What was I supposed to answer? Had I listened well? Of course I had listened well! The prince had been very direct with his proposal and was looking at me with utmost attention while waiting for an answer from me, I opened my mouth and ended up stammering, I wanted to give him an answer because I didn't like to leave questions without one, I ended up closing my mouth and opted to bite my lip again.

I had never in my life felt so... confused.

He raised an eyebrow looking for my answer, I was stalling quite a bit, but I didn't have an answer to his proposal.

"I..." I looked away from him in search of help, there was nothing or no one in this place that could save me, I had to get out of this alone. I let out a heavy sigh. "I think this is illogical and I'm sorry to say it, but the more you open your mouth the more I'm sure you've lost your mind."

A throaty chuckle came from him as he repositioned himself back in place. He rolled his eyes in a way I found flirtatious before speaking again.

"You're not the first one to tell me that," he said with that flirtatious smile that came with him. "Well, do you have an answer yet?"

Try as I might, I couldn't think straight. I bit my lower lip again and avoided eye contact because it made me uncomfortable.

"I don't know," I answered after a while, "I don't think it's right. We could get into trouble."

I said.

"Gorgeous, we're already in trouble," he said, catching my attention, his eyes fixed on mine. "For an instant I wanted to tell him not to call me beautiful, I wasn't used to that kind of compliments and the way he pronounced that particular word made me want to blush. What do you say? Do we have a deal?"

I didn't hide my grimace, what should I tell him? Frederick was right, we were both in trouble from the instant we were caught by the kings, and I let him wrap me in his lies without even knowing him.

"Come on Beth, I'm getting old if you don't give me an answer now."

Besides being a liar, he was demanding.

"What if I say no?"

His smile disappeared immediately and I'm afraid his confidence too, he had hit a sensitive spot.

"You can't say no to me."

He demanded. I guessed that the prince was not prepared for an answer like that, he had assured me that he was going to accept immediately.

"Why not?" I insisted. "Again, this isn't right and we're both practically...."

"Please don't say strangers," she interrupted me, rolling her eyes. "We stopped being strangers a long time ago. Besides, I'm not asking you for anything out of this world."

I glared at him, for me that was something out of this world, where was the normality in this conversation?

"Asking anyone to be your fake girlfriend is something out of this world."

He grimaced.

"Technically it is," I was proud to know I was right. "But it's only for a good cause."

"A good cause?"

"Are you going to question everything I say?"

At this point, we had both become irritated, I snorted.

I went over the situation again, Frederick was right in saying I need the money, Nicholas had taken it upon himself to slander me through several journalism companies that it was going to be difficult for one to take me on, as he was a man of power and importance, it had been three weeks since my resignation and I had spent two weeks trying to get a good job with companies that I felt might hire me, I was good at what I did, I tried my best and always tried to get the best grade I could, I didn't complain about working overtime, I loved what I did, however, things had changed since my fight with Nicholas, doors had closed for me in the world of journalism thanks to him.

Although, things in my life were not going as well as I would like, the only good thing that had happened to me after being fired by The N. Eliasson's Journal was to be one of those selected to interview the prince of Sweden and now I was here with the heir himself in his house with a proposal that was tempting and risky.

I was impulsive, I liked to take risks regardless of the consequences, if there was one thing I had it was that I never gave up, when I had a goal, I sought to achieve it.

What was the worst that could happen if I ended up agreeing?

I had the feeling that if I rejected his proposal I would always be left with the doubt and the desire to know what would have happened and if I accepted, I was aware that I would have consequences.

"Tick tock, tick tock, tick tock."

He insisted impatiently. I gathered all the air my lungs could hold and let out a sigh.

"All right. Whatever this is I accept, but it will have to end as quickly as possible."

As quickly as I finished speaking, a big smile formed on Frederick's mouth.

"God, you gave me the longest minutes of my entire life."

He exaggerated.

"We should establish a contract, don't you think?"

If there was one thing I had learned, it was that everything was better with a contract, things went better when they were basically planned than improvised, if we wanted this to go as it was supposed to, we had to have a basis.

"About that... I disagree, contracts can be very overwhelming."

"What do you mean you don't want a contract?"

"It's not adequate, to have a contract we would have to get a lawyer, someone to support our facts and have evidence of them and we can't afford that."

"Why not?"

I asked defensively.

"Because this is ours, Beth, it'll be like our little secret."

Our little secret, I thought. What the hell am I getting myself into? Is it still too much to take back?

"If we're going to do this, it's going to have to be without a contract," he said. "We have to be the only ones who know about this, no one else can know about it, if they do, we're dead."

Dissatisfied, I ended up agreeing to his conditions.

"Well, we have a deal."

"That's the spirit, gorgeous!"

He exclaimed happily. After that, we were both embraced by a silence that I found uncomfortable, what should I do now? I was lousy at situations like this and hated the fact that I found myself in environments where it became uncomfortable. Frederick made his stool squeak as he got up from the table to remove our plates and glasses, as I had no other comment to add I just watched him wash the dishes, for a prince, he was quite independent and to live on his own he was very organized.

