I Hate You But I Love You More

Chapter 23

I open the front door of the penthouse and literally drag myself in. Gosh, I feel nauseous. Remind me to never take a public plane again without Darson. Bickering with him always takes my mind off the flying metal with wings.

It's going to be a long week. I need to make up for my absence at work. I want to cry. Hello, overtime.

The next few weeks is a blur. Darson decided to finally introduce me to the world as his wife. No more mystery Meldeev. He revealed it in the Meldeev fundraiser launch and the cameras won't stop going off ever since. He also revealed that he'll be providing funds for multiple institutions rather than one and it is all thanks to me. I won't lie. I was surprised when he said that. Darson praising me on a stage in front a crowd. I never thought I'd live to see the day.

Everyone at the company is treating me differently. Some are awfully close to me and some couldn't get any further. I remember that one time I told my boss I was in no way related to the Meldeevs. Boy she cannot stop giving me the dirty look for that lie.

They've also asked me multiple times to do a feature on me and I refused. I cannot count on my fingers how many times I've seen my face on a magazine. I've seen things such as Branded Beauty, Innocent Lilac and the most disrespectful of them all 'Clout or The Bag?'. Unfortunately, me in the spotlight brings up dirt about Bain Industries and it being temporarily out of running. In a press conference Darson attempted to cover it up. He stated that we were already seeing each other and was married before Bain Industries decided to take hiatus. Many people speculated the debt situation but he also acknowledged the fact that father wasn't well and decided to take a vacation. It's half the truth but it'll do.

"I'm sorry they're prying so much into your personal life." Darson says when he reaches me. He has just stepped down from the stage after giving his speech on his plans for the charity event he's hosting in a few weeks.

I take a look around at the many people dressed expensively chatting around the room with champagne glasses perched in their hands. "You seem to be handling it well." I tell him as I smooth my lavender dress that reaches just about mid-thigh. It is tight fitted at the waist and shows off my long legs really well.

"Barely." He gulps some of his champagne.

"Your collar needs fixing." I reach out to fix it and before I can pull away, Darson pulls me into him. My hands instinctively wraps around his waist.

"They're watching." I nod slowly. Can he feel my heartbeat quickening? Surely, he can't, right? "Gosh, you smell good." Darson breathes out and I bite my lip.

"You aren't creepy at all."

"How does that make me creepy? It's not like I sneak into your room every night just to sniff your hair." When he says it like that it makes it a hundred times creepier. What if he actually does that?

"Well to be fair, you feel really good." I look up at him from our hug and is surprised to see him looking down at me with a smile.

"You can't say something like that and then give me that look." I bite down on my lip in a teasing way and he narrows his eyes at me. "It's like you're begging to be pushed into a wall or something."

"Ouch. That sounds painful." I know what he means. I just like teasing him.

"Oh, you'll love it."

"How are you so sure?" I retort.

"I'm not so let's find out." It is my turn to go silent. Why does this Darson make an appearance now? It's confusing me! Why is my inner being so curious about this?

"That will never happen." He flicks me on the forehead. "Besides I was talking about the hug. You get more delusional day by day."

"I think that's because you're starting to rub off on me." I pull away from him while giving him the side eye. These heels are killing my feet. "Don't make that face. You're setting yourself up to be destroyed by those reporters." I bite my tongue. Figuratively, of course. Actually doing it hurts. To please the ever so demanding Darson Meldeev, I replace my frown with a small smile.