Chapter 24

It was the morning of the press conference, cautiously Anthony removed his hand from around Megan's waist, he sat at the edge of the bed, staring back at her beauty, she was indeed a beautiful woman, no wonder she reminds him of lilies.

"How can I give her up, because of the public, or even worse... Higgins, I rather protect her with every drop of strength in my body than give her up", he thought to himself.

But he knew it was the only choice to let her live free, go back to her normal life, to become a nobody again, she wasn't ready for this kind of life, of course, they probably will still hook up now and then until it eventually fades, right?

Megan POV

Searching the bed for Anthony who should have been next to me, but instead I found a space, I yawned and stretched but still laying there, today is the day, today is the day I'll have to let go of Anthony because of some stupid image he has to keep up with and of course my safety, but at this point I did, 't care about Higgins, I wanted to be with Anthony.

Lazily I went to the bathroom, it was already 8 and we had to be there by 12, I brushed my teeth showered, got the dress, and went to the kitchen to have breakfast, the anxiousness made me feel full, so all I had was an apple and a glass of orange juice, I took out my cellphone to message my mom and I mistakenly opened the phone camera, I decided to approach today to bare-faced make up free and a suite I would've worn to work, I looked....presentable, I took a quick selfie and headed downstairs.

Downstairs was an already dressed to kill Anthony, in a full tailored grey suit.

Placing my phone on the nearby counter, “Good morning, Anthony,” seductively whispered, walking towards him for an embrace, but instead, Anthony blocked me with his hand, stopping me dead in my tracks.

"Are you ready to leave, it's already 9 and we have to go over the speech with my lawyers, and the Isaias question and answer segment that we will both take part in, you will be paid thirty million dollars to never utter a word of our…”

My world went blank, I didn't hear him, but I listened, my ears collected every piece of information Anthony said has he coldly went on and on about today's happenings and beyond, I stood there confused, my eyes began to burn, and I blinked uncontrollably trying to fight back the tears, but I battle as a tear poured down my cheeks.

Wasn’t I special?

Was I nothing to him?

Was Higgins right after all?

Was I another one?

What did he mean by paying me off?

"Hello, Mrs. Francis are you listening to me, today is very important if you ever want to live the norm..."

I didn't know where it comes from but, I found the courage to slap Anthony across his face, he stood silent not affected by it.

"How dare you!? How dare you come into my room and fuck me senseless and pretend as nothing happened, I don't want your money, Anthony.”

I dashed towards the door, but I remembered my phone on the counter, so I turned around grabbed my phone, and yelled in his face once more, "And I fucking quit!"

I wiped my face with the back of my hand, trying to hide my tears and luckily, I saw Mr. Blake, my driver, well soon that will be no more.

"Hello, my dear Megan, are you ready to proceed to the press conference?" Me. Blake asked.

I faked a smile and nodded, "Yes. Thank you very much."

Has the car waited for the remote-controlled gates to slowly opened I noticed Anthony's driver was also behind us? Minutes into the driving I kept looking back until Anthony's car made a sudden sharp turn off.

"Where are they going?" I unintentionally blurted out.

Mr. Blake smiled with me brightly into the rearview mirror,

"He has gone to be a man.”

He has to be a man, those words stuck with me for the rest of the journey. We finally arrived at G.L.O.S.H, and paparazzi swarmed around me as I made my way inside. Mr. Blake escorted me to a little room downstairs that I had no idea that it existed because of course, I work upstairs.

The room has a large table in the middle with 10 chairs, 4 on each side and two head chairs on each end, facing each other, the 8 chairs on each side was occupied so I was forced to take a head chair, I sat quietly, unnoticed as everyone ruffled through documents.

Shortly after Anthony burst through the doors and everyone shot up from there seat, except for me, I rolled my eyes and stood slowly, I needed to be professional regardless of how I feel.

"You may sit." We all sat down, and my eyes didn't leave from Anthony's brown ones.

"Ok, so you all know the rumors about Mrs. Francis and me..." he gestured with his hand as he introduced me, I smiled and a nod to those who looked back at me, the others didn't seem to care.

After two hours of discussion, I was exhausted, we had to recite the speech prewritten for us, why wasn't I given this the first two weeks away from work, now I'm drained, overworked, and hungry, I held my stomach has it growled, sorry I skipped a full breakfast.

"Everyone can you give Mrs. Francis and me a minute, we will meet you at the board room."

Everyone left, and we were alone.

"Megan, I am sorry if I insulted you this morning, but because of the threats and the paparazzi I thought you wanted your old life back, I was only trying to fix things, as for the money, you could take it and start fresh you know, meg I did my investigations about you I know your mother and father is struggling, and you're their only way out, I thought you didn't want to be with a man like me, I thought you...."

I got up from my seat, and walk towards him, bending over on the table, he was still seated, and our faces were close.

"That's the thing Anthony, you think too much, but you never asked me what I wanted."

We stayed like this for a couple of seconds, I prayed in my heart he would just kiss me so he can rethink all of this, there was still time because once I walk through that door, it's done.

No turning back.

But he didn't kiss me, so I regained my position, stood tall, straightened my outfit, and held out my hand to him for a handshake, but he didn't take it, he just sat there emotionless.

"Well then Mr. Rhone, it was my pleasure working with you, thank you for the experience and my letter of resignation will be on your desk bright and early Monday morning, see you upstairs sir," I nodded at him and left him sitting there.