Episode 4: Attention Seeker

Early the next morning every news outlet and entertainment programs were covering what went down last night at the fashion show.

Emily was being dragged everywhere for her disgraceful actions.

Some even went as far as accusing her of being an attention seeker, a "dead" actress who didn't know when to stop and more explicit ones like "bitch", "whore" and "slut".

The main character of their discussions sat in her living room unfazed by their words knowing how untruthful they were.

She sipped on her mug, feeling a little more relaxed by the strong smell of her favourite coffee. Her phone caught her attention as it started ringing off the hook again, this time it was not Jake whom she had purposefully been ignoring, but her sister.

"Good morning, Chelsea."

"Morning? Good morning?! Emily, have you not seen the news? They're all talking about how you're an attention whore!" Chelsea exclaimed, forcing Emily to remove the phone from her ears for a while, afraid she might end up deaf.

"Oh, I've seen it alright." Emily stated simply, going to mute the television before her.

"That's it! We're getting back at them for all the bad stuff they're saying! I know you're not that type of person. Let's sue them for defamation of character, sis!"

Emily giggled, feeling a little lighter in the heart. "One year of law school and you think you actually passed the bar exam. Sure, Chels, let's sue the entire country for defamation of character."

"Might as goddamn well! They're all making you out to be the offender! Not one of them talked about how you were probably forced into this-you were right?"

"Hmm." Emily just hummed.

"Is that a yes?" Chelsea tried to confirm.

"Hmm."

"A no?"

"Hmm."

Chelsea huffed on the other line growing frustrated. "Ems, is this your way of showing me how much the news has affected your brain?"

Emily grinned. "Hmm."

"Ah, forget it!" Chelsea sighed.

"You know, mom and dad are worried sick about you."

Emily's smile dropped at the mention of her parents.

"I know that they and the elders cut you off because you gave up on acting so easily after working so hard to reach where you were, but they're really concerned. Mom even went as far as telling me to give you a call to check up on you a minute ago. You should've seen their faces while watching the news, Ems. Dad got so mad he turned the T.V. off, mumbling about those 'darn slumbags' that 'have nothing better to do with their lives than report garbage'."

The atmosphere grew dim and dark.

Emily had given up on acting partially because of the continuous coaxing by Jake. About how she didn't have to work after they got married - that he would take care of her.

Of course, her parents were no fools and argued with her about it. They had asked her why she had spent so much time begging them to make her attend acting school only to become such a disgrace in the end. And over such an arrogant boy too! How pathetic she had been.

Her parents never liked Jake.

They always spoke out about how he had a certain bad vibe surrounding him. That people like him were to be cautious of.

Emily realized they were right in the long run.

The guilt had been gnawing at her insides, and she wanted to apologize to them for the harsh words she had spewed in Jake's defense back then.

She knew choosing Jake over her family was going to be the biggest mistake she had ever made in her life.

How dumb could she have been to choose the people that would love her forever over a man?

Very, apparently.

The regretful daughter bit down onto her fingernails as she thought about her parents.

Meanwhile, back at Starz Entertainment, the company was in a frenzy. Phone lines were ringing off the hook and feet shuffling to cover a different task, but mostly to ease the pressure of Emily's new scandal.

Jake Mallion was doing everything in his power to ease the anger of the public as he hung up yet another call from a newspaper company.

Eugene Hall was still holding him by the neck about that lawsuit against the company. He was absolutely furious about being deceived. And not only that, utterly humiliated in the process as well. It made him come off as a man who knew nothing about the people with whom he was working and spilled a stain on his reputation as a businessman.

This is all Emily's fault! Jake convicted seeing nothing but red.

He turned to Stella's assistant and made her try the coward in hiding's phone for the umpteenth time.

Louise looked to him hopelessly.

Jake slammed down his hands against the desk.

If Emily thought she wasn't going to take the fall for this she had a next guess coming!

Right on cue, Stella barged through the doors to his office, taking both her assistant and Jake by surprise.

