CEO’s REDEMPTION

“Wow, wow! I don’t know whether to be proud of my work or be jealous of your beauty, madam.” My make-up artist says, stepping away from me.

I stand up to have a good look at the woman in the reflection because I doubt it’s really me. My, my, my, Tessa! Is this me? I lift my hand to my face, well polished up with ponds and perfectly made eyebrows. I run my hands smoothly and with care through my styled hair. I guess it’s really me, then. Tessa Angeline McCall! At least I’m not that ugly to embarrass my rich, handsome husband. Speaking of him, where is he?

“Thank you so much for this. You are really a great makeup artist.”

“Well, thank you, madam. I’ll take my leave now. Enjoy your day, madam, and if ever you need my services again, I will be happy to lend them to you.”

“Thank you. I sure wouldn’t look somewhere else. And please, call me Tessa.”

“Alright. See you again, Tessa.” She walks out after packing her belongings in her makeup kit, while I am left to admire myself. I don’t think even that woman I used to call mother would recognize me if she sees me now. What a transformation! Even my husband might not recognize me.

The door opens, and Jerol walks in, his jaw-dropping on the floor the moment his eyes fell on me. Well, I hope I will impress his guests just the way he is impressed. For a moment, he forgot how to close his mouth and how to blink, and I am sure he was holding his breath too.

“Does this look fit the title, Mrs. McCall?” I speak, and his face changes all of a sudden, turning cold.

What is wrong with this guy, though? His mood swings are worse than those of a depressed pregnant woman. Is this how he has been or is something bothering him? He seems so unhappy for a money guru like him. Living in a castle, swimming in all the money and wealth that he has, and not having a nagging wife beside him, shouldn’t he be the happiest bachelor? What could be his problem?

“You look just fine. Let’s go? They are all waiting, except for my parents, but they are on the way.” He is, at last, so flat that his words kind of hurt, just a little. I mean, he has a clear picture of what a pest I was a few days ago, and I am also certain that he can see the beautiful transformation; it’s not like he is blind. A mare compliment wouldn’t cost anything, jeez! He is so mean and stingy when it comes to words. And a pain in the ass when it comes to attitude. I take my purse from the bed as he walks to me to offer his hand-one thing he is so generous about.

“Just a second.” I say before we start walking out, and he stops, turning to me with a frown that says, “What now?”? “Don’t you at least need to keep a cool face for this to look a bit convincing?” I ask because if this is how we are going to look, it will take just a minute for people to know this is nothing but a show.

He half-smiles and opens his mouth to speak. “Don’t worry. I want this to look more real than you can imagine. And since I know you didn’t read the contract, I will let you know that we are going to do everything that a real married couple does in public. The chemistry between us should both be seen and felt.”

“Wait. What do you mean? What else does this entail?”

“Ever heard of romantic hugs and kissing? Don’t think I am going overboard when you feel my hand squeezing your thighs under the table.”

I don’t give a hoot about squeezing my thighs and giving hugs; I can handle that. Let me get one thing clear about this kissing that is already making my blood cold.

“By kissing, I suppose you mean a peck here and there?” I am shaking as I ask, my gaze stern in his eyes. Now that we are so close, I think I like the coldness in his eyes. They hold this powerful attraction that is so devilish but weirdly charming. Powerful enough to lure anyone into their dark world. They speak nothing but pure, sweet sin. My, he can be such an irresistible charm if only he can work on his attitude.

“And where is the reality of love in a mere peck?” I mean real kissing.”

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How on earth am I going to kiss him in public when I have never kissed anyone, not even in secret?

“Well, I have never kissed anyone. I might embarrass you there.” I say, looking away. He lets go of my hand and grabs my purse, throwing it on the bed, and he stands right in front of me. He tilts my head with his finger so that I face him. He studies me for what feels like a decade, and next, he wraps both hands around my waist, keeping his eyes on me. He closes the small gap between us, erupting fire in my body.

“Your hands are on my chest.” He orders, and I obey, struggling to maintain eye contact. This is all new to me. Being this close to a man, with our bodies touching like this and looking at each other like this, I have never experienced this closeness with a man. That is why I am sure my cheeks are as red as a tomato right now. I don’t know where his thoughts have wandered off to just now, leaving his eyes on me, his stare making me uncomfortable. So uncomfortable that I am starting to tremble.

What is he thinking about right now? Or perhaps, who is he thinking about? What is bothering you, Jerol? Why do I feel like behind this cold man is a vulnerable person suffering from the inside? For a man of your pedigree to be like this, you must be in some deep sh*t, Jerol.

I patted his chest gently. “Hubby?” He snaps back from Wonderland. “It’s not right to zone out on your wife like that, is it?” He smirks, faking a smile.

“Forgive me, my dear wife.” He says this, rubbing his thumbs playfully on my back.

“So, what’s next?” I ask.

His eyes fell on my lips, and I stared at them for a while. He leans in, levelling his lips with mine but leaving a small gap between our lips, and I tense. He is going to kiss me? I am going to have my first kiss. I feel some Deja Vu. I can’t wait to feel the magic of a kiss. I close my eyes, my heart beating ten times its usual speed, and I wait for his lips to crash on mine.

“Nothing.” Instead of him kissing me, he speaks, and I open my eyes, meeting his cold ones.

Apart from their usual coldness, there is something else in them, something I can’t fathom. Is it guilt? For what? Is it fear? Why? Is it remorse? I don’t know.

“You will just need to move your lips in rhythm with mine when that happens. But don’t worry. I will try to limit the romance as much as possible.”

I have no words to say to him, so I just nod my head.

He has a demon hunting him, I suppose. He takes my purse from the bed where he threw it some minutes ago, and then he sneaks his hand around my waist, pulling me closer to him. We walk out, him carrying my purse like a romantic hubby, and me walking beside him with a mega smile on my face like the happiest wife in the world. I love this game.

We have spent almost thirty minutes saying hi to guests and Jerol introducing me to some high-profile people like the CEO of Etiq Bank, which is the top and most highly rated bank in the country, the chairmen and managers of the Royal Insurance Company, which is owned by his parents, some of the managers of the Royal Fuel and Gas Company, which is owned by Jerol, and last but not least, Jerol’s close friends, who are the total opposite of him. I am tempted to think that this cold side of him just surfaced recently. He couldn’t have been able to blend with these talkative, jovial guys if he was this icy and temperamental from the start. Anyway, I should stop beating myself over something that is not my concern. What I am wondering about right now is when we will get to sit down because my ankles are beginning to hurt. Shit! How do people manage all day with these annoying heels?

“Are you alright?” Jerol asks, pulling us a distance away from the multitude.

“My ankles are beginning to hurt. I don’t think I can stand for long.”

“Ahh, okay. I don’t know why my parents are taking too long. They are the only ones missing. I’ll just give them a call. If they are nearby, I’ll just call everyone to the dinner table, okay?”

I nod my head, and he moves to my side, wrapping an arm around me while fishing his phone from his pocket with the other hand. However, before he could even finish unlocking his phone, a voice from behind startled us, and we turned around.