Chapter 39

"Did you see this?" Ana asked as she sat beside Emilyn in the hospital. Ana. "It said that Christopher brought a hot date to the gala last night."

"Who is that girl?" Emilyn asked, leaning towards Ana and staring at the picture on the phone, the way her hands wrap around Christopher makes Emilyn irritated and want to strangle her.

"Holly Fair, one of the successful business owners," Ana told her. "What is she doing with him? Why didn't he ask you to go with him?"

"He did, I just didn't want to go." Emilyn lean back into her seat

"Why?" She asks furrowing her eyebrows.

"If I go, everyone will know I'm his girlfriend. I can't do that." Emilyn shakes her head.

"Why not? You guys have been dating for like 2, 3 months. What's the big deal?"

"The deal is I hate being photograph by people and then they can go display all my pictures on magazines or social media," Emilyn explain.

"But you were photograph before when you were with me, remember," Ana said.

"Yeah, I know. But they didn't capture my face clearly and no one talks about me." Emilyn said. "But this time if go, I'm going to display all over the news as Christopher Evans's new girl." She sigh. "The thought about it is just." She sighs even louder.

"Did he tell you he is bringing a plus one, who is her?"

Emilyn shakes her head, "after that night, we didn't talk at all."

"No messages, no phone calls?" Emilyn shakes her head. "Weird, if I remember you said once that he'll have to see you every day."

Emilyn sigh, "that's because we got into an argument about the gala topic."

"What did you say to piss him off?" She asked.

"I just said that I should be kept as a secret and he retaliates saying that he a girl ask if he or she can come over, he can agree to it."

Ana gasp, "Then what you said?"

"Of course I said no. But he says why not, I'm single to the public eye anyway." Emilyn said. "Then he kisses me and said that he hopes that was photographed."

"Oh dear, do you think anyone saw that?" Ana covers her mouth with her hand.

"I don't know." Emilyn runs her fingers through her hair. "I didn't spot anyone, I see no one around."

"You know those paparazzi are very good at hiding, you'll never know that they are right there until the pictures are up on social media or the magazines," Ana told her.

"I know, I just hope no one saw it."

"So what are you going to do with Christopher? I think you pissed him off."

"I know I did and he said all those stuff to just make it worse." Emilyn said, plucking on the loose thread at the end of her shirt. "he did tell me that he wants the public to know about us, but I kept saying that is not the right time and he gets frustrated."

"I mean, I get him." Ana starts. "Keeping a relationship hidden for so long is difficult. He got to disguise himself in hats, sunglasses, and mask to be with you. Christopher has already sacrificed so much for you."

"I know, I didn't even let him walk me to my door." Emilyn let out a small laugh.

"You don't" Ana was flabbergasted. "No wonder he burst out."

"What am I suppose to do? Someone in the elevator sort of had an idea of him the first time."

"Oh my sweet angel Emilyn," Ana put her hand on Emilyn's shoulder and shake her head. "You should fix this."

"Me? Why should I? He's the one being all like make our relationship public and then kiss me and drive off. Who does that?" Emilyn scrunches her eyebrows.

"I think you need to apologize to him."

"No, I'm not going to. He is acting like a child." Emilyn frown. "Why do we need to reveal our relationship to the public? They don't need to know."

"Then what? Do you expect him to go to a public area and wear a disguise all the time? Go to party and dinner with some else and let others speculate that he is dating that person?" Ana asked. Emilyn sits in her seat and contemplates everything she said.

"Hey, girls. What's wrong?" Grandma Lou walked in with help from the nurse from her walk. "I can feel some tension in the air."

"Nothing, nothing is going on." Emilyn blurts and helps her to get into bed.

"Ana, what happened?"

"Nothing much grandma Lou, just a minor argument about something," Ana said with a smile, hopefully, that could fool her.

"Alright, if you say so." Grandma glance at Emilyn.

***

"As a special assignment for all you writers here, I'll be holding a competition to see who has the ability to get a promotion to become the next assistant editor," Taylor said in the meeting room. "Write anything, but it has to be juicy, intriguing, and fun." She said and dismissed them.

Emilyn checks her phone again, but nothing. No text, no calls from Christopher. "Emilyn!" A voice jolts her from her seat.

"Yes?"

"Uhm...I just want to ask you about the new assignment. But if you are busy I can come back later." Savannah said.

"No, no, not busy at all, what do you want to ask?"

"I just wondering what are you going to do about this assignment?"

"I'm not sure yet? Haven't fully thought about it." Emilyn told her. "What are you going to do?"

"I clearly have no idea." Savannah shrug.

"Don't worry, we'll get through it. If you need anything you can ask me." She nods and they continued with their work. After work, as usual, Emilyn went to visit her grandma.

She walks into the room but found her bed empty. "That's weird," Emilyn said. Hurriedly, she asks the nurse at the front desk. "Do you know where is the patient in room 350, bed B?"

"Name?"

"Lou Walker," Emilyn answer.

