A Thief's Kiss

3| Thief

Chapter 3: Thief (Aria's POV)

I spotted him from a mile away. The first time I ran into him, it genuinely was an accident. The second time, I planned it. I would have stolen the watch then and there, but those stupid cufflinks got in the way. But you know what they say. The third time's the charm. 

I looked down at the watch in my hands, analyzing it. It appeared to be silver-gold but it wasn't. It was made from rhodium. I stepped aside, stopping to look at it. Really look at it. I'm hoping it isn't some kind of heirloom or something. 

"Which way did she go?!" 

I looked up, tucking the watch in my back pocket. 

"Which way?!" I could hear him yelling. I look behind me, seeing the prince himself pushing his way through the crowd, searching for me. The only thing that could catch his eye is my hat. I pulled it off, putting it on the nearest stall and standing there, pretending to look around. I grabbed one of the antique mirrors for sale on this stall and used it to keep an eye behind me just in case he recognized me. 

He walked right past me. I put the mirror down and grabbed my hat, pulling it on. 

I need to get out of here. 

I followed him silently, leaving a large distance between us. He would turn around abruptly every so often and I would take my hat off and duck each time. I bent down quickly as he turned, pretending to tie my laces. When I got back up, I couldn't see him. 

"Shit," I mumbled, adjusting my hat. I had no other choice, I had to make a run for it. I started pushing my way through the crowd, picking up speed. I was running, mumbling 'excuse me' as I pushed past people and crashed into them. 

I slowed down to a jog when I thought I was in the clear and let out a yelp when someone grabbed my wrist aggressively and yanked me back. I winced, immediately starting to struggle against him. He tightened his grip, making me yell. "Ow!" I stopped struggling, glaring at him. He gave me a pointed look. "What?" I snapped. 

"My watch." 

"What watch?" I played dumb. 

He jerked me closer, his face merely inches from mine. "Give me my watch." 

"I don't have your stupid watch! Just because I'm a thief doesn't mean I steal from everyone. Let go, you're hurting me!" People stopped what they were doing and started to watch. 

"You're a thief, it's in your nature to steal when you see something you like, give me my watch," he said sternly. 

"Alexander Phoenix, I do not have your watch." People around us gasped when they heard me call him by his name rather than 'your majesty.' I glanced to my right, seeing the little boy I gave the lollipop to, tugging at his dad's trousers, asking him to help me. I nearly smiled. 

"Ma'am," his father cleared his throat. "Are you in trouble?" 

Alexander glared at me. Okay then. 

"Please help me, he's hurting me!" I yelped, making sure I sounded like I was going to cry. 

"She's a thief! She stole-" 

"Thief or not, you cannot grab a woman like that!" I spotted the pregnant woman yelling at Alexander. 

"She-" 

"Let go of her!" someone else from the crowd yelled. 

When he was distracted, I gave him a hard shove and booked it. "Move, quickly, quickly!" I yelled, hearing his footsteps right behind me. I nearly crashed into an old lady which made me slow down. I felt him grabbing my shirt, pulling me to a halt. I groaned, spinning around to face him.