Chapter 32

**Blue**


Artemis is moving before I can get off the couch. I scramble to my feet and jog after him. When I reach the door to our room he’s already pulling things out of the closet. To my surprise, he isn’t being careful with his suits. He grabs them all in one go and throws them on the bed. Next he pulls his shirts, socks, and boxers from the drawer he chose as his and throws them in his overnight bag.

When he notices me, he stops short wand looks at me confused. “What are you doing?”

I point to myself like I’m not sure if he’s talking to me.

“Yes you. Get your shit.” He starts moving again and I rush over to do as he asks.

He looks determined and in no mood to be messed with so who am I to get in his way? Since I haven’t had a chance to unpack the box of clothes that came for me I just throw all my stuff in it. It’s not like I have a bag to put them in since no one has given me back my stuff. Seriously are they holding it hostage? Where are the damn bags? I’m starting to wonder if Artemis didn’t throw it away the second, he saw it. Not that it matters since I didn’t have anything valuable in them.

All the money I have I keep close to me, which is another thing you learn when staying in homeless camps and shelters. Don’t leave anything valuable in your bags or coats. I hide my money in my shoe or in the small pocket I added to some of my shirts.

“Blue? Are you ready?” Artemis asks and I turn to look at him, but he isn’t in the room any more.

“Yeah!” I quickly close the flaps of the box and carefully pick it up.

Its big and flat so I struggle to carry it because of the odd shape but when I step out of the room Bryant’s face appears in front of me.

“I’ll take that for you Miss Blue.” He takes it and I let out a sigh of relief.

There was no way I could carry that thing to the car.

“You are a gentleman and a scholar Bryant! Remind me to ask Artemis to give you a raise.” I pat him on the arm making him laugh.

“You have no say in the pay of my employees.” Artemis says from the suite door.

“Why? Doesn’t a wife get a say when it comes to people who work for her?” I ask, crossing my arms and rising a brow at him.

He matches my stance and I narrow my eyes at him. We stand there in a silent stand off before his face breaks out in a smile.

“Sure Bluebird, go for it.” I cringe at the nickname.

“Not sure I like that one.” I say while I look around the room to see if I’m forgetting anything.

“I have a few to try it so I’m sure we’ll find one that suits you.” He says sounding way too amused with himself.

I can’t believe I cried on him. The bastard. Shit don’t think about crying! I’ve pushed down all those feelings and thoughts for now so I can unpack them later. Maybe when I’m not gross and snotty. So unattractive!

“Bluebell let’s go!” Artemis yells from the hallway.

Dane, of all people, smirks. “Don’t you start Danny boy.”

That smirk falls quick. Yeah, you don’t like that do you big guy? I smile at him when I walk past him into the hallway. Artemis and Bryant are already in the elevator waiting for us so I try to walk faster so Artemis doesn’t start yelling dumb nicknames at me.

“Where’s the fire Artie?” I say when I finally make it to them.

“I want out of here as quickly as possible Blueberry.” He says smirking at me and I can’t help but laugh at that one.

“I hate blueberries by the way.”

“What?” He asks from behind me.

I turn to face him and nod. “I’m not a fan of them. Just a little head up. If you bring them home I will have to throw them out.”

He doesn’t say anything so I turn back around. We all stay silent the rest of the way down to the lobby, and when the door opens, I let out a scream of surprise.

“Artemis! We heard the wedding is Sunday!”

“Why the shot gun wedding?”

“Does this have to do with the rumored clause in the Rhodes family will?”

“Is she pregnant?”

We are bombarded with questions while the flashes of camera assault from all sides. How the hell did all these people get in?

“Blue stay behind me.” Dane says moving into position in front of us.

Artemis grabs my wrist and pulls me to stand behind him while Bryant stays in the back of all of us.

“Did that person just ask if I was pregnant?” I ask Artemis.

He gives me a sharp look and I hold my free hand up to say I get it we aren’t talking about it right now. His hand releases my wrist but instead of letting me go he threads our fingers together. He is awfully touchy for someone who said there wouldn’t be more than a contract between us. Not that I’m complaining, and neither are the butterflies that have taken up residents in my body. Without my permission by the way! I had no choice in the matter!

As we push out way through the crowd a panicked looking man with a suit joins us.

“Mr. Rhodes, I apologize. The showed up and rushed in before we could contain the situation.”

“We should have been informed as soon as they arrived. You put the other guests in danger and my fiancé. Needless to say we won’t be coming here in the future.” Artemis voice sounds so low and threatening that the guy looks like he’s ready to shit himself.

Poor guy.

“Now we need a distraction and a back way out of here.”

“Of course. I’ll handle it.” Somehow the man pushes his way through the crowd unlike us.

Dane and Bryant are doing their best to protect us, but they are only two men.

“Mr. Rhodes can you tell us how long you two have been together?” Someone asks.

“No comment.” He says trying his best to ignore the people pushing to get a picture of us.

I tug his hand and tilt my head to tell him to lean closer so I can talk to him.

“Why don’t we answer some of the questions and maybe they’ll leave.” I whisper to him.
“It’s none of their business Blue.” He says in that same stern voice that says the discussion is over but I’m not letting this go.

I grab the collar of his shirt and pull him back to me. “Let’s give them something to report about and maybe they won’t hound us as much.”

“That’s not how it works Blue. It will make things worse I promise you.”

Maybe he’s right but they want to know our story and clearly won’t stop until they get what they want. I decide to take the lead here.

“Please. Let’s just answer their questions.” I give him my best puppy eyes.

He squeezes his eyes shut and lets out a long sigh. “Dammit Blue.”

Before I can say anything, he wraps an arm around me and pulls me against his body. “You asked for it.”

That’s the only warning I get before his lips are on mine. This isn’t a quick kiss like we shared at lunch with his family. This is a toe curling, knee weakening kiss. I can’t help but melt into his body while he takes control of the kiss. When he runs his tongue gently along my bottom lip I shutter and part my lips slightly to see what he’ll do. He deepens the kiss and I swear I black out at one point.

Is this what a real kiss feels like? Because holy hell I don’t think I can survive another one of these. Or is this just for the cameras?

Of course, it is!

I pull back from him and pull in a much needed breath. “What was that?”

“Giving the people what they want. You falling for me.”

The arrogant bastard. “That isn’t what’s happening here.”

This is all being whispered with only a inch of space between us.

“No? Then why did you kiss me back?”

He makes a point. “We wouldn’t be able to sell the story if I didn’t.”

“Whatever you say Blue jay.” He smirks and I throw my head back laughing.

“God that’s awful.”

“I kind of like it.” He says before pulling me into another kiss.

This time I let myself enjoy it because what the hell! I wrap my arms around his neck and kiss the shit out of my fake fiancé.

All the shouting and blinding flashes are all the evidence I need that we are going to be front page news.