Chapter 0004

“Why would I need her?” he asked again.

“The rumors about you won’t go down until you find a way to prove that they aren’t true. The owner of the broadcasting company where the rumor was first uploaded doesn’t know who the anonymous person is. Not only your reputation but also your hotel and the company you have worked so hard for will go down the drain if you don’t do something about it.”

“Then what am I supposed to do? I might not have been in a dating rumor before, but I definitely know I am not gay! I feel like wiping everyone out!” Richard yelled, boiling with anger.

Richard didn't just have a cold personality; he is also hot-tempered. He gets angry easily and finds it hard to control himself anytime he is upset.

“Can you at least calm down and let me talk? You should be thankful I’m used to your anger.”

“Then resign if you want, I don’t care!” Richard’s eyes burned with fury.

Luke swallowed hard and said, “I have an idea of how you can stop the public from believing the rumors that you’re gay.”

“What could it be?” he asked.

"I know it’s going to sound weird and annoying at the same time, but that’s the only way to make the public stop talking.”

When Richard didn’t say anything, Luke took it as a signal to go ahead.

“You have never been in a dating rumor before, and I think the public will stop talking about you if you tell them that you’re in a relationship by making Kristin…” Luke hesitated before completing his statement.

“Your wife.”

“Are you crazy?! You want me to make a woman I know nothing about my wife? You already know I hate women, and you want me to make her my wife? Are you trying to annoy me?!” he roared.

“I’m not trying to annoy you, Richard, but that’s the quickest way to make the public stop talking about the rumors. It’s not like you will be in an official marriage with her; it’s just going to be a contract marriage.”

“Contract marriage my foot! There’s no way I’d live under the same roof with that Peanut!”

“Sometimes, you should listen to other people’s opinions. The main reason why everyone believes you’re gay is because you haven’t been seen with any woman before. Kristin is the best option to clear up the misunderstandings the public has about you. At least no one knows about her because she is not from Las Vegas. I know you hate women, but this is the only way for you to save your reputation, your dad’s company, and the hotel you worked so hard to establish. While you are married to Kristin, you can distract the public and find a way to fish out the anonymous person who wants to tarnish your reputation. Even if you suspect Ophelia or someone else, we need…”

“Enough! I’ve had enough of all your talking.”

“I will leave you alone.” Luke turned to leave, but Richard’s baritone voice stopped him.

“Bring Kristin to me,” he ordered, and Luke smiled, and left to get Kristin

Kristin kept hitting her chest, trying to stop herself from hiccuping. She was still not over the scene Richard displayed in front of her. This would be the first time she would be scared of someone. She was always nicknamed fearless by the people in Glenwood, but right now, her heart was pounding in fear at the thought of Richard.

He possibly can’t be human, Kristin thought to herself as she took notice of the employees. It came as a shock to her because all the employees were male. There wasn’t a single female working for him.

“I wonder where I am?” she muttered, feeling homesick. If she were still in Glenwood, she would have been in her small bed sleeping, but she didn’t even have a floor to lay on here in Vegas.

“Did I make a mistake coming here?” she mumbled, almost regretting coming to Vegas.

“Kristin!”

She raised her head and saw Luke walking up to her with a smile.

“Can I go now? I didn’t mean to slap his head.”

“Do you have a place to go?”

Kristin sadly shook her head.

“Richard wants to speak with you,” he smiled.

“There’s no way I’m going back there! He sees me as a spy, and he’s going to kill me. I don’t want to die. Just help me escape from here,” Kristin pleaded with her eyes.

Luke smiled again and patted her. “This time around, he is not going to do anything to you, trust me.”

After much convincing, Kristin went to meet Richard, and Luke left them alone to talk.

There was silence between them, and Kristin kept avoiding his gray eyes. His eyes were dashing, but the coldness in them gave Kristin a reason to look away.

“Do you have a boyfriend?” Richard asked, breaking the silence.

Kristin wondered why he was asking such a question all of a sudden, but nevertheless, she answered. “I… don’t have a boyfriend.”

“How much should I offer you to be my wife?”

“Why should I be your wife?” she questioned back.

Without answering her question, he threw a newspaper on the table and signaled for her to read it.

Kristin hesitated before taking the newspaper from the table. After she was done reading it, she dropped it back on the table.

“Well, since you’re gay, just tell the truth.”

“Do I look like someone who is gay to you? I just want you to be my wife for a certain period of time to shut the public up about insisting I’m gay. You said you’re from Glenwood, right? What amount of money should I offer you to be my acting wife?” Richard asked, his face tight like a rock.

“I admit that I need money, but I have a pride to protect. You treated me like a criminal earlier, and you need to apologize to me before I reconsider being your acting wife.”

“I won't apologize to you" he said, firmly.

“You grabbed my neck unjustly and almost killed me, and you need to apologize for that. Since you can’t apologize, I am going to leave.” Kristin stood up to leave, but just after she walked four steps away from him, he stood up and held her wrist.

Kristin's feet halted as she turned to look at Richard who had his hand on her.

He hesitated before speaking; “I am sorry. Will you forgive me and be my wife?” he asked in a softer tone.

Kristin’s heart skipped a beat. It wasn’t beating this time around because of fear; it was fluttering.