Ten minutes later, after drying the dishes and putting them away, he turned to see me, he offered me a smile that I couldn't answer him back, I was an emotional mess, thousands of thoughts were going through my head, and I knew this was a bad idea.

"Come with me," he nodded, "I'm going to give you a little tour of my humble abode."

Undecided, I got up from my seat and began to follow him. The apartment was small, although somewhat spacious, there was enough room for two people to stay, when we left the kitchen, the first thing we did was to return to the main entrance, where there was a living room set with a small table in the center of it under a carpet, a plasma screen TV in an impeccable mahogany furniture, -it looked more like a room than a living room- at one side of the living room there was a small hallway that led to the bedrooms.

"Well, there's not much to explain here other than that it's more like a room and living room at the same time, personally, I usually watch TV in my bedroom, it's very rare that I get to be here," he spoke. Seconds later, he made his way into the hallway where he turned on the light from a small switch illuminating the hallway, I could see there were three black doors, one at the end of the hallway, and two on the sides of the hallway. "My bedroom is on the left side, the door on the right is the bathroom, it's the only bathroom I hope it won't be a bother to share it."

It was modest and cozy, the place looked nice. I hugged myself, Frederick was encouraged to walk down the hallway ─it wasn't huge, it was an extremely short stretch─, he opened the first door which was his bedroom and turned on the lights. The bed was perfectly made to one side of it on the left was a door which I deduced must be the closet, there was a gray carpet on the floor a piece of furniture again in mahogany next to a huge plasma screen TV on the wall in front, a window with white blinds at the back was quite simple.

"As you can see, there is not much to describe about the room, I'm sure you have already deduced that there is only a window, a closet and a television, too simple," he continued explaining. "The second room is the same, the colors are the same as in this one, the only difference is that nobody uses it."

I nodded, as we left his room to go to the other one, he opened the door and just as he had said, it was identical.

"I guess I'll sleep in here."

I found myself saying out loud more to myself than to him, however, he heard me clearly and gave me an amused look.

"Unless you want to share a bed with me."

His comment made me blush in seconds, I quickly averted my gaze from his, how come he always had a comment for everything? He laughed.

"Beth, I'm just kidding. I won't sleep with you," he clarified seriously, but keeping his smile, "Unless you want me to..."

I rolled my eyes at his comment and hugged myself uncomfortably. I pretended not to hear his comment and again, there was silence, I tried not to make eye contact because I still felt my cheeks were flushed from blushing.

"Come in," he suggested, as he was still standing in the doorframe. "As you can see, I wasn't expecting visitors, but the sheets are clean unless you want me to change them for new ones."

I hastened to deny.

"No need, I have no objection to it."

"Perfect."

Frederick was about to add something else when the sound of his cell phone interrupted him, he hurried to look for it in his pants pockets and take it out, he rolled his eyes when he saw the screen, I was curious about who it was, he hurried to answer and cover the speaker to whisper to me.

"I'll be back in a moment."

As quickly as he could he closed the door to the room, I heard little murmurs as I walked, I heard a door slam shut and I stood still in my place before again leaving the room. He was gone.

****

Sometime later Frederick showed up at home again, during the course, I had taken advantage of the time to use my phone and answer the messages my parents had sent me, mom was curious to know how things had gone inside the palace, if I had been able to meet the prince and dad had assured me that I must have the best grade ever after having the opportunity to interview a member of royalty.

If only they knew what had happened....

"Hey, would you like me to order pizza for dinner?" He asked me as a suggestion, it had been a while since we had consumed a sandwich, still, my stomach had room for a good pizza.

"No mushrooms, they make me sick."

Frederick wrinkled his nose.

"In that case I'll have two. I like it with extra mushrooms," he clarified, this time it was me who wrinkled my nose.

After I ordered the pizza and it took half an hour to arrive, the two of us sat quietly on the stools, he placed the two pizza boxes on the counter and handed me a plate before pouring juice back into the glasses. I uncovered the box and hurried to take a slice as he took one from his.

Loathing the silence formed between us, I perked up to make some conversation.

"I think you have a nice home."

He turned his full attention to me as he took a bite of pizza. He chewed for a while and during that time didn't take his eyes off mine. I waited for him to add something so I wouldn't fall back into that awkward silence I hated, he didn't. I pursed my lips and frowned at him.

I pursed my lips and took another bite of my pizza, maybe he wasn't in the mood to talk, it wasn't a few seconds later that he spoke.

"So, you're uncomfortable with silences, are you?"

Now I understood, she hadn't responded to my comment because she knew I was uncomfortable and apparently she liked that, her sly smile gave it away. I immediately shook my head and snorted.

"I'm not uncomfortable."

"Aha."

I looked at him seriously.

"I'm not uncomfortable."

"Whatever you say, gorgeous."

There he was again with that nickname I hated.

"Don't call me gorgeous, I don't like it."

I said crossing my arms. Frederick laughed.

"I see, little Pinocchio."

