A kiss for the cameras

Third person's POV

"Surprise? What could that be? Something sweet and pleasant, I wish!" Moira thought as she looked Drake in the eyes and all she could see at that moment was warmth.

Then something clicked in her brain.

"No, Moira! You shouldn't be fooled. This might just be because we are here now and the press is around or..." She thought again, feeling conflicted.

Drake smiled sweetly at her as if he knew the conflict going on in her head. Then his arm tightened around her waist as he suddenly leaned down and captured her lips with his.

"Huh?" Moira mumbled under her breath and her eyes widened in surprise. That was their first kiss, of course it was indeed a surprise.

The kiss was gentle yet possessive, nothing like she had imagined their first kiss would be. Her body betrayed her as she melted against him, her hands instinctively gripping his suit jacket.

Just as she began to respond, threading her fingers through his hair, Drake pulled back, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction at her flustered state.

"Perfect timing!" Drake whispered as he pulled back, his eyes fixed on the flashing cameras.

Moira's eyes narrowed as she realized she had just let herself be played.

"So that is your game? A