The office was vibrant with canards. Like the usual days, the employees turned WD into a whispering campaign. For the past week, be it in the cafeteria or sitting in front of their systems, there was only one conversation going on between the employees. Is the CEO in love with Regina?
The rumors have spread throughout. Some of the reporters tried to contact the employees to get juicy gossip.
"I was surprised to see our CEO in a relationship with Regina." A woman spoke up. She has heard a rumor from one of her friends working in the Seattle office but did not believe in the past. But now everything is sitting in the right place.
"We can't jump to conclusions. He has not yet confirmed." Her colleague argued.
"But his silence is the acknowledgment. I am sure he is dating Regina." Another woman spoke up, her eyes twinkled in delight. "How lucky of her."
"She is a phsyco. I pity our CEO for choosing that woman."
Hearing all the commotions ensuing in the office, Harley stormed into the office in a rage.
"Why are you keeping silent?" She barked. For the past week, she is tired of answering the media and shooing away the reporters but Devin has not even profused a single statement.
"The news has reached not only to the employees but all over. You are being questioned. Being a CEO, the great Wang Devin has breached the barriers encouraging the romance in the office." Harley collapsed on the chair exhausted and to top it all when Regina was confronted by the media about her relationship with Devin, she let out a shy smile without speaking a word. It was clear that something is going on between them and she has thrown the ball into Devin's court to answer back. "You don't have any evidence and you would be cornered by the whole world if you make a mistake. Announce your relationship before it escalates further. Dad and Grandfather will not be pleased with your behavior."
"Is it?" Devin threw the mobile onto the table and leaned back. With a mocking chuckle, he spoke up. "But why do I think both are enjoying the show?"
"Enough with your plays, Devin." Harley was done with him. "Are you trying to_"
"Relax, Harls. Arrange a press meet tomorrow and notify all the media especially, News Today." Devin declared and went back to the work mode.
Relief flooded hearing his words. She was wondering what Devin was going to choose this time. A fake relationship with Regina to protect Leena or a genuine relationship with Leena which would jeopardize her status in society as a third party. He could choose anything but Harley truly wanted him to come transparent with Leena before he decided on his decision.
Meanwhile, in Leena's office, she was smiling like a crazy idiot chatting with Devin. At first, she was bothered by the rumors but not anymore.
[My Deep-V-Diver: Why didn't you send your picture yet?]
[Orthodox Saint: What kind of picture my babylicious want?]
[My Deep-V-Diver: If you are smiling, send me your smiles and if you are sleeping, send me your dreams.]
"Cheesy idiot." She giggled and thought of playing with him.
[Orthodox Saint: I am in the bathroom, what picture should I send then]
And there was no reply. With a proud smile, Leena was satisfied for playing with him and she was about to enter the office room, a particular conversation made her footsteps halt in the midway.
"CEO Wang Devin and Regina are in love. Only she is eligible to be with him." Mandy exclaimed speaking over the phone. "I knew he would choose her. He is handsome and she is beautiful and I am sure it would be a picture-perfect frame whey they have kinds."
Despite her outrage, Leena strolled towards Mandy and quietly stood in front of her. Mandy instantly cut the call and flared up from her seat watching Leena's venomous eyes.
"Unless your name is on Google, stop acting like you know everything. I am waiting for the day you choke on the shit you talk." Having said that, Leena walked away leaving Mandy in plight.
"What have I done to her today. I am not even gossipping on her." Mandy shrugged and she was used to the witch's sharp tongue but as a shot, something hit her head. She likes women right? Is she in love with Regina and her heart got shattered by the news? If Leena would have heard Mandy's inner thoughts, she would be hanging upside down to the Eiffel tower by now.
..
In a brightly lit room, the cameras flicked like there was no end. Clad in a high waist vintage retro long sleeve vestido dress, she was an epitome of innocence to the world. Lifting her head, she lent a shy smile to the reporters and clutched her dad's hand who was worrying for nothing. "Everything is going to be alright, dad."
"Are you sure you talked with Devin?" Roberto inquired with a tensed face. Somehow, the sudden press meet was not sitting well with him. He was blatantly rejected by the Wang family when he offered a marriage alliance with them and after a week he got an invitation by Devin himself for the press meet. He only hoped that there wouldn't be a twist.
"Don't worry, dad. Everything would be fine after today." Regina assured squeezing his hand. Nothing can stop her today. She has cross-checked with the hotel and restaurant's CCTV recordings and everything is going accordingly with her plan. She even made all the dealings offline to ensure secrecy of not being caught. All the doors are closed for Devin and he has to announce at least a fake relationship to save his image for time being and that's the first step of her success. Slowly she will crawl into his bed and when they have kids, it's the end of the game. She wanted to suppress Leena and humiliate her for trifling with her.
The reporters who were rattling with each other halted their conversations when they heard the door opening followed by a tall person. The rough footsteps clanked on the floor and like lightning, everyone's eyes present in the room grew wide. Cameras flicked on to the tall person perpetually.
Strolling into the room in a three-piece suit, he was poised and walked with confidence. His eyes as deep as the ocean set ablaze. He did not care about the reporters and he straight away entered the dais.
"Mr. Wang, is it true that you are in a relationship with Regina?" A reporter spoke up the moment Devin stepped onto the stage.
"You have never been in a relationship up until now. So can we conclude that you found the love of your life?" Another reporter butted in.
"In all the interviews you have given, you have proclaimed that you have been waiting for one woman. So, Regina is the one?"
"Did you secretly get married and went on honeymoon with Regina?" The reporter of the News Today spoke up.
"Silence." When he spoke up, the entire room felt quiet to the point that even a pin dropping pin sound could be heard. His icy stares bored into the reporters and anger on his face became an effigy of contempt.
Devin briefly stared at Regina and his father who was smiling at him. There was only disgust on his face for both father and daughter.
Despite Regina's shy face that was docked to the floor, she was internally smiling. Soon, it's going to happen and Devin is going to be hers. She has waited for ten years and now her prince charming will officially declare their relationship to the entire world and all the women would get envious of her especially the woman who has humiliated her. She has imagined this day for years but her happiness was beyond her expectations in reality.
Devin looked at the reporters who were urging explanations for the past week and everybody was certain he would declare a relationship with Regina openly.
"Ladies and Gentleman! I know you have been seeing the pictures which leaked a week before and you have been wondering why I haven't given a statement. Before that let me tell you, Like all you have been thinking, I found my soulmate and I am in a relationship with her." He began.
Many were confident that the name he is going to announce would be Regina and she would be the show stopper. Some have even prepared a statement already.
"But she is not the one you are assuming." He revealed.
Devin twisted the game at the last-minute when he acclaimed another woman as his love life. There was a huge uproar in the press conference room hearing his words. With all the commotions happening, the door of the room was pushed open and a tall woman was escorted into the hall. There were hundreds of questions running on everyone's mind. But Regina was like an explosive bomb ready to explode, for her plan was not going according to her.