THE BILLIONAIRE AND WIFE

Chapter Four: Lights, Camera Scandal Everything happened so fast

Before I could even stand up from my seat, the camera crew was already inside the

library.

Bright lights, a long microphone hanging above my head. The clicking sound of a camera

lens zooming in.

The reporter, a tall man with messy brown hair and a sweaty face, stepped forward

holding a microphone with a TV station logo on it.

“Miss Bells! Miss Bells! Is it true you’re engaged to Mr. Leey Gammey? How long have

you known him? Are you pregnant?”

I froze, Pregnant? What? Where did that even come from?

My mouth opened, but no words came out. Leey’s face turned red with anger.

“Get out!” he shouted, banging his cane on the floor

Who gave you access to my property? Hayes! Security!”

Within seconds, two large security guards appeared from the hallway.

“Sir, we’re on it,” one of them said. The reporter shouted more questions as the guards

dragged him and the camera crew out.

“Miss Bells! Are you after his money? Do you love lhim or is this all a game? What do his

children think? Is the wedding happening this weekend?”

Their voices faded as the doors slammed shut.

I stood there, frozen, shaking from head to toe.

Leey sank back into his chair, rubbing his forehead like he had a headache coming on.

“Are you okay?” I asked in a small voice.

He let out a tired sigh. “I’m fine. This happens sometimes, The press loves drama, I sat

down slowly, still trying to catch my breath.

“I don’t understand,” I said, How did they even know I was here? How did they find out

about about us?”

Leey shook his head. “It’s my name. My life is always under a microscope. Especially

now, with this marriage talk going around.”

Marriage talk, I still hadn’t given him an answer.

And now the whole world already seemed to think I had.

Leey turned to me with a look I hadn’t seen before part warning, part sadness.

“I’m sorry, Whitney,” he said softly. “But you’re not invisible anymore. From today on

people will talk. They’ll guess. They’ll twist the story however they want.”

I swallowed hard. “But I haven’t even I mean I haven’t said yes yet.”

He chuckled bitterly, “that won’t stop them.”

I pressed my hands against my face, This was too much, too fast.

My phone buzzed suddenly, I grabbed it and looked at the screen.

15 missed calls.

Most from Jenna. A few from random numbers I didn’t recognize.

Then a text from her popped up right away:

“Girl, you’re on the news right now!! They’re showing your face and everything! Call

me!!!”

My stomach dropped, I switched to social media.

And there it was, My face on every gossip blog and local news page in Houston.

Pictures of me from the club screenshots from my i********: even blurry shots of me

stepping out of the black SUV earlier that day.

I wanted to scream, I threw my phone on the couch and buried my face in my hands.

Leey sat quietly, just watching me.

“I’m sorry,” he said again, softer this time. “I should have warned you.”

I didn’t answer, I couldn’t.

I felt like my heart was beating too fast, my throat too tight to breathe.

“I can get you a media consultant,” he said after a long pause. “Someone who handles

this kind of thing. They’ll help control the story… at least a little.”

“Is this what life with you is like?” I finally whispered.

His eyes darkened, “This is just the start.”

I sat there in silence for a few more minutes, trying to gather my thoughts.

“I need air,” I finally said, standing up and rushing outside.

I stepped onto the porch, letting the cool wind hit my face.

Tears burned behind my eyes, but I refused to let them fall.

I didn’t want to cry. Not here. Not now.

I walked down the garden path toward a small fountain near the rose bushes.

I needed space, Just five minutes alone, But as soon as I sat down on the bench near the

fountain, I heard someone behind me.

“Rough day?” I jumped, turning quickly.

It wasn’t Leey, It wasn’t Mr. Hayes. It was a young man maybe in his late twenties

dressed in ranch worker clothes holding a small rake like he had been tending the

garden.

He had messy dark hair, tan skin, and kind eyes. I didn’t recognize him, “Sorry,” he said,

raising his hands like he meant no harm. “Didn’t mean to scare you. Name’s Eli. I do

maintenance and landscaping around here.”

I nodded, wiping my eyes quickly before he noticed the tears.

“Long day,” I said, He gave me a crooked smile, “Looks like it.”

For a moment, I just sat there, breathing, feeling the wind, the quiet.

Then Eli tilted his head. “You don’t look like you belong here,” he said softly.

I blinked at him. “Excuse me?”

“Don’t get me wrong,” he said quickly. “You’re beautiful and all… but… this place? The

Gammey world? It’s… dangerous.”

I froze, That word again, Dangerous, Before I could ask him what he meant, I heard Mr. Hayes

calling my name from the house.

“Miss Bells! Mr. Gammey wants to see you again!”

I stood up quickly, giving Eli one last glance.

He nodded at me like he knew something I didn’t.

And as I walked back toward the mansion my heart was racing again.

Something wasn’t right here, Something big was coming And I wasn’t sure if I was ready for it.