"Can't you see? There are paparazzi outside!" George screamed in my face, and I wished I could smack him.
I frowned and countered, "I don't care! That is your problem, not mine!"
I am unsure I can help deal with them when I don't have power or influence. Besides, I should be the one to get angry with the man's constant harassment.
"I will call the Front Desk and complain to them!" This threat may work. Of course, there is no way I would let him step on me. With what I'd said, Crazy George threw daggers in my direction.
"Do you think you have freedom now?"
"What do you mean?" Creasing my forehead, it freaks me upon realizing some facts that struck me. I don't want to assume, but somehow it felt like a warning.
"Those paparazzi have our photo being together. They will use it to make up a story." The irritation in George's tone was reflected in his grim facial expression.
Meanwhile, having him say that caused my pupils to dilate. I stuttered, "Make up a story like publish fake news?"
"Exactly."
"That can't be!" If George is telling the truth, then? Are they going to post my face on social media? I don't want them to do that! 'Why do I have to get involved with this guy?'
"You need to do something!" I urged him. "How about your men? Can they take the paparazzi's cameras and then destroy them?"
I found myself suggesting such things to the crazy guy, who appeared dumbfounded, staring at me ridiculously when I began blustering nonsense. Or is it? I am discerning where my ideas come from.
As he did not move a muscle, I approached Crazy George, grabbed him by the elbow, and shook him. It irritated him with what I did. He shook his arm and pushed me to the side.
"Don't touch me!"
"You!" I pointed my index finger at him, but he cut me off by slapping my hand off his face.
"Shut up! You don't need to tell me what I must do! I already know what to do!"
Mr. Crazy George scrutinizes me with disgust as he goes on. He took a step forward, so I had to step backward.
"Tsk. Are you afraid that Florian will see us together? What if I tell those paparazzi that you seduced me because you can't force someone to leave his wife, so you were trying hard to seduce another wealthy man? However, I am not interested in gold diggers like..."
Pah!
My palm landed on Mr. Crazy George's handsome face for the second time; this time, it was on the left side. Now there are two handprints on both sides of his cheeks. He looked so ridiculous that it almost made me laugh, but I had to suppress it.
"How dare you!" Crazy George was displeased with what I did. He roared at me and pinned me to the wall. "How pretty do you think you are? Do you believe you are qualified to date someone like me? Hah! There is no f*ck*ng chance that I would like you!"
'Like I want that too!'
RING! RING!
Mr. Crazy George's phone kept chiming; thus, it forced him to answer. Now that he was distracted, I took the chance to shove him and ran toward the stairs.
I sigh with relief that the loud ringtone has saved me.
When I reached the second floor, I gathered my frustration and let my chest explode. "I want you to disappear when I come back! Humph!"
After bellowing this from upstairs, I trotted toward my bedroom and locked the door. I kicked the heels off my feet and dropped my body on the soft bed. Then vent all my anger to the pillow.
"What a narcissist, man! Does he think I am interested in dating someone like him just because he is handsome and wealthy? Maybe after the crow turns white!"
~
ROWAN'S POV
It surprised me to see Krishna seated at the table next to ours. I learned that the Graham Empire is one of the major sponsors of the first prizes, and we're assigned the sponsorship for the Thompson couple, Ryan's family, and Krishna's stay in the country.
Therefore, it made me wonder...
Is it just a coincidence that Krishna won this trip, or did something happen behind the scenes because of some manipulation of the winner?
Yet, I need to figure out with whom Krishna was having an affair among Graham's men. I asked George, but he wanted me to stay out of the issue and focus on my training under his instruction.
Thus, I could not demand my brother spill the beans from the can I thought was carefully sealed not to expose.
Then, as we waited for the dinner party to begin, I noticed that Krishna's gaze lingered on Stella and Florian from the table next to ours.
At that moment, I seemed to understand what was going on.
George got involved in Florian's affair because the victim was Stella. I know he likes her, and it only concealed his feelings for her because Stella's heart only belonged to Florian.
She saw no one but him. Even the fact that my cousin didn't care about her.
But because the elders arranged their marriage when Stella was born, the family forced Florian to marry the former. And that left George mourning, and at the same time, it infuriated him that our cousin was only taking Stella's love for granted.
Nonetheless, George could do nothing because Stella was so crazy in love with Florian that she attempted to take her life when Florian tried to end their marriage.
That opened George's eyes—he could not pursue Stella to sign the divorce papers and marry someone else, as she would rather die than let Florian go.
It is why George would do everything to make Stella happy, including caring for Florian's affair.
'So Krishna is Florian's mistress?'
I don't understand why a part of me could not believe it. Krishna instead looks too innocent and harmless. I could actually tell if a woman had a motive.
I've seen all kinds of women already. A few of them are after me, hoping I will become the bridge for them to get close to George, and several are too apparent in their motives by behaving boldly to attract his attention.
I am sure that Krishna was different. I have this strong feeling. But watching her cry because she could not be with Florian somewhat disappointed me instead of hating her.
On the one hand, Florian probably fell in love with Krishna because of this innocence. Unlike Stella, she was obsessed with pleasing Florian since they were little kids.
Hence, she only wastes her youth on Florian, and until now, she gets nothing in return but unrequited love.
I could see that Florian was tired of putting up a perfect image of his marriage and the sake of Graham's reputation.
"Where are you going, George?"
"I'm going to the washroom."
My thoughts cut off when Stella spoke next to me. George got up from his seat. I peeked at the table beside ours and realized Krishna had already disappeared.
"I need to go to the washroom, too."
When George left the dining hall, I also hurried to excuse myself. I followed him, and my guess was correct. He went after Krishna.
"George!" I couldn't help but call him out when he pushed Krishna toward the elevator. "What is he doing!"
I know it's just fair not to be nice to Krishna. But I don't understand why a part of me opposed George's behavior. My heart seems to have the desire to protect her instead.
"What's wrong with me? Do I like her?"
I admit that for the first time, a woman got my attention. However, she was with someone else who was also dear to me.
So I have to make wise decisions before I regret it.
"She's a homewrecker. She is not worthy of any love and respect. So I must forget my feelings since it's still early."