Agreement with a billionaire

Don’t call my name.

Sitting on the bed becomes uncomfortable for Laura, as she begins pacing around her hotel room, with her phone in her ear, while waiting for a response.

"Laura?" Adrian voice fills Laura's ear having pick up his call.

"What is happening Adrian? You were supposed to keep this discreet for now, why..." Laura's words come hastily, whereas Adrian perceives a tone in Laura which he has never before.

Fear.

"I don't know how this happened Laura. I promise you this isn’t my doing." Adrian cuts through Laura's words.

"What do you mean you don't know how this happened? We had an agreement that we keep this discreet till we're able to talk to Lucien. That was my only term and condition to you," Laura responds, taking Adrian to hear her tone of disappointment to him.

"I will fix it..."

"In what way?" Laura interrupts Adrian, while her feet comes to a halt. "Mr Lucien already knows, it is on every media outlet about our secret engagement," Laura adds, while running a hand through her disheveled hair. "I'm leaving for France today, waiting for you was a mistake." Laura speaks, as after her words Adrian's goes silent reminiscing Laura's particular word of statement to him.

"I won't advise you do that Laura. In case you do not already know, paparazzi are and would be waiting for you to make just a movement for them to find you, if they have not already found out the name of your hotel, which is why I have been trying to reach you." Adrian eventually talks, taking Laura to curse inaudibly under her breath.

"You don't know what this means Adrian. I have betrayed my trust with him, and you were supposed to see that this didn't go this way. I should have known this would come to this," Laura speaks with frustration present in her voice.

"Calm down Laura, I need you to listen to me carefully. You can not leave for France at the moment, at least not on your own. For that, I will be coming with my men to pick you up and we will find a solution to this. I promise." Adrian attempts to converses withLaura amicably.

"I don't know..." Laura contemplates.

"I would never harm you Laura, please just trust me on this," Adrian saps to convince Laura.

"Alright," Laura accepts indecisively, while she questions herself about the decision she is making with Adrian, recalling how the similarity of her situation reflects to her past, nevertheless Laura let’s out a sigh, before getting dressed.

————-

From each direction, Adrian struggles to find safety for Laura whom is wrapped around his arms in the clamoring crowd of reporters and paparazzis, as his envision is indeed right, for the reporters find Laura’s hotel.

Inquires from each angel is thrown at Laura and Adrian about their revealed relationship, which in turn has transformed Laura into a celebrity over night. It isn’t futuristic in Laura’s life to experience her current situation, such that fear and perplexity fills her demeanor, yet, her current situation seems to surpass her previous. Laura continues to followAdrian’s commands to the car, by his men providing a gateway for them, as when the door to Adrian’s tinted SUV closes shut, Laura rocks her head into the palm of her hands.

“Pas plus (Not again).”

——————

Laura’s gaze surrounds her environment whilst walking into one of Adrian’s discreet penthouse, as he mentioned to her when she asked of their whereabouts.

“I am deeply saddened and sorry about what you are experiencing right not Laura. Believe me, this is not in my making…”

“And it was supposed not to be.” Laura intervenes Adrian in his conversation, by turning to face him. “I thought you were different Adrian, you said you are a man of your words, yet, proved otherwise.” Laura blasts Adrian directly to his face, as all he can do is stand there and watch her talk.

“Laura…”

“Don’t call my name,” Laura’s gaze goes stern at Adrian, showcasing her discomfort and disappointment in Adrian. Laura’s gaze swifts into perplexity when she is in stun of Adrian’s action, for instead of talking back to her, he walks away from her.

Unable to speak a word and still in perplexity, Adrian returns back to Laura with a box in his hand, for when he comes to a stop, Laura watches him vividly take a band aid and a cotton wool from it before walking closer to her.

“I know you are mad at me and you have every right to be, but first let me clean your wound.” Adrian speaks, whilst Laura can only continue to stare in perplexity with her mouth agape to utter words, yet, unsuccessful. “You’re bleeding again, it must have opened up while we averting the reporters.” Adrian explains, while dabbing the cotton wool gently on Laura’s skin, taking Laura to stare in silence and her gaze softer of not realizing her wound cut open, due to her anger.

Laura’s heart begins to beat faster than the normal, having Adrian repeat his actions of some days ago towards her. Actions which lead her to experience a feeling she shouldn’t be. A felling of want and cravings.

