Chapter 6
1090 Words
The Media Finds Out
LILA:
If I had known yesterday had been terrible, nowadays it would be a receding nightmare.
The moment I stepped into the office, the whispers started.
"Did you spot the interview? Mr. Sinclair didn’t even deny it."
"She trapped him with the pregnancy. Classic gold-digger flow."
"I heard she faked a recommendation simply to get the process."
My hands tightened around the folder in my arms, my nails pressing into the thick paper. I had expected backlash after closing night time, however I hadn’t expected this.
The office became humming with gossip, employees glancing at me with slightly concealed smirks, a few even ambitious enough to mutter things as I walked through.
James hadn’t just thrown me beneath the bus closing night; he had paved the street for it and then pushed the damn component himself.
Taking a deep breath, I forced my shoulders lower back and stored my chin high as I walked in the direction of my workplace.
I wouldn’t let them see me destroyed.
I wouldn’t supply him with satisfaction.
The second I shut the door behind me, I collapsed into my chair, pressing my arms in opposition to my temples.
God, I became exhausted.
Not just physically, but emotionally.
This consistent struggle, this war between James and me, was draining every ounce of electricity I had. And now, on the pinnacle of the whole thing, I needed to cope with the complete enterprise believing I turned into a gold-digging, manipulative girl who had forced James into marriage.
I wanted to scream.
But earlier than I should so much as let loose a pissed-off sigh, my office door swung open.
James.
Of path.
He strode in like he owned the damn region which, technically, he did his usual cold, unreadable expression firmly in the area.
"We need to speak," he stated, finally the door behind him.
I leaned back in my chair, crossing my fingers over my chest. "Oh? Are we discussing how you humiliated me in front of the whole u? S . A . Remaining night? Or are we talking approximately the way you just stood there at the same time as they called me a gold digger?"
His jaw tensed, however he didn’t upward thrust to the bait. "The media changed into constantly going to invest, Lila. This isn’t non-public."
I let loose a sharp snigger, shaking my head. "Not nonpublic? James, human beings suppose I trapped you into this marriage. Do you have any concept of how disgusting that makes me appear?"
He exhaled sharply and ran a hand through his hair. "I’ll take care of it."
I blinked. "Oh? And how precisely do you intend to do this? Because unless you’re about to move on live television and tell everybody the reality, I don’t see how you’re going to restore this."
His eyes darkened, something unreadable flickering throughout his face.
Then, without another phrase, he pulled his telephone from his pocket, dialed a number, and waited.
"Schedule a press conference," he stated the moment the individual picked up. "I have a declaration to make."
My coronary heart stuttered in my chest.
Was he… became he honestly going to restore this?
I wanted to feel relieved. I wanted to believe that maybe, just maybe, James wasn’t as heartless as I thought.
But deep down, I knew better.
James Sinclair didn’t do matters out of the kindness of his heart.
Whatever he turned into making plans it became for himself, no longer for me.
And that terrified me more than something.
THE PRESS CONFERENCE
The flashing lighting had been blinding. The sea of newshounds filling the hall buzzed with anticipation, microphones poised, cameras rolling.
James sat beside me at the lengthy table, his posture flawlessly composed. I, however, felt like I turned into seconds far away from bolting.
The air turned thick with tension as the questions began.
"Mr. Sinclair, are you able to confirm whether or not this marriage was arranged to cover a scandal?"
"Did Mrs. Sinclair deceive you in any way?"
"How do you experience becoming a father?"
James remained silent for a long moment, his piercing gaze sweeping over the group. Then, eventually, he leaned ahead, his voice easy and deliberate.
"There were a lot of speculations about my marriage," he said. "So let me make one thing clear: Lila is my wife. The mom of my baby. And absolutely everyone who disrespects her disrespects me."
Murmurs rippled through the room.
I swallowed tough, my palms gripping the threshold of the desk.
"So you’re denying that this pregnancy became a ploy?" a reporter pressed.
James’s lips curved into a smirk, but there was something risky in the back of it. "If you watch each person trap me into something I don’t need, then you don’t realize me in any respect."
The crowd chuckled.
I stiffened.
James had just defended me but in the most conceited manner possible.
Still, it is better than not nothing.
Then, just as I thought we had been carried out, another query came.
"Mr. Sinclair, will this affect Mrs. Sinclair’s function in the agency?"
I held my breath, my coronary heart pounding.
James glanced at me briefly before turning back to the newshounds.
"No," he stated firmly. "Lila is one of the most splendid strategists I’ve ever labored with. Her position at the organization is stable."
I blinked, my breath catching in my throat.
Had James Sinclair simply… complimented me?
The press convention wrapped up soon after that, but my mind was nonetheless spinning.
As quickly as we were out of the public eye, I came to James. "Why did you do this?"
He raised an eyebrow. "Do what?"
I crossed my palms. "Defend me. Call me awesome. That’s now not exactly in keeping with your common asshole conduct."
He smirked. "Don’t get used to it."
I narrowed my eyes. "You’re infuriating."
His smirk widened. "And yet, you can’t stop talking to me."
I scowled, spinning on my heel to stroll away. But earlier than I may want to take an unmarried step, his voice stopped me.
"Lila."
Something in his tone made me freeze. I turned lower back, my belly flipping.
For the first time considering this nightmare started, James appeared… unsure.
"I supposed what I said," he murmured. "You are tremendous."
My breath stuck.
For a short, fleeting second, I saw something in his eyes. Something actual.
But then, just as quickly as it appeared, it changed into a long past.
And I was left there, more harassed than ever.
- Writer
