Chapter 7: Proposing a deal

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~CLAIRE~

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Everything was happening too fast. I couldn't even catch my breath. Why would Christian introduce me as his fiancée? Wasn't it just yesterday he thought I was a whore and kicked me out of his room?

I didn't have the time to ponder on it. I looked back at Jason when he started to laugh.

"Whatever it is you're doing, Uncle Christian, stop it." He said. "You and I know you wouldn't date someone like Claire. Everyone here knows your reputation. I mean, look at her."

He pointed at me and I looked away, completely embarrassed.

"She's not the kind of woman you take to bed, Uncle. The blonde bimbos with no lick of sense in their pretty little heads, that's more your type. You would certainly not date someone as ugly as Claire so there's no way you're engaged to her."

Christian's expression didn't change. If anything, it hardened.

"I know you're just trying to cover the shame and scandal of being caught sleeping with my girlfriend." Jason continued, then his eyes fell on me. "You're trying to hide the fact that you fucked your nephew's girl."

"Your girl?" Christian questioned. He moved away from me and stepped closer to Jason until he was towering above him. "Did you really just call my fiancée your girl?"

The entire guests in the lounge were staring at us now, invested in the scene unfolding.

Jason took a step back while he tried not to show how intimated he was by Christian's presence.

"If Claire is your girlfriend." Christian continued. "Then you must have introduced her to the family. Your friends should know her."

I watched Jason look away, unable to retort. Of course he didn't have anything to say. Our relationship had been strictly private, a secret affair as I liked to call it.

No one knew we were together for a year. No one knew we came together for this trip. Jason had kept me hidden from the moment he asked me to be his girlfriend.

When Jason realized he was cornered, he remained silent.

Christian walked back to my side and placed his hand around my waist. I gasped as his touch sent delicious tingles down my spine. I was pressed tightly against him, and I could feel the hardness of his body.

He looked down at me, and to my surprise, he smiled. This was getting stranger by the minute. Just last night, he was screaming at me. And now he was flashing me a total heart-melting smile.

My heart pounded loudly as he gently held my chin.

"Are you okay, my love? Did he hurt you?"

What in the fucking hell is going on? His love? Did he actually just call me that? My throat felt clogged. I found it difficult to process everything.

From the corner of my eye, I noticed Jason glaring at us, unable to do a thing. I swallowed and tried to smile.

"I'm... I'm fine."

Then Christian leaned closer until his lips touched my ear. "Play along." He whispered.

It was then I realized what the sudden change in his attitude meant. He wasn't doing this because he felt pity for me. He was trying to clear his name from the scandal.

I took a deep breath and let it out slowly. Then I nodded.

However, Jason wasn't buying it. He hated being outsmarted, so he found another tactic.

"Stop with your games, Uncle." He snarled. "If she's really your fiancée like you claim she is, where was she last night?"

"I was with him all night." I answered in a clear voice, much to Jason and everyone's surprise.

I looked up at Christian and smiled, playing my part perfectly.

I touched his face softly, then turned back to Jason. "We had a wonderful dinner last night, then took a walk down the deck when everyone had gone to bed."

"You fucking liar." Jason snarled.

"Watch your mouth, Jason." Christian snapped coldly, his eyes swirling with rage. "That's my fiancée you're talking to. You will show her the respect you show to me."

"I don't know what games you both are playing." Jason continued. "But I'll find out..."

"Why is it so hard for you to believe, Jason?" I interrupted him. "Is it because I rejected you last night when you tried to flirt with me?"

A loud gasp went through the crowd, and all eyes turned towards Jason. He was the center of attraction now, and he had the decency to blush with embarrassment.

"Besides." I continued boldly. "If Christian and I weren't engaged, why do I have his ring?"

I lifted my hand and showed off the diamond ring Christian gave me yesterday. "That's why you're so angry and jealous. My rejection hurt you, so you decided to spy on my fiance and I while we were intimate."

With proof of my engagement to Christian as clear as day, the guests lost interest in us. Their eyes filled up with contempt as they glared at Jason and muttered curses under their breaths.

Christian leaned down again and whispered in my ear. "Impressive."

I tried not to shiver from the sensation of his warm breath. He was so close, I could smell the spicy fragrance of his cologne.

Then he straightened and addressed the crowd. "I would advise everyone here to delete the scandalous video they received. It was meant to be a private moment with my fiancée, not some showbiz where you lots can indulge in."

He snapped his fingers and a young man with a buzz cut hurried over to him.

"Yes, boss?"

"Eric, make sure every last copy of that video is destroyed." He commanded. "Whoever decides to keep a video of it will face the consequences. And have my lawyer look into the bastards who leaked it. I'll make sure they rot in jail."

For some reason, I looked towards Jason when Christian said that, and I swear, he looked uncomfortable.

He caught my stare and stormed out of the lounge, holding his head down. I narrowed my eyes. Why was he acting so suspicious?

Christian caught my attention before I could ponder more on it. His grip around my waist tightened and he turned towards me.

"Have you had breakfast?" He murmured.

Oh, we're still keeping up with the act?

"It was ruined." I looked down at the plate of pancakes that had gone cold.

Then Christian led me out of that breakfast lounge into a more private lounge where there were fewer people. Everyone already lost interest in us after his threat.

He held my seat out for me and adjusted it while I sat down. Then he took a seat across from me and held my hand over the table.

I started to pull away, but he tightened his hold.

"We don't have to pretend anymore." I said softly.

"As a matter of fact, we do." He replied curtly. He held my hand in his, softly brushing his thumb over my skin.

Did he have any idea how much his touch affected me? I couldn't even look him in the eye. I felt plain compared to his alluring aura and striking appearance.

A waiter approached us to take our order and Christian turned those sinful eyes on me.

"Tell him what you'd love to eat." He murmured.

I forced myself to look away from him and smiled up at the waiter.

"I'll have an omelette on toast and iced tea, thank you."

Christian called out something in French to the waiter and he nodded before walking away.

Then those compelling eyes were on me again.

"I see you had no plans of returning my ring." He began.

My eyes widened slightly and I started to take the ring off.

"I'm sorry. I planned to give it to you but..."

"No, don't take it off." He shook his head and pushed the ring back on my finger. "Keep up the pretext."

I frowned slightly. "I don't understand."

"It's easy, Claire." He replied. "I'm proposing a deal, to protect my reputation and yours. Pretend to be my fiancée until the ship docks tomorrow."