All the employees of Sinclair Group Headquarters fixed their gazes on the couple who just disappeared into the elevator. Even though they were out of sight, most couldn't stop looking at the spot from which they just disappeared.
"Is that not Roxanne Winslow?"
"Oh my God, she looks more beautiful in person than in those pictures."
"I can't believe she's being so clingy to the boss. Tsk!"
"I thought someone said the boss and his wife don't like each other? How could those people get divorced when they're so much in love? I guess some people just don't like to see others happy."
As the comments and snide remarks flew across the room, one receptionist was extra quiet. Her cheeks burned from the invincible slaps that were landing across her face.
"Are we not missing the point right now? Somebody said the boss and his wife would be divorced by this evening, yet, they are being so lovey dovey right now. How does it feel to be slapped across the cheeks so hard?"
"Reliable information from a reliable source, my foot. Next time you want to spread gossip, get your facts right!"
"Young lady, you owe me your three months pay, according to our bet. Keep that in mind."
The employee who brought the news of the couple's separation even went as far as betting her three months salary with one of her colleagues who said her words were nothing but mere gossip.
To make her words sound believable, she made a bet with the employee, just so the news could travel fast. Now, the evidence before her eyes was just too irrefutable for her to question.
'What is happening…? Why are they not divorced already?' The receptionist dropped her head and kept trembling all over. To prevent the others from seeing her vulnerable state, she rushed toward the ladies room and locked herself in one of the cubicles. All she could do was cry, feeling sorry for herself. If she had known all these would happen, she wouldn't have dared to spread the news just because she received a five thousand dollar tip.
___
"We're alone now, Roxy. You can quit the act." Sebastian gritted his teeth as he closed his office door behind him. He has never seen Roxanne being so proactive, hence, his heart felt heavy. He didn't know what she was up to, and the thought was breaking his heart-making him fearful.
Roxanne always smiled at her fans and other people who were close to her. However, whenever she was around him, all she had on her face was a scowl.
Now that she suddenly took the initiative to be clingy and smiling towards him, even going as far as offering to host his business partners, Sebastian feared the worst. What if she tried to kill all of them by poisoning the food?
In their two years of marriage, he could count the number of times Roxanne visited the headquarters. Even when she did, she was always in a disguise, and usually made weird demands that he had no choice but to agree to.
When Sebastian turned around and noticed that she still had a smile on her face, he quickly sidestepped her and headed towards his seat. 'If I get too close to her, she may even shout rape, just like she did the last time. I better keep my distance until I find out what she's up to.'
Seeing how the smile he usually reserved for her was suddenly replaced with a cautious look, Roxanne's heart bled, and a teardrop slid from her eyes. Followed by another.
Before Sebastian could totally evade her, Roxanne rushed forward, enveloping him in a hug from behind.
She placed her head on his broad back and inhaled his mild cologne that she always hated him for possessing. The scent of the perfume was so good, and Roxanne usually found herself being mesmerized by the smell most of the time.
"Sebastian…"
Roxanne called out to him in a weak voice. However, the words got hitched in her throat when she felt how stiff his body became.
Roxanne couldn't believe that the man who elicited fear in the hearts of many people was standing stiffly in her arms. She had toyed with him so much that he couldn't predict her actions anymore.
Aside from that, his love for her had prevented him from doing anything drastic against her.
Roxanne knew why he was just standing there without even touching her. She could remember all her antics clearly. This time around, she couldn't hold in her frustrations anymore.
Anytime the words reached the tip of her tongue, a memory of how she had tormented Sebastisn would surface in her mind. Even she was tired of herself, hence, Roxanne could only cry silently.
"If you brought paparazzi to this place, Roxy, just tell them to leave. I am not going to touch you, nor am I ready top ask you to let go. We both know I didn't do anything to you. So, why are you crying here?" There was once a time when Roxanne applied thick makeup to depict a slap across the face. No one questioned her, but Sebastian was later invited to the police station, where he was asked to recount what could have caused his wife's injury.
Sebastian said he did nothing to her, but even he couldn't believe his words. He was dragged by trolls for so long that his other family members got affected.
Roxanne's fans even ambushed his mother and grandmother at a point in time. His cars were not spared by the angry fans either.
When he finally asked the mastermind of the whole thing, Roxanne said, "I wanted you to know how my fans are ready to do anything for me. Besides, I just wanted to have some fun with you and your family members. What! Do you dare to stop me?"
Knowing it was all planned by his own wife, Sebastian could only endure everything quietly, employing the public relations department of his company to clear the air.
Roxanne never accepted or rejected the notion that her husband abused her. That tag remained on Sebastian until a different news sensation took it away. However, in this internet day and age, news could be dug up by anyone, and Roxanne could keep playing the victim card for as long as she wished.
"I'm sorry, Sebastian. Can you find it in your heart to forgive me?" Roxanne finally forced out the words before more tears came falling down her cheeks.
After waiting for a long time and thinking he would keep if oring her, she heard him ask, "For what exactly …?" Sebastian's detached voice reached her ears, and Roxanne's heart began to beat erratically.
What exactly was she apologizing for? Roxanne didn't know what to say…