Malea’s POV
After leaving Ales’s house, I made my way back to work. Ales told me everything she knew about what the emails said and even showed me websites that claimed to have proof. As much as I want myself to believe that Ales wasn’t behind it, my conscience isn’t one hundred percent sure on that.
I ignored the nasty looks and the hushed whispers as I walked by others and instead walked to my office. I took note that Elaine closed out of a page hurriedly as soon as I walked in. She spun around in her chair and shot me a tight smile.
What was she doing that she had to close out of the page before I saw it? I collapsed into my desk chair and glanced over at Elaine who was looking at me with worry in her eyes.
“Are you okay, Malea? I saw the emails and I will never judge you for what you did.” She said gently, her dark eyebrows knitted in worry.
I sighed in frustration. “Does everyone know about those fake emails?” I asked incredulously. Even the janitor I passed down the hallway looked at me like I had two heads.
Her eyes widened. “Those emails were fake?”
I nodded, feeling a headache starting at my temples. “Yes.” My whole life was seeming to collapse right on top of me.
Elaine pouted and placed her hand over mine. “I’m so sorry. How could someone do something like that?”
I shrugged.
“Do you know who did it?” She asked a little too curiously.
“No.” I shook my head. The only other person it could be could possibly be Myra. “But I do have a feeling that person is closer to me than I know.”
Elaine flinched and retracted her hands. “I hope you’re okay though.”
I nodded and turned to my computer, ready to start work and get away from my current situation. “I’m fine. No worries here.”
Elaine turned to me and raised her eyebrow slightly. “So you and Lucian are now an item?”
I could feel myself blush. “Uh, yeah,”
Elaine cracked into grin. “How cute! I’m so jealous. You too are like exact opposites. He’s so stiff and you’re so lively!”
I smiled. I didn’t want Elaine advertising that to the world though. She seems like a person who could never keep a secret. “Don’t say anything to anyone though.”
Elaine winked. “Ah. I understand.”
I nodded and returned back to the document in front of me.
“I mean—” Elaine began.
“Malea. I need to see you in my office. Now.” I turned around to see Lucian at the door, his face contorted apprehensively. His hair looked as if he ran his hands through it a million times today. He didn’t even have his suit jacket on.
I nodded, suddenly feeling butterflies in my stomach. This is the first time I’ve been in his office full knowing that we were both officially together. What does he want?
I watched him walk away. I didn’t bother to log off the computer and stood up and made my way to the door.
“Don’t get carried away.” She called after me.
I rolled my eyes and hurried down the hallway. After turning a corner, I knocked on Lucian’s door. Before I could even lift my knuckles off the door, Lucian already opened the door and yanked me inside.
“What’s wrong?” I hissed quietly. He pushed me gently against the wall, his hands gripping my shoulders softly. I glanced up into his gray eyes.
“Are you okay?” He asked once, his voice low.
I shrugged away from his touch. “I hate it when people ask me that.”
He stepped back and ran his hand through his hair. “I’m serious, Malea. I want to know how you’re doing.”
“I’m fine.” I said to the floor.
“Those emails were sent using your account.” Lucian cupped my face and turned me to look at him.
Who had access to my email but myself? I shook my head. “That isn’t possible. No one else has access to my email.”
“Someone does and we don’t know who.”
I shook my head and sunk to the floor. Lucian sat next to me. “I’m tired of doing this. I’m tired of keeping us a secret from most everyone. Because we haven’t officially announced ourselves an item, people are making me out to seem like I dated you behind Ales’s back.”
Lucian took my hand in his. “Then why not tell everyone? As long as no one knows about the contract, then there’s no problem.”
I turned to look at him. “What?”
He cracked a small smile. “Why not announce it live that we’re together now?”
I contemplated that hesitantly. “Live?”
Lucian wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me towards him. I laid my head on his shoulder. “Let’s do it.” I mumbled against his shirt. I inhaled a deep breath of his musky cologne and smiled.
“You still have work to do, Malea.” He added.
I pulled away from his shoulder and frowned playfully. “You suck.”
He grinned and stood up. Then he offered me his hand and hoisted me up and into his chest. Lucian wrapped his arms around my waist and leaned forward, our lips gently grazing but not touching. Then he pressed his lips softly onto mine. Tingles shot down my spine as he mumbled his next words onto my lips. “I’m still the boss.”
***
I gathered my items from my desk and logged off my computer. Elaine was still finishing up some documents. “My shift is over. I’ll see you tomorrow, Elaine.”
