Meanwhile, at Lancaster Corp, Matthew was deep in a meeting about new projects and marketing strategies. The room was filled with charts and presentations, but his mind was a little far away, thinking about Emily and the attention her new career was attracting.
After the meeting, his cell phone vibrated on the table, interrupting his thoughts. It was a call from the social media team, and he answered it immediately, already aware that the conversation would not be about something trivial.
"Hello, Mr. Lancaster. We need to discuss an urgent matter," began the voice of the social media manager, clearly tense. "We have received reports that some paparazzi have been caught trying to snoop around Emily's personal life. They are becoming more and more persistent, and this could impact her image."
Matthew felt butterflies in his stomach. "What have they found out so far?" he asked, already preparing to act.
"So far, they've been trying to capture photos of her leaving events and even talking to you in public. We know this can be invasive, and we want to make sure her privacy isn't compromised," the manager replied.
"So, what do you suggest?" Matthew asked, already making plans in his mind.
"We want to implement some more stringent security measures. Additionally, we're thinking about closing down the information we're collecting about what the paparazzi might know before it becomes a bigger problem. This involves both diverting their attention and increasing security around Emily," the manager explained.
Matthew nodded, even though the team couldn't see him. "Do whatever it takes. Hire more undercover security and increase surveillance around her. We need to make sure she feels safe and protected, especially now that her fame is growing," he decided, his voice firm.
"Understood. We'll do that immediately." The team will start working on countermeasures and we'll filter out anything that's posted on social media," the manager said, relieved by Matthew's response.
"Great. And if you find any more information, keep me posted. Her life is the priority," Matthew replied, ending the call with a sense of urgency. He knew the world of fame could be cruel, and protecting Emily was his responsibility.
After the call, Matthew sighed, thinking about how quickly things had changed since Emily had come into his life. He'd always wanted her to shine, but now he was learning to deal with the consequences of this new light on them.
With his mind focused, he prepared to return to work, but not before sending Emily a message, making sure she knew he was taking steps to protect her. "Hey, love. I heard about the paparazzi. I'm working on it. You're always the priority. Love you!"
He pressed send and felt a small sense of relief, knowing that despite the challenges, he would do whatever it took to keep her safe and happy. The day at the office continued, but his mind remained focused on how to ensure Emily's life would not be invaded.
After leaving Gabriela's office, Emily felt excited but also a little apprehensive about this new phase in her career. When she arrived at her apartment, she allowed herself a moment to take a deep breath and relax. When she opened her phone, she saw the message from Matthew and her heart warmed. "Hi, love. I got news about the paparazzi. I'm taking care of it. You're always my priority. Love you!"
"I'm fine, Matt," she quickly replied, typing with a smile on her face. After sending the message, Emily sat on the couch, pondering the situation. Matthew had always been protective, but she knew that fame came with its pitfalls. The thought of their relationship going public weighed heavily on her mind.
Soon, she decided to call Matthew, needing to discuss what was on her mind. When he answered, his voice sounded comforting. "Hi, Emily! How was your day?"
"Hi! It's been productive, but I've been thinking about a few things," she said hesitantly. "About us… and how we're dealing with the media attention."
Matthew frowned. "What's on your mind?"
"I was thinking about making our relationship more visible to the public and fans. It would be a way to showcase us together, so they don't make up stories. But at the same time, I'm worried," Emily began, searching for the right words. "If we do that, they might start to see our relationship in a negative light."
"You're right. We might end up being labeled in ways we don't want," Matthew replied, his deep voice reflecting concern. "Plus, you'd become a target for criticism. They might try to discredit you, saying you're only with a billionaire CEO for the sake of it, as if you're not a talented artist in your own right."
"Exactly," Emily agreed, feeling the weight of what that meant. "What if the haters start saying you're my 'sugar daddy'? That would only bring more problems. I don't want people to think that what we've accomplished is because of our relationship. That wouldn't be fair to you or me."
"I don't want you to have to deal with that pressure either." You're already starting your music career and you don't need this kind of stigma. We should keep this between us for now and let things unfold naturally," Matthew suggested, more confidently.
"Yeah, let's keep our relationship private for now. What matters is what we have together, not what people think," Emily said, relieved to hear the understanding in his voice. "We just need to be smart about it."
"Exactly. Let's focus on our careers and what we can build together without the media's interference. And if we need to, we can find ways to protect our privacy," Matthew stated, firm in his decision.
"Thank you for understanding, Matt. I really appreciate it," Emily replied, smiling as she spoke to him. "And as always, you make me feel safe."
"That's what I'm here to do. We'll get through this together," he said, the firmness in his voice giving her a sense of hope. "Now, what are you doing tonight?"
"I'm going to relax and maybe work on some ideas for new songs. I'm so inspired after talking to Gabriela," Emily said excitedly.
"That's great! I can't wait to hear your new songs. Love you!" Matthew said, his warm tone making her heart race.
"Love you too, Matt. And thank you for always being so amazing," Emily replied before hanging up the call. Feeling lighter, she stood up and started thinking about new songs, excited to explore her creativity and leave her worries about the outside world behind, at least for now.