Chapter 10: Headlines
754 Words
Emma's phone started ringing at six-thirty in the morning.
She ignored it.
Then it rang again.
And again.
And again.
Groaning, she reached for the device on her bedside table.
The caller ID displayed Sarah's name.
That couldn't be good.
Emma answered.
"Please tell me nobody is dying."
"Turn on your phone."
Emma frowned.
"My phone is on."
"No."
Sarah sounded frantic.
"The internet."
Emma sat up.
"What happened?"
"Just look."
The call ended.
Emma immediately opened her social media.
Her stomach dropped.
The first image she saw was a photograph of her and Alexander sitting together beside Willow Creek Lake.
Another showed them laughing outside Mrs. Parker's restaurant.
Another showed Alexander standing beside her outside the hospital.
The headline underneath read:
BUSINESS HEIR ALEXANDER KINGSTON SPOTTED WITH MYSTERY WOMAN
Emma stared at the screen.
Then another article appeared.
WHO IS THE WOMAN CAPTURING ALEXANDER KINGSTON'S ATTENTION?
And another.
ROMANCE RUMORS SURROUND KINGSTON ENTERPRISES HEIR
"Oh no."
Her heart began pounding.
This wasn't good.
This was very, very bad.
By the time Emma arrived at the hospital, everyone had seen the photos.
Every.
Single.
Person.
Nurses smiled when she walked past.
Doctors suddenly seemed unusually interested in her morning.
Even patients had questions.
"Is he handsome in real life?"
Emma nearly dropped a patient chart.
Mrs. Henderson, one of her favorite elderly patients, grinned mischievously.
"Well?"
Emma laughed despite herself.
"Mrs. Henderson."
"I'm just asking."
"No comment."
The older woman looked delighted.
That was exactly the problem.
Everyone was delighted.
Everyone except Emma.
Because her life had suddenly become public.
And she hated it.
Meanwhile, Alexander was furious.
Not annoyed.
Not frustrated.
Furious.
He stood inside his office staring at a tablet.
His jaw tightened with every headline.
Not because of what they said about him.
He was used to that.
What bothered him was Emma.
She hadn't chosen this.
She hadn't asked for reporters.
Or cameras.
Or public attention.
And now she was being dragged into it anyway.
His assistant entered carefully.
"Legal has contacted the publications."
Alexander nodded.
"Good."
"They've removed several photographs."
"Not enough."
The assistant hesitated.
Then asked carefully:
"Have you spoken to Emma?"
"No."
His expression softened.
"Not yet."
Because before he called her, he needed to calm down.
Emma deserved reassurance.
Not anger.
Later that afternoon, Emma stepped outside the hospital for a break.
The moment she reached the parking lot, her phone rang.
Alexander.
She answered immediately.
"Hi."
His voice was gentle.
"How are you holding up?"
Emma leaned against a nearby wall.
"I've had patients ask me if we're secretly engaged."
Alexander laughed.
The sound instantly made her feel better.
"I'm sorry."
"I know."
Silence followed.
Comfortable silence.
Then Alexander spoke again.
"This is my fault."
Emma immediately shook her head.
"No."
"It is."
"It isn't."
"Emma—"
"Alexander."
Her voice softened.
"You didn't call the photographers."
"No."
"You didn't sell the pictures."
"No."
"Then it isn't your fault."
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Finally, he sighed.
"You deserve better than this."
Her heart squeezed.
"You know what's funny?"
"What?"
"I was more upset about spilling coffee on your suit."
His laugh returned.
And suddenly the situation didn't feel quite so overwhelming.
That evening, Alexander made a decision.
A very important decision.
One that surprised even him.
He called Emma again.
"Can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"Are you free this weekend?"
Emma smiled.
"I think so."
"Good."
His voice sounded unusually serious.
Because it was.
"I want to take you somewhere."
She raised an eyebrow.
"Somewhere?"
"Somewhere."
"That's not very specific."
Alexander laughed.
"I know."
"Should I be worried?"
"Probably not."
"Probably?"
His grin was practically audible through the phone.
"Trust me."
Emma's heart fluttered.
Trust him.
The strange thing was...
She did.
Completely.
Later that night, Alexander stood alone on the balcony of his penthouse.
The city stretched endlessly below.
Normally, he loved this view.
Tonight, his thoughts were elsewhere.
With Emma.
Always Emma.
He smiled to himself.
Because despite the headlines.
Despite the photographers.
Despite the complications.
He had never been more certain about anything.
He wanted her in his life.
Not temporarily.
Not casually.
For real.
The realization should have scared him.
Instead, it felt right.
Unfortunately, not everyone shared his enthusiasm.
Inside another part of the city, Victoria Sinclair sat staring at the same headlines.
Her expression darkened.
She had expected Emma to disappear.
To walk away.
To decide the attention wasn't worth it.
Instead, the opposite seemed to be happening.
And Victoria wasn't willing to accept that.
Not yet.
- Writer
