The Facade

Chapter 23

I woke up the next morning to Marlon brushing my cheek. He was tender and caring in that moment. It all ended when he saw my eyes open. Immediately he retracted his affectionate gesture once he knew I was aware of it. I felt his body leave the bed, the mattress slowly rising beside me. As he stood up on the floor, I noticed he had already put on pants.

I didn't speak. I only watched him pull his t-shirt over his head. He walked into the bathroom and began brushing his teeth. After rising up out of bed, I stood there looking around the room. My wedding dress was on the floor, but I didn't bother to put it on.

I walked over to Marlon who was still in the bathroom brushing his teeth. I noticed that there was a brand new toothbrush in the holder. After I up the brush, Marlon handed me a jar of toothpowder. I cringed that the sight. He still used toothpowder. These were the small details that you couldn't find in a tabloid.

I cupped my hand and placed the powder in the palm of my hand. After wetting my tooth brush, I began brushing my teeth. I continuously would dab my toothbrush in the powder then bring it back to my teeth. I looked over to him who had no problem I didn't know Marlon was such a skeevie.

Some powder fell upon my chest. Before I could swipe it off, Marlon did it for me. He kept eye contact with me, then rinsed his finger off with a clenched jaw. "You should get cleaned up. We have plans for today."

"I was actually thinking of heading home." I spoke for the first time that day.

"Tony booked us a press conference without me knowing." Marlon pushed his hands into the pockets of his pajama pants. A look of discomfort spread across my face. "I'm sorry, Rose. If it were up to me this circus show would be through with."

"How much publicity will we have to do?" I blinked as my eyes began to get wet. "When will I get back my normal life, Marlon?"

Marlon shut his eyes for a moment, this feeling of entrapment was normal for him. His contact never truly ended. When it was up, he just renewed it for a new one. His eyes opened and he looked back at me with sympathy.

"The conference only be for about an hour or too." Marlon answered. It was apparent to me he didn't know exactly how long they'd want this marriage to last. He didn't have the answers.

"Marlon— how will I be able to face everyone at my job? A press release? I am the press!" I began to panic.

"You can put that on hold for a moment." Marlon turned back towards the sink. He calmly began going through his belongings, retrieving his shaving set.

"And who are you to decide that, Marlon?" I answered angrily. He calmly began sharpening his razor blade along his leather strap. "I'll work as I please."

"And you're welcome to do that." Marlon lifted his chin and slowly glided the blade against his skin. I walked closer to him, looking at the blade going over his neck. "But remember Rose, you're under contract."

"In my contract I made sure it said I can work as much as I wish." I reminded him. He continued on shaving the other side. It glided over a beauty mark at the crook of his neck.

"You can work as much as you wish... so long as that does not interfere with your martial duties in the public eye." Marlon removed the razor from his neck and looked to me. He got his puffy brush and swiped it over face, removing all of the excess hair from his face. Then, he got a warm towel and patted his face.

"So what you're saying is... I can never say no to a press conference?" I asked quietly. He looked to me, not saying a word. Then he nodded. "And you're telling me I can't ever say no to a publicity stunt?"

"It's our job." Marlon sighed. "Do you know how many times I wanted to tell Tony and the others to fuck off?"

I laughed at Marlon's profanity.

"I can't. I never could. This is the price I had to pay with fame. I'm sorry I got you into it... even if it's just for a short while." Marlon began packing away his razor set. He walked into the bedroom and I turned toward the mirror, looking at my naked and vulnerable body.

Marlon returned to the bathroom with the morning paper. Our faces were blown up across the front page. The headline Brando Takes An Unlikely Wife was written across the top of the page. An unlikely wife. My stomach turned once I realized exactly what paper it was. It was the Post. My paper. My co-workers wrote this, they acquired the photo, and they wrote the article. The people who I considered my friends.

"And that's the place you're rushing back to?" Marlon asked, standing behind me and wrapping his arms around me. He placed his hands on the sink in front of me, as if his body were closing me into a cage. His chin rested on my shoulder. "These people are writing horrible things about you."

"It's not as horrible as some papers, I'm sure." I admitted. "But it's not exactly warm and friendly either."

"Did they even mention that you're an employee there?" Marlon furrowed his eyebrows and gripped the paper in my hand.

"What does it matter?" I let go of the paper, Marlon continued to hold it in front of my body. "It seems that I'm not very missed anyhow."

"Why don't you get dressed?" Marlon's arm brushed against my body as he set the newspaper on the sink in front of me. "We have a long day."

He leaned in to kiss my neck and I moved away. "I think we should keep our agreement. The one we've broke..."

"We've already broken it 6 times..." Marlon crossed his muscular arms over his chest. "Or was it 7 for you?"

"Marlon." I shut my eyes, my mind roaming to the night before.

"We are both enjoying it." Marlon shrugged. "What's the point in keeping it?"

"It's the principal." I insisted. I rose my chin as my eyes set on the physique of his body, trying to concentrate on what I was doing. "I'm going to go into the next room, put on my clothes, and for the duration of this facade it'll stay that way."

"Sounds like a plan, Captain." Marlon snarled. I glared at him before exiting the bathroom. Although I didn't want to, I knew I made a promise. More importantly, I was under contract. So yes, I was determined to follow the rules laid out in this arrangement.