TWENTY-FIVE.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE - Reese



“Things are going crazy in the media!” Regina had said to me over the phone. I just got notified that rumors have spread all over the media concerning the relationship Luther and I had. As Regina had notified me of this, I logged in to my Instagram, seeing bloggers and speculations about our relationship, spreading like wildfire.

I saw a picture of Luther and me coming out of his parent's mansion with him and me holding our hands, circulating the logger's page. I had even read a headline that termed me as a gold-digging whore who snatched Luther away from Petra. Another one had written that I seduced my uncle at the age of fourteen, causing a wreck in my family; how the hell did they even know about that?

I tapped on the comment section—so many hate speeches were written about me. Some wrote that I was a gold digger, others wrote that I was probably a nymphomaniac who used my billionaire boss as an advantage to stay with him for his money. It saddened my heart because these people had no idea half of what I went through, they didn't even know my story.

“Babe, are you sure you will do fine? I am equally as amused as you are.”

“I am speechless. My life is ruined. My name, my career. . .” Tears burned my eyes and my lower lip trembled.

I didn't know who did this but whoever must have done this had to be someone within me. I hadn't gotten into any conversation with David but I was suspecting it was either him or his wife. I was still curious as to who else leaked the information about the contract Luther and I had. I trusted Regina, it mustn't haven't been here, she wasn't that kind of friend who could betray the trust I had for her.

“Calm down, Mama. Don't panic, deep breath. A deep one. Your name will not be tarnished, now that the contract you had with Luther has been leaked, you will inform Luther about this.”

“Where will I begin from, my career and position in the C&O limited are ruined! I am done for.”

“Relax, I'm sure, Mr. Haastrup will find a solution to this.”

“I don't know anymore. First, my uncle and now this. It's just too much to handle.” I placed my hand on my temple, sighing aloud in distress. I had to tell Regina that I wasn't in the best mood to continue a conversation with her. I only waited for Luther.

I thought of Mr and Mrs Haastrup, how they were both going to think about me, perhaps I was probably just a home-wrecking, lying bitch who only wanted to get closer to their son for his money but it wasn't so. Luther and I agreed that there would be no strings attached when we signed the contract. Then I thought of my parents in Chicago—they must have probably seen this in the tabloids too. They would see me as their innocent turned rogue daughter, who fucked any man at every chance she got. I was promiscuous either way. What I didn't understand was why I was being made the scapegoat for this? Why were things almost at the end of the contract?

I couldn't leave, at least not yet, our contract was still unfinished. Washington has been one hell of a ride for me. I had waited for Luther to come back home, explaining to me how our pictures and that of our contract were found online. I was sure wherever he was, he too would have heard or at least saw what transpired online.

Without any delay, I saw Luther storm into the living room. On seeing this, I jolted up to him, only to also find magazines. I was sure it was that bad about us. There was no need to look into his eyes before he could know what was in the magazine, his eyes said so much without him telling any words.

“It is that bad.” I began.

“I'm sorry we are in this mess, I have no idea who got involved in this but I will find that person.”

“It is too late. Our contract will be over in a few days and it will get worse than ever.”

“Okay, but now is not the best time for us to be shaken by this. I will hire a private investigator. Let us give ourselves the chance.”

I rubbed my temple then heaved a sigh. “What is the plan?”

“After getting a Private Investigator (PI) to do half of the job for us, it reveals us to the person and we announce online that it's all fake news but only anonymously, and then we file for a lawsuit once we have our culprit. Now is the time to find the culprit. Someone within us did this.”

I kept my hands in akimbo. “So, who do you suspect?”

“Petra and your uncle. We will work smart but slow in the meantime.”

“I told you, take away your psycho ex far away from me. Did you reject being in partnership with my uncle?” I directed an angry scowl at Luther.

He moved back and forth, “We don't need this. Now is not the time to point fingers, Miss Quinn. I'm much affected by this as you are.” His tone sounded firm.

“That's where the problem is, there's a difference between your reputation and mine. You are rich, you use the money to amend things. Luther, your dating and sex life has always been what people are interested in from the magazine. You are always in the magazine, I am not. My reputation is different from yours. I'm basically ruined, my whole life is and then my pedophile of an uncle had to be brought in. I seduced him?” I scoffed, tears threatening to slither down my eyes in torrents. “They don't even know the whole story and yet they judge me, calling me gold diggers and other derogatory names.”

Luther moved closer to me and held me tightly by my shoulders. I felt irritated by his touch for some reason. I was just pissed. Mad. Infuriated. “Hey, trust me. . .we will fix this.”

“We better!”

A few hours later, Luther's parents had called about the scandal they saw in the magazine, asking if those rumors were true. I bowed my head in shame at hearing them speak about me. They probably thought of me as a whore, someone who had lied to them during their family dinner. Worst of all, I was probably a gold digger to them too.




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It was during midnight and I found it difficult to sleep. I heard the rain drum wildly on the window. My eyes became glued to the thunder that tumbled down through the window, the arrival of the pelting rain turned the sky to an ominous shade of raven black. Not that there was ever something to find in the dark anyway.

More lightning flashed around me and thunder rumbled. I hated the sound of lightning and how it would light up with a flash of lightning as the thunder would rattle the windowpane. Each time I heard the booming sound of thunder, it caused more fear in me. I recalled as a little kid after heavy rain had fallen, I would scurry with my little legs into my blanket just so I could hide in them.

I hadn't noticed I had slept in Luther's bedroom as he made sure to keep an eye on me. I turned to him—his eyes still closed whilst he snored lightly in his sleep. I didn't know why but a smile had found its way to my lips after watching him sleep.

“You are awake,” Luther uttered slowly in a sleepy voice with his eyes still closed.

“I can't sleep. I tried to.” I replied softly.

Luther's strong arms slipped around my waist, drawing me against him. I held onto his muscled arms lightly, apart from the banging sex we usually both had, I had never felt such affectionate in a long time. I didn't want to give in but somehow, I find myself giving so much to Luther.

He gathered me in his arms, and then pulled me close to his lips seeking mine passionately. Instinctively, our fingers pressed into each other, and he traced his kiss way up my neck, cupping my jaw in his hands. I caressed his face, still not taking my gaze off of him.

“Is this helping?” He whispered into my ear.

“Yes,” I mumbled.

“Thunder frightens you?” He asked in a whisper.

“Yes,” I whispered back.

“Why are we whispering?” He questioned, making us both laugh.

“Luther. . .” I called for him. I loved calling him Luther.

“Miss Quinn. . .”

“Thank you,” I said as I pecked him on the cheek so quickly my heart was pounding harder.

“It feels better when I hold you.”

“Make love to me, Luther.” I placed my head on his broad chest.

“Trust me, you don't want this. It won't make you feel better.”

“I want—” I tried to speak.

“Shh. Let's stay this way, just you in my arms.”

“Thank you, Luther.”


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