Chapter 61

Daniel managed to show up to the house within the hour. Both he and James moved the planning into the study where they started going into further details about what needed to happen.

James filled the beta in on the minor, unexpected visit from his family. Most of the color left Daniel’s face when he heard how Ellison spoke on behalf of the board. “We need to think of a solution before things get any more out of control” he commented.

“James has already thought of a possible idea,” I said quietly.

“I suggested that Mia and I just come clean about our relationship. You know, tell them exactly how it came about in the first place,” James explained.

I was still taken aback by the idea that James wanted to tell everyone the truth of their situation. “How exactly is something like this going to help?” I asked.

James went over to the desk and pulled open the top drawer. He took out a small pile of photos—the same pictures he and I took for the advertising project.

“Look at some of these...I mean seriously look at them,” he told me. “There is no denying the chemistry that’s there.”

‘Yeah, but is it really?’ I asked myself.

I’ve always known how I felt about James, even when I was younger. Hell, it was plastered all over school at one put and everyone treated me like some joke to be laughed at. I honestly hoped that there would come a time when I would grow out of these feelings and move on.

But no. They were merely suppressed at best. The moment he and I came face-to-face after all those years, all those emotions came rushing to the surface.

My feelings for him went beyond what could possibly be seen from a mere picture. The truth of our relationship was exceedingly complex. Whatever this plan of his was, it already made me feel deeply skeptical.

“I’m still not seeing the benefit here. What does it matter if we say anything, people aren’t entitled to believe what we say,” I pointed out.

Daniel nodded his head. “You’re absolutely right. We have seldom control over how the public will react to your side of things. However, what we can do is try and appeal to what they already know is between the two of you. And these pictures are proof all their own.”

My doubt only grew from there. I shrugged my shoulders back. “I can’t see this being enough to sway the public’s opinion.”

Daniel and James shared a knowing look, causing my heart to sink. “Well...”

“What?”

“We were sort of hoping that you’d be willing to highlight your feelings toward James when the two of you were younger,” Daniel said.

My lips parted in disbelief. “You want to dig up my past...Again.”

James must have sensed my building anxiety. He came to stand by my side and rested a hand over my shoulder. “Don’t worry, I’ll be writing out a statement as well.”

I rolled my eyes and fought back a scoff. “James, what could you possibly need to write a statement for? It’s not as though your feelings toward me were even remotely close to mine back then,” I said tightly.

James appeared utterly taken aback by my statement, yet he hadn’t tried to deny any of it. I turned my head to look at Daniel and shook my head in refusal.

“What you’re asking me to do is basically display myself for public ridicule once more. You claim you want to ‘come clean’ and tell everyone the truth, well to be completely honest, there is no romance or notion of love in it. This whole marriage was based on a mutual agreement. He needed someone by his side during the Alpha Gathering to get his family to stop trying to match him up with other potential women,” I explained. “And in return, he offered me security for me and my child.”

Daniel’s eyes widened in shock. He tried to glance at James, who was currently raking a rough hand down his face in frustration.

“That’s the story you want to tell the world?” I asked sarcastically. “Those pictures will essentially lose their value the moment everyone knows.”

It pained me to think that this was the only viable solution to potentially fix the problem. Good God, there wasn’t even any real guarantee that it was going to work anyway.

A long moment of silence drifted into the room before James took the chance to speak up. He cleared his throat and spoke evenly. “Daniel, would you mind stepping out of the room for a few moments?”

Without a word, he gave a curt nod and slipped out of the study, leaving the two of us alone. The tension around us continued to grow, the longer we stood in silence. But once more, James was the one who was choosing to break it.

“Do you believe this relationship to be one-sided?” he asked.

“James...”

His tone grew tense. “Answer the question.”

“Yes, alright? Yes! As embarrassing as it is to admit, I’ve never fully lost my feelings for you. But I have no idea where you stand in all of this.”

I folded my arms over my chest and kept my gaze locked on the carpet.

“You’re not someone who shows their true feelings openly. You never have been. I’ve never thought to push you or demand to know how you feel regarding me or this contractual marriage,” I added.

I struggled to lift my eyes up to look at him. When I did, I was met with a solemn expression. It felt like I’d been struck in the chest. I hated seeing him like that. Even more so, knowing that I was essentially the cause of it.

“But something needs to be done about this situation with Peter,” I said. “Have Daniel schedule a press conference. Peter is my ex, so I should be the one to really deal with this.”