CHAPTER FOUR

ONLY ONE WAY TO FIX THIS

ELARA’S POV

By the time I get home, the news is everywhere.

My phone does not stop ringing. Messages keep coming in one after another, from social media, news websites, blogs. My name is everywhere in the news.

I sit on my bed, scrolling through my phone as I read another headline.

"WHITMORE COMPANY HEIRESS SPENDS NIGHT WITH MYSTERIOUS BILLIONAIRE.”

“MARRIAGE COMPANY HEIRESS SPENDS NIGHT WITH MYSTERIOUS BILLIONAIRE.”

"MARRIAGE BETWEEN BUSINESS GIANTS COMING SOON.”

" SCANDAL OR ROMANCE.”

I throw my phone on the bed and cover my face with both hands.

“This can’t be happening…”

A knock comes on my door, before I can respond, the door opens and Miranda struts in, followed by Chloe. They both have on a serious expression. Although, I notice the small quirk plastered on Chloe's face.

Miranda crosses her arms and looks at me like she is very disappointed.

" You…" I start.

“Elara,” she says slowly, “what have you done?”

I gaze at her in disbelief. “What have I done?” I repeat, standing up impulsively. “You are seriously asking me that?”

She sighs loudly and moves further into the room like a tired mother dealing with a troublesome child.

“The whole city is talking about you, Elara. You spend the night with a strange man in a hotel, and now the news is saying you are getting married. Do you know how embarrassing this is for our family?”

I burst into bitter laughter. “Embarrassing you say? You’re talking about embarrassment?”

Chloe rolls her eyes and sits on my chair. “Honestly, sister, you should have at least chosen a more romantic way to announce your relationship,” she says mockingly.

“I was set up!” I shout, pointing at both of them. “You drugged me and took me to that hotel, then you bounce in here and tell me about embarrassment! So much for being family.” I can sense a headache coming, I touch my forehead. “To think I trusted you when you mentioned ‘family’. I should have known better than to believe your spitting lies.”

Miranda’s face changes instantly. She seems offended.

“Elara! How dare you accuse us of something like that?”

“You think I don’t remember? I heard all your conversation before I lost consciousness! I heard everything!”

Miranda just stares at me for few seconds.

Suddenly, her expression shifts. The anger on her face disappears and is replaced with a smile.

Even if you heard,” Her voice dangerously low. “what can you do about it?”

My heart drops.

Chloe laughs softly from the chair. “You should see your face right now sis.” she shakes her head.

I can’t believe what I am hearing. “You have ruined my life,” I fall to the chair behind me.

Miranda walks closer to me slowly. “No honey, we just saved this family.”

I stare at her, confused.

“The scandal has already spread,” she continues. “Now there is only one way to fix this.”

“What way?”

“Marriage,” she says simply.

I laugh, because I've lost my mind. Then in all seriousness, “No. Absolutely not. I wouldn't even dare.

“You don’t have a choice,” she says. Look at the news, honey. Does it look like this will end soon?” She leans closer and lowers her voice.

“If you don’t marry him, the board members will remove you as CEO. They are already angry because of the scandal. They will say you damage the company’s reputation.”

My heart skips a beat.

She continues, making sure I hear every word. “And if you lose the company, you will also lose your father’s inheritance; the house, the shares, the money, everything baby. Think about it.”

It seems like the floor just disappeared under my feet. “You can’t do that. You won't do that.” I sound helpless now.

She smiles. “I can, because legally, I control everything until you are married.” she replies mildly.

I stare at her in shock. “You’re lying.”

She shrugs, unbothered. “You can ask the lawyer if you don’t believe me.”

Chloe stands up and crosses the room in a few strides, toward the door. “Think carefully, sister,” she smiles. “Marriage to a billionaire doesn’t sound so bad.” She winks at me and leaves.

Miranda follows suit, leaving me standing there alone.

I grab my chair for support. My legs are becoming like jelly.

They trapped me. I trusted too much, now look at me. Tears roll down my face.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the city…

Alexander Knight sits in his office, watching the news on a large screen.

Ethan Cole, stands close to the door, holding a tablet.

“Sir, the news is spreading very fast,” Ethan says. “Your grandfather has already seen it.”

Alexander sighs and loosens his tie. “I expected that.”

Right at that moment, his phone rings. He looks at the screen. “Speak of the devil." He answers the call.

“Grandfather.”

Even from a distance, Ethan can hear the old man shouting from the phone.

“You embarrass the Knight family!” the old man’s roar. “You spend the night with a woman and now the whole country is talking about it!”

“It wasn't planned.”

“I don’t care!” the old man shouts. “You will marry that woman! Our family will not be part of a scandal!”

The call ends.

“Investigate the woman. Fetch me every detail I need to know about her.”

Ethan nods.

“I already did, Sir,” he hands Alexander the tablet. “Her name is Elara Whitmore, the daughter of the Late Founder of Whitmore Company. She is currently the CEO.”

Alexander scroll through the information. “This scandal is bad for both sides,” he says.

Ethan nods.

“Arrange a meeting. I want to talk to her.”

I am preoccupied with my thoughts, when my phone rings. It's from an unknown number.

“Hello?”

“Miss Whitmore,” a male voice answers from the other side. “My name is Ethan. I am Mr. Alexander Knight’s assistant. I am calling to inform you,” he continues, “that Mr. Knight would like to meet you to discuss the marriage contract.”

My heart skips a bit. Marriage contract…how? Everything is happening too fast.

I close my eyes and grip the phone in my hand tightly.

Seems like my life is no longer in my control.