Segment: Confession

France

Jamie's P.O.V

We wait for our luggage awkwardly. Throughout the entire aero ride, Michelle and I didn't have anything to talk to each other with. I don't know if I should be relieved that we're not on speaking terms or if I should be concerned. Does she hate me?

"Hey," I blinked twice. She was finally initiating the talk.

"Yes, President?" she shakes her head and pouted at me.

"You can call me Michelle."

"Nah, I don't think so, President." she rolls her eyes at me.

"Alright then, historian." my left eyebrow twitched at the nickname she has given me. I guess this is what I deserve for calling her 'President'.

"So, what did you want to ask me, President?"

There her luggage was. Since I was taller and my reach was longer than hers, I grabbed her luggage on pure instinct and placed it in between us. I was with so many girls already that this already feels so natural to me. She looks at me at in disdain. Did I do something to anger her?

"I was going to tell you to not assist me in whatsoever way possible."

Oh.

"Women should be handled carefully and gently." she glares at me quite menacingly, making me gulp.

She was little but her glare was a bit scary.

"You're being openly sexist right now."

"Sorry to have caused you prejudice, President, but this was always the case when I was with others." she grabs my luggage that I didn't know was there and places it in front of me with a scowl on her face.

My luggage landed the floor with a loud thud, echoing slightly inside the airport, despite the airport being crowded. I stare at my luggage horrifyingly.

"Don't treat me like those women who can't even wipe their own asses." my eyes shot wide at her comment.

I had always thought that she was nice, gentle and warm but how is she so different to what I thought? From all of those that I thought of her, shouldn't she at least uphold one? She has no obligation though, but really? My head was in turmoil because now I was afraid that if I mess something up, she'll deal with me herself.

"Oh, okay." my words came out tiny and afraid.

We silently and awkwardly make our way towards our escort for the entire trip. I don't even know what we're doing here. Reports? Reports on what? I haven't even seen our paper, which is troublesome. I don't know the objective of this said trip. I'm an embarrassment.

She opens the car door for herself and got in. I get in and closed the door myself. Michelle looked like she had her space between us violated. I only talked to her once and she's completely hostile towards me. I don't know what to do anymore.

"Mi-Michelle," my voice cracked under pressure.

"Are you not a man?" I cleared my throat.

"Michelle," I let out my manly and low voice.

"What is it, Jamie." her tone was flat like it wasn't even a question. It was a demand. She's demanding me to answer.

"I'm so-sorry to inform you that I don't know what we're here for." her eyes travel to me for a second before looking out the window.

"It's really nothing. We're just attending a company dinner." I was surprised by how gentle her voice was yet somehow uninterested.

"It's your father's company, right?"

"Yeah."

"Okay. We're just attending? Nothing more?" she sighs, making me regret that I ever asked.

I'm so sorry, god. I'm so sorry. Am I going to die now?

"I should apologize in advance."

I try to think of something, why she was apologizing but I can't seem to come up with anything. My stomach though didn't sit right with the situation or the clue that she just told me. I kept quiet. There must be a reason why she's not telling me the reason why.

We got into the hotel and had two rooms prepared for us. I lay on the bed, my clothes still inside my luggage, and sighed. Was something going to happen?

"Michelle Young, huh."

I turn to my side and sighed again. There was a knock on the door, making me jolt upright and sit on the bed. I cleared my throat and told the person to come in. It was Michelle. She looked so reserve and flustered.

"Michelle?"

"Sorry," she looks down, glued her back on the door.

It was the second apology that I got from her. It was unreasoned with but I felt as if that I should accept her apology. I pat the seat next to me. She understood the gesture and sat beside me, not leaving any distance.

I may be with many women before, but I haven't been with a person close to Michelle before. Her cold shoulder towards me, her stingy attitude towards me, it was all new to me. Almost always, girls would swarm around me, flocking even. If not, I would talk to them for a bit and then we'd be alright afterwards.

I can't read Michelle. She's hard to read and she's unpredictable, like she was conflicted and tied down herself.

"What time are we going tonight?"

"An hour from now,"

"Oh, you don't need more time to prepare?" she scoffs.

"It's not like I need more makeup than necessary. I'm not dressing up for someone there." I awkwardly laughed.

"Right. Well, I need to be presentable in front of your father and the guests." she looks at me with I don't know expression she was wearing.

"Why do you always do that?"

"Hmm? What do you mean?" she looks at me intently a bit more before standing up.

"Knock if you're already done."

"Okay."

When she exited my room, I looked at the door and replayed the question.

"It's different." I tell myself before slapping away the void inside and went to where my luggage was.

I didn't read the instructions but I did know to bring a tux. I wore the fully ironed tux and put it on. I combed my hair until it was slick, leaving my forehead completely exposed. I cringed at my face. I combed it appropriately to the side and left some strand to become messy before clicking my tongue.

