Chapter 4

(Massimo)

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I ANGRILY TOSS the tabloid and it clatters with a loud sound onto my desk. I can’t believe it but the headline is still there for the past two hours:

Heartless Billionaire Steals Baby from Grieving Aunt.

What. the. Hell ?

“This is a PR nightmare,” my publicist, Veronica, says as she paces the office. “We need damage control and we need it now.”

I slowly rub my temples in an attempt to stop the migraine from coming in full force. It all feels like some sort of prank. What idiot would publish such a ridiculous article against me?

For years, I have managed to keep my family affairs out of the news. But I’ve been so preoccupied with the court case to have paid attention and this one had slipped right under my nose.

“What do you suggest?”

Veronica stops in front of my desk, a frown on her face. That means the gears in her head are already working.

“A story,” she says at last. “Something that shows you’re not the villain they think you are.”

I glance back at the tabloid. The article already has a million views and three hundred thousand comments in the space of two hours.

Not one of the comments is in my favor. Everyone thinks I’m such an evil person.

In fact, I'm the most hated man in America right now. That’s just how bad this entire situation is.

“A story?” I ask, confused.

Veronica glances at her notes. “Yes. One that can spin this situation.”

“And how do you propose we go about it?”

She leans forward, a determined look on her face. “A contract marriage.”

I freeze. “What?”

I have to say, I've heard a lot of ridiculous suggestions in my life, but this one takes the cake.

“You and Ms. Brown,” Veronica continues, nearly giving me a heart attack. “A two-year marriage to raise Erik together. It shows the world that you are not heartless and that you're willing to put Erik's needs first.”

I let out a dry laugh. It all sounds insane, even for Veronica. 

Seriously, she could do better than that.

“You're asking me to marry a woman I barely know?” I ask her, sarcasm dripping off my words. “For appearances?”

“For your reputation,” Veronica corrects me. “And for Erik. Public opinion matters, Massimo, especially now that the article has gone viral. You can’t afford to lose this.”

I sigh and move to the window, my favorite place in this whole building. I stare at the city skyline, the thoughts in my head nearly spiralling out of control.

If someone had told me that I would even be considering marrying a second time, I wouldn’t have taken it lightly with them. Even if it wasn’t a real marriage.

It suddenly occurs to me that this is all happening because I wanted custody over Erik. if I had just let Pamela have her way, I probably wouldn’t be in this situation right now. But then again, Erik is a D’Amato.

I can’t let him go.

“Set up a meeting with Ms. Brown then,” I say at last. “Let’s see if she’s willing to play her part.”

A question is burning in my heart as my publicist walks out from the office.

Am I really ready to do this again?

****

My office is so eerily quiet that you can slice the room with a knife. It's always been that way but today the silence feels heavier than ever.

The woman sitting across from me is the reason why. Few people have successfully tried to torment me in the past but Pamela Brown takes the crown.

She's been pushing my patience for days now and yet, she's still looking me in the eye like she's ready for another fight. I've never met anyone as feisty as she is but I have to give to her. 

She makes me nervous. In a good way though. But I'd rather chop my fingers than admit that.

I lean back in my chair, forcing myself to focus. “We can’t keep doing this.”

“Doing what?” she fires back. “You’re the one who started this in the first place!”

I have to admit it, I do enjoy seeing her all riled up like this. Reminds me so much of…

No, not here. Not now.

I ignore her outburst and try to keep my tone calm. “This situation isn’t good for either of us, or for  Erik. We need a solution.”

Pamela crosses her arms. “And what’s your solution?”

“A contract marriage,” I say bluntly.

Her eyes widen with shock. “You're insane.”

“Hear me out,” I tell her before everything gets out of control. “Two years. We raise Erik together. It stabilises his life and puts an end to the media frenzy.”

Pamela shakes her head, disbelief etched on her face. “You want me to pretend to be your wife just to save your reputation?”

Ah, now that she puts it like that…

“It's more than that,” I lean forward, my eyes never leaving hers. I don’t like this arrangement any more than she does but it needed to be done. “It's about Erik. This marriage will ensure that he has a stable and loving home, at least for the first two years of his life.”

Her large blue eyes searches my face, probably for a sign of deceit. But I already have it on freeze mode so she can't easily detect any emotion.

Because inside, I just want this to be done and over with.

But her next question throws me off balance.

“What happens if I refuse?”

I quickly regain my composure. It's one of the perks of being me. I never let anyone get the upper hand.

“You lose Erik,” I say simply. “And it won't be a fight. It will be a massacre.”