CHAPTER 8

Before I could get lost or dwell too much on what working here would mean for me, Blake's words interrupted my thoughts, "Why are there reporters out here again? I thought I told the PR team to take care of them?" He asked the person behind the steering wheel. 

"Yes you did sir, but they insist you be the one to address them. They said they won't stop till you give them an audience." The man explained. 

Blake was annoyed, there were stress lines on his face too, "Fine then, let's get this done and over with once and for all." He said and I didn't know what he meant by that, but I knew he was up to something. 

The car came to a stop in front of the building, and he turned to me, "Stay here, follow my lead and talk only when I ask you to." He instructed me and I knew he was very serious. 

I didn't want to defy his serious and direct orders, I didn't want to know what the consequences of doing that would be.

The reporters swarmed around the car like hungry bees, thankfully, the security here was good because a group of security officials were out of the door and around the car as soon as we parked. 

They formed a sort of human wall around the car, serving as a protective barrier between Blake and the reporters. 

"You can step out sir." The man behind the wheel told him and only after then did Blake open the door and step out. I thought he was going to address the reporters immediately but I was surprised when I saw him rounding the car and coming to where I was.

Acting like a perfect gentleman, he opened my door and extended his arms out for me to take, "You can come out." He told me and although he had a soft smile on his face, I could see the warning look he was also giving me. 

His earlier words rang in my ears, follow my lead, he had said. 

Flashing him a big smile too, I took his outstretched hand and he helped me out of the car. 

'She's here!'

'She's the one!!'

'His wife is here everyone!!!' 

Those were the words some of the reporters were saying to themselves and out of nowhere, there were suddenly camera flashlights in my face, the lights were blinding too. 

I was startled and wasn't expecting this, so I instinctively moved closer to Blake and wrapped my arms around him. I felt him tense up at my actions but he couldn't do anything, instead he snapped his fingers and one of the security men surrounding us brought out a pair of sunglasses and they handed it over to me. 

I thanked the man and wore the glasses and much to my surprise, they helped to reduce the intensity of the blinding camera flashlights. 

"Better?" Blake asked me, a genuine look of worry on his face. I quickly reminded myself that this was all an act and I shouldn't be swayed. 

"Better." I answered in confirmation. 

"Let's go." He said and interlaced our fingers together. 

Moving through the crowd would have been impossible if not for the security men that surrounded us, they pushed their way through the crowd, making sure the reporters couldn't get to us. 

Those reporters sometimes forgot the concept of personal space, so one couldn't be too careful. 

When we reached the main doors, Blake turned around to face the reporters, they must have also sensed that he wanted to say something to them because they all went quiet immediately. 

"Good morning everyone. I know you all have been waiting for me, but time won't permit me to take more than five questions, I won't be entertaining further questions after that." He told them sternly. 

He pointed to one reporter and he asked his question, "Mr Robinson sir, we need to know, the rumours of you being married, are they true?" 

Blake smiled and looked at me, then he raised our hands, he showed the reporters our entangled hands, "The rumours are true everyone, I am married." He confirmed and that was when real chaos ensued. 

'Since when have you been dating?'

'How did you meet her?'

'Why was the marriage private?'

'Why did you keep the news of your relationship private?'

'Sources tell us this marriage is fake, a contract marriage to be precise, what can you say about that?'

Questions after questions were fired at us, but we both heard the last question loud and clear. 

Thank God I had sunglasses on, otherwise, the reporters would have picked up the tensed look that took over my face when the question dropped. 

"You shouldn't buy into everything you hear on the internet and contrary to what you might have heard or read, I can assure you that this marriage is not a contract marriage. I met Helen, fell in love with her and now I have decided to spend the rest of my life with her." He told the reporters. 

"Prove it then!" Someone else said. 

Blake chuckled but decided to play along, "Prove it? How?" 

"Kiss her!" Someone randomly yelled out and before we knew what was going on, the whole crowd was chanting it. 

I gripped Blake tighter, this was all my fault. Whoever called me yesterday must have heard me talking about the contract, and this was the consequence of my actions. 

I remembered I promised Blake I would take responsibility and there was only one way I could do that.

I reached out and turned Blake's face in my direction. A shocked look was on his face because he must have guessed where my head was. Out of nowhere, I stood on my toes and closed the distance between us, my lips covering his. 

That wasn't the shocking thing though. 

The shocking thing was that, after three seconds, Blake took control and kissed me back. 

Right there, in front of everyone. 

Things were starting to get interesting. 

I was in a daze from the moment Blake and I separated from our kiss, I didn't know one kiss was capable of doing things like that to me.