Chapter 99: Chapter 99
“Put your coat back on” Ethan growled, attempting to pick her coat from the floor but Amanda stopped him
“Look at me Ethan!” she held his face, her slender and delicate fingers caressing his smooth face and forcing him to look at her, until he did. Then she took his hands and placed on her chest so that he could feel the erratic beating of her chest.
“Don’t you feel it Ethan!” she said to him “My heart, beating, pounding just for you and it has never stopped”
“Amanda” Ethan warned even though he could feel the heat rising in his loins, the warmth spreading throughout his entire being from seeing Amanda’s exposed body and the way her fingers caressed his face.
“Don’t fight it” she whispered in his ears, nibbling softly on his ear lobe then slowly she tried to kiss him but Ethan pulled back.
“You used to love me” Amanda said with a hurt expression “Before you ruined my life”
“That was years ago” he said to her “I’m trying to make it up to you, tell me how much you want”
“And I said I don’t want your money, I want you, I want you to love me the way you should have, the way it should’ve been” she said moving closer to him but Ethan grabbed her neck albeit tightly
“I don’t know what kind of sick game you’re up to but I’m not playing it with you, so get your coat and get out of my house”
Amanda stepped back now, a hurt expression visibly written on her face “Because of her?”
“It’s none of your business, you’ve done your part now stay out of it”
“Right” she muttered, picking her coat off the pristine floor “This is not the end”
“I hope it is” Ethan said back as he watched her leave. He had gotten what he wanted, Emily was back with him, laying on his bed and it was the only thing he wanted at that moment.
Ethan stepped back into the house to find Emily awake and waiting for him, her eyes tired and almost defeated but there were no questions hidden within them at least for now
“Are you okay?” he asked, stepping closer to take her in his arms and she allowed him with a nod. He pulled her closer to him amidst the strangeness in her face.
“What’s going on?” she asked him and he shook his head.
“Nothing is going on, why Emily?”
“Who was that at the door?”
“Just the neighbors” he replied, pulling away and walking ahead while she followed him and he poured her a glass of juice.
“You have to get ready, we have an interview and photoshoot session with vogue”
“Vogue?” Emily’s eyes widened “Why?”
“You know, with the rumors and everything. It’ll be good for us and we could announce your pregnancy finally”
“What!” she exclaimed nearly spilling the juice all over the floor and she dropped the glass back at the counter, staring at Ethan with an unbelievable look.
“Nothing serious Emily, we won’t say anything you’re not comfortable with. With all the scandals, our stocks are dropping and investors are pulling out especially the foreign ones but this interview would be good for us, I promise. We don’t need to talk about the paternity of the baby, just how well the marriage is going and debunking all the rumors.
Emily eyes him suspiciously, picking the glass nervously and taking it to her lips.
“It’ll be fine, I promise. I’ll be with you throughout. I’ll make sure you’re comfortable with everything I promise” he moved closer to her, his eyes drilling hers and in a bid to make her agree. His hands found her belly and he rubbed it gently, his eyes never leaving hers still but Emily kept her eyes to the floor.
“I’ll never leave your side” he insisted, looking at her until there was a slow nod to her head.
***
The bright lights of the Vogue studio illuminated the room, casting a hazy glow on the set as Ethan and Emily were ushered in, her hands placed tightly in his, his touch offering some sense of comfort she didn’t know she needed.
The studio buzzed with a flurry of activity, cameras and crew members bustling around causing a bit of chaos that they all seemed used to and Emily immediately felt uneasy, she didn’t want to be here forcing smiles and lying through her teeth but Ethan’s grip tightened around her hand and he offered her a reassuring smile which she accepted nervously. He led her forward, to the heart of the studio where someone rushed to them.
“Welcome Mr. and Mrs. Hatton” a blonde chubby woman approached them, a microphone wound around her head as she smiled at them and Emily smiled back allowing Ethan to exchange the pleasantries instead because she felt she could throw up if she opened her mouth to speak.
“Emily, we’ll start with you first. We’ll take you for wardrobe fittings while Ethan would be on the other end for wardrobe fittings and then we could start with the pictures before we move for the interview, is that ok?
Emily threw Ethan a look and Ethan only urged her forward “That’d be okay – ”
“You can call me Jane, I’m in charge here just after Anna Wintour”
“Perfect, I already spoke to her and she told me I’m in good hands” Ethan said and Jane nodded in her turtle neck sweater that seemed to swallow half her face.
“Alright Emily, our wardrobe assistant Amanda would take you now” she said pointing at a certain lady smiling at them and Emily stopped in her tracks as she locked eyes with the said Amanda. Recognition flickered in her eyes and she knew where she had seen her. Amanda was the reporter from the other day after her GED exams and when she turned to look at Ethan, he mirrored her exact look of shock.
Did he know her too?