Her face was red as she glared his way, her manicured nails digging into her palms painfully as her lips curled into a snarl.

Oh no...

"Jake, she did it on purpose!" Stella screeched, and they were pretty sure the entire floor could hear her.

"Louise, could you leave us alone for a second please?"

The assistant nodded and quickly made it around the seething actress. She closed the door gently just in time to miss hearing the nasty hisses that left her and to see the hatred burning in her eyes.

"Emily knows! She knows the repercussions of standing on the stage like that yet she did it anyway!"

Jake held her gently by the shoulders. "Babe, Emily isn't like that. She doesn't have a plotting bone in her body. The girl can barely lie without making it obvious."

Stella pushed him away by the chest. "Are you taking her side?"

"No, I'm telling you to calm down-"

"Calm down? Jake, the entire country is talking about this. Some people are even putting up pictures from my last events and noticing that it was Emily all along! Soon enough their mouths are gonna turn and take her defense. Have you asked yourself why she even took her mask off in the first place? It wasn't like her eyes were covered. That's because she wanted to be found out!"

"Babe, please. Emily simply was pushed into a corner. What could she have done when they already saw her face? It already went downhill from the power went out." He looked at her pointedly.

"Don't worry. I'll have her explain to the media in a press conference that it was her fault. That she was just being an attention seeker like they said."

"What if she refuses?" Stella proposed.

"She won't refuse if I threaten to call off our marriage." Jake bragged with an all-knowing smirk.

Stella's eyes were blown in amazement at the genius before her!

"Oh my god, babe! You're so smart!"

"Under these circumstances it's all we can do."

Stella grabbed him by the cheeks and landed a big one on him. "Make sure to make her suffer with the statement."

However, just as he was trying to contact the head of PR, he received a call from his assistant.

"Quick, Mr. Mallion, check the entertainment news headlines! Emily's manager has just revealed some big news!"

Jake quickly jumped online to search the headlines.

To his disbelief, Talia Shaw was already one step ahead of them. She revealed that Starz Entertainment's co-founder, Jake Mallion, had forced Emily Pinault in disguising herself as Stella Peterson at the fashion showcase last night.

She claimed that Jake had done this multiple times in the past with comparison pictures of the two actresses that Stella spoke of as proof. Talia also complained that small companies tend to mistreat their own people and revealed that Emily had been the victim of that for years.

In anger, Jake quickly contacted Emily's manager.

"Talia, are you crazy?"

On the other side of the phone, Talia let out a cold laugh. "I've been crazy. Are you just realizing it? You should have known better than to mess with Emily. Even if it's the last thing I do, I'll make you regret it!"

The manager slammed the phone down not wanting to hear anymore of this scumbag's voice.

Jake's face was red as he grabbed his car keys.

"Where are you going?" Stella yelled at him.

"To Emily's!"

• • •

"Miss Pinault, are you sure this is the last of your belongings?"

Emily nodded to David who had been sent over to help her with the move to Nicholas' place.

She noticed the traces of a militant man in his buzz cut, trimmed physique, and his concentrated gaze.

"Yes, I am certain. I will not be taking all of my stuff there in case anything bad happens and I feel the need to return."

David was taken aback by her honesty, but he obliged nonetheless.

He took the last suitcase from her and stuffed it into the trunk of the car downstairs.

Emily stood there in the middle of her apartment, looking around with a feeling of dread.

"I'll miss you." She whispered to it.

The little woman trudged down the stairs of the building out to the front where she stood with her oversized white teddy bear.

David took long strides and opened the car door for her. "You may get inside, Miss Pinault."

Emily gave him a smile that showed her gratefulness for his help.

She didn't know if the ride to Nicholas' place was going to be far so she filled the awkward silence with small talk.

"How long have you worked for Mr. King?" She asked tentatively.

"Four years, Miss Pinault."

Suddenly, Emily was overwhelmed with an urge to bombard him with questions. What this man must know about Nicholas should end all his secrets. But then again, he probably signed an NDA.

"David, if you don't mind me asking, what is your boss like?"

