Chapter 21 A Public Appearance
Vanessa
I fucked up.
That's the first thought that slips into my mind again as soon as I open my eyes, struggling to sit up even when my body still feels like I had just been run over by a crazy truck driver. My body tilts a little with dizziness, but I manage to hold it up.
Funny how I remembered the details of what transpired at the Vale forest two nights before, immediately I got conscious after.
This wasn't supposed to happen, I was meant to keep my identity under wraps for as long as possible.
Even if he didn't show any real surprise, I saw the recognition in his eyes - my arrows clearly giving me away.
"Your scent gave you away immediately."
"What do I smell like then?"
"Lavender."
Surprise flickers in me once more as I remember our conversation just before passing out.
Other supernaturals have never really been able to distinguish my particular scent, which is quite uncommon, because even a human has a distinct smell.
Then another memory surfaces.
"You will be the very reason they all die and their blood will be on your hands. Vanessa."
Who is he and what does he want from me? How did he even get past the barriers?
Something tells me there's more at play here and this is just the beginning.
A notification ping distracts me from my trail of thoughts. I look around for the source of the sound and notice the lit up screen of my phone inches from my feet.
Stretching out to reach for it, a crack echoes as my bones shift and I bite my lower lip to stop myself from crying out. Son of a bitch!
Taking a deep breath, I reach for the phone anyway and grab a hold of it, taking it with me as I lean back against the headboard.
The first thing that catches my attention is the headline in big, bold letters, 'MOST ELIGIBLE BILLIONAIRE BACHELOR OF BLACK GROUP IS NOW SNATCHED AND ENGAGED!', then a picture of Xander and I is plastered under it for the whole world to see.
I gasp. It was a picture of me in the car with Xander on my first day in the pack, when he leaned over to secure my seat belt with that cocky smirk on his face.
Were they following him that night? What kind of creep leaves the comfort of his bed to take snapshots of a man and a woman in a car at eleven pm?!
I've always known him to be famous - always in the spotlight since his family owns one of the biggest and oldest conglomerate companies in the world.
But, this picture...how?!
I take a good look at the picture again and sigh. I haven't even laid eyes on the said man for days now, as he has practically been making himself scarce.
A video pops up and without thought, I open it.
A reporter stands in the middle of the road, surrounded by lines of beautiful houses on either side and it takes me a moment to realize that he's in the Estate - he's nowhere near the pack of course but he's in the Estate still.
"This is Alan Parker, reporting live from the Black Estate. As you can see here, it's calm and peaceful but the news of Xander Black's engagement has taken the world by a storm," he pauses, and looks away for a second, as if trying to catch his breath.
"An anonymous tip reached up this morning even backing it up with a photo." The picture pops up. "No, this is not photoshopped. Knowing Xander Black to have been single for a very long time with no news of any relationship. So who is this woman that has managed to steal his heart?" He squints his eyes, as if trying to see me through the lens of the camera.
For a second, I almost think he actually can with the way his brown eyes widen slightly, then a slow smile spread on his lips. "Stay tuned, as we find out." He motions for the camera to stop rolling, the the video ends.
Silence. Absolute silence engulfs me as my brain tries to wrap around what has just happened.
Did I just become an overnight celebrity?
I cover my face with my hands and let out a loud groan. What has become of my life right now?
Two raps on the door and it swings open, almost falling off its hinges at the force.
"Rise and shine, Mrs. Black!"
I look up to find Xander strolling into my room with an air of confident arrogance that can only be him, with Max strutting not too far behind.
Why are they always together? Are they twins?
"Get ready, we'll be having a press conference in an hour." Xander states without preamble.
I look to Max for clarification. Definitely, he's not saying what I'm thinking, right?
"Nessa," Max says, stepping forward, and sits beside me on the bed to grab my hands. "What Xanny here means is that you both have to appear in public together and confirm the rumors." At my flabbergasted look, he holds up a hand, "look on the bright side. The sooner you do this, the earlier people will forget and you won't have to get weird looks when you're seen in public together."
"But why do I have to be there? I hate making public appearances," I wail.
Max gives me an 'are you kidding' look. "Um, because you're the fiancee?"
"How did they even find out?" I cry, but replied immediately, "you know what, forget I asked."
I clasp my head in both of my hands, rocking back and forth as I try not to panic.
From the corner of my eyes, I see Xander quietly watching our interaction with a calm expression.
Does anything even faze this guy?
As if sensing my eyes on him, Xander looks straight at me. His dark eyes bore into my blue ones with so much intensity the room starts to heat up. It's crazy how my heart skips a beat right then.
I release my head to fan myself a little.
Xander drops his eyes to look at his wristwatch, then says, "Forty minutes, don't be late." Then he storms out.
Max pats my head and gives me a sympathetic look. "Don't worry. It'll get easier with time." Then he leaves.
I don't even understand which one he was talking about - dealing with the media or dealing with Xander?
I look at the time on my phone. Thirty minutes, and my life's about to change forever for the second time.
Fuck. Me.