THE FORGOTTEN PRINCE

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER THREE

Dishana’s POV

The sound was but a singular event that would change my life forever.... I sit up from the chair, the newspaper on my lap crinkling as the orange lead pencil rolls across the floor, granny is asleep with over a dozen machines hanging over her, she seemed so frail right now and my heart broke just a little bit. I remembered getting to the hospital, my heart clenched in my chest, my head aching.

"I'm here for Gabby Bridge" I whispered, my heart beating a mile a minute. I couldn't understand why this was happening, Gabby was not my real grandma, she had taken me in when I was in bed.

She was in her seventies but had been as healthy as a horse almost too healthy some days but as the nurse led me to her room, and a pale young looking doctor with glasses too big for his face and a constipated look that didn't inspire much confidence in him explained to me that my grandma the woman who'd taken care of me when I had no one was in dire need of a liver transplant and wouldn't live long if she didn't get one I had felt broken.

I couldn't tell her about Collins her grandson who was currently in a holding cell ,or the fact that I'd lost my job because my boss wanted to touch me inappropriately –she couldn't handle that right now but I knew that I needed to get out of here before I exploded into a million tiny pieces, I couldn't afford that, not when there was no one to pick me up if I do. I picked up my bag and pressed a kiss on Granny's head before leaving the room, I spoke to the nurse.

"I'll have to leave but I'll be back soon" I mutter as she nods sympathetically.

"Take your time, we'll watch Gabby for you," she says softly.

I left the hospital and contemplated if I should tell Collins about Granny, but I shook my head no, it was best he didn't know for now, at least until we could solve his problem. He was a hot headed young man and we couldn't risk it. I sighed walking towards the road just as a car sped past me splashing a puddle of water over me, I shuddered at the cold spray seeping through my dress.

"Hey" I shouted as the car sped by me, I didn't expect it to stop, but the car reversed to a quick stop, I jumped away trying to escape wearing another puddle. I'm tired, and annoyed at this point, the car door opens and a man steps out, he walks over to me, his eyes trailing over me before settling on my face, his eyes are a soft gray that have an arrogant glint, his hair slicked back. He looked so familiar, a memory teasing me so that I wasn't sure.

"Are you blind" I ask irritatedly and he huffed.

"I should be asking you the same thing.”

"No, you should be apologizing you asshole" I hissed and he laughed, getting on my nerves in the worst way imaginable.

"Do you try this with others and it works?" he asked.

"Is this your way of getting money out of me?” I slapped him hard, the sound of it jarring the people around,some looked on with fascination, some avoided all eye contact. The man grabbed at his jaw and chuckled. He reached into his pocket, pulled out a wallet and took some bills from it, grabbing my hand. He stuffed them in.

"Get a new dress" he ordered as he walked away back to his car.

"Hey get back here and apologize" I called out harshly but he ignored me, shutting the door with a loud bang and driving away at speed. I watched him leave dumbfounded and looked into my palm at the bills, hundred dollars in total. What an arrogant t**t I hope he smashed that fancy ass car, I thought as he sped past me.

************

I was desperately in need of a job, granny's bills were piling up and Collins's sentencing was in a few days, I needed to be prepared for the worst scenario. I scanned the newspaper ads for a job anything was welcome at this point, granny was watching the small pocket TV hanging on one side of the room, she was grumpy, had been for most of the afternoon, finding a donor for her transplant was slow going and she just wanted to go home and rest in peace– she kept going on about how she was resigned with dying. It took everything in me not to shout at her but I managed it. I was ruling out jobs with no openings, as well as those I'd interviewed for with no feedback, when an advert caught my eye.

The royal house of Adamos was in need of a nanny to take care of the young princess. My chest ached for some reason, I had always loved children, the thought of being able to raise the blue eyed princess appealed to me.i stood grabbing my bag.

"Where are you off to in such a huff," Gabby asked and I grinned pulling my bag with me.

" I have to go write an application" I muttered and she smiled.

"Well off with you then, " she murmured.

“I'll see you soon, I have to get this done before the deadline" I urged, pressing a kiss to her forehead, she nodded.

"Bring me some good food when you're coming back" she warned and I snarked.

" You don't get anything the doctor didn't order," she scowled.

"I'm not dead dammit I demand good food" she mumbled, and I smiled indulgently.

" I'll make it myself" I assured her and she sighed.

"Fine, go" she replied. I hurried out the door and took a taxi to our apartment. It was Granny's home she and Pop had bought over twenty years ago and it was a beautiful home, there was a mortgage that I had to pay off–another reason I needed a job.

I went into the sewing room that I had set up before granny got sick and couldn't use it much. I oiled it, set it up, and pulled out my design book, soon I was lost in a trail of fabrics and color. I cut, sewed, measured, and did it all over again. I could see the morning dawn as I finished the last stitch, I yawned, cracking my neck to the side, my eyes were gritty from exhaustion and I needed to get some sleep but I couldn't do that. I booted up my ancient laptop and drafted an application and resume. Then I sent the sample by mail and crossed my fingers while waiting. I hoped she would love the dress but especially the doll it was something I would have wanted to give my own daughter.

It was torture every day, going to the hospital, visiting Collins while keeping a secret from both of them about the other all while waiting for my email to pop up. The dreaded email came in three days later, squealing, I sprung out of my chair, laptop in hand.

"I got it" I screamed.

"Quiet down girl" Granny huffed grinning widely, I smiled back at her, likely looking as foolish as I did.

I arrived at the royal house with my resume, and everything else I could think of. I had no idea how we were going to be judged. But I assumed our intelligence and speed in this interview would matter a lot and I needed to stay sharp. So I had spent the entire night studying in the royal palace and its crown prince, Adrias Ados. He was one of the wealthiest men in the kingdom and his wealth was all self made.

He lived a very private life with no pictures except for cute shots of his daughter.Before he had become the crown prince, he had owned numerous businesses in and out of Adamos, Then his brother had passed on and he'd ascended the throne with a daughter. To work here would be a dream come true.

"Ana Bridge" the secretary called my head whirred. It still did that whenever I was called Ana, memories flashing through my brain as I tried to recall something. I stood taking in a deep breath, I stepped forward.

"I'm here.”

"Come.” She nodded briskly, I followed her into a small office where three people sat, I swallowed, and looked up to find familiar gray eyes filled with it's arrogant glint. A name card on the table read Adrias Ados, I felt all the blood drain from my face.