Chapter 3: Entrapped

Justin’s POV 

Selena. Goddamn, she was a firecracker. One minute she was vulnerable, pouring out her heart about her loser ex, the next minute she was rocking my world. 

A chuckle rumbled in my chest as I stared awake. She wasn’t in my bed anymore, she was long gone. The little note she left behind made me feel some type of way. Why did she leave without saying goodbye? I could still smell the scent of her perfume in the air. 

My phone buzzed, snapping me out of my thoughts. It was Jaden. My best friend and partner in crime. 

“Dude check the news,”  the text read. “You’re trending” 

I rolled my eyes. Of course, I was. My life was borderline dramatic and the media was always at the center of it all. Wondering what this particular news was about, I pulled up the news app on my phone and scrolled through the headlines.

“Billionaire Playboy’s Latest Conquest!” a blog wrote. “Who is the Mystery Woman for the Season? Another asked. There was a photo of Selena and I entering the hotel together, her face was slightly blurred. Damn, paparazzi. They would surely eat this one up.

This was going to be a mess. Especially after I had just acquired a new company complex. My parents were going to have a field day. Oh and Bella, she’d throw a fit. 

My mind was a battlefield. I had to do something about all this. I walked into the office of Branson & Co, the company I had Just acquired. It was a big complex that housed several departments. Ranging from design to tech and even cosmetics production. I saved this company from folding. 

As I stepped out of the elevator, my eyes caught hers. Selena! What the heck was she doing here? When I was sent the list of employees, I saw a Selena Gonzales. I had smiled at the name but I had no idea it was my Selena. The Selena I had spent a night of passion with. 

I tried to mask my shock as I approached her. I wasn’t going to let her know her presence affected me at all, even though it did. I was her boss after all. Her superior. 

Her eyes widened in surprise as she saw me. Yeah, baby, welcome to my world I thought to myself. 

****

Paparazzi and reporters soon swarm the entire office complex, like a swarm of bees after honey. Selena sprinted at the sight of the mess. I had no idea she was a runner. 

I grabbed her arm as soon as she stepped into the alleyway. Spinning her towards me. 

“Trying to run?” I sneered the words with a low growl. My thumb pressed into her skin, but not hard enough to bruise her. Damn it, I hated the effect she had on me. 

“Let me go” she hissed, her eyes widening in fear and defiance at the same time. 

I could feel the crazy pulse in her wrist, a stark contrast to her icy outward appearance. “Not so fast, sweetheart,” I replied, tightening my grip. “We have a lot to discuss.” 

“Discuss what?” she snapped: “You’ve made your point very clear. You told me to stay away from you.” 

“That was the plan, until the media eruption in the office". I said, my eyes sweeping over her. She was dressed in simple jeans and a long-sleeved shirt, but she still managed to look enticing. Damn! I needed to focus. 

“My reputation is at stake here,” I continued, trying to focus on the matter on the ground.

“The media is in a frenzy. My parents are extremely furious and you Selena are right in the middle of it". 

The frown on her face melted into a sly smile, and her eyes sparkled with amusement. 

“Oh I’m sorry,” she blurted out, her tone suggesting the exact opposite. “I didn’t realize my one-night stand with the billionaire playboy was a burden.” 

My jaw tightened in anger. “Don’t get smart with me Selena...” 

“Or what?” she challenged, her chin lifting. “You’ll fire me? You already made it clear that I’m a nobody. Besides I’m the one the media is after, not you.” 

“Don’t push it, Selena,” I warned. There was something about her newfound confidence. The way she challenged me. “Look,” I continued trying to regain control. “This whole Billionaire Playboy thingy the blogs try to pin me as is already a PR nightmare. I don’t need more complications. 

“But you’re a Billionaire and a playboy” she whispered, her eyes lowered. 

“What did you say?” I shot back, my jaw tightening in anger. 

“I said what do you want from me?” she lied, her voice flat and her eyes focused on the floor. 

“I want you to play along,” I answered. “I want you to pretend that last night…that it means something, and we’ve been going out for a while now". 

“Pretend? she asked. Her eyes widened in surprise. “You want me to lie?” 

“It’s not exactly a lie,” I muttered, my voice softening slightly. “These people think that I’m wreckless and wayward. They think I just wave my money at women and they rush into bed with me. Now they have assumed that I forced you and threatened your job”. 

She stared at me, “But you didn’t force me. It was consensual.” 

“I know that, and frankly, they know that too, but they don’t care. They would do anything to bring traffic to their hungry blogs.” I replied firmly. 

“Selena, I want you to be my fake girlfriend. Just until all of these blow over". 

“Your fake girlfriend?” she asked furrowing her brows. "Isn’t that too much for damage control?" 

“This playboy narrative has been going on for a long time and now this was just like adding fuel to an existing blazing fire. The only way to put this to rest and control the narrative is to pretend we’re dating so that they back off.” I replied. 

I hated how desperate I sounded, but these people were going to run me to the ground if this narrative continued. 

Aside from just acquiring a new company. These people were saying I blackmailed my staff into sleeping with me. And then there was also Bella. 

I needed to protect my already bruised image, my family’s reputation and maybe even Selena. 

She hesitated for a while, her eyes searching mine. “And what do I get out of it?” she asked, her voice suddenly firm. 

I smirked. “You get to keep your job and not get blacklisted in the industry. I know your department isn’t one for the books, but still. And, also you get to be in the arms of the most eligible bachelor in New York.” I added, my voice filled with arrogance. 

“And?” she asked looking straight into my eyes. 

“Well, you get to network and meet people who can change your life,” I replied looking down at her. “Or do you need money?” I added reaching into my pocket to pull out my checkbook. 

“Don’t bother” she retorted. “I don’t need your money, Mr. Branson". 

“Sure about that Ms. Gonzales? You look like you do. I whispered, sizing her up again". 

“Is this all?” she asked raising her eyebrows in disgust.

“That’s all for now,” I said, my gaze moving from her eyes to her lips. “But who knows what the future holds right?” I teased. 

She stared at me for what felt like an eternity. “Fine,” she said, her voice barely a whisper. “I’ll play your so-called game. But don’t you think for once that I trust you?" 

“Trust?” I scuffed. Selena, trust is earned, and trust me I’m not about to work for yours. I don’t care if you trust me or not. I’m not even going to waste my time on insignificant kinds of stuff like that.” 

She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came out. What was she going to say? 

“Anyways,” I said, my gaze lingering on her pretty face. “I will draft a contract and have you sign them as soon as possible. But for now, let’s talk about the ground rules shall we.” 

I could see the doubts in her eyes, but she nodded anyway, her expression all neutral. She had no idea what she was getting herself into. This was going to be fun.