“Fuck. That’s crap, Michael. I was the one who lied to her, manipulated her.”
“Are you so certain she wasn’t doing the same?”
“Shut the fuck up!” I reared back, clenching my fist and Michael was shocked.
He shook his head again. “Fine. Then you’re going to need to make a choice. Vanessa or the contract. I’m no miracle worker.”
The thought was daunting and any other time in my life, I would have chosen the contract.
Not this time.
“Then I choose Vanessa.”
CHAPTER 28
Vanessa
I’d never felt so overwhelmed in my life.
I was suffocating, unable to move one direction or another.
Tears had formed in my eyes from the brutal questions, one coming right after another.
“What do you have to say about being in a fake marriage?”
“Ms. Blair. How did you manage to manipulate Christian Elliot?”
“Ms. Blair. Did you have sex with Mr. Elliot to convince him you were interested in the fake marriage?”
My mind was spinning. “Stop. That’s not right.” I couldn’t believe I’d mumbled anything to the horrible accusations. “Just leave me alone.” What Christian must be thinking. I was shaking all over, barely controlling my anger.
“Were you there when Andres Lopez from Barchella Hotel Group signed with your father?”
“How much were you paid to lie to your fiancé?”
I couldn’t think. I tried to push my way through, but the crowd of reporters refused to budge. My car was blocked off. So was the entrance to Donovan’s apartment.
“Leave me alone. No comment.”
That wasn’t good enough for them.
Every question was more repulsive than the one before. I needed to talk with Christian, but what could I say that he’d believe? Had my father done this? Why? Why would he do something so terrible?
Another reporter pushed his way through, shoving a microphone into my face. “Ms. Blair. Is it true that your brother, Donovan Blair, was recently arrested for drug possession with intent to sell? Is it true that you used Mr. Elliot’s contacts so your brother would be remanded to a psychiatric facility instead of prison?”
Psychiatric facility?
I spun and faced the bastard, immediately slapping him across the face without thinking. My huge ring caught the side of his face, creating a trickle of blood, which the cameras immediately caught. Gasps could be heard coming from all directions. “How fucking dare you. My brother isn’t a criminal and I would never use anyone.”
“Except for millions of dollars for a fake marriage.”
I couldn’t take any more.
Just as I was ready to launch into all of them, the crowd was shoved aside, something pushing their way through. At this point, I was ready to either collapse or continue with physical altercations.
“Leave my fiancée alone.” Christian’s voice boomed, the dark implied threat enough to shut the reporters briefly.
He took me into his arms, using emotion in his eyes to try to calm me.
