4 - I Should’ve Run Away

Elena Beaumont’s POV

I should have known a kiss could ruin your life in the blink of an eye.

Our lips brushed. The same broad shoulder that once I bumped into. Firm arms protecting me from the ground. Just like that night.

Except, for the reporters that couldn’t stop flashing their cameras at us.

“President Harold!”

I flinched, reporters started to crowd us.

“Will you explain what that kiss was before!?”

“Is she your new fiancée!?”

“I-It’s just an a-accident—” My voice was buried down by the flashing camera.

I can’t stop trembling. Oh, no… my panic attack…

I suddenly sort of gasped for breath.

As the camera kept recording us on live streaming, all I could think was the angry face of my grandfather.

He’d really kill me, for sure. He’ll kick me, remove my name from the family’s registration, and expel me from—

“Could you please move for a moment?”

A dark fabric suddenly covered my face. I can’t see anything when a suit dropped over my head. A familiar perfume struck my nose. I gasped, tried to pull out that suit. But, a strong arm stopped me.

“Don’t,” Jake, whispering. “Keep your face down. Let’s wait until he arrives.”

He kept me in his arm when reporters rushed on us.

“President Harold! Please say something!”

“Are you confirming your relationship with Elena Beaumont!?”

“Ugh.” I suddenly sort of breath the moment the reporter crowded us again. I feel a hand gently stroked my back, slowly, before giving a light pat between my shoulders.

I gulped. ‘Is he… trying to calm me down?’ In his arm, I blinked in confusion.

Before I could ask anything, a loud voice silenced the entire crowd. A car parked near us. Someone shouted and, Jake suddenly stood up.

“Let’s go,” he said, pulling my waist. “He arrived. Let him take care of this.”

I saw between the crowds, a young man with a suit and glasses, stood against the reporters. Later I learned he was Jake Harold’s personal assistant, Andreas.

Andreas raised one hand.

“Everyone, please step back.”

The reporters didn't even listen.

“Mr. Andreas! We need President Harold's statement!”

“Now,” Jake said. His hand remained around my waist as he guided me inside.

As we headed in, all employees started to whisper. Jake seemed not to care. He was already putting his suit back on.

I squirmed. My face still burned by his touch that tried to calm me down. “Um, thank—”

“Elena?”

My entire body froze. That voice…

No. Don’t tell me.

Out of so many opportunities… why, now?

I slowly turned my head. My body lost its strength.

“What are you doing here?”

My lips trembled. “G-Gabriel?”

He seemed so shocked. He stopped in the middle of the lobby, one hand still holding his phone. He froze, stared at Jake, the reporter, then—me.

Suddenly his expression dropped cold.

“Do you really date this woman, Uncle?” His voice turned sharp. “Do you even know her? Her family? We cannot just accept some random woman into this family. You need to pick the best seed ever, for your heir.”

“And obviously,” his arrogant eyes sneered at me, “not some failed woman.”

I bit my lips. ‘Failed woman’ hits me hard. Gabriel is the only one who knew how my grandfather hated me, for not meeting his expectation.

I can only lower my face. My tears almost dripped down.

The moment Jake said everything was fake, I’m done for. He’ll mock me again, or even worse, he’ll bring this to my grandfather.

I clenched my fist. Why do I need to bear this? I am the only ordinary woman who wants an ordinary life. Why should my life be ruined—

“Yeah, sure.”

“We’re gonna get married. Once everything has settled down, I’m gonna inform our family.”

I lifted my head—suddenly, dead shocked. “W-what—”

“What?” Gabriel cut my voice off.

More than me, he looked so shocked that his face turned pale.

Jake didn’t say anything. Instead, he pulled my hand. We walked past Gabriel who still froze.

“W-Wait! Uncle!”

We entered the lift without saying anything.

“Why did you say that?”

Jake glanced at me through the elevator’s glass.

“Say what?” he said, completely calm. In contrast to me who was completely flustered.

“Why did you lie to Gabriel?” I asked.

He rested his palm under his pockets. “Isn’t that what you need?”

I blinked, confused. “What?”

Before getting his answer, the elevator suddenly became crowded.

