CHAPTER 11 SHE SAID YES

Antonio's POV

The press conference was going well until one question was asked at the end of the interview.

Journalist ⏺: Mr Antonio, Mr Antonio, one last question before you leave!

A 🗣️: Yes, go ahead.

J ⏺: Can you tell us more about your Venice Mistress, who is she? It has blown up the internet and she is on every newspaper!

A🗣️: I don't know her, so no comment. Thank you everyone.

J ⏺: Come on Antonio, we know you were in Venice with her.

A🗣: I said no comment!

I said standing up and went out of the conference room. How in the world did they get those pictures, that is a question I don't have an answer to?

Megan's POV

"I don't know her, so no comment!" I repeated those words over and over again after Antonio's live press conference ended. "Don't do this to yourself sis. He doesn't deserve you. I will forever be here and I will never leave nomatter what. Don't cry. I love you." Mitch said consoling me and Martin wiped my tears. "It's okay girl. We are here for you. You have cried enough for him." Martin said. I was glad I had these two here with me so I composed myself.

Then he texted, I will come tomorrow darling I just got caught up with work a bit. I love you and take care of yourself and the baby. I didn't reply him. After 30 minutes he texted again. Did you see my text honey. Don't be mad at me. I will come tomorrow morning. If I can finish what I am doing today, I will fly there tonight. I knew he wasn't going to stop texting and eventually he was going to start calling me so I switched off the phone.

Around 5 pm Mitch and Martin offered to take me to dinner. I dressed up and we went out. After dinner I got the shock of my life. Journalists were everywhere trying to talk to me and get to me. I don't even know where the man in black came from to stop the tabloid press journalist flocking to me. For once I was thankful for Antonio's goons to be here. They were all asking almost the same question and I decided to answer them. Antonio said he didn't know me, so, then guess what I don't know him also.

J⏺️: Megan are you Antonio's mistress like what the news is saying? We only want the truth?

M👧: You don't want the truth! You want a story. You take a good normal person and turn then into your own reality show. You built him up into a big celebrity just so you can tear him down in public, just so you can sell magazines and TV Shows, that's really sick. The Antonio that you are so obsessed with, he's caring, honest and loving. Yes I worked for him. The Billionaire Italian God, you follow around like lost puppies, I promise you, I am not his Mistress and I wouldn't want to be. I am not obsessed with him like you are. So congratulations you've built your celebrity but you have recked the human being inside.

J⏺️: Megan, one more question. Is the baby you are caring Antonio's child?

I had the journalist ask as I was turning to walk.

M👧: What? I am not caring his baby and I wouldn't want to. I would appreciate it if you leave me alone and my child. I don't know where you got that information but your source was wrong.

I turned and left them whilst the guards were surrounding me to avoid anyone getting to me. I was so angry but excited that I got that tension out of my chest. I went back home and I just wished on the other hand that this blow up doesn't affect my work.

I have worked hard these past months at the firm that my boss was impressed with my work especially by the fact that I had no experience of more than 3 years. The only experience I had was the one I had during both my internships.

I prepared for my day and drove to work. My boss called me in for a discussion and I just know what it is all about. I hope she just doesn't fire me because if the journalist dig deeper and find out that I work here it might drag the company name down or worse have journalists disturb my workplace looking for a story.

"I didn't think you're going to come today. How are you holding up with all that is going on my dear?" She asked me looking deeply in my soul as if searching for something. "I am coping with everything. I am just rolling with the punches." I answered truthfully.

"I know this is taking a toll on you especially with the pregnancy. I am a mother and I understand what you are going through. I know we agreed that you will take a leave at your eighth month for your maternity leave but I think for now you should stop coming to work every..." I broke off into tears before she finished whatever she was going to say. I can't loose my job because of Antonio's drama.

"No Ma, please Ma, I need this job. Don't fire me please." I cried and whimpered altogether. "Calm down. I am not firing you. Why would you think that?" I was surprised I thought that was the end but wait what did she mean. "Then what did you mean by I should stop coming to work?" I asked repeating exactly what she said and dodging her question.

