Chapter Fourteen

Gavin was so gentle with her. Making calls and barking out orders to media houses and paparazzi that milked for updates from the Santa Monica fire.

Already, they had seen thick black smoke rising up the sky from the television and Vivienne, too heartbroken to look at the company she worked so hard to build, asked Gavin to turn off the television.

She was cradled in his arms while he took control of the whole situation and in no time, things had been put in order.

"Honey," Gavin began and Vivienne sat up, staring at him with weary eyes. "Have you had something to eat today?"

Vivienne shook her head. "Too stressed out to eat. Lost all appetite as soon as the news of Eva's kidnap and my company came in."

Gavin stroked her chin and placed her feet to the ground as he stood up. "Let's go have lunch."

Vivienne shook her head. Her eyes were tired and her expression dead with worry. "I do not want to eat anything."

Gavin took her hand in his and rubbed the back of her palm affectionately. "You have to eat, baby. I know how sad you feel right now but staying hungry is going to take a toll on your health. In order to sort things out, you need to have the strength."

Gavin was persuasive, she had to give him the credit for that. When she gave him a look of defeat, he smiled and lowered his head to give her a slow kiss before leading her out of her office.

"Has Amelia called you today?" Gavin asked, his gaze far away.

Vivienne shook her head. "No, she hasn't. Why are you asking?"

"No reason. I just thought she should know all that's going on since you both are best friends."

Vivienne gave Gavin a strange look. He never really cared about Alison. Why was he asking now?

Gavin shielded her from public eyes as they came out of the elevator. Vivienne wasn't ready to meet the gazes of her employees.

What would they think of her after the incident at Santa Monica?

She wasn't smart enough to quickly meet an underwriter to create insurance papers for the new company.

Ever since the new man in her life, she had lost touch and control of everything, leaving it entirely to someone who didn't know how to run things.

She was sure that that was running through the minds of her employees but she shook her head to get rid of those destructive thoughts.

"Shit." Gavin muttered under his breath.

The entrance of the company was filled with reporters waiting for their object of interest to step out and as soon as they saw Vivienne in Gavin's arms, they flocked around her.

"Good day, Miss Vivienne! What do you have to say about the fire at your new company in Santa Monica?!"

Gavin shielded her from the crowding in of annoying reporters and pushed some away with his elbows. Vivienne was grateful for the fact that they weren't so much right now. But she was sure that very soon, she would have to hide away from the paparazzi.

The noisy questions coming from the reporters were muffled by the closing of Gavin's car door. Vivienne closed her eyes and heaved a sigh of relief.

"By this time tomorrow, they're going to be swarming here. I wouldn't want to be out fighting the crowd of reporters to go into my company." Vivienne pointed out as she fastened her seat belt.

Gavin twisted the key in the ignition switch and the car purred to life. He swerved out of the parking lot, almost hitting a few reporters that made him run after their car.

"Don't worry. I'll employ more security to ward off reporters whenever you're about to step in." Gavin assured her and placed a hand on her thigh.

Vivienne found that touch quite comforting and as they drove towards the restaurant they would be having lunch, she thought about everything being alright, her company thriving well and she winning awards for being the best jeweler of the year.

She fell asleep to those thoughts.

Vivienne felt a tap against her skin and blinked her eyes open. When she got accustomed to her environment, she sat up. "We're here already?"

Gavin nodded while unbuckling his seatbelt. Afterwards, he undid hers and they both stepped out of his car.

"You good?" Gavin asked, going over to where she stood beside the car.

Vivienne nodded. "I think I'm fine. A little bit cranked up but I'll be fine."

Gavin smiled at her and took her hand, leading her into the restaurant.

As they were about to enter, a few people passing by recognized the famous jeweler and began pointing in her direction. In no time, cameras were on her and Gavin gave each and everyone glares while threatening to sue them after going through the restaurant's list of patrons. Slowly, everyone began to lower their phone but still talked in low tones.

Vivienne was no longer interested in having anything to eat. Infact, she had lost her appetite. Seeing herself getting publicity from everyone for a negative reason was messing with her mind and she really needed to get out of there.

She turned to Gavin whose arm was around her waist, her eyes brimming with tears. "I can't stand all these."

Gavin sighed and kissed her hair. He whispered against her ear. "You have to get used to it. You're no ordinary person and it's expected that you get this kind of publicity. Come on, let's go in and get something to fill your stomach."

Thinking about all the stares and frequent glances she would be getting from people, she shook her head. "No, Gavin."

Gavin gave her a stern look. "Vivienne, honey."

"Take me home, please."

Sighing, Gavin nodded and they turned and began to walk back to their car. When Vivienne stared at his profile, she noticed that his eyes were distant and his jaw was set in a lock. She hoped he wasn't angry. She hoped he understood what she was going through right now.

When they were finally settled in the car, Vivienne turned to look at Gavin who had already started the car. She placed a hand on his and rubbed slowly. "You have to understand that I can not face this. If we had stayed there for much longer, we would have been greeted by another wave of reporters. And who knows if we haven't been followed."

"It's fine, sweetie," Gavin said. "I understand."

But he didn't seem to understand and Vivienne saw it in the way he squeezed the steering wheel while driving. His knuckles were white.

Vivienne could do nothing about the situation. She was too tired to talk or get Gavin to see her point. Instead of getting angry that he was being petty at this moment, she leaned back against her seat and closed her eyes.

Gavin's phone buzzed beside them and Vivienne's eyes involuntarily opened as she caught a flash of the caller before Gavin immediately ended the call.

Frowning, Vivienne sat up and stared directly at Gavin. "Why did you end the call? That was Amelia calling."

Gavin sighed. "Yes, that was Amelia calling."

Vivienne didn't like the way he was speaking. It felt like he was hiding something from her. She prodded further. "Why did you end the call?"

Gavin gave her a look that spoke volumes of how he didn't want to be asked such questions. "A call with Amelia is not what I should be responding to right now. I am with you and unavailable."

Vivienne shook her head. "This is unbelievable, Gavin. Amelia is a friend. Our friend and this is what you're saying?"

"Vivienne!" Gavin roared and she flinched. "Look, I'm sorry. I'm just stressed out from all these running around and I don't really have the mental capacity for any conversation."

"Drop me right now."

"Are you fucking crazy?!"