Chapter 66

66 Award-Winning Performance

“Miss Elena are you truly in love with Brandon?” an old man with a white beard asked.

No...but for the sake of repaying my debt...yes...

“It’s a little embarrassing to say it out loud but...I am indeed very much in love with him. Unlike my first marriage, I hope with all my heart that my second marriage will be for love and no other reason,” I said before smiling humbly and then bowing my head slightly.

Glancing up, I could tell that the board members seemed satisfied with my response. Various of them nodded. Even if they didn’t like my story, I was sure that they at least believed that Brandon and I are dating right now.

“I guess that’s more than enough interrogation for my beautiful girlfriend for the day. I wouldn’t want to put a frown on her pretty face,” Brandon cut in as he could sense that the audience seemed to have had their fill.

Suddenly, Brandon wrapped his arms around my waist and began hugging me from behind to the surprise of everyone in the room. I turned my head back a little to ask what he was doing but before I could open my mouth to say anything, his lips were on mine.

Brandon kissed me firmly on the lips before quickly deepening the kiss by thrusting his tongue into my mouth. I moaned automatically into his kiss as his tongue entwined and danced around with mine. His arms around me tightened as he continued to kiss me in front of all the board members.

This was not part of the plan. At all.

With everyone’s eyes on me, I was forced to go along with his public display of affection. I could hear surprised and shocked gasps from the audience and knew that they probably didn’t need any more convincing than this. Perhaps we should have just made out in front of them since the beginning so that I could have saved my breath. I reached up a hand and placed it on the side of Brandon’s face before I began kissing him back heatedly.

.....

The scene was probably too intense for some because some people started walking out in the middle of our performance. By the time that Brandon had decided that he’s gotten his point across and broke our kiss, I was already out of breath. I watched in astonishment as he turned to smile confidently at the audience. I wanted to hit him but that would have to wait.

...

The meeting came to a sudden end after that, and we retreated by to his personal office. I flopped down onto the sofa and heaved a loud sigh of relief. That performance took a toll on my stamina and my lifespan for sure. I wondered if I should revise the rate in the contract upwards if I had to go through something like that often while working for Brandon.

Unlike me, Brandon seemed to be in a bright and cheerful mood as he sat down on the sofa opposite where I was sitting. He looked straight at me and smiled. I raised my eyebrows at him questioningly, but I didn’t smile back.

“So, you’re still in love with me even after all this time?” he asked suddenly.

As if...

“Haha...of course...not,” I replied with an amused laugh.

“I should have known...” he muttered before laughing along as well.

An uncomfortable silence crept up between us when our laughter died down.

“It’s true that I was always wishing for your success though...even after you left” I said so softly that I wasn’t sure if he could hear me.

I wouldn’t have minded if he didn’t. After he left me, I was hurt, and heartbroken. However, there was never a time when I didn’t wish him all the best.

I glanced up to see that Brandon was looking straight at me with a look that I couldn’t quite read on his face. He must have heard me. I smiled a little and he got up from his seat and walked away towards the glass window. The city view beyond was breathtakingly beautiful but I was sure that wasn’t why he was hiding there by the window.

“I should get a golden Oscar trophy made for your outstanding performance just now. I’ll make sure that it’s made of real gold, and I’ll encrust some parts of it with real diamonds as well, what do you think?” Brandon suggested as he turned back to look at me.

“No need for that but I don’t mind if you want to chip in a couple millions of dollars as tip...” I replied with an idea of my own.

“Come with me?” Brandon said as he headed for the door.

“Where are we going?” I asked curiously.

“Shopping,” he replied.

The workaholic Brandon is going to take me shopping in the middle of a workday?

“Huh? Don’t you have to work?” I asked, my eyes widened in shock.

“Of course, I do. I’m choosing to spend time with you instead of doing work, shouldn’t you feel appreciative?” he said mockingly as he grabbed my hand and pulled me after him.

“Umm...no?” I muttered my reply as he led me towards the elevator.

“Just come along. I promise I’ll get you something that you like,” he said confidently.

I wondered if he even knows what I like after all this time...

...

“Are you trying to make me get diabetes?” I asked sarcastically.

Brandon turned to face me with an innocent and guiltless look on his face.

“What’s wrong? You used to like buying this stuff all the time,” he said casually.

“That was then, and this is now...” I muttered darkly.

I turned to look at the specialized sweet store filled with various types of colorful candies, chocolates, candy floss, lollipops, marshmallows, and everything else in that category. I wasn’t certain but I believed the last time I came to a place like this was with Brandon during my university years. After that, I started a new phase in life after marrying George and stuffing myself with sugar wasn’t an option anymore.

When Brandon said that he would buy me something that I would like, did he mean this?

–To be continued...