"Oh, Mrs Walker has transferred to a new room today. Is on floor 4, room 206." She told her. "Transfer room? I didn't request any room transfer." Emilyn thought.

"May I ask who did the transfer?"

"I'm sorry ms, there's no record on who did it."

Emilyn nods, "thank you." She heads straight up to level 4 and was welcome with a different atmosphere. This is the VIP section. Walking down the hallway and spot room 206, she got in and saw her grandma in this huge room by herself and a really wide window with a nice view.

"Grandma." She rushed over to her grandma's bed.

"Hi, Emilyn." Grandma Lou waved.

"What happened? Why are you suddenly transfer to this floor? Who did it?" Emilyn asked.

"You don't know?" She question, Emilyn shook her head. "Christopher didn't tell you?"

"Christopher?" Emilyn furrowed her brows. "He did this? Why?"

"I'm not sure."

"Did he come by?" Emilyn asked.

"Yeah, he was here a minute ago and left with the doctor." Grandma Lou said.

"And here is her granddaughter, Emilyn." Christopher came into the room with a doctor. "Emilyn, this is doctor Rodriguez. He will be attending to your grandma from now."

"Emilyn, nice to meet you." He takes out his hand for her to shake it.

"Nice to meet you too." She shakes his hand.

"Entrust me with your grandma's recovery, I'll make sure she recovers properly and will be back to normal as soon as possible." The doctor said.

"Thank you." Emilyn nod with a small smile.

"I have some other patients to check on, I'll take my leave now." Emilyn nods and he walks out of the room.

She glares at Christopher, once the doctor left the room."I want to talk to you." Emilyn pointed at him and walk out of the room.

"What?" He asks meeting her outside the room.

"Why didn't you tell me about this? What's the reason for doing this?" Emilyn asked.

"I was going to tell you today, I just received the news and rush over."

"Why didn't they call me?"

"Because I was the one who requested it personally and to answer your other question that is because I want your grandma to be in a good environment."

"She was fine in the other room, there's no reason to move her here."

"I got a good doctor to attend to her, he is one of my family's doctors," Christopher told her.

"But the previous doctor was fine too." Emilyn crosses her arms in front of her.

"I know, but I want her to be comfortable. Plus the visiting time is longer." Christopher told her.

"I don't care about that." Emilyn shakes her head. "I don't have the money to afford."

"Is all taken care of, I've already paid for it all."

"Christopher," Emilyn said in a stern tone. "I didn't want this, I don't want you to pay for my grandma's medical fees."

"Just take it, I want to take care of both of you."

"I don't agree with you, you shouldn't do that without my consent." Emilyn frown.

"You don't agree on anything I want." Christopher rolled his eyes.

"Don't bring that conversation up, I don't want to talk about it," Emilyn said. "You know what, I don't want to talk to you right now." She turns away from him and walks into the room.

"How do you feel?" Emilyn asked Grandma Lou as she walks into the room.

"Is nice here, quiet." She said with a smile. "Christopher, I want to thank you," she said as he walks into the room. "even though is not necessary for you to do this."

"No, I want to do it for you. Don't worry about anything and just rest." Christopher smiled at her. Emilyn rolled her eyes and scowl.

"Come sit and accompany Emilyn." She said. He pulls two chairs right next to the bed and sat on one of them. Emilyn tries to move the chair as far away from him as possible. "What's wrong with the both of you?" She notices the space between them.

"Nothing, don't worry about it," Emilyn assured her.

"Emilyn tell me the truth, what happened?" She asked. Emilyn didn't say anything and she proceeds to ask Christopher, "tell me what happened Christopher, what's going on between you two?"

"Nothing to worry about Grandma Lou, we just got in a small disagreement that's all." He glances at Emilyn. "Emilyn is being too stubborn." Emilyn turn look at him and glare.

"Emilyn" Grandma Lou called, Emilyn turn her head. "I'm not going to interfere with what happened between both of you, but you got to talk it out instead of ignoring each other or create tension." Grandma Lou said. Emilyn just nod. They accompanied Grandma Lou until she chases them out because it is late.

"I'm sending you back home," Christopher said and leave no room for argument. She follows him out of the elevator, into the basement parking to the car. After 2 days of not talking at all, there is some tension in the car. Only the soft music of the radio can be heard.

He finally stops at my apartment, "thanks for the ride." Emilyn reaches to take her seatbelt off but he stops her.

"Can we talk?" Christopher sigh and nod. "Where should I start?"

"The hospital room."

"Right, I just did that just because I want your grandma to be comfortable and receive good healthcare. I want you to not have so much responsibility, I can't stand seeing you being exhausted all the time."

"Christopher I know you want what's best for me, but did you think that what's best for me is what I already got," Emilyn said. "I got a good doctor taking care of her and a room for grandma Lou to stay in. I don't need an upgrade."

"I'm sorry, I should have asked first. But I can't take back what's done and pay for." Christopher told her. "But, I didn't fully pay all."

Emilyn furrowed her eyebrows, "What do you mean?"

