CHAPTER 5- BRANDED HIS LOVER

              “Miss Santis! Miss Santis! Just a statement please!”

              The sound of Amira’s name being screamed nonstop from her front porch had become a sick alarm clock.

              “What the hell is going on?” she muttered under her breath.

              She took out her phone, scrolling through the media for any latest information. Her stomach twisted as a picture of them surfaced. His hand grasped onto her hair as his lips crushed hungrily against hers in that dimly lit VIP suite at the hotel.

              That damned night. She had been doing her rounds as usual. Changing the suites’ linens. She had no idea the occupant of the VIP suite had returned but it was already too late.

              The bathroom door came open and there he was. The one man she hated to death. Montez De Vitalio. Half-naked, dripping, and barefooted. Along with that goddamned arrogance that still clung to him like an expensive cologne even though he was drunk.

               She could still remember the haze in his cold blue eyes, the sharp scent of scotch. She remembered trying to leave but the bastard had her pinned against the desk and kissed her.

              “Aaarghhh…!!!” she groaned, smacking her forehead with the heel of her palm in frustration and anger.

              A video appeared of him speaking at the press conference and that was when he made the announcement that shook the world.

             “She’s my woman.”

              Her eyes widened in shock. He said it like a declaration, like he owned her. When really, the slimy bastard used her to save face.

              She rushed to the window, pulling the curtains aside to take a peep. The reporters were still there sure enough. Cameras up, microphones raised, and eyes waiting for her to confirm his lie.

               “He’s out of his damn mind!” she hissed, pacing in fury. “How could he tell the whole world I’m his girlfriend?”

              Yet there it was as the trending headline:

RUTHLESS BILLIONAIRE VITALIO’S SECRET LOVER: Journalist Amira Santis caught with him in a late-night tryst.

              Of course the public would go feral. The powerful and untouchable Montez De Vitalio of Vitalio Industries had a girlfriend, and she just so happened to be the woman who exposed his corruption—now sleeping in his bed.

              Shit. She was trapped. She had to get out, but not with the press surrounding every inch of her apartment. And so it was, she stayed indoors for five days as the reporters would only leave by dusk only to return again by dawn.

               That morning was a Saturday. Grabbing her coat, she rushed down the back stairs of her apartment complex before they could arrive. It was 6 a.m. by the time she arrived at the hotel where she worked. The receptionist wasted no time informing her that the manager had sent for her.

                She made her way down the hall and knocked once on her door, waiting for permission before walking in. Bianca sat behind her desk, fingers crossed like the proud snake she was. Just how long would Amira have to put up with her?

             “You sent for me?” she asked.

             “You’ve been absent for days now. Care to explain yourself?” Bianca cocked a brow.

              “My apartment—”

              “I called you here because this hotel can’t tolerate negativity,” she cut her off. “And we certainly can’t keep someone who’s in a public scandal that makes us look highly unprofessional in relating with our guests.”

              Amira let out a scoff. “It was one kiss and I didn’t even want it.”

               Bianca rolled her eyes. “I bet this was your big plan to get back at Nathan with his older cousin. Shameless slut.”

              “The only shameless slut here is the one who slept with her best friend’s boyfriend right under my nose,” Amira snapped, and her smile vanished.

                Bianca’s face fumed red, but she didn’t say a word. Instead, she pulled out a white envelope from under her desk and handed it to her.

     

              “That’s your final paycheck. You’re fired.”

               Leaving the office, Amira dragged her feet back home with the weight of the word pressing against her chest. She could see people starting to throw side glances her way.

              The country’s most eligible bachelor was taken. Every young woman was throwing her daggers with their eyes.

               She managed to sneak back into her apartment through the back door without the press noticing. She sank into her mattress, arms wrapped around her knees as a tear slipped down her face.

                It was at that moment her phone dinged with an I*******m notification—

Montez De Vitalio arrives in Belmare: Business meetings or love reunion?

               “That bastard,” she gritted, her hands curling into fists. “It’s time I gave him a piece of my mind.”

               She shot to her feet, pulled her jacket over her shoulders, and stormed out of her apartment with one destination in mind—his office. She didn’t care if the security threw her out. One thing was certain: she wasn’t leaving until she saw that bastard.

               The moment she arrived at the industry—which was just one of the numerous branches all around the world, she was intercepted by the guards who were all armed to the teeth.

               “You can’t go, miss. Not without an appointment,” one of them stood in her way.

               “Screw an appointment! I need to see that asshole you work for,” she yelled at the top of her voice, struggling and kicking her feet as they held her back.

               “Don’t cause a scene, miss, and leave or we’ll have to use force.”

               “Shit! Vitalio! You son of a bitch! Get your ass down here this instant! You animal. VITALIO!!!”

               She wouldn’t stop yelling, and a few minutes later, the gate came open and a tall, well-built man walked out in an obsidian luxury suit. His PA—Enzo Ricci.

              “What’s going on here?” he turned to both guards with knitted brows.

              “We’re sorry, sir. The woman wouldn’t leave.”

               “Amira Santis?” he offered her a smile. “You’re right on time. Cuts out all the work for me.”

               “What?” Her eyelids fluttered in confusion.

               “The Boss would like to see you.”

                The Boss. It clicked instantly. Montez De Vitalio was equally anticipating to speak with her. She doubted the scum had anything decent to say.

                “Come with me.” Enzo turned his back on the bodyguards who had let go of her arms. She followed him inside the building, through endless floors on the elevator until they finally reached the top floor where his office was.

               Enzo poked his head through the door. “Boss? She’s here.”

               “Let her in.”

              She heard Montez’s voice from inside, and Enzo held the door wide open for her. As she walked in, the door shut behind her immediately with a click. A loud gasp erupted from her lungs as she realized what a dangerous position she had placed herself in. Did he lock her in? She reached out for the knob in a fit of panic. A low chuckle from behind pulled her to a halt.

              Montez was leaning against his massive window like a damn painting. Both hands in his pockets, with sleeves rolled up and one leg in front of the other. His height was model eligible anytime, any day.

              “If you were so scared that I’d murder you, why come in here in the first place?” he murmured, with a rich, deep voice that sent reverberating chills down her spine.

               She turned around, realizing her foolishness. Of course he wouldn’t kill her. Not with the mess he was already in. It would only pull him deeper in the mud.

                “Well,” his voice was as smooth as aged red wine, “did you enjoy your five days of fame? Or was it six?”

                 “You ruined me!” she hissed. “You made me lose everything and now you’ve dragged me into your mess.“

                 “It’s a pleasure to finally meet with you again, Miss Santis,” he said, unfazed. “Now you can focus on moving in with me.”

                “What?!” Her eyes widened at his level of audacity. “You must be out of your damn mind for someone who ruined my career and murdered my brother.”

                “You must not understand the gravity of the situation we’re both in.” He moved away from the window, striding up to her. “Both our reputations are at stake here. Believe me when I say, I don’t like this anymore than you won’t.” He let out a low sigh. “But it’s the only way.”

                “What do you mean?” She could hear her heart racing inside her chest.

                 He lifted her chin, pinning his burning gaze on her. “Be my woman.”

               “What?!”

                “Four months. Keep quiet, play the damn role and in return, I fix your reputation and pay you off for your services.” He leaned down and whispered in a voice that sent shivers down her spine. “And of course, get back at your ex as a bonus.”

                Her eyes flickered wide. “How do you know about—?”

                Standing to his full height, Montez’s eyelids hooded in a bored frown as he locked dead serious eyes with her.

              “Do we have a deal, Miss Santis?”