Love in the Headlines
img img Love in the Headlines img Chapter 3 That damn reporter
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Chapter 8 Friendship img
Chapter 9 What is in this whiskey img
Chapter 10 An explosive plan img
Chapter 11 All girls like pink img
Chapter 12 Her dream man img
Chapter 13 Tattoos and Muscles img
Chapter 14 How to know when you like someone img
Chapter 15 Reign Abbot img
Chapter 16 Ivan Hamilton's woman img
Chapter 17 Drunken mistakes img
Chapter 18 His demons img
Chapter 19 Mummy img
Chapter 20 A woman in my bed img
Chapter 21 Scars img
Chapter 22 Hallucination img
Chapter 23 Phobia img
Chapter 24 Her sister's fiancée img
Chapter 25 Does it have to be Mel img
Chapter 26 Hangovers and cramps img
Chapter 27 Playful banter img
Chapter 28 Attraction vs. liking someone img
Chapter 29 More like stalking img
Chapter 30 Where have you been all my life img
Chapter 31 Mevan ship img
Chapter 32 D stands for dinner and disaster img
Chapter 33 Just acquaintances img
Chapter 34 Jinxed img
Chapter 35 Hate it when you do that img
Chapter 36 Drunk Reign img
Chapter 37 Dresses and heels img
Chapter 38 I will never be him img
Chapter 39 Shitty families img
Chapter 40 Earnest chasing img
Chapter 41 What happened to Mel img
Chapter 42 Self destruction img
Chapter 43 My choice img
Chapter 44 Chocolate cake img
Chapter 45 Four months img
Chapter 46 The joke img
Chapter 47 So much for professional img
Chapter 48 Welcoming banquet img
Chapter 49 Talk of the town img
Chapter 50 Paparazzi and Elites img
Chapter 51 Something in common img
Chapter 52 Hate you for life img
Chapter 53 Unexplainable actions img
Chapter 54 Face-off img
Chapter 55 Sensitive img
Chapter 56 Useless things img
Chapter 57 Finding me img
Chapter 58 Declining stocks img
Chapter 59 Fat girl img
Chapter 60 On my own img
Chapter 61 Girlfriend img
Chapter 62 Press conference img
Chapter 63 Rude awakening img
Chapter 64 Looks too real img
Chapter 65 Feelings img
Chapter 66 Don't test me img
Chapter 67 What you deserve img
Chapter 68 My best friend img
Chapter 69 Too close for comfort img
Chapter 70 Costly mistake img
Chapter 71 Crazy man img
Chapter 72 That was not love img
Chapter 73 Primera img
Chapter 74 Dangerous game img
Chapter 75 I didn't mean to hurt you img
Chapter 76 Claim her as mine img
Chapter 77 Luckiest day of my life img
Chapter 78 Kill me first img
Chapter 79 Matchmaking img
Chapter 80 Nice one, fate img
Chapter 81 In my arms img
Chapter 82 Forbidden romance img
Chapter 83 Like my son back img
Chapter 84 Crossed a line img
Chapter 85 Live in this moment img
Chapter 86 Between us img
Chapter 87 Something was wrong img
Chapter 88 Lost blood img
Chapter 89 Just Melanie img
Chapter 90 Petty coward img
Chapter 91 Once: a mistake, twice: intentional img
Chapter 92 Soap opera img
Chapter 93 What about Mel img
Chapter 94 Dilemma img
Chapter 95 A feeling img
Chapter 96 A god img
Chapter 97 The bad guy img
Chapter 98 Mel knows img
Chapter 99 Father img
Chapter 100 Normalcy img
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Chapter 3 That damn reporter

IVAN'S POV

I clenched my fists in anger as I watched the constant ringing of my phone. The shrill, annoying sound definitely succeeded in ruining my mood further. Tired of the sound, I switched off the phone and threw it on the table harshly. Christian came in at that moment.

" We have taken the news down but it has already spread wild. Everyone now thinks you are a cheating bastard. It took a while because of the traffic on the post. All broadcast stations have also been notified not to post anything, well except the one that already posted. " Christian snickered.

A hard glare was what he got in response but it didn't scare him a bit. Anyone else would have pissed in their pants, but not Christian. After all, he was my best friend.

" Who was the journalist that released it? " I asked, trying to stay rational and ease the bloodlust brewing in me. The realization that all my carefully thought-out plan was ruined overnight did nothing to alleviate the wrath I felt about the situation.

" A pretty lady called Reign Abbot. " Christian replied, making the most of the situation to piss me off. " Don't be pissed at her though. It definitely looked like you were kissing someone else from whatever angle she took the picture from. She is a skilled photographer, I must say. "

" Do you want to die? " I growled.

Christian laughed. " Come on, this will pass in a while. You just have to give them something new to gossip about. "

I messaged my forehead and sighed. I have not had a single moment of rest since that news broke out in the morning. I had just finished my workout routine and showered when my phone started ringing incessantly and I was hit with the dumbest news ever.

I was caught kissing a woman, while engaged to another.

It was laughable, really. People must assume I had a lot of time on my mind to entertain not one woman but several. I had more pressing issues to worry about. I had a damn cage to get out of.

That damn reporter! I sneered

" Has Melanie said anything? " Christian asked, taking a seat, since he seemed like he would be here for a while.

