Chapter 98 What is she hiding?
CHAPTER 98
What is she hiding?
ROMAN – POINT OF VIEW
The headline is glaring and accusatory.
“What’s wrong?” Scarlett asks softly.
I blink, hoping it’s a dream, but I am caught in a nightmare.
“Roman?” She whispers, and I sigh deeply.
I pocket my phone and look at the manager, “Get the Union ready. I want them here in the next two hours, or they’ll be served. You know me. They know me. I’m not a nice person. Now, we need the top suite.”
“O … of course, sir. We’ll get it ready.” He stammers and rushes away. His colleagues follow him, and we’re left alone.
“What’s going on?” Damian asks, referring to my shock.
“There’s an article on you, Scarlett, and it’s not looking good. We can’t discuss anything here, not now, not yet.” I say stiffly, not bothering with preamble.
She blanches immediately, “On … on me?”
I nod and wrap my arm around her waist, “We’ll figure everything out.”
After the necessary arrangements are made, we get in the elevator and make our way to the private suite. Scarlett hasn’t said a word. She is too quiet, and I can smell her fear. It makes me uncomfortable that I have not been able to protect her as much as I want.
“I’ll read it out loud,” Elena says, and we take our seats. I decide to stand behind Scarlett.
“EXCLUSIVE: The woman behind the billionaire - Who is Scarlett Brooks? By Vanessa Hart. Scarlett Brooks, the enigmatic partner of tech and real estate magnate Roman Sterling, has caused quite a stir in the past six months. Scarlett is known for her sharp sense of honour, polished presence at high-profile events, sleek style and a seemingly unshakable composure. She has been the face of Roman for the past six months, and we are all curious. With curiosity comes questions. We thought we knew who she was, but obviously not.”
“Recent investigations raise questions about her past. According to multiple sources, she’s twenty-six years old and an American, but some tell us that there is more to her than what meets the eye. Documents obtained by our reporters suggest inconsistencies in Brooks’ early biography, including gaps in her education and travel history.” Elena pauses at the right time.
“Documents? What documents?” Scarlett asks, rage lacing her words.
I soothe her softly, “We’ll handle everything. Continue, Elena.”
“An insider indicates that Brooks has operated under multiple aliases throughout her adult life. This is alleged, of course. All these details remain unconfirmed, but it certainly casts doubts on her involvement in certain business ventures and charitable foundations. Further investigation explores the past week. The couple and friends have been in Italy, where they were celebrating a week-long wedding with their friends, Luca Valentino and Adeline Salvatore.”
“That is fucking creepy.” Caleb scoffs, sharing my irritation.
Luca won’t take it lightly that his name is mentioned in an article.
“Luca Valentino is a close business partner to Sterling, alongside old friends. Italy wasn’t without events, as some reported a chaotic kidnapping, followed by a quick wedding. None of these facts has been proven, of course. Scarlett is described by an insider as a green snake under the green grass. She has so many secrets, and we need to know who she truly is. She has an accent unlike any other. The way she carries herself is as if she’s from royalty. Sterling doesn’t let her speak, perhaps he’s afraid of the secrets they both hide?”
“A sure source informed us of her theft. Apparently, Ms Brooks stole important documents from her groom and sold them to Dante Ricci for a price. She stole from the man she’s supposed to love and gave it to his enemy. Ricci and Sterling used to be close, and now, everything is different. We are aware that all our information is unfounded, no sources, but it begs the question: Who is Scarlett Brooks, and what is she hiding? Stay tuned for more information. PS: We’re backed by a proficient legal team and are ready to fight to protect our rights. If any sentence in the piece insults you, please come with proof. See you soon.”
Elena concludes and hands me back my phone.
I’m making calculations already. Scarlett is as stiff as a log, and it pisses me off. She survived something most people wouldn’t have. She came here when I needed her, and this is the bullshit she gets as a reward? Absolutely not.
“I’ll reach out to them. A cease-and-desist? Slander? Libel? I’ll serve them.” Damian pulls out his phone, face impassive.
“Or, I could just buy the media house?” I scoff, with a shrug.
Scarlett looks at me, stunned.
“I know tensions are running high with the union and possible espionage, but reacting proactively isn’t going to get us what we need. The media is a very fragile sector, and we must move carefully. Anything you say or do will be rephrased and published. Your actions will be framed in a way that puts you in a bad light.” Elena cuts in carefully.
“What do you think we do?” Caleb asks her.
Scarlett is still quiet.
“We go with the plan. There’s a yacht party in two days that you must attend, Roman. You go as a united front. We won’t be there, of course, but you and Scarlett will. It is important to act as if we’re not affected by any of their shenanigans. Focus on your business, and mend what’s broken. You should know that soon another article will be released, one that’ll talk about the tech company and the hotels, how Scarlett is bad luck. Bullshits like that. Brace yourself for it, and do not react.” She warns, meeting my gaze.
I scoff, “Do not react? That’s easy for you to say.”
She shakes her head, “No, it’s not. This is my job, so let me get it done. You have a union meeting soon, so why don’t you focus on that instead?”
I agree, begrudgingly and say, “Can you give us the room, please?”