My Billionaire Prince

CHAPTER 3

Tasha's POV

Present Time

A maid led me to a room that already had my suitcase delivered.

My mind is still reeling and trying to process everything that has happened within the past 24 hours.

“Do you need anything else, my lady?” The maid's voice flowed to me, drawing my attention to her.

“No. That would be all for now.” She bowed and left the room, closing the door behind her.

I plopped down on the bed and buried my face in my hands. I was exhausted and couldn't even find the strength to cry. I dozed off almost immediately as the fatigue hit me like a storm. I was startled awake to a maid shaking me hours later.

I barely had the time to comprehend anything as they scrubbed me clean and put me in a fancy dress.

I descended the stairs to see Mathew awaiting my arrival, a confused expression plastered on my face.

“What's going on?” I asked as soon as I reached him.

He ignored my question and reached for my hand while faking a smile. I peered up at him confused by the sudden demeanor change.

He looked stressed and looked as if he had aged within hours of being here. I mean I could relate to that, I had barely arrived and this place was already making my head hurt.

I was tempted to question him more when lots of flashes suddenly lit up in front of us and I turned to see that we had already made it outside the house. There was a lot of paparazzi men and women everywhere, with their cameras pointed at us, all trying to get a shot of us.

What the hells.

A guard shielded us from the crowd as we made our way to the vehicle waiting for us.

“What the hell was that?” I asked as soon as we drove away.

“Paparazzi” Mathew said and relaxed into the seat. He had released my hand.

“Why?”

“I rarely visit, it was only a matter of time before they got wind of my return, no less with a companion.” They were here because of me?

Was that why I was all dressed up? And where the hells were we going? I took in Mathew's attire and noted how official he looked as well.

“Where are we going?” I voiced out my thoughts.

He didn't answer for a while and just as I thought he wouldn't bother to give me one, he said “To give them what they want.”.

Who was they? All this confusion was making my head hurt.

We returned hours later, after spending the day at different locations. We went to an art gallery, the mall, and several public places Mathew knew we could be spotted, all the while sporting fake large smiles and posing as a couple in love.

Basically giving the paparazzi what they wanted and selling them a lie.

‘Paint the perfect picture’ he had said before we exited the car for the gallery and I could only imagine that his grandmother was behind all of this.

“Are there any beaches around?” I had asked out of the blue and Mathew glanced at me.

“Yes, why?”

“Can we go there? Maybe just make a short stop.” If he was puzzled or angry, he didn't show it. Minutes later, we arrived at a beach, with the sun casting a beautiful glow over the water as it set.

I stepped out of my shoes to feel the soft waves of the water on my feet as it washed off shore. The beach was empty, I figured it was due to the impending darkness.

Mathew followed me as I walked closer to the water. The air drew a certain calmness to me.

“Is this how it's going to be from now on?” I asked, with my back to him.

“Unfortunately so, I'm afraid.”

I turned to face him. “I didn't sign up for any of this Mathew.” He had his hands in his pockets while he stared off at a distance.

He looked out of place in his official royal attire. He looked too serious.

“I had a whole life before all of this.” He placed his hands on my waist and drew me closer and my stomach flipped.

“I'm sorry,” he said and kissed me on the head.

“I just want to go home.” I buried my face on his chest and turned it to the side when I belatedly registered a flash going off in the distance.

He released me after sometime and wordlessly walked back to the car and it dawned on me then, this was all for publicity.

I turned my attention back to the water as I tried to will myself not to cry.

As the wind swept through my hair, I released a breath I didn't realize I had been holding and everything suddenly came crashing down on me. A tear slipped out, followed by another and soon, the entire dam exploded.

Mathew returned to stand beside the car and waited for me to have my satisfaction before we returned home. The drive back was silent, both of us too deep into our thoughts.

My thoughts drifted off to Lisa, I missed her. I hope she was fine and Mathew kept his promise to bring her over. I desperately needed a familiar face and someone to lean on.

The paparazzi were no longer in sight when we arrived, Mathew wordlessly walked ahead of me and disappeared into his quarters. I sighed and decided to do same.

The house was quiet as I ascended the stairs and I wondered where everyone was, there wasn't even a maid in sight.

I undressed and took a bath to try to relieve my muscles from the day's stress and prepared for bed when halfway through, I got thirsty and decided to head over to the kitchen to get myself a glass of water.

I walked out of my room to descend the stairs and had barely taken few steps down, when I was suddenly harshly pushed and I lost my footing.