Chapter 211

Chapter 211
Andrei: POV

The sharp ring of my phone sliced through the quiet morning, interrupting the gentle rhythm of Clara's breathing against my neck.

I instinctively tightened my hold on her, refusing to let the outside world steal this moment from us.

"Ignore it," I murmured, tilting her chin up to recapture her lips.

I felt her attention drift toward the sound, her body tensing slightly in my arms.

Damn that phone. I deepened the kiss, sliding my hand along the curve of her spine, desperate to pull her focus back to me.

For a moment, it worked—her fingers tangled in my hair, her body melting against mine. The world beyond our bed ceased to exist.

The ringing stopped, and I smiled against her lips.

But the victory was short-lived.

Within seconds, the shrill tone started again, more insistent this time, piercing our bubble of intimacy.

I groaned, burying my face in the crook of Clara's neck. "Fuck."

"Just answer it," she whispered, her voice soft with a hint of amusement.

Her fingers traced along my jawline, sending shivers down my spine. "It could be important."

I captured her hand, pressing a kiss to her palm. "Nothing is more important than this." I meant it.

Clara's laugh was light, musical. "It might be Amelia."

Amelia. My new PR manager. Clara's best friend whom she'd recommended when she resigned from the position—a condition of our marriage contract.

With my upcoming Mexican-Hollywood production, maintaining my image was crucial. And Amelia was relentless about it.

Sometimes I wondered if Clara had chosen her specifically for her tenacity, knowing I'd need someone who wouldn't bend to my whims.

With another frustrated groan, I reached for the phone on the nightstand. It was indeed Amelia.

"What?" I answered, making no effort to hide my irritation.

"Good morning , Andrei," Amelia's cheerful voice replied. "I'm downstairs. We need to go over today's schedule."

"Now?" I glanced at the clock. It was barely 7 AM. The sun had just begun to creep through the blinds, painting stripes of gold across Clara's skin.

"Yes, now. You have interviews at 10, and we need to prep. Open the door."

I hung up without responding and threw the phone aside.

Clara was already sitting up, her dark hair tumbling over her shoulders, her sleep shirt slipping off one shoulder.

The sight made me want to pull her back down and forget about Amelia entirely.

"I should get dressed," she said, sliding out of bed before I could stop her.

I watched her move across the room, my body still aching for her. "You don't have to come down. I can handle Amelia."

She threw me a smile over her shoulder. "I know. But I should check with the chef about your meals for today."

She was always thoughtful！

Downstairs, Amelia was already settled on our sofa, tablet in hand. Her eyes lit up when she saw Clara.

"Morning, Clara," she said warmly, then turned a more critical eye to me. "Andrei, we need to go over the talking points for your interviews."

I dropped into the armchair across from her, nodding absently as Clara headed toward the kitchen.

My eyes followed her, watching as she spoke quietly with our chef, gesturing as she outlined my dietary requirements.

The production company had assigned nutritionists to monitor my calorie intake and personal trainers to supervise my workouts. The role demanded peak physical condition.

Clara ensured everything ran smoothly, coordinating with the nutritionists and trainers, scheduling daily appointments as needed.

She even instructed my assistant Sammy to remind me to eat at specific times when I was on set.

"Andrei?" Amelia's voice snapped me back to attention. "Are you even listening?"

"Yeah, of course," I lied, dragging my gaze away from Clara.

Amelia followed my line of sight and rolled her eyes. "I've been talking for five minutes, and you haven't heard a word."

I shrugged, unapologetic. "Just repeat it."

"I said," Amelia emphasized each word, "the entertainment reporter will likely ask about the fight scene that leaked online. We need to redirect to the collaboration between Mexican and American production teams."

I nodded, but my attention was already drifting back to Clara, who was now examining a container of what appeared to be my lunch for the day's shoot.

"Andrei!" Amelia called my name sharply.

When I didn't respond, she raised her voice. "Andrei! Andrei! ANDREI!"

"I think you should just go to the kitchen and stare at her up close," Amelia finally said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Don't worry, I can postpone your publicity commitments if you can't bear to leave her side."

That snapped me back. "What? No, that's fine. I'll be there after the shoot."

Amelia's smirk was knowing, triumphant. "I'll text you all the details. If you missed anything I explained, which you definitely did, please read through it at some point."

She paused, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "By the way, Clara looks even more beautiful today. Something different about her?"

My gaze instinctively returned to Clara, softening at the sight of her. Amelia's laugh pulled me back.

"Shut up, Amelia," I muttered, feeling heat rise to my face.

"She's positively glowing," Amelia continued, enjoying my discomfort. "I wonder what could have caused that?"

Before I could retort, Clara returned with a glass of something green and cloudy. My morning detox drink.

She smiled as she handed it to me, completely unaware of Amelia's teasing.

"Here you go," she said softly.

"Clara," Amelia chimed in, "we have Andrei's PR event tonight. I'll need you there too."

Clara's eyes flicked to mine, silently seeking confirmation before turning back to Amelia. "Of course, I'll be ready. Just tell me what I need to do."

"You and Andrei need to be at the mall tonight as the loving couple you are," Amelia explained. "I've arranged for media to capture the moment."

Clara nodded, understanding immediately. "No problem. I'll be there." She'd been in PR long enough to recognize these strategies, having managed public relations in Guadalajara for years before our arrangement.

She gave me another soft smile before heading toward my bedroom.

I couldn't help but watch her go, admiring the gentle sway of her hips.

"Earth to Andrei," Amelia said, standing and gathering her things. "I'll see you tonight. Try to focus on something besides your wife for five minutes, okay?"

I barely registered her leaving.

After finishing my drink, I followed Clara's path to the bedroom.

I leaned against the doorframe, taking a moment to observe her.

I found her in my walk-in closet, her brow furrowed in concentration as she examined my clothing options.

"What are you doing in here? Why do you seem so preoccupied with weighty concerns?" I asked as I embraced her from behind.