“I am a man of my word Laura, and I tell you for certain that I have no hand in what has taken place. What do I have to gain by doing this?” Adrian says to Laura, once he is done cleaning up her wound.

“More fame.” Laura responds with her gaze locking with Adrian. “I know men like you Adrian, men that would go to an extreme to receive the fame and talks about them. And even if you do want to get married for your grandmother, it is a plus to you by having the media talk all about Adrian Alimson. What perplexes me is why you are impatient, for the news is going to happen sooner or later.” Laura speaks with distaste in her voice, causing Adrian to ponder on the reason for such words from her.

“That is to let you know that I wasn’t involved in this,” Adrian defends himself repeatedly, whereas Laura’s ears to his defense shuts close, for Adrian only recalls her of her past. “I have no understanding as to why all of a sudden you distrust me Laura, for if my words can not prove my actions, then I do doubt what will.” Adrian words do come truthful, taking Laura to become indecisive once more.

“Yes i do accept i made a a promise to you to go to go to France together where I inform Lucien about our relationship, before we do proceed to letting any other aware, but, this has already happened Laura, accusing me is not going to solve the issue, which I clearly do not understand why,” Adrian adds.

“You can not understand Adrian…”

“Then make me.” Adrian interrupts Laura, as he takes a step closer to Laura. “What is it Laura? I do understand that it is courtesy and proper to let Lucien know about our relationship first, but what is the reason of you being on the edge?” Adrian’s tone comes soft while staring at Laura whom he is conscious to be composed at all times, is now one to be on the edge.

Laura locks gaze with Adrian, as from her eyes, Adrian reflects pain evident in them, taking him to know what ever reason Laura has to give such terms and conditions has to be personal.

“Do you perhaps have an history with him? If it is so I can understand…”

“Of course not.” Laura intervenes into Adrian’s words to her, causing the fear in her eyes to flick into disagreement. Laura sighs, before running a hand through her as memories of her past begins flooding into her thoughts, while she finds reasons as of to know. if Adrian is indeed worthy of knowing her past.

“If we’re going to make this work Laura, we have to know certain things about each other. I told you before, I’m not just looking for a business contract but also someone I can trust with my affairs and confide in, without worry.” Adrian adds, taking Laura to make her next decision.

“Six years ago before I began working for Lucien corp, I was in a relationship with a man whose name is Harry Smith. He is an Englishman. Harry was sweet, caring and took me off my feet, that I pondered if such a man like him is real, especially for someone of his status in a relationship with a woman like me, whom neither had any assets or money.” Laura begins, whereas Adrian listens attentively.

“Our relationship blossomed to the extent that when the public found out about our relationship, Harry was seen as a man of every girls dream, whereas I was Cinderella.” Laura chuckles painfully, as she speaks. “I thought it was surreal at first, but each day with a Harry was the best, until the public and media began invading and deciding our lives.

It got to the extent, where whatever Harry did for me, I would see it on the next tabloid, the day after. I told Harry about my worry with the media knowing everything and questioned him about how they knew, but his response was, ‘It isn’t in his knowledgeable as of how the media got to know, but, it isn’t such a bad thing with the public knowing about our relationship, for I am giving hope to women out there about finding love.’” Laura let’s out a scoff.

“Love blinded my eyes and I didn’t realize Harry was the one feeding the media on everything we did, until my grandmother got sick and she needed surgery to live. That, also got into the papers, but instead of giving hope like Harry said I was, I was backlashed with hateful comments, such as, I’m only with Harry to spendhis money, for all I have done is take from him and he is always the one providing.” Laura halts in her words to Adrian, whereas Adrian neither speaks a word nor act, but let her take her time.

“My grandmother was my privacy and I didn’t mind that I and Harry’s relationship was out there, but not my family, which led me to find out about Harry schemes and the reason for what he did.” Laura adds.

“And why did he do so?” Adrian eventually inquires, whilst having his gaze on Laura with sympathy in his eyes.

“For the fame.” Laura answers. “To grow his business, to feign goodness, to be the people’s icon.” Laura continues, as distaste follows her next words. “I called it off the instant I knew about his schemes for he was only using me to get what he wanted, and why not, I was the perfect candidate. Broke, yet, a beautiful French woman whom could attract the eyes of people.” Laura’s voice breaks at her words, for it doesn’t take another word from her before a tear falls down her eyes, with her past enveloping her thoughts.

And even if Laura occasionally facades composure, at this point in time, Adrian views through the real Laura Eduoard, as he stares at a woman whom he can trust.