" I've not heard from her. " I shrugged. " She should be logical enough to know it's not true though. I barely have time for her, where then could I have found the time to go frolic with someone else? " I said, convincing myself. She would understand. She had to understand.

" Well, she could think you don't have time for her because you are with someone else. " Christian smirked. I wanted nothing more than to beat it out of his face.

" I am more worried about the stocks right now."

" Don't worry too much. It's stable at the moment but you have the shareholders meeting in 10 minutes, I think you should worry more about that instead. " Christian said, scrolling through the tablet in his hand.

" Those old geezers are gonna milk the fuck out of this situation. " I groaned. " What about my father? "

" No word from him yet. "

My eyebrows raised in question. That was really weird and out of character for him. Usually ,he would be screaming my head down, reminding me of how incompetent I was. I already had a lot to worry about so I pushed it to the side. I ran my hand through my dark locks, irritated that everything seemed to be out of my control.

I stood up and grabbed my suit from the hanger and my phone. " Let's go. "

Christian nodded and trudged behind me. The clacks of our shoes rhythmic as we walked down the corridor to the conference room. My hands slipped into my pocket, embracing the nonchalant facade that I was known for. Not even a crack could be seen betraying the turmoil that I felt inside.

The conference room was full when I arrived and I almost laughed at how punctual they were. They all stood up when I walked in and it made me feel powerful, gradually easing all the tension in me.

That's right. I am Ivan Hamilton. It would not be that easy to bring me down.

I sat down and waited for them to settle down as well and start firing unnecessary opinions and they did just that.

" Mr Hamilton, the news about your infidelity has spread everywhere. Public opinion is not on our side right now, " one of them said.

" I would not blame you for cheating, Mr Hamilton, after all, it is in a man's nature to cheat. The only thing you did wrong here was to get caught. " Another one added.

That caught my attention and my eyes landed on the geezer that had said that. For someone with a gradually balding palate and an overweight build, he sure had a lot of confidence.

" Interesting, " I smirked, " you must cheat on your wife a lot then. "

" I– " He started.

" Just because you are rotten inside out does not mean the rest of us also disrespect our spouse. " I snarled, resisting the urge to snatch him up from where he was sitting and pummel him to the ground till his member would never rise for any other woman aside from his wife.

" There is evidence that you are the same, " he refuted, his face red, either from anger or shame.

" Listen to me. To avoid more stupid opinions like that, I would only say this once. " I said, making eye contact with as many of them as I could. " I, Ivan Hamilton, have never cheated on my fiancee, not that day, not today and not ever. "

I held up my hand when some of them opened their mouths to speak. " I would not be interrupted. " I warned, glaring darkly at them. I hummed in satisfaction when they glanced at each other in terror.

" This was just a case of bad reporting and I would sort it out, like I always do while you all sit your ass at home, like you always do too. Understood? " I declared. I stood up and left without waiting to confirm if they did or not.

" Well, that was shorter than expected. " Christian mumbled.

" Let's go get my fiance. " I said, heading for the elevator instead of the office. " Her silence is bothering me. " That of my father too but I did not say it out loud. " Any idea where she is? "

" According to her schedule that you had me get instead of just asking her about her whereabouts like a normal person, she should be at Platinum Palace right now. " Christian said.

I ignored his jab. " What room number? "

" Room 1155. "

*********************************************************

I rasped my knuckles three times on the other before returning it to its place in my pocket. I did not have to wait too long as the door opened and the familiar figure of Melanie appeared.

She was dressed in a simple sundress that accentuated her small waist. Her feet were bare, making her look really homey. She was a beautiful woman but that was where my appreciation ended. She did not cause stirs in my loins or my heart. I was my usual self with her. Calm and collected. However, I needed her and couldn't let her go and that was why this situation bothered me. It could ruin things for me.

" Hi. " She greeted me, lightly twirling whatever was in the flute she was holding.

" Can I come in? "

" Sure, it's not like we can speak at the door anyways. " she replied, pulling the door open wider for me to step in.

" It is a surprise to see you but then again, it is not considering the rumors flying around. " Melanie said, as we made our way to the couch. " I can't even remember the last time I saw you. "

" Well, yeah. " I murmured, wondering where to start. I hardly remember us having any conversations, at least deep ones. " You know the rumors are not true, right? "

She chuckled and took her sweet time drinking before replying. " I am not sure what to think. It doesn't really matter whether it's true or not. "

" It's not true. "

She hummed and stood up. " Do you want a drink? "

I nodded and watched her trudge to the kitchen to get an additional glass. She joined me once again and filled it with champagne before stretching it out to me. I thanked her and accepted the flute.

" Your answers are quite vague. I don't know what to make out of it. " I took a sip of my drink.

" Well, I am glad you came to find me before I could. You know the circumstances surrounding our engagement so I am not surprised you would do something like this. " she shrugged.

" I said I did not. " I growled.

She laughed. " No need to get so defensive. I won't beat around the bush anymore. Let's break our engagement. "

*********************************************************

I pulled the door open and stalked out, not caring about the loud bang it gave as it closed. I clenched my fists and resisted the urge to drive them against the wall and make it collapse like all my expectations.

I could feel the walls closing around me once again, trapping me in and making me feel powerless. No. I won't go down that easily. I pulled my phone out of my suit pockets and called Christian. He had stayed downstairs when I came up.

" What's up, man? Did she understand? " Christian asked.

" I don't care how you do it but book me a room in this hotel and get that damn reporter here. "

            
            

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