〘⚪Chapter Six⚫〙
1209 Words
Daria's POV
I should have known dinner with Roman wasn't actually going to be dinner.
It was a meeting.
A very expensive meeting with food.
We were sitting in a private restaurant in Manhattan, away from the main dining area. There were only a few people around, and security was stationed outside.
I looked at the table.
Then at Roman.
Then back at the table.
“You really know how to make a marriage romantic.”
He looked up from the menu.
“This isn't a date.”
“I know.”
“Then why are you complaining?”
“I wasn't.”
“You were.”
I picked up my glass.
“Maybe I just wanted you to pretend.”
He looked at me for a second.
“I don't pretend.”
I almost laughed.
“That might become a problem.”
He returned his attention to the menu.
The waiter came over, and we ordered.
Once he left, Roman leaned back.
“We need to decide how much of this marriage we're making public.”
“All of it?”
“No.”
“Then what?”
“Enough to make people believe it.”
I nodded.
That part made sense.
“We'll need appearances together.”
“Yes.”
“Events.”
“Yes.”
“Interviews?”
“Only if necessary.”
“Photos.”
“Unfortunately.”
I sighed.
“I hate cameras.”
“I know.”
I looked at him.
“How?”
“I've seen your interviews.”
“You've watched my interviews?”
He paused.
“I've seen them.”
“That wasn't my question.”
He ignored me.
I smiled.
“Interesting.”
“Don't make it a thing.”
“I wasn't going to.”
“You were.”
I laughed.
The food arrived before I could answer.
For a few minutes, we ate in silence.
It wasn't uncomfortable.
That surprised me.
Roman wasn't the kind of person who felt the need to fill every quiet moment with conversation. I liked that.
After a while, he placed his fork down.
“There is something else.”
I looked up.
“What?”
“Your father.”
My expression changed.
“What about him?”
“He's going to fight this.”
“I know.”
“He'll probably try to stop the marriage.”
“He can try.”
Roman watched me.
“You're not worried?”
“I've dealt with my father my entire life.”
“That wasn't an answer.”
I sighed.
“Yes. I'm worried.”
He nodded.
“At least you're honest.”
I rolled my eyes.
“Don't sound so proud.”
He almost smiled.
Almost.
Then his expression became serious again.
“Your former fiancé could also cause problems.”
I looked down at my plate.
“I know.”
“You trust him?”
“No.”
“Good.”
I looked at him.
“Why?”
“Because you shouldn't.”
There was something about his tone that made me look at him longer.
“You know something?”
“No.”
“Then why say that?”
“Because someone who is willing to marry a woman who doesn't want him isn't someone I'd trust.”
I didn't have an answer for that.
Because he was right.
---
We left the restaurant around ten.
The moment we stepped outside, the flashes started.
I froze.
There were cameras across the street.
People shouting questions.
“Daria! Is the wedding still happening?”
“Are you and Ethan still together?”
“Who is the man you're with?”
“Daria, are the rumors true?”
Roman didn't react.
He simply walked beside me.
A security guard moved forward, creating space.
I kept my face calm, even though my heart was pounding.
Roman glanced at me.
“Keep walking.”
“I am.”
“You stopped.”
“I noticed.”
He looked ahead.
“Good.”
We reached the car.
The door opened.
I got in.
Roman followed.
The moment the door shut, everything became quiet.
I exhaled.
“That was awful.”
“You'll get used to it.”
“I don't want to.”
“You won't.”
I looked at him.
“Comforting.”
He looked out the window.
“It's the truth.”
My phone started buzzing.
Then again.
And again.
I opened social media.
My name was already trending.
DARIA VALE SPOTTED WITH ROMAN BLACKWELL.
Another headline appeared.
IS DARIA VALE CHEATING ON HER FIANCÉ?
I stared at the screen.
“Oh, this is going to be bad.”
Roman looked over.
“Probably.”
I turned my phone toward him.
He read the headline.
“People will find out soon.”
“About the marriage?”
“Yes.”
I looked at him.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“Once we announce this, there's no going back.”
“I know.”
I locked my phone.
“Then let's do it properly.”
He looked at me.
“What do you mean?”
“If we're going to shock everyone, we might as well make sure they don't forget it.”
For the first time that evening, Roman smiled.
A real smile.
Small.
But there.
“I can work with that.”
---
The next morning, the internet was worse.
My assistant walked into my office holding her tablet.
“You're everywhere.”
“I've noticed.”
She placed it on my desk.
There were articles everywhere.
Speculation.
Rumors.
People arguing about whether I had cheated.
Some were defending me.
Others were calling me names.
One headline caught my attention.
DARIA VALE'S ENGAGEMENT IN TROUBLE? MYSTERY ROMANCE WITH ROMAN BLACKWELL
I laughed.
“Mystery romance?”
My assistant shrugged.
“Apparently you're mysterious now.”
“I've been mysterious for twenty-six years.”
She smiled.
Then her expression changed.
“There's another problem.”
“What?”
She handed me another document.
My father's legal team had requested an emergency meeting regarding the Vale Group.
I stared at the paper.
Of course.
I put it down.
“He's starting already.”
“Should I prepare the board?”
“Yes.”
She nodded.
Then paused.
“Daria?”
“Yeah?”
“Are you sure about Roman?”
I looked out the window.
I thought about the contract.
The wedding.
My mother.
My father.
The cameras.
Everything.
“I don't know.”
Then I looked back at her.
“But I know I'm sure about escaping Ethan.”
That was enough for now.
My phone buzzed.
A message from Roman.
'Tomorrow. 11 a.m. Press conference.'
I stared at it.
Tomorrow.
The whole world was about to find out.
I typed back.
'You really don't waste time.'
His reply came almost immediately.
'Neither do you.'
I smiled.
Then put my phone down.
For some reason, my stomach twisted.
Not because I was scared of the announcement.
I was scared of what came after it.
Because once Roman Blackwell and Daria Vale announced their marriage, there would be no hiding behind a contract anymore.
The world would be watching us.
And neither of us knew how convincing we'd have to be.
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