.