Chapter : 876
I blinked, surprised at her candid words.
“Who are you to talk? You’ve been wallowing around all week, and you aren’t even wearing any makeup,” I shot back, folding my own arms across my chest.
She let out a short laugh, though the smile she had on her face didn’t meet her eyes, and it made my chest tighten even more. I knew she was trying to distract herself and get her own thoughts and feelings in check… but I also knew she was living with this intense pain, and she couldn’t get rid of it. I hated that it was happening to her, and I wished that I could make it better.
“Unlike you, I’ve already built a stable foundation for myself. I can afford to take a week or more off,” she told me, shrugging one shoulder. “Once you are known and loved around the world, then come talk to me about constantly wearing makeup.”
I let out a breath, my resolve cracking. I was happy she was acting like her old self, and I wanted to explore that a bit further.
“Okay, so what do you suggest I do?”
“You let me help you fully,” she said. “Let me be your life coach.”
“What?” I laughed. “A life coach? You?”
“Hey, just because I’m terrible at my own life, doesn’t mean I’ll be terrible
yours.
Besides, you’re going through an issue I know way too much about. This is all about public image; at this point… It’s a popularity contest. It’s an easy fix if you follow along with the rules of the public.”
“Okay,” I said, taking a deep breath. “I’ll follow along.”
She smiled.
“Perfect,” she said. “First things first…we prove your innocence. Daddy might have to get these articles pulled.”
“I don’t want him to know about the protests,” I said, my brows furrowed. “He overheard Olivia saying she wanted to protest me, and I told him I had it handled. I didn’t want to make a big deal out of it, and I played it off as such. It would only upset him if he knew how far it escalated.”
“You aren’t going to be able to hide it from him,” she said, raising her brows. “It’s literally all over the news, and if we are going to the packhouse tonight, then he will see the protesters with his own eyes.”
“I’ll figure something out… but I just want to keep this from him for a little while.
Maybe until tonight. I want to be able to tell him myself, and I want to have one last night of just nothing… no stress….. no magic… just me and my mate.”
She looked at me a moment longer before she nodded.
“Okay,” she said. “But the next time you leave this villa, you aren’t going to be dressed like a commoner You
l attention.
need to pay careful attention to your appearance, so I’ll be working on that with you every morning.”
“Anyone ever tell you that you’re bossy?” I asked, teasingly.
She laughed.
“All the time,” she replied. Then her face grew serious. “I need a project to distract myself with,” she admitted. ‘It’s helping.”
I put my hand on her shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze.
“We are going to figure this out, Irene,” I assured her. “We’ll break your curse so you’ll be free from Chuck forever.”
Gavin walked around the corner at that point; when his eyes found mine, they softened.
“I just told Matt we were heading to the packhouse for dinner. He’s putting his shoes on. Are you almost ready?” He asked, stepping toward my side and wrapping me in his arms.
I wrapped my arms around his neck.
“Actually, I was wondering if maybe
we could go somewhere else for dinner,” I suggested, but then I noticed the surprised and wide look in Irene’s eyes that made me rethink the decision even to leave the villas “Owe can get Chester and/or Nan to cook us a meal, and we won’t have to leave at all.”
“They are both working at the packhouse,” he told me. “That’s why I suggested we
go there. I know you love their cooking,” he told me, grinning down at me.
My chest warmed.
“Oh,” I breathed. “I’m honestly not feeling all that well. Maybe we should just—”
Before I could finish my sentence, Gavin’s cell phone rang. He reached for it on one of the tables and glanced at the screen.
‘It’s Erik,” he said, glancing at Irene briefly, who stiffened beside me. He answered the phone, pressing it to his ear. “Hey, Erik.”
He waited a few moments, his eyes narrowing at nothing in particular.
“Okay, on my way,” he said and then hung up. He turned to look at me “Looks like there’s a situation at the packhouse anyway need to go check out the situation before we go anywhere tonight.” ‘