ARTIFICIAL

E N G A G E M E N T

Nathaniel

Today couldn't arrive fast enough.

I hate being the center of attention on tabloids and social platforms because I never have my peace. Journalists are fucking irritating and the circulating rumor about me having a girlfriend circled too fast, I know that none of my people are involved because my publicist has been having a shit time like I have.

But I'd bet a million that the Hugh boy did this on purpose, probably to push me onto his sister so I don't back out. Having a public relationship requires you to update the public about it because they have some sick fantasy of thinking that they are automatically involved in most celebrity's lives. But the thing is, I'm not a celebrity so if I want to dump his sister without any explanation, I won't give a fuck if they are sad. Even if he spreads some false rumor, I'm a business man not a philanthropist and that won't ever change.

Luckily for him though, his sister seems to be the one who's trapping me into this without his help. Heck, without her even trying. For the past two days I've been trying to distract myself from her, it's not fucking working.

Which is why I resorted to a new and better strategy, making her walk on eggshells around me. Which worked wonders because after hardly seeing her, my mind is straighter and I don't think about her. Sure I keep feeling something deep in my chest that's telling me I'm being a dick for pushing her away. Fortunately, it's not enough to beat my own selfish desires to have my way. Everyday, at any hour and at any time. Even if her box of chocolates is still untouched because for some reason, throwing it away feels wrong.

I just got off a call with Dominico and he's informed me he and his wife are already on the way to the venue. Many guests have arrived also which leaves my fiancé and I to make our appearance. Except I'm waiting for her like I'm waiting to take her to prom, I haven't seen her in exactly twenty four hours since our last encounter. I openly avoided her and she never asked about it, I hate that she didn't ask about it.

I have a lot of questions regarding that. Why the fuck doesn't she ask me why I push her away? Sure it would've annoyed me but I want her to question me like my fucking wife. She didn't even ask me where I was a few days ago, heck, I don't think she knew I wasn't home. She didn't give a single shit. She's got me here acting like a fucking little bitch and it's frustrating.

"Are you ready?" My boiling blood instantly turns to ice when I hear that honey laced voice behind me. All anger in my body ceases to exist and all I feel is a gentle wash of icy cold water all over my body, but I refuse to turn around.

Then even without turning around, a rush of heat shoots straight to my shoulder, even without the skin to skin contact it's like I can feel her skin against mine. I hate it because the feel of her skin is engraved in my mind, I can't remove it. Her touch is delicate, even if it was hesitant I know there's more to it. My mind flashes with images of her pulling me closer to her body, with nothing but our skin separating us as she screa-

"Nathaniel?" Fuck. And I thought this shit was gone.

I turn around to meet her eyes, her bright golden eyes are looking at me with concern. I just realized she hardly ever says my name, and she just did. It sounds right coming from her, but most importantly I'm curious about hearing her say it over and over again.

Now I thought hearing my name rendered me speechless, but when my eyes move from hers to inspect her body, my chest feels an unfamiliar warmth that I want to brush away. The feeling is somehow good but it also hurts, I don't know why it just does.