"Huh. I wonder if Lyle is getting some. Damn that woman, always having the good ones. I doubt Amelia will sleep with me though, seeing that she keeps on looking at Lyle when Lyle isn't paying her any attention. I swear that woman is dense."

I grab my phone and wallet before exiting my room. I knocked on Michelle's door three times, and waited for a response that never came. Instead, the door opened revealing a sexy Michelle. Her dress was hugging her just right, accenting on her curves. Her breasts were bigger than I thought and was perky. The glamorous dark green dress was so open on her back down to her waist.

She was so beautiful and so gorgeous. Her hair was in curls on the side, but not so much, just enough curls. I could see her collarbone and her shoulders, how she was so petite and fragile, like the woman she seems right now.

"Beautiful," I uttered without any thought. She closes her eyes for a second but it looked like forever to me. How this was so in slow motion that I saw how long her eyelashes were and how straight her nose was too.

She looked like an anime.

"Thank you. You don't look bad yourself."

For the first time, I felt myself getting flustered over a woman while she's completely unfazed by me and my compliment.

"Thanks,"

I escorted her down to the lobby and to the car. I couldn't keep my head straight. This wasn't the usual cool and baggy Michelle. She looked so feminine and so out of her comfort zone but still looks marvelous. I bit my lip. I was restless.

I glanced at Michelle and she was closing her eyes. Was she sleeping? I stare at her, still keeping my distance. I examine her feature. It was dimly lit but I could still picture her out. How her beauty was so captivating under the passing city night lights of France. Was she tired from the flight?

"You like staring at me, don't you?" she didn't even open her eyes. She kept her eyes closed as she talks to me.

"Yes,"

I don't know what came over me when I answered her, but her unwavering coldness towards me was bothering me quite a bit. Not really just a bit but more than I thought it would. I want her to acknowledge my presence. This is something new to me. I never felt so small next to someone. So nonexistent. It hurt.

"Please stop. It's a nuisance." she opens her eyes halfway while looking at me but not turning her head to me. She looked sassy and like a cat.

"That doesn't really affect me."

"Just earlier you were afraid of me."

"But now that I've seen that you can apologize like that, I think I deserve change." she closes her eyes.

"Do what you want."

Throughout the entire car ride to her father's company, I stared at her. I was so entranced by her beauty that thirty minutes of staring at her wasn't enough. Her transformation was so drastic that I was out of breath. I knew she was beautiful but not to this extent.

I opened the car door for her and got out. I stuck out my hand for her to take. It was common courtesy here and I don't think she will reject my hand, especially since there are a lot of people looking. She took my hand indeed but through gritted teeth.

We made our way to the company building and was greeted by the staffs. They knew who she was and I guess was informed that I was coming as well since they didn't ask who this nobody was. They let us in and immediately gave us white wine.

"Ah! Darling, glad you could make it!" a tall handsome man approached us and embraced Michelle in such a frail manner.

Can you even call that a hug?

"Papa, glad to see you too." Michelle's voice lacked depth but her father didn't seem to notice.

"You've grown up, princess!" her father grinned, revealing a still complete set of teeth and white at that.

Michelle forced a smile and laugh before taking a sip of her white wine.

"Oh, Papa, stop it." her father looks at me and then smiled. I smiled back of course.

"Who's this young lad? He must be your boyfriend?"

The f**k?

Was this the reason why Michelle apologized earlier? I forced out a big smile.

"Yes, I'm the boyfriend." Michelle looked at me for a second, in shock before smiling at her father.

"Please take care of my daughter from here on out. She's quite unsure of herself." I didn't know what he meant but I guess he meant about her personality. It's the most peculiar thing Michelle has at the moment that really captured my attention.

"Don't worry, Sir. Michelle is very bright and kind to me. I should be the one thanking you for bringing such an angel to my life." Mr. Young laughed.

"I see, I see. I like you. I hope to see you waiting for her at the altar."

"Papa," Michelle stopped her father.

"Alright, pumpkin. I shall greet the other guests. I will tend to you two later."

"We'll enjoy ourselves, Sir."

"Alright. I'll see you later, baby." Mr. Young kisses Michelle's forehead before going away and greeted other guests.

I let out a much needed sigh of relief. He was not to be reckoned with. He looks so powerful and rich, obviously with a wide range of backers and supporters. I drank the whole white wine all in one go before putting it on the tray of a roaming waiter.

"I see that you're used to this." I look at the sullen Michelle before looking elsewhere.

"I see that you're quite reserved," I deadpanned.

"You don't know what it feels like." it came out a whisper but I heard it.