She looked up at me and smiled. I turned around and walked towards the door. “Oh! Lucian told me that all office workers should leave their computers unlocked. There’s some mechanical changes that need to be done to them tonight.” She called after me like an afterthought.
I froze. Lucian never asks us to leave our computers unlocked. I’m tired so I just spun around and logged back into my account. I sighed. “Okay. Now, I’m going home.”
“Good night, Malea!”
I hurried down the hallway and said goodbye to the few co-workers who still talked to me. I pressed the elevator button and entered. Just as the door was about to close, I saw a slim woman with honey blonde hair rushing towards the door. I held the door open and just as she got closer I realized who she was.
Myra.
Now I wish I pressed the close button as fast as possible. She shot me a grin and got inside just as the doors closed.
“Thanks, Malea.”
I nodded absently.
“How did you and Lucian do it?” She asked incredulously.
I turned to face her, confused at what she was inquiring.
“Excuse me?”
She shook her head. “I mean even though Ales and Lucian were bound together not by love but by paper, you and Lucian are still able to break the rules to accommodate yourselves.”
My heart stopped and I failed to send air through my nose and into my lungs. My throat went dry. Myra knows about the contract.
“W-What are you talking about?” I choked past my dry throat.
The elevator stopped and the doors opened with a ding. Myra placed a hand on my shoulder sympathetically.
“Nothing.” She placed a kiss on either side of my cheek. “Goodnight, sweetheart!” Then she walked off.
***
Third Person’s POV
The blonde exchanged a look with the others. “Can I just skip all this? I’m tired of playing nice. I’m ready to get down and dirty.”
The others smiled. “Calm down. The time will come. But for right now, we need to be stealthier than ever.”
The blonde puzzled. “Why?”
The brunette grinned. “Because things are about to get interesting.”
The door swung open and a dark haired person sat down. “Sorry I’m late. I couldn’t get off—”
The brunette snapped. “Just shut up! Do you have new information or what?”
The dark haired one frowned in distaste. “Yes. I do have more information and I have a feeling you might be interested in it.”
***
Malea’s POV
“Myra knows about the contract.” I said immediately as Ales opened her door.
She stood there with her mouth open in surprise. “What? How?” She dragged me into the living room and took a seat.
“I-I don’t know how, but she just does. On the elevator, she just began talking about how you and Lucian were bound by paper.” I began hyperventilating.
” She could be talking about something else.” Ales suggested with a shrug.
I snapped. “No! What else could she possible be talking about besides the contract?”
Ales laid a cool hand on my shoulder. “I’ll talk to Myra. Maybe I’ll be able to find out more about what she’s talking about.”
I nodded and tried to breath.”Okay. Thank you so much.” I pulled Ales into a hug and sighed in relief. Even though Ales and I have been through a lot, she’s still my best friend.
***
Malea’s POV (The next week)
I glanced out at the stage and shrunk back in fear. Lucian squeezed my hand reassuringly.
“Don’t worry.” Lucian whispered. I calmed down a bit and smoothed out my black dress. Sooner than I’d expected, Lucian had scheduled us the interview where we would tell everyone we were officially together.
I took a deep breath.
“Welcome one of the most successful men in the world, Lucian King and give a warm welcome to his guest, Malea Hayes.” The announcer said loudly. An uproar of applause rang out and my insides somersaulted.
Then we were walking across the stage and into the bright lights. I took a seat next to Lucian, our hands firmly clasped together.
The host, a woman with black hair took a seat and shook our hands. “So Lucian. Tell us how you’ve been doing.”
Lucian smiled. “I’ve been fine but there’s been something on our mind that we just wanted to talk about today.” The crowd leaned in curiously.
“What is it you would like to talk about?” The host urged Lucian on. Lucian looked at me and nodded. I wanted to be the one to say it.
“I would like to adress the matter of those emails that have been leaked online.” I said, my strong voice surprising me.
The host sat back in her chair.
“Those emails were absolutely false. Lucian and I never sent any emails to each other and I’ve been treated wrongly because of it.”
The host gasped along with the crowd. “They were fake?”
I nodded, a whirlwind of emotions floating around in my stomach.
Lucian took over. He explained how he felt he married the wrong person from the start and explained how we were both now officially together. I felt a huge weight lift off my shoulders as the world began to understand everything that had been going on. Well, everything except the contract.
After leaving, I couldn’t help but feel as though something was left unresolved. As much as I want to believe that things will be normal from now on, I know that this is only the beginning.