I rolled my eyes, it was impossible.

"What makes you think I'm lying?"

I folded my arms. He tapped his lips with his index finger.

"I told you. Your lip trembles when you lie."

I restrained the urge to bite my lip.

"You see? You know it's true, gorgeous," he winked. Again, I was speechless. "Don't worry, I'm not a fan of awkward silences either."

"Oh yeah?"

I arched an eyebrow.

-Yes, I just find it amusing to watch you get uncomfortable," I rolled my eyes. Frederick took another slice of pizza. Well, let's play that classic quiz game, shall we?

He suggested, I was surprised by his proposal, even so, I ended up agreeing.

"What's your favorite food?" I said as I took another piece. It wasn't a creative question, but because I was eating it was the first thing that came to my mind.

"Köttbullar. It's my favorite." He said amused. "Sunrise or sunset?"

"I thought you were going to ask me about my favorite food."

"That's why I changed my question," he answered. "I like to be unpredictable."

I had already noticed.

"Sunrise. They are beautiful, especially when the sun is slowly appearing. Summer or winter?"

"Summer. If you could take only one thing with you to a desert island, what would it be?"

"Probably my pet if I had one."

He raised an eyebrow, curious. I thought of a question before he questioned my answer, but I didn't have one, I wasn't as creative as he was, which gave him time to question me.

"Would you really take your pet?"

I shrugged.

"I hate the idea of being alone."

Again he arched an eyebrow.

"Don't you live on your own in an apartment?"

Since when did questions become personal here?

"I do, but it's different."

"Different in what way?"

"Hey, I was supposed to ask you a question."

"The game's been over for a while, why is it different?"

He insists. Sensing that he won't let the subject drop, I answer.

"Because I dislike the fact that I think I could stay alone forever."

"I see."

By the time we finished eating, we cleared the table, Frederick washed the dishes again and I finished clearing the table, we both walked to my room.

"I could lend you something if you want."

"What?"

I asked, not paying much attention to his comment.

"That I could lend you some clothes, you know," he shrugged. "I don't think it would be comfortable to sleep in tight jeans, I could lend you some clothes."

I hadn't thought about it, he was right, it wasn't going to be comfortable to sleep in my tight jeans, I nodded apologetically.

"It might be okay."

He nodded in agreement and left the room. Five minutes later, he returned with a white cotton t-shirt and pajama pants that would probably be too big for me.

"I'm not used to this, let alone have anything suitable for you, but I got this."

He said handing me the clothes. At least it's better than nothing.

"Thanks."

"You're welcome," he said and waved his hands toward the door. "I'll be in my room if you need me."

I nodded and let him leave to lock the door. Taking advantage of the privacy the place afforded me, I let out a heavy sigh before sitting on the edge of the bed.

What was going on and what had I gotten myself into?

I had no doubt that the awkwardness had lessened with that little question and answer game, it had become interesting, and I still had that feeling that conversing with the prince didn't feel like dealing with a stranger. But the whole thing was crazy.

I ended up lying down on the bed and staying, staring at the ceiling for a while, until I opted to change.

I got rid of my clothes and folded them up and placed them on the corner of the bed, put on the clothes Frederick had lent me and realized that they were huge on me, especially the pants, which I was thankful they had elastic, and I could adjust them a bit.

As I put on my pajamas, I realized that I had had a busy day and my body was tired, the bed was so comfortable that I soon relaxed and felt like going to sleep at once.

I turned on the TV wishing to have some noise, I put it on a movie channel which I ended up watching after half an hour, the ventilation was on high, so I was cold, I got out of bed and went to a corner to unbundle it to snuggle between the quilt and sheets.

Frederick knocked on the door and opened it without waiting for me to invite him in. I immediately resumed my seat.

"I was just coming to inspect whether you were comfortable or not."

I nodded. I noticed that he was also wearing pajamas, which were identical to the one he had given me except that his sleep pants didn't fit gigantically on him.

"I'm fine, thanks."

He ducked his head a little as he nodded.

"I also wanted to tell you that even though my grandfather is dead, I have the impression that he appears in this room at night, this used to be his room, I hope you don't have any problem with that."

As fast as he said it, my face paled. That's all I needed, sleeping with a ghost.

His huge laugh made me startle, Frederick squirmed as he laughed cheekily.

"Beth, I'm just kidding, there are no ghosts at night," he said, controlling his laughter.

I glared at him. By showing up he had found a new hobby and that was to make fun of me every chance he got.

"I hate you."

"No, you don't."

I rolled my eyes.

"Well, I won't bother you anymore, I'll be next door if you need anything. Don't hesitate to wake me up."

After that, he left the room. I lay back down on the bed; I definitely didn't hate him and this would definitely be an adventure.

**********

Hello, hello! It's wednesday and it has been a very long day for me but i managed to finish this chapter so here i am tonight! 

As you can see Frederick is unpredictable!! I love the little joke he tells bethany about his grandpa haha i don't have much to say, i really hope you enjoyed reading this chapter! Thank you<33