A bunch of employees rushed inside, pushed us and made Jake bump into me. His hand rested against the wall beside my shoulder as he tried so hard not to make our bodies touch.

We’re so close that I need to turn my face away. Gosh. His thighs rubbed mine. I can smell his cologne, strong yet calm, like Chinese old-tea.

And, his face—

‘Oops.’

I darted my gaze away.

Our eyes accidentally met. I didn’t know he was looking at me.

Being this close to him, it’s hard to believe he’s 36. Compared to Gabriel, his frame is more firm, well-built, with broad shoulders and a tall figure. Strong and healthy.

His face reminds me of one of the Hollywood artists that my mom liked. Rich, handsome, educated. He had everything Gabriel envied him for.

‘Wait. What am I thinking? I’m here not to drool over his face!’ I need to snap myself out of it.

The elevator opened. I followed his steps along with the employees who rushed outside.

“President Harold,” fidgeting, I called him out hesitantly, “My apologies from the accident earlier. But if you have time, there’s something—”

“Come inside.”

I had to pause. “S-sorry?”

He stood before the door, with his phone still ringing. Then, he glanced at me.

“This is why you are here, right?” He said, opening the door. “Let’s talk inside.”

“Ah.” I’m surprised. I thought he’s gonna kick me out. “Then, if you excuse me…”

“So, what is it you want to talk to me?”

I just sat on the couch. He already stared at his computer, putting his glasses on. His finger tapped on the table as if counting the time I wasted.

“T-That’s…” I suddenly forgot how I was supposed to start. “I-It seems that, someone took our picture at the party, and faked the news.”

I glanced, waiting for his response.

“I-I don’t know who’s started it, but… I’d like your help to take down that news—”

“…my mother.”

My face turned to him. “S-sorry?”

Through the glasses, he stared at me. “It was my mother,” he said, tapping his tablet, “She paid the reporter to create fake news about me.”

My eyes widened in shock. “No way.”

“Why would she do that?” I asked, disbelief.

“Because she wants me out of the family.” Jake slowly took off his glasses. “She succeeded, actually. I almost got my name removed from the family’s document.”

“Oh my God…” My lips parted.

“Isn’t that bad?” I glanced at him.

“Very bad,” he hissed. He lit up the cigar. “If the board decides I'm no longer suitable as the president, they'll remove me from the position. Worse, I won’t even get my inheritance.”

“Oh God…”

I froze in my seat.

I feel like watching the billionaires’ drama when the CEO got into trouble from having an affair with an unlucky girl.

In this case, that unlucky girl is me.

“So…” I gripped my skirt. “Is there nothing we could do about it?”

He blew out the cigar.

“Nothing.”

I rubbed my forehead, feeling the headache kicked my head. “Fuck. Then what should I do? I’ll be fucked up once my grandfather finds this.”

“Your grandfather?”

“Oh.” I didn’t mean to say it that loud.

I scratched my neck, not sure if I should say this. “Yeah, my grandfather. He wants me to marry ‘certain’ someone, and give his business to him. He thought I had failed to meet his expectation, as a successor. Not that he said that out loud, but, if I don’t marry that person, then likely he’d kick me out of the family.”

“Hm…”

Jake suddenly stood from his chair.

My eyes followed him as he walked around the desk.

He stopped in front of me. Being this close to him again made me suddenly remember the party.

His cold lips brushed mine, strong arm that seemed about to snap me, yet, holding me tight, when the reporter almost hurt me.

And… that stupid kiss.

I had to avoid his gaze. Fuck. Why do I need to remember that!?

“Have you ever heard about business marriage?”

My face lifted to him. “Business… marriage?” I said. Then, he nodded. I suddenly couldn’t catch my breath.

“I-Isn’t that something that only happened in movie dramas?” I trembled.

“I have seen once,” he murmured.

His gaze looked at me so intense. “I’d like to offer you a solution to get us out of this scandal, Miss Beaumont. But…”

“B-but?” My heart started beating so fast.

His irises stared at me so intense. Suddenly, his gaze darted to my lower body.

“But, in order to do that, you need to be pregnant.”