"I know how you would react, so I only pay for the room and the following month fees," Christopher said.

Emilyn gave him a smile, "At least you know what I hated and liked."

"I know you Emilyn, I know what will make you upset." Christopher added, "If I made you upset, I'm not going to be happy either."

"Thank you," Emilyn said. "Thank you for everything, taking care of me and now taking care of my grandma."

"I would do anything for you." He gave her a small smile.

"Even keeping me as a secret?" Emilyn asked, biting her lips.

"You really want to talk about that now." He raises one of his brows.

"Yes." She nods firmly. "Explain why did you kiss me and drive off."

"I was mad at you." He brushed his hair through his hand. "You kept telling me no and I was frustrated."

"So if I say no again, what will happen?" Emilyn asked timidly.

"Do you want to try?" He dared her. "Go ahead try, let's see what I'll do." He smirks. Emilyn didn't reply and look down on her lap, playing with the stitches on the ends of my long sleeve shirt. "I don't get it, why?"

"I told you the reason why," Emilyn said softly not looking up at him.

"I know, but you should know that before dating me."

"I know who you are and how influential you are, but I hated the media. I don't want anyone talking about me, I hate attention."

"But this matter cannot be avoided, I can't keep hiding myself to see you and always have to be in this car to talk to you." He said. "This can't keep going on. What do you want me to keep us a secret for months or years?"

"I don't know," Emilyn said frustratedly.

"Listen to me Emilyn, you are my girlfriend and I don't want to keep us a secret anymore." He said.

She stops pulling the seam of her sleeve. "But what if I don't want to be your girlfriend anymore." She blurted out.

"What?" He asked. "What did you say?"

"I don't want to be your girlfriend anymore."

"You are not making sense. Look at me Emilyn." She didn't listen and he grabs her chin to turn it in his direction. "Why are you saying this? Is this because you think the problem will go away." Emilyn nod. "You are being ridiculous." He let go of her chin. "I'm not going to break up with you."

"Then what do you want from me."

"I want you to let me announce it to the public, so we don't have to be so secretive all the time." Emilyn didn't know how to reply to him, so she sat in silence. "Why don't you think about it? I'm just asking you to a small matter not asking you to do some illegal thing."

"Just promise me, you will think about it." She glances at him and nods. "Alright then, I'll see you tomorrow."

"Yeah," Emilyn reply softly. "Thanks for the ride once again." She unbuckled her seat belt and got out of the car.

"Decision, decision, decision. What should I do?" Emilyn sigh, walking into the elevator.

***

"Emilyn, where are you?" Ana said in a rush.

"Uhm...hello to you too."

"There is no time for this, where are you?"

"The subway on the way to work? Why?" She asked.

"Don't make any eye contact with anyone."

"Okay?" Emilyn scrunched her eyebrow. "What's the reason?"

"You and Christopher relationship is all over the news and social media."

"What?" Emilyn said a little loud. The people around the train turn and look at her. Emilyn gave them a small apology smile. "What do you mean? How?" She asked softly.

"Oh I don't know, someone decided to kiss in front of my apartment building on the side of the street."

"Urghh," Emilyn groans. "What should I do now?"

"Since you are on your way to work, just try to hide your face as much and hope that the reporters aren't around your office."

"Okay." Emilyn got out of the subway.

"So, where are you now?"

"Walking to work now."

"Is anyone looking at you?" Ana asked.

"I don't know, my head is kept down all the time." Emilyn peak a little to see if anyone recognizes her. "Oh no," Emilyn a few blocks away from the office building.

"What's wrong?" Ana asked.

"The reporters, they are here," Emilyn said worriedly.

"Uhm...can you find another entrance?"

"No, they block all the entrance."

"Don't worry, I'll think of a plan," Ana told me. "Did you bring a jacket or scarf?"

"I brought a hoodie."

"Good, put that hoodie up and pull it close to your face. Remember just stay away from their path or if you see any person walking in the same direction as you, walk behind them." Ana told her.

"Got it." Emilyn put on her hoodie and pull the hood as close as possible. Keeping her head down, trying to maneuver around them. A person is walking in the same direction as her. "Ana I got a person in sight."

"Good job, now be very careful."

Emilyn carefully follows the person from the back through the crowd of reporters. But to her dismay, she trips over someone's shoes and fell on the floor around the reporters.

"Is her, is her." One of the reporters saw her face. She got flustered, trying to pick up her stuff from the floor, and got up from the floor "Ms Walker, would you tell me your relationship with Christopher Evans?" She points the mic at Emilyn.

"Ms Walker, how do you know Christopher Evans?" Someone said, she turned her head to that person."I thought he said you both are friends, can you please explain this?" Someone else said. Emilyn turns her head to every question the person asked, they all bombarded her with questions and flashing their camera at her. She can't move, she doesn't know how to answer those questions. Her anxiety grew, heart-pumping against her chest and she can't breathe.

A/N: hey guys, Is the weekend. I shall treat you guys to one chapter. Cheers. See ya soon.