CHAPTER 1

"I don't think I can do this anymore." Angelique Mackena told her fiancee as she removed her diamond ring and placed it on his mable table.

Marcus didn't look all that surprised by the news. "You are breaking off the engagement." He guessed.

The model looked distraught. "I wanted this to work, I really did but the media won't stop hounding me and it's driving me crazy."

Marcus stood up from his desk and turned around so he could comfort his now former partner. "It's okay love." He said as he pulled her into his arms. "I understand." And he truly did, his lifestyle wasn't for everyone. 

"I will always love you Marcus." Angelique cried into his neck.

"Shhhh, I know love." Marcus kissed her forehead. 

"I should go." The brunette beauty now wiped away her tears.

"You should keep this." Marcus placed the diamond ring in her hands. "Please," he said when she started to protest. "I insist. It will remind of the good times and of me."

Angelique smiled through her tears then grabbed Marcus's head and pressed a soft kiss on his lips. "I will never forget you Marcus Navarro."

"Likewise Angelique." Marcus kissed her one more time for old time sake before walking her to the parking lot, where they said their final goodbyes.

As he made his way back to his office, Marcus realized just how much he was much he was going to miss Angelique. Not only was she gorgeous and on her way to becoming a top model, but marrying her was going to be beneficial to both of them.

She would get more recognition in her line of work and he would fix his reputation. They were both to gain from this marriage but it wasn't just about damage control and career opportunities, Marcus genuinely cared about Angelique. She was one of his oldest his friends and when his father practically ordered him to get married, he thought of no one but Angelique because if he had to settle down with someone she was perfect for the job. 

But he had overestimated her ability to keep up with his lifestyle. He had initially thought that just because she's a famous model, she could handle the overwhelming press that came with his family.

It's not like the Navarros were the royal family or anything, but they were pretty close. Being one of the richest families in the United kingdom and with his older sister being married to the prince of Spain, their lives were constantly documented by the paparazzi.

And as of lately the press had been obsessing over Marcus now that his father gave him the reigns of the company. And not everything they were writing about him was good publicity. If anything he was in need of some good PR. That's what what his upcoming nuptials to Angelique were supposed to do, generate some good publicity but now that she had backed out, he was in need of a miracle.

The atmosphere in his office was tense but that didn't stop Marcus from pouring himself a glass of whiskey. If he was going to get through this day, he was going to do it with alcohol.

Unfortunately his sister didn't approve of his drinking approve, just like she didn't approve of most of his life choices.

"I don't you should be drinking." Sienna said. "Alcohol might interfere with your medication." 

Marcus took a sip of his drink. "One glass won't hurt, your highness." He added, mocking his big sister.

"I'm serious Marcus."

"So am I, Princess." Marcus winked at his sister as he finished up his drink.

"Your sister is right." Alejandro Navarro, their father, said as Marcus was reaching for another whiskey. "You need to stop drinking."

"Funny." Marcus scoffed.

"If you keep this up, you will drink yourself into an early grave."

Marcus started to laugh as if his father had cracked a joke. "If that was a thing, wouldn't you have died a long time ago?" He asked his father.

Alejandro's face hardened. "I'm not sick...."

"Like me right?" Marcus snapped, all his humor disappearing.

"Enough of this!" Sienna came between her father and brother. "We have more important matters to discuss. This bickering isn't helping." She looked at their publicist. "What are our options?" She asked the older man.

Mr St Germaine stood from his seat. "Well the Marcus's wedding to the Spanish model was going to generate good publicity. It was going to distract the media distracted from those nasty abuse rumors."

Ahh yes, there were abuse rumors going on about Marcus. The media was having a field day with all those ex girlfriends speaking out on how their 'controlling' and 'abusive' billionaire socialite ex boyfriend, Marcus Navarro. 

There were all rumors of course, but it didn't matter to the public. They never passed out on an opportunity to publicly tear down someone, especially someone as famous and as rich as Marcus Navarro.

"The wedding was change the narrative because yours and Angelique's story is a love story that everyone can relate to. Two childhood sweethearts, reuniting to finally tie the knot." Mr St Germaine continued. "We can still sell that story."

All three Navarros frowned. "How?" Sienna asked. "Angel backed out."

Marcus rolled his eyes at his sister. "Her name is Angelique." He corrected his sister. "You know that?"

"Do you have something in mind?" Sienna their publicist, ignoring her brother.

"Of course I do. It's my job to always have a back up plan."

"What is it?" Alejandro asked impatiently.

"You marry someone else." The publicist looked at Marcus. "We spin the story and say that you and Angelique amicably broke up because you realized you didn't love her and that there's someone else."

"That's a stretch." Sienna sounded skeptical about this particular stunt. "People will question Marcus's reliability if we portray him as a cheating boyfriend."

"Better a cheater than a abusive boyfriend." Their father said. "I don't care how we spin this, as long as we do this. We have so much at stake here and the press keeps digging into this they will find out things we would rather never see the light of day. Wouldn't we Marcus?" Alejandro asked his son.

Sienna sighed. "Even if we spin this version of the story, where are we going to find this mystery girl Marcus supposedly cheated on Angelique with?" She asked. "She would need to be someone discreet and someone willing to go along with this charade and admit to everyone that she's a cheat and a homewrecker."

"Technically they weren't married yet so she wouldn't deserve the title 'homewrecker' " Mr St Germaine said. 

"But still," Sienna didn't confidence in this plan. 

"What if I told you that I already have the perfect candidate for this charade? Someone who wouldn't ask questions or have any problems with being called a cheat or a homewrecker. Someone who wouldn't cause you any problems because she has no option but to be loyal."

The Navarros looked at each other before looking back at their publicist. "Who?" They all asked.

"My daughter." Mr St Germaine told them without missing a bit. "Diana St Germaine."