" You didn't let me finish that is why you don't know what I mean. Can you allow me to finish please?" She asked and I nodded with a half smile. "Ok, as I was saying before you interrupted me, you should stop coming to work every day so that you have less stress on you and the baby. Stress might affect the baby and you might lose it. You will report to work twice a week on Monday and Wednesday probably then work from home the rest of the day. The clients you were working with will see you on those days also unless it's urgent and you have to come to work. Is that ok with you." She asked but I couldn't deny the offer. I was happy at least she understood my situation.

"Yes I can work with that." I responded trying to hold my elation down to this news. To say I am excited is an understatement. "Okay then but for this week I want you to be home and rest maybe take a little vacation to clear your mind. You know what go to Lake Como, I have a guest house there. I will sponsor everything you want. Take this as a gift for you and the baby." She said and I was shocked to death. I couldn't believe what I was hearing.

"Thank you so much Ma, I don't know what I have done to deserve this but I am grateful and forever I will be." I said tearing up. "You deserve it after all this that you are going through. This is the least I can do for you. You can go and prepare for your trip and take whoever you want ok, the last thing I want is for you to be alone. You will leave the day after tomorrow." She said and I thanked her. As I was about to turn and go out I turned to her and said, "I know you're curious to know too right. I know you couldn't ask me that because it is sensitive." I sad and she nodded. "Yes, it's his baby and he knows that also, but I won't let him and his ego kill me Ma." I said to her and smiled. She smiled back. "Thank you for telling me. Congratulations once again." After she said it I left the office.

"I really hope Antonio's goons do not tell him I am going somewhere. I just hope so!' I said and sighed as I stood on the door with Mitch whilst Martin and Nicholas (Martin's boyfriend) put our bags in the taxi which was going to take us to the airport.

" Alright girls lets hit the road and get ready to go enjoy ourselves. Woo Hoo! " Martin screamed joyously and we all got into the car. I just knew it was going to be a very joyful week especially with Nicholas here. He has always been the life of the party.

Antonio's POV

I continuously repeated the video of Megan talking to the tabloid press that my PA rushed in with. Talk of being in time with every news that's happening on the internet or wherever my PA always had it. Especially if it's something bad that involved me. He would actually show me something whilst in the process of making the story go away. I actually put it on a big screen and it was on repeat. I heard my phone ring and it was my father video calling me.

First I took down the inheritance position, secondly I said I didn't know Megan on national television the girl I had introduced them as my fiancee, thirdly I denied my own child and finally the newspapers weren't making things easier for me to answer this call. I guess he had seen Megan's clip also that why he is calling. I am quite hesitant to answer this call. The phone stopped ringing and a few seconds later I hear it ring again. I decided to answer it because as I know my father calling me twice after I have done wrong or me ignoring him just fuels up his anger. I can as well get this over with.

F📲 : So I have to call 50 times now for you to answer my call!?

A📱: I am sorry dad.

F📲: Sorry for yourself. What is this nonsense I am seeing huh? Is that how I raised you to embarrass your own on national television. Now tell me, why did you say you didn't know her, if I didn't know better I would say you don't deserve her, you don't deserve to be with her?

A📱: I didn't have a choice. I just said it for the journalist to leave the story.

F📱: "I didn't have a choice', are you hearing yourself right now. Is this the man you have become. I am disappointed in you. That lady is your answer to everything son. When I said you will make the right choice last time both of you were here I meant it, but right now YOU you're throwing my words back to my face. I am disappointed in you Antonio Dominique Rodriguez. I am so disappointed. You denied a good woman, a woman carrying your unborn child, for what?, popularity and hypocrisy. No Antonio, make this right. That girl didn't deserve that at all, in fact you don't deserve an innocent, kind heated woman like her.