"Of course I don't. I have my own s**t going on. I'm occupied on my own. I don't need for you to fill me in on what's going on in your life since that takes away time, but if ever you need help, I'll help without a reason to."

She grips my arm.

"Michelle, I'll pretend to be your boyfriend until you tell your father the truth. Since I'm already dragged into this, the only condition I'll give you is that you tell him that what this is, is not real. That's the only way for us to break this fake relationship."

"You still want to continue this in school?"

"Your father is a businessman. I doubt he believed us. I'm sure he'll send spies or pay someone to verify this lie of ours."

Although I wish for this to be real, it won't. I see how Michelle looks at me. It was like a black hole. I'm not so stupid to think that our moment right now is not making me like her. Michelle is the first woman to ever make me want to look at her without any money involved. She made me tell her that she was beautiful without a script being memorized.

She makes me want to see her more and be nearer than we are right now. I want to touch her freely without any boundaries but that would be taboo.

"You're right. I'm sorry I dragged you into this."

"You really didn't though."

"I told my father we're in a relationship. How is that not dragging you?"

I look at Mr. Young and saw that he was looking at us. I saw this as a chance to make a move with personal intentions. I kiss Michelle's hand while looking at her. She was also looking at me, dumbfounded.

"Because you gave me a choice to shoot down your lie when your father asked me. You didn't really force me. I took this upon myself. I can't say I have no pure intentions myself." she sighs.

"I can't say I'm happy that you admitted that yourself, but we should probably set boundaries." I smiled in victory.

"Is there other boundaries except for s*x?"

"I thought you had intentions of raping me," she nonchalantly says while looking away at a distance. I chuckled.

"I'm not that forceful, Michelle."

"Fine-"

"Darling, sorry it took me so much time to greet the guests." Michelle forced another smile to her father before gripping my arm slightly.

"It's okay, Papa. You're busy, I know."

"Let me make it up to you. Shall we go to my office?" Michelle nodded.

We walk to the elevator, passing many that greeted us. Michelle kept her forced smile. I was surprised that her cheek bones weren't hurting. Her father pushed the button to his office. It was quiet. The only sounds we could hear was the elevator music.

Mr. Young's back was facing us which meant Michelle had time to re-compose herself. I look at her and she was obviously troubled. I wonder what kind of trouble I was getting myself into. The elevator chimed and opened up, making Michelle grip my arm again, anxious.

"This way," Mr. Young instructed.

We followed Mr. Young in his office and sat on the sofa. There was coffee ready at the table and it was still hot. So he planned on inviting us here way ahead? Had someone to brew us coffee? Such a thorough man.

Mr. Young takes a sip on his coffee and smiles at us as he sets his cup down. He crosses his legs.

"I forgot to ask you your name, young man. My apologies."

"It's Jamie, Sir. Jamie Kelly."

His aura suddenly became intimidating. He looks at me, examining my every part of the body. Was he perhaps waiting for me to screw up or spill the beans? Unfortunately for him, he must wait for his daughter to tell him since I have ill intentions of my own.

"Nice to meet you, Jamie. So, how did you two become a couple?"

"Through a steamy night, Sir." Michelle's eyes widened at my statement while Mr. Young's eyebrows rose.

"Like a one-night stand, Jamie?"

"No, Sir. I confessed to Michelle in their club room, alone. She didn't give me an answer right away and got drunk that night. The school knew that I liked her so they called me to come and take her home but it ended up like that."

I smiled to a fuming Michelle, which made her more mad.

"Oh, but I can't really validate that without some sort of proof, right?"

"You're right, Sir." I turn to Michelle and she gasped slightly.

I place my hand on Michelle's cheek and kissed her on the lips. It was as soft as I had imagined it to be. Her warm and slippery mouth made my tiny man hard. But it wasn't enough to make me fully erect. I bite Michelle's lower lip. She grabs my hand that was on her cheek but didn't do anything to yank it away.

Michelle smelled wonderful. I break our kiss and smiled to My. Young who had a wide grin.

"Marvelous! I thought there that Michelle was lying to me so that I'll shut up about marriage. Would you like to get married tomorrow?" he was full of energy and he seemed happy, excited even. He was even proud. Michelle didn't move. Was she even breathing?

OKAY, I WASN'T READY FOR THAT.

"I would love to marry Michelle but I deeply apologize. I would like to propose to Michelle the way that I want, Sir Young." he laughed again.

"No pressure, no pressure! Take all the time you need! Shall I have a week of your winter vacation?"

"No, Papa. Three days," Michelle finally composed herself.

"What? That's too short, darling."

"Papa, you're busy even in winter." Mr. Young sighed.

"Fine. Then three days will be enough."

"Gladly, Sir."

And the night ended with Michelle not talking to me throughout the whole time.