GERALD
Rosa's grip tightened around my hand, and a peal of laughter bubbled in my throat. Who knew she could get so territorial? The faces before me were as unfamiliar as we could be. I didn't recognize any of them, and I wasn't bothered enough to.
"He said he doesn't know you," Rosa said calmly, pulling me away. "Come, Jonathan must be waiting for us."
Seeing her so on her toes was pleasing, and I nodded slightly, more than willing to do whatever she said. I wouldn't dare to protest in such a sweet situation like this. Before we could move away, one of the women called out to me, again.
"Do you not remember? Is the ball fitting? I was in charge of your look," she explained further in an annoyingly high pitch as she batted her eyelids. "That was just last year. I get that I have a common face. Still, something should click..."
I cocked my head, and my teeth gritted. I had begun to get visibly irritated by her persistence. Then, on a closer look, I got a hint of recognition. "Oh, the coffee incident?"
"Yes!" she exclaimed, tapping me in a rush of excitement. She tucked her hair beneath her ears. "Finally, you remember! I was the one who spilled coffee on your shirt mistakenly, and you asked me to let go of it. I'm still indebted to you!"
Her two other cohorts beamed, but their joy was contrary to Rosaline's annoyed expression. There wasn't a single hint of a smile on her face, and she released her hand from mine, dropping it to her sides.
I took her hands within seconds of her letting go of mine. I wasn't about to waste such an opportunity, especially after last night. "You have no reason to be indebted. As you can see, it happened a year ago. I see no reason why such an unimportant event should be etched in your memory."
"Because it wasn't unimportant," she responded coyly, momentarily making eye contact with her friends, perhaps for approval of something. "Do you mind if I pay that debt today?"
"You don't--"
"Join our Kiosks," the lady further requested, cutting me short. If only she knew how much I hated to be interrupted. "We have so many fun activities going on there. You don't... look like you've had your fun, so come with us. Let's show you a new side to beach parties."
Her voice had a sudden raspiness to it. This lady might have mistaken it for seduction, but it sounded as though a cat was being choked to death. I was so disgusted that I almost felt my breakfast crawl up my throat.
Beach parties? Me? What must have led her to think so? I glanced at Rosa, who had been awfully quiet beside me. There was so much for me to say to these people lined in front of me, but none of which would be pleasing to any of their ears.
"No," my voice was heavily laced with irritation. "I'd pass. I'm here with my wife."
"Oh, come on!" another one of them pressed. "It's not like a catch like you could ever be tied down by one woman." She glared at Rosaline. "Especially not that one, and I'm sure she knows it too."
My blood boiled in response to her disrespectful remark. I pulled Rosaline behind me and stepped forward, but she stole the words right out of my mouth.
"Is this what people do now?" Rosaline scoffed as she asked, pulling from my grip and taking charge. She propped forward, standing at the very center of the three ladies. Her index finger lifted the chin of the one who had approached me. "I'm asking if adorable sweethearts like you go around asking men to party with you?"
Wow. I guess I'd just have to let it play out.
"What did you say to me?"
"Who do you think you are?"
A guffaw spilled from her lips as she crossed her hands. "His wife, as you can see. If you didn't get the memo, you should now. This catch is married. Happily married," she enunciated. "I know he's an eye candy, but that's all he is. An eye candy, you do not get to taste it."
Oh, I love a possessive woman, even if I couldn't tell what was an act and what wasn't. It was ecstatic to see her defend me, defend us.
"I hope you find someone who you don't have to relentlessly pull, sweetie. This one's taken."
"Who's this bitch!?" The lady yelled out in frustration, and that was my cue to interfere.
Without breaking eye contact, I crouched a bit low, towering over her. "You listen to me," I growled, my voice low and menacing, sending shivers down her spine. "If you ever dare to insult my wife again, there will be consequences. And believe me, you won't like them."
She paled and staggered backward. I could see the fear flickering in their eyes as they nodded frantically, their voices trembling as they muttered hurried apologies.
I straightened up, towering over them with a predatory glint in my eyes, making it clear that I would not tolerate any further disrespect towards Rosaline. With a final warning glare, I turned on my heel and made to stroll away when Jonathan's unappreciated voice rang in my ears. Rosaline and I turned to look at him.
"That was astonishing! Perfectly camera-worthy, oh my god! Gerald!" his arms wrapped around me, and then he stepped back and grabbed my shoulders. "I didn't know you had it in you! That glare was insane!"
"What? That was planned?" Rosaline echoed my thoughts with the same surprise that I embodied. "You planned that?"
I watched the ladies take off their microphones and thanked Jonathan before stowing away. It left me in a daze.
Jonathan finally had the chance to give us responses. "Of course! I was thinking of the perfect drama that our people would like to see, and the moment Bethany told me she recognized you, we came up with this masterpiece! Your reaction was on point! It was magnificent. I... I got goosebumps, Rosaline. This love is going to be the next talk of town!"
I cringed in disgust and utter disappointment, leaving him to revel in the success of his childish plan for longer before walking away, and Rosaline followed behind me.
What would have happened had our reaction been any different? What this flashed in my face was how unreal our relationship was. It was like a beckoning- something to remind me that it was all an act, and I must have forgotten that at a point in time...
"I looked cool back there, didn't I?" Rosaline joked as if to lighten the mood, but it just irritated me further. "I knew I should have been an actress instead of a businesswoman."
An actress, huh? Was last night an act, too? God, it stung a bit harder than it should. I didn't respond. None of the words at the tip of my tongue were nice, none.
"Hey, are you okay? You're not saying anything?
"And you're not wearing a mic or holding a camera," I attacked her. "Drop it. The act is over, so it's only fair we return to the usual. What's our next activity to delude the public."
Rosaline paused in her tracks. "I do not like your tone."
I sighed, frustrated already. My fingers raked my hair, and the scorching sun against my skin wasn't helping either. "You don't seem to like a lot of things, Rosa. Whose fault is that?"
With one step to thin the distance between us, Rosaline was now directly in front of me, glaring hard, her eyes holding enough anger to make me curl in disgust for every word I'd uttered to her.
"Remember, I'm only here because you agreed to the stupid deal in the first place, airhead! All I'm trying to do is make this better for you. If you don't see it that way, then fine. But keep your fucking lips tightened and quit acting like you know anything at all!"
She poked my chest as she talked and stormed away immediately after, going in the direction of the main hotel. Before I could go after her, my phone vibrated, and it was a call from Smith. Two options, he either had the dumbest joke, or something important had happened.
"Talk to me," I placed the phone against my ear.
"Your attention is needed, boss. The faux website is back with an update. This might even be a bigger problem than the last one!" he urgently expressed, and my sanity tipped over.
That was the last straw. I headed back to the hotel room and found Rosaline on the couch, hugging her knees. She looked up at me with her brown, bulgy eyes as though she awaited an apology. This wasn't the time for that.
Adrenaline coursed through my veins, in everything. I remember the loss that occurred the last time. "Pack your things, Rosaline. We leave in ten minutes."
"What?" She straightened her legs and stared at me in disbelief. "Because we argued. That's unreasona--"
"Do not question me! Pack up. We leave now."