"CEO King?"

"Yes." She nodded eagerly.

"Well..." David started looking hesitant. "For starters, he's the most intelligent man I know. He can be brutally honest which sometimes makes you question his personality; a key to his adjustment and mental health. He's well observant, a bit of a narcissist, but he'll make a fine husband Miss Pinault, if that's what you're asking."

Emily's mouth opened. "I wasn't-"

"It's okay. I won't tell him that you asked." He reassured her with a novel nod.

"Many people tend to misunderstand Mr. King with his ruthless ways of dealing with investments or people who have offended him, however, with time, you will see the depth of his character. He is the kind of man that this world needs, you see."

The kind of man that this world needs, huh? Emily pondered.

Finally, as the car pulled up into the residential and estate-like area, Emily finally grew silent in shock.

Loews Regency, this was one of the most famous landmarks of the city of New York.

Situated boldly on Park Avenue, it was a destination luxury building that was conveniently located on Manhattan's Upper Eastside. It seemed to blend seamlessly, iconic with its Art Deco design and modern sensibilities. Just the sight of it could make the average person stand in awe. Now imagine Emily who wasn't so average in her upbringing being completely starstruck.

"He...he...are you sure your boss isn't secretly a drug lord?" She foolishly asked, feeling weak in the knees.

"I'll have you know my boss' means of success are legitimate."

Emily nodded at the confirmation.

The landholding was said to have catered to only ten households. Each of which held affluent and influential people in society.

The fact that Nicholas King lived here was impressive in and of itself.

Not long after, the car swerved in through a metal gate that surrounded a beautiful villa with a fountain out front. Emily was escorted out of the car and into a Italian palace-styled living room.

She caught sight of the figure of Nicholas sitting on the sofa wearing comfortable sweatpants and a plain t-shirt. He wasn't armed with his usual fancy get-up, but he still looked as gorgeous as ever.

Nicholas stood up upon her entrance. "Thank you, David. You may retire for the day now."

His assistant bid him a professional farewell, but he made sure to offer a sneaky thumbs up in Emily's direction.

She smiled shyly.

"Let me help you with." Nicholas said, taking her luggage from her.

"Thank you."

"Come on. I'll show you where you'll be staying from now on."

Emily followed behind Nicholas wordlessly.

She admired the way he walked with such confidence and purpose. His strides were awfully long though so she had a hard time keeping up. Emily could blame her short legs for that as well.

"Welcome to your new home."

Emily examined the room carefully.

It was spacious and had a modern design in its wake.

"Thank you." Emily repeated once again.

"You don't have to thank me," Nicholas said. "I am your husband. It is my duty to ensure that you are well accommodated."

"Thanks anyway." Emily smiled showing her perfect teeth. Nicholas stared at her, an odd sensation filling his stomach.

He shook his head before he informed her, "I have made dinner in case you are hungry."

"You can cook?" Emily sputtered. She didn't mean to sound as shocked as she did.

Her hands covered her mouth when she realized she probably offended him.

Nicholas only shrugged. "I'm not the best chef, but I can make my way around the kitchen."

The talk of food had Emily's stomach growling.

Nicholas heard it.

There was a ghost of a smile on his lips and his eyes were alight with humor.

"The hassle of the moving has got me starving." Emily explained.

"I didn't ask." Nicholas rebutted lightly.

He gestured for Emily to follow him out of her room.

Truthfully, a part of her was disappointed. She thought when Nicholas brought up living together as a married couple that meant sharing the same bed as well.

Now before all the judges come swarming me, think about it in my perspective.

Okay, done?

Then how could you blame her for having such thoughts?

It was not even merely good-looking or handsome she was talking about-it was Nicholas King, the epitome of male beauty, breathtaking, and now he was legally bound to her.

Of course, she'd overstep the boundaries of rationality in her thoughts.

Maybe he is just being considerate of me then, she thought.

Which healthy and (hopefully) heterosexual man would not jump at the chance of being physically intimate with her?

Don't be silly, Emily! She chastised herself at her unwarranted pride.

It wasn't like she was mentally ready to even share a bed with him anyway.

Talk about building a man up only to tear him down.

It was a good thing she had kept her mouth shut.

The two were seated in the kitchen with their plates covered by the biggest fishes Emily has ever seen.

Her mouth watered at the smell of them and she said a prayer before she dug in.

Nicholas didn't close his eyes as she thanked God for her meal, but he stared at her which was probably irreverent. He didn't care though because he was looking at the closest thing he ever saw to being heavenly. Emily's face was wiped free of makeup unlike the last time he had seen her, yet she still managed to look angelic.

Was this a test to reinstate his faith in the Lord once more? He didn't know. But he wasn't complaining either.

"Aren't you gonna eat?" Emily asked snapping him out of his daydreaming.

"Y-Yes. Yes, I am." He answered particularly embarrassed.

Why was he stuttering? Emily thought for a second.

She didn't pay much attention to it because of the fish. It was delicious!

"Mhm..." Emily moaned.

Nicholas choked on the spoon of rice at the expressive sounds.

His eyes were shimmering with desire as he gazed at Emily who was clueless to what she was doing...or was she?

He looked at her doubtfully as she proceeded to make her innocently lewd noises.

What a lethal combination.

Emily was bound to drive him crazy at the rate she was going.

Nicholas crossed his legs gracefully and asked, "Why did you go to the showcase as Stella Peterson?"

The appetite the girl had went away momentarily at his question.

She dabbed at the corners of her mouth with the napkin as she looked into the curious eyes of Nicholas.

Emily had grown to realize he was a man of many questions. His eyes screamed of his thirst for knowledge and the tapping of his fingers whispered his lack of patience. He wasn't quite fond of not knowing things, Emily hypothesized. His unadulterated interest in her private life, despite what she had asked of him, was never going to be subdued. No matter what promise he made or her countless reminders, he was naturally a man that just needed to know things. A control freak...maybe?

Whatever it was, Emily decided it was best to be honest with him.

"I didn't have much of a choice. Starz Entertainment had me cover up for Stella a lot when she couldn't attend her public events. At first I had done it willingly, but then he started to take advantage of my kindness."

"By 'he' do you mean your ex-fiancee?"

Emily's eyes flew up in surprise.

Nicholas sat there expressionless.

Yes, he had done his research about Emily's love life as well.

In particular, who were the people involved with her.

Jake Mallion was apparently Emily's first long term boyfriend, apart from a guy she had dated for six months in university.

"Yes," Emily confirmed. "Jake coerced me into taking her jobs. He said that it was important for her establishing a career and all of that crap. Turns out I was just a little puppet in their show for amusement."

He frowned.

"I think a phrase that was popular in England around the early 16th century and transcends its generation is applicable to your current situation. It was incorporated into a play called The Christmas Prince, you must see it by the way, and the words simply translates to: he who laughs last, laughs best." Nicholas advised wisely, "The game isn't over until you want it to be, Emily. And I am sure as you now bear the weight of the King name, you will not be a loser."

Emily paused at the intensity in his eyes.

What was he trying to say?

Before she could decipher the meaning of his words, her phone started ringing on the table before them.

Jake's name popped up on the screen. The heart attached to it brought her a great amount of embarrassment.

She'll need to change that to 'Jerk' with a middle finger instead of 'Jake'.

Nicholas' eyes saw the caller ID.

His fingers tightened around the knife as Emily looked up at him with round eyes. "Can I take this?"

Nicholas had no right to deny her to speak to him so he nodded, however he was pleasantly surprised by what she did afterwards. Emily did not step aside to take the phone call, instead, she confidently pressed the answer button and put him on speaker, right in front of Nicholas.

"Emily, where are you right now? The password to your apartment changed and no one was answering."

"I was afraid the reporters would find me, so I found a place to hide." Emily replied calmly.

"So, you're saying you aren't aware of the incident with Talia?" Jake asked in surprise.

"Talia? What happened with Talia?" Emily