Pampered by my Billionaire CEO Husband

A frown appeared on my face as my eyes darted around the exhibition hall anxiously as if I was searching for some clarity. I didn’t understand what was going on at that moment, neither did Xavier. We looked at each other and I could feel my heart thumping loudly against my chest, as if it was threatening to burst out at any given second now.

I could now feel everyone’s eyes and stares on me as they pointed at me and murmured among themselves, letting the whispers of gossip fill the air within a split second.

"Isn’t that her?" One pointed out with a judgmental tone.

"Oh my god, it is her! How could they let this happen?" Voices started to buzz in the place before I knew it. "Isn’t that so shameless?"

I had this bad gut feeling that washed over me in an instant and that was when the ding of my phone jolted me back to reality. I let my eyes flicker down to look at the screen of my phone to see that I have received a message with a link to a news site.

By now, my heart was already racing more than a mile an hour. I clicked on the link and the familiar image popped up to greet me. Recognition flashed past my dark eyes at that moment, I recognised that picture.

It was the picture that Evelyn had taken of Henry Jones and I at the restaurant when she accused us of having some intimate and inappropriate relationship. He had his hand on my thigh as he looked at me with a smile etched onto his face, that scene was forever stuck at the back of my mind.

My eyes jumped to the news title that was written right below the incriminating picture.

Henry Jones, Director of the ArtsVerse was seen getting intimate with featured Artist, Aurelia Holt!

At that moment, it was like the whole place went silent.

I felt that the whole world had stopped spinning and came to a complete halt. My world was collapsing in on me, crushing me and everything else that was around me. I felt as though I couldn’t breathe, like there was something stuck in my throat. I was stuck in a nightmare that I couldn’t wake up from no matter how hard I tried.

My phone slipped through my fingers and fell onto the ground with a loud thud. That was when I felt someone grab onto my shoulders, shaking me, snapping me back to reality. I looked up to find myself looking into Xavier’s eyes that were swimming with a mixture of concern, worry and anger.

"Aurelia!" My name left his lips, but I could barely listen to a word he said, it was like everything was muffled, everything was a blur. "Don’t let them get to you, you know that your conscience is clear."

"I..." I stuttered, unable to find the words to say.

"I will deal with them fuckers," he assured.

Behind him, Evelyn cackled, a smile etched onto her face as our gazes matched and I already knew she was relishing in satisfaction, seeing the distraught look plastered across my face.

"Did something happen?" She asked, her eyes twinkling with the same knowing look since the beginning as she played innocent, batting her lashes at me.

Xavier stepped forward before I could say another word, as my mind struggled to register the situation that had just unfolded before my eyes.

His body loomed above hers, a dangerous look crossed his face as he leaned forward, forcing her to step back. "Don’t act innocent, Evelyn Lloyd," he warned, his tone carrying a sharp edge to it as he clenched his jaws tightly and all eyes were on them right now. "You were the one who tipped off the reporters," he spat the words out like they were poison in his mouth.

She kept her eyes fixated on him and I watched as the corners of her lips twitched upwards into a smirk, smugness radiating off every inch of her skin as an arrogant look masked her features. "I did," she confessed. "So, what? How is she going to explain this? The picture says it all. I am just sharing the truth with everyone else here. They deserve to know what goes on and if anyone isn’t playing fair. I doubt she is going to get out of this mess now," she taunted relentlessly.

Anger pulsed through every single vein inside of him as his face was now flushed red. He clenched his fists tightly beside him and his eyes grew wide as his features hardened. "Evelyn, you–!"

I grabbed onto him, pulling him back forcefully. I was now face to face with Evelyn, the smirk was still lingering on her lips.

"What are you going to do now, Aurelia?" She mocked.

As soon as the words left her lips, something inside of me clicked and before I knew it, I raised my hand and slapped her across her face, eliciting gasps from the crowd that surrounded us.

"That’s what I am going to do," I snarled as my voice remained unwavering and I kept my eyes on her.

I watched as her cheeks were now tinged red with anger and she stared back at me with wide eyes, anger swirling in the depths of her eyes.

"Are you crazy?!" Her shrill voice pierced through the tension that was thick in the air, hanging between us like a thick blanket.

A cold chuckle emerged from my throat. "Crazy? No. I was just doing what needed to be done."

She glared at me, narrowing her eyes into thin slits as she let out a breath. "I can’t believe you, Aurelia." She turned to the crowd, her eyes scanning the area. "Did you guys see it? She slapped me! She slapped me across my face when all I did was to expose the truth! All I wanted to do was to let you all know the truth and this is what she did to me!" Her high-pitched voice filled the air, ringing in my ears.

Fingers started pointing towards me, their words dripping with accusation as they cast judgemental glares at me.

"Exactly! How could you do this to her!" One voiced out, the voice booming loudly in the back.

"She just wanted to share the truth! You should be ashamed of yourself for this!" Another chimed in with an angry expression etched onto her face. 𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

"Stop it! That’s enough!" Xavier’s loud voice caught their attention and the place became quiet in a split second as everyone watched him with anticipation written all over their faces. "How could you jump to a conclusion so quickly?"

"We saw the picture with our own eyes, what else could it be?" One of them questioned, the tone was laced with malice and accusation.

I spoke up this time. "Haven’t you thought that Jones could be the one harassing me and that I have nothing to do with this?" I declared as I kept my voice steady.

Before anyone could say anything else, a loud bang was heard as the doors to the exhibition hall flew open and an unfamiliar voice cut through the air.

"Are you saying that my husband seduced and harassed you and you have nothing to do with it?!"