Chapter 17

 I LOVE YOU 

~STILL AT THE COMPETITION ~

Marie wrapped her arms around him and he pulled her closer while he devoured her mouth.

The two were lost in each other that they almost forgot about the competition but the noise from outside jolt Marie back to reality.

She pulled at his chest and he let go of her breathing in deeply.

"So does this mean that you are giving me a chance?" He asked starring down at her contently but Marie who realised what she did pulled out of his arms completely.

"This doesn't mean a thing! Forget it happened" she said as she quickly walk out of the room leaving the stunned Romeo there.

****

"I can't believe we won" Marie enthused happily as she helped Charles pack up.

"And that's all due to your wonderful cooking" she added.

"I don't think so" Charles spoke up starring at her.

"Why do you say that?" She asked.

"I think that my cooking was on the average part, what I think made us win is you" he replied with a smile on his face.

"The judge fell for our relationship deceit and even though it was fake, you made it seem real. Am glad I brought you with me" he said having that strange look on his face.

Could Romeo be saying the truth? Is Charles interested in her? She thought as she covered up her thought by smiling at him.

"By the way do you know of any hotel I can stay for a few days?" She asked.

"Why? Don't tell you left that flashy house you were living in?" Charles asked.

"I did and am looking for a decent hotel to stay until I can find a place to stay" she told him.

"I know of a place that will suit you perfectly" he said.

"Where?" 

"A hotel close to my home" he replied as they both walk out of the room.

***

~ LATER THAT DAY~ 

Romeo could be seen fuming as he made his way to the hotel room where he knew Marie would be in.

After the kiss they shared, she had gone back to the competition where she kept up the act of being Charles lover but he knew most of her concentration had been on him cause she kept starring at him.

He had thought that she would be home after the competition so he could get things straight with her but he got home to find her room empty.

At first he had thought she ran away and had called his investigator who gave him her whereabouts.

Finding out that she had booked a hotel room just to stay away from him got him feeling angry and that was why he came to the hotel to take her back with him.

He rang the bell three times before she opened the door and on immediately he pushed past her into the hotel room.

"Just what the hell are you doing?" He asked as he turned to stare at her.

"How did you find me?" Marie asked as she stood by the doorway.

"Does that matter? What matters now is why you keep pushing me away. I know you feel the same way about me so why on earth do you keep refusing to be with me when we can make a happy couple " he asked taking hold of her shoulder.

"I don't....."

"Don't you dare lie to me Marie! I can prove you wrong that you want me just as much as I want you. I can prove that to you right now" he said moving close to her, wanting to kiss her but her words made him stop.

"Your right! I love you Romeo. One week of you being absent made me realise just how much I love you but even with us loving each other, I can't be with you" she said bringing a smile and a frown on Romeo face.

"Why can't they be with me?" He asked.

"I overheard a conversation between two of your employee. They were talking about your type of girl and everything they mentioned made me realise that I wasn't any of it" she said softly.

"What they say doesn't mean a thing to me, it shouldn't mean a thing to you too"

"It might not mean a thing to you but to me it means a lot. It shows how different we are" Marie countered his words.

"I love you Marie. You complete me like no other woman have and am not going to lose you due to your fears" he told hee softly.

"Why are you making this hard for me? If I hadn't met Develene, I wouldn't be in your life and am sure that once Develene is back she will ..."

"To heck with Develene! I wouldn't take her even if she comes to me gift wrap. It's you I love and it's you I want so stop pushing me away" he said to her and before she could protest he kissed her and for a while the two kept kissing.

It was Romeo who pulled away starring down at Marie who was still reeling from the kiss.

"Say yes Marie, let me show you how much I love, let me take care of you for the rest of our lives" he said to her and charmed by his words she nodded to him.

"Is that a yes?" He asked and she nodded smiling up at him.

"Stick to your word and take care of me for the rest of your life" she mouth at him and he made a loud groan before claiming her lips once again.

He lifted her up and she wrapped her legs around him, still kissing her he found the bed room where he layed her on it to make sweet passionate love to her.

**

~ THE NEXT DAY~ 

Marie woke up to find herself curled up in Romeo arms and for a while she lay in content watching his sleeping face.

If someone told her a few months back that she would be this happy with a man who cherish her she would never have believed.

She somehow felt guilty for having to steal Develene place and she also felt grateful. If it hadn't been for her, she won't have met the love of her life.

"Am I that handsome?" Romeo asked softly before opening his eyes to stare at her.

"You weren't sleeping?" She asked.

"I was until I felt your gaze on me. What were you thinking that got a frown on your face"he asked.

"About Develene" she muttered in reply.

"I thought I told you not to worry about..." 

"I know but I can't help but to think about her. What if she shows up?" Marie ask.

"We will set things straight though we owe her no explanation. Develene can't separate us, so keep that in mind and don't let her bother you again. You can focus your attention on me instead" he said kissing her on the neck 

"Don't! We will be late for work" Marie said as she pushed at his chest while laughing.

"One advantage of being the boss is that I can go in whenever I like and you being my wife also have the right to... what's wrong?" He asked when he saw a frown on her face.

"I don't want people knowing about us yet" she said pleadingly.

"Why? What I want most right now is for everyone to know about us"

"Believe me when I say I want the same thing but not now. There is a right time for everything" she said trying to get him to agree which he did.

"Fine then. I will pay heed to you now but later on you will pay heed to me" he said to her and she nodded in reply.

"Now where were we?" He asked as he kissed her lips.

After showering together they left the hotel hands in hands and while Marie went to work, Romeo went back to the penthouse to put Marie things in his room and also to change into something new.

****

~ AT THE HOSPITAL ~ 

"How is she doctor?" An unknown man asked as he stared at the girl lying on the bed.

"Fine. Just a few more days and we will discharge her" the doctor replied.

"You must really care about your wife a lot? You've been with her ever since she was brought in here months back" the doctor added.

"She's not my wife but a friend who I cherish a lot" the unknown man replied as he kept starring at the sleeping girl.

The doctor took his leave and a man walked into the room.

"Here is the picture you asked me to take sir" the man in black said as he showed the unknown man a picture of Romeo and Marie walking out of the hotel together.

"They spent the night together sir" the man said.

"Does it mean that Romeo is now with Marie?" The unknown man asked only to recieve a nod in reply.

"Make sure you give this picture to a publishing company and make sure they publish it today" the unknown man said and a while later he was left alone with the sick girl in the hospital.

"Wake up and reclaim your position " he said softly starring at the sleeping girl.