Before I could answer him he cut the call. It hit me really hard the way my father expressed his disappointment. He has never called me by all my names before. On the other side I hurt Megan, the tears in her eyes when she said they had recked the human being inside and she would never want to carry my child. Its all because of me and my stupidity. I was brought back to my thoughts by my phone ringing again and this time it was Mancho.

📲: Boss, the boss lady is travelling. She has left for the airport right now. What should I do?

📱: And you're telling me this now?

📲: Sorry boss, I didn't know boss.

📱: Where is she going to?

📲: She's going to Lake Como boss.

📱: Are you sure. Did you cross check the destination?

📲: Yes boss!

📱: Okay fine I will take it from there okay.

I cut the call. If I was informed earlier I would have stopped her but I guess I have to go meet her at Milan Malpensa airport. I got on the plane and the first thing I do was check if they had landed. I was happy to see that their flight had been delayed by a couple of minutes. At this point I was hopeful. I am here to make things right and take what's rightfully mine. I hope she gives me an ear for the last time.

I was waiting for her to come out and the moment I saw her I froze, I didn't know what to do. Weather to run to her and hug her or stay there and wait to say hello. She spotted me looking at her and she wanted to change her direction then I ran to her. I grabbed her hand and she tried to break free. Then another guy took my hand and yanked it to the side. I immediately punched him with all the rage I was feeling and he fell on the ground. When he tried to stand, I saw Megan go down to him, " Oh my God, Nicholas are you okay?" she said looking at his jaw which was really dark pink now from the punch.

"Get out of here Antonio. What more do you want from us. Haven't you embarrassed us enough. Go away and leave." Megan shouted drawing attention to us. From nowhere I saw the tabloids rushing through the door. I guess one of the people who saw us here called them. This time the Nicholas guy had stood up.

"What do you want Antonio? Why are you here? Why did you follow me here?" She asked me and the cameras were flashing none stop. I looked at the camera, "Last time one of you asked me if I knew Megan and I said NO. The truth is I know Megan Sanchoz and she's carrying my child and I am crazy about her. I said I didn't know her because I didn't want her to be stressed by your kind. What she's carrying is more dear to me and I want to protect it. She is a private person and I didn't want to jeopardize that by my public life that's why I said I didn't know her but my pearl here didn't get the memo. I think even my baby said "daddy has left us," I shifted my attention and smiled looking at Megan. I looked back to the camera.

"Others said she's my "MISTRESS" others said my "HOUSEKEEPER" to others she was my "SECRET" but I am going to tell you today who she is." I said and turned to look at Megan again."She is my world, the mother of my children, my love, my pearl, She's my fiancée and soon to be wife." I saw Megan swallow hard and looked at me with a hard face. I couldn't read her emotions. I saw Mitch nod in approval. I knelt down on one knee. I heard a woo behind me and realized people had gathered to watch the scene, worse with the journalists here people were going to have a lot to talk about.

"I am so sorry my pearl I know hurt you. I promise to live my life making it up to you. You are my soul, words cannot explain that. Give me the last chance to prove that I am a better man. I am going to ask you now in a more proper way again for the second time, will you marry me again my pearl?" I said pulling out the ring that was in my pocket and opening the ring box. I was unsure of the answer I was going to get but I hoped for the best. " So what did you think Antonio, huh, that you can just come back to me and say you're sorry and everything will be alright." she blurted out and to say my heart was not beating out my chest would be a direct lie.

"No my love, I came so you can give me a chance. Sorry is not even enough to make amends to what I have done to you. Give me a chance to make things right. Give me a chance to show you I can do anything just to save our love." My knee was now hurting but I had to endure the pain for just a bit. I saw her smiling.

"I guess since you corrected and embarrassed yourself in front of the camera just to make things a little bit right, I will say yes." I was shocked for real. "What did you say Baby, shout for the world to hear." I was pushing going far but I had to try my luck then I heard her shout, " YES I WILL MARRY YOU ANTONIO DOMINIQUE RODRIGUEZ!!!" I was so happy. I couldn't believe that she had said yes.

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