Chapter 4

Mellisa’s POV

I remember, I can remember everything!! It felt like I was underwater for so long only to finally surface, I was pacing on the tiled floor, my mind was racing and I couldn’t stay on one thought for more than a few seconds. “I got married!!” I laughed maniacally in my head for a few seconds, “I got married to a billionaire!!” This is why I should never be left alone with alcohol, infact why would anyone in their right senses tell me to let loose and have fun!! “I need to call my boss, right after I’m done panicking.”

“Hey, relax” the deep, soft voice of Ethan said to my right. “Relax? Relax?? How are you so relaxed right now? Uggh, my head is killing me.”

“I’ll get you some water and pain relief,” he said heading towards the door, after speaking to someone shortly there he returned back. “Who was that?” I asked. “ My bodyguard, Tom”

Yes, of course he had a bodyguard, he’s the heir to the billion dollar company, Maverick Enterprises. No wonder, I’m being called names, oh God, I really am I gold digger.

“Everything will be fine, I just need to take you to see my parents and the board of directors at the company and all will be good, Capiche.” Ethan reasoned.

“ Capiche? I’m not going to see your parents! I don’t think you understand, I’m just a secretary in an almost bankrupt company, nobody knows me. I like that nobody knows me, and now I’ll never be able to buy hotdogs on the street or have silent walks in the park or even take the bus without being started at - best case scenario, I’ll never know peace again!!” I erupted and he flinched, now I felt bad, this wasn’t his fault alone.

“I’m sorry, this whole situation is stressing me out; what’s our next point of action?” I responded just as a knock sounded on the door. Ethan went to answer and came back with a cup of water and some kind of pills.

“I understand that this must be overwhelming, for our next point of action, try to calm down a little, drink this water and take the pills. After, you’ll call your boss to know what’s going on there and I’ll talk to my parents and everything will be settled, I promise.”

The air left my lungs in a whoosh and I fell in the soft cushion man chair next to me; trying to calm down just like Ethan said, I just have to relax enough to have a conversation with my boss and we’ll take everything slowly from there. A phone began to ring from where Ethan stood - he raised a finger to me as he excused himself to take the call, well, I guess the moment to calm down is done with now. I dropped the now empty cup; took my phone, searched for my boss’s number and made the call.

“Sir, I know what you must have seen in the news, all of that was not meant to happen, one minute we were just conversing and…”, “Maddie breath”, he interrupted.

“This is good, can’t you see this is good, take your time with the CEO’s son and when you’re done meet me in the office. Myself and the others are waiting for you in New York” he ended the call leaving me confused by his calm and jovial mood.

Right then, Ethan’s call ended and he made eye contact with me from across the room where he went to take the call; he closed the distance between us. “We can’t let people know what happened here, that was my mum on the phone; she said she has a plan but people can’t know the true story that we just met yesterday” he explained.

I couldn’t help but laugh, things just kept getting better; I’m to be an actress now? “What are you talking about, Ethan? Is this now supposed to be one of the cliche fake boyfriend; fake relationship troupe? Cause, let me tell you now I’m not cut out for it.”

“Relax, Maddie, I told you I have it all under control, all we have to do is pretend to be a couple in love and everything will be fine” he responded calmly as if I’m just unnecessarily worried, I’m freaking out here and he’s acting like everything is just peachy.

“Ethan, I think you and I have different definitions of fine, I don’t know how to pretend, not to talk of faking emotions; More-so, how long is this ruse supposed to last? I really cannot pretend for the rest of my life. I’m going to step out of here and everybody will know something is up.”

I have gray hair strands popping out of my scalp as we speak - this truly seems like those cliche romcoms I binge on after a bad breakup, the only difference is that; it’s now happening to me. I looked up to see Ethan now standing in front of me with a guilty look on his face.

“We’re going to wear our shoes, step out of here with my arm holding you close; you don’t have to answer any questions from the reporters nor look at them. I’ll do the speaking and smiling, trust me, I’m good at it. We’re in this together wife, you’re not alone, don’t forget that. Now repeat after me, ‘Everything will be fine’.” Ethan concluded without breaking eye contact, I could see the sincerity in his expression.

“I’m not alone; everything will be fine,” I found myself repeating.

I was rewarded with his full megawatt smile to which I found myself returning, for some reason, we didn’t break apart after; we just stood there smiling at each other.

“Sir, we have to go now,” Tom his bodyguard interrupted and we jumped into action; moment forgotten. I rushed to strap on my heels while he got on his shirt and shoes, he then came over to me and placed his suit jacket over my shoulder. I blushed, I totally blushed like a hormonal teenager, I was cocooned by his calming smell, the remaining stress I felt slipped away and I was ready to face what would be at the other side of that door. Turning to face Ethan, I nodded, he immediately stepped closer and placed his arm over my shoulder; eating up the remaining space between us as we stepped out of the room.