Chapter Five

We need to talk! Could you spare me a few minutes?" Julian asked calmly.

"Will you leave if I say no?" I asked sarcastically while maintaining eye contact.

"Excuse us, Isabella," Julian muttered. Isabella did as he ordered and he closed the door after her. He had a brown envelope with him and he placed it on the table. He sat down and I sat opposite him.

We stared at each other for a minute and he broke the silence.

"I'm sorry about this morning. I am usually level headed but I was flustered this morning. Everything happened unexpectedly, you know..." Julian apologized. It sounded sincere.

"I guess I should say I understand," I muttered.

"I have an offer for you," He shifted the envelope towards me. I picked it and raised my eyebrows, seeking an explanation. He understood and continued, "This scandal, if not controlled, can be the end of my career. I thought long and hard and I think I've found a solution."

" The solution is in this envelope?" I raised it.

"Exactly!" Julian replied. "The cause of this scandal isn't because I was seen entering a hotel with a woman."

"Of course," I added. "It is because I am a rookie actress. People believe you asked to sleep with me before you could sign me to your agency. That theory caused the scandal."

"You understand perfectly," Julian smiled. I opened the envelope and brought out the document. My eyes ran through the document and I was lost for words.

"A contract marriage?" I asked to confirm. It was a rather rhetorical question, one that wasn't necessary.

"Bingo!" Julian stood up now, walking back and forth. "If we tell the press that we were actually engaged and had plans to get married, everything will change. I wouldn't be sleeping with a rookie actress and so, the scandal would meet its death. We can have a divorce in a year."

I stared at him.

“Do you think I am a pushover?” I asked calmly. As he heard this, he gazed deeply into my eyes. I didn't avoid his gaze. Eventually, he broke the silence.

"All I did was make a good offer to you to save our careers. I never thought you were a pushover," Julian replied firmly. I took a deep breath and talked without taking my eyes off him.

"I always wanted to get married. It's embarrassing that you're the first person I've told this but fuck it anyway!" I exclaimed. "However, it won't be in this way. I want to love and experience romance with my partner. Your offer is not only ridiculous but impossible. I will never sign a contract marriage deal with you or anyone else. Not in this world or the next!"

I stood up to leave and Julian did too.

"Wait!" He told me. I turned and I could see a smirk on his face. It disappeared right before he talked. "Do you think I am doing this only for myself?"

"Do you care about me that much?" I replied wittingly.

"What do you mean?" He muttered.

"I am correcting your impression," I responded. "This offer was done so your career can be saved. Don't drag me into it!"

"You will regret this!" He shouted as I walked out. I didn't mind. I slammed the door after him. Isabella was right outside the door and she looked nervous. She was have been eavesdropping.

I walked out like I was high on drugs. The confidence I exuded was fantastic!

I didn't know what to do so I decided to go home first. I could start thinking of a solution after a hot bath and a meal. That was the order. The taxi arrived at my apartment and I walked there only to find my belongings outside. I walked to the door and the lock had been changed.

Then I realized.

The apartment was only given to me because I was an employee at Duck Entertainment. Duncan had taken back my apartment and car. I was now homeless. I wonder why I never thought about this. I sat down on the bare floor and watched my life fade in front of him in a second.

I brought out my phone to check my bank account balance. I had only enough to survive a week. I was underpaid while working with Duncan and he had brainwashed me into believing it was for the greater good.

"I should be able to sue Duncan!" I said loudly. Who knows? I could win the lawsuit and end up with a huge amount of money as settlement.

But wait! I had no money to pay a lawyer. Let's say I hire one. Did I intend to win against Duncan's expert lawyers with just one lawyer of mine? Who knew how long the lawsuit would take? I would only end up bankrupt and in debt.

I clenched my fists and stared at my properties before me. I stood up and began to pack properly. My clothes were littered around from my brasseries to pants to shirts, I could find them everywhere.

I had tears in my eyes as I packed up. I had nowhere to go.

"A hotel first," I urged myself.

**

Julian's team didn't make an official publication yet, however, things were turning against me. The blogs had started slandering my name and blaming me.

"Rookie actress seduces famous billionaire CEO."

"Did Annie Richmond set up Julian Holland to blow up her lousy career?"

This couldn't go on. The paparazzi had found out everything about me including the apartment I stayed before. I was broke and on the verge of being homeless. My name was also being dragged in the filth.

I had no other choice than to see Julian again. He was easy to contact and he directed me to the same safehouse I was taken to last time. This time, Julian looked rather nonchalant just as if he was playing hard to get.

"About the contract marriage..." I muttered nervously. "Let's do it!"

“Isabella!” Julian called naturally. Isabella entered and Julian turned to her, “We shall have the press conference.”

Julian stood up, “Let's do this, wife!”