They Call Me Princess

Chapter Eight: Press Conference

Cameras flashed around us while the reporters buzzed quietly amongst one another. They were all seated in folding chairs while I was seated on a panel with the other Princes. Alexei sat next to me with a fake smile as he held my hand. I was naturally blushing and did my best to hide the fact that I was doing so. Never in my life have I felt so humiliated.

The clock struck noon and everyone in the room became silent. The meeting was ready to start.  Reporters scrambled to their seats and photographers got their cameras ready. Mr. Leroy stood up on a podium ready to give an opening speech.

He cleared his throat to gain all of the attention from the people in the room. Once everyone was silent and paying attention he began.

"I'm sure everyone has heard about the 'Modern Day Cinderella' that has been all over the news lately."

Nods of agreement followed by murmured yesses answered him before he continued.

"Well, we are here to confirm those stories." The reporters went wild as the cameras began to flash again.

"The 'Modern Day Cinderella' has a name however, and a life. She's worked here as my secretary for two years now. She's a bit rough around the edges, but she's the reason why we have this business still running today."

I gave him a small smile when he looked at me and nodded my head. He nodded his back before closing his speech.

"Her name is Isabelle Richards, and she is dating Prince Alexei Vitsins." The crowd immediately rose to their feet wanting to know as much as they could about me.

Mr. Leroy ignored their shouts and pleas and sat back down in his seat, on the other side of me.

"We will now accept a few questions. However, we don't have to answer them if we feel that they are irrelevant or inappropriate." Alexei spoke once everyone had calmed down enough.

Reporters raised their hands like school children waiting to be called on. Alexei's eyes scanned the crowd choosing a reporter. He chose a tall red-head first. She was from some famous newspaper that I read every now and then. "Miss Richards, is it true that Prince Alexei single handedly saved you from the crazed nobleman?"

Shocked that the first question was aimed at me I answered. "Well, yeah, but the other Princes were there as well."

She didn't seem to like my answer.

"Police reports claim that it was Prince Alexei who tackled the man. Was that true?" I swallowed a lump in my throat before answering another one of her questions. "Yes, he was the one who took the man out."

The only sound in the room were pens scratching against paper as eager journalist wrote everything down. The lady sat down afterwards content with my answer.

The next person was a man, who was obviously new and had a sick smirk on his face. "Prince Alexei, if you don't mind me asking- what did you and Miss Richards do in her apartment last night?"

Many gasps were heard around the room and murmurs soon followed. "Sir, I can honestly say that what happened in that apartment will stay in the apartment."

My face became deep red from what he implied.

~~

An hour past with questions being asked and answered. By the time one thirty hit the six of us on the panel were escorted out of the room and back to the conference room on the top floor.

When the elevator doors shut I glared at the Prince that stood beside me. "Why did you say that?" I asked with so much venom everyone else stepped back.

"Say what?" He looked me in the eyes without a care in the world. "The whole 'What happened in the apartment will stay in the apartment' thing! Are you trying to make them think that-"

"Yes. The happier they think us to be the easier everything else will be." I let out a growl, but before I could retaliate the elevator doors opened allowing all of the top floor workers to see us.

All of the employees stopped to look at all of us exit the elevator. I listened as females insulted me and men envied Alexei. If only they knew.

It was when we passed a few women that everyone knew what they were talking about.

"Look at her. She's such a slut."

"I bet she slept with all of the Princes."

"Probably I mean, she's always all over Mr. Leroy."

"Yeah, I can't believe that they made their relationship public the way they did."

All of the men in my group stopped and looked at the girls. I didn't however, their words had no meaning to me. Out of the corner of my eyes I saw Dimas elbow Alexei. I narrowed my eyes but didn't have time to think when my hand was slightly tugged on by Alexei.

I was forced to stand right in front of him, his other hand held my chin making me look straight into his eyes.

Even though I'm mad at him, he did have pretty blue eyes.

"I just want to apologize for last night. I understand that you didn't want to go that far, but you were just so cute with your sweet innocence."

I stood there with wide eyes as he leaned his face closer to mine. "Forgive me?"

I was confused at first before I realized what he was doing. "I forgive you."  I received a small smile from him as he hugged me.

"Nice acting." I muttered in his ear as the now embarrassed women walked away from the scene. He chuckled a bit before responding. "I could say the same."

He released me from the hug and grabbed ahold of my hand. People were watching us with curiosity as we walked off and into the secluded conference room.

With a sigh I released his hand and sat down with my head in my hands. If you thought that relationships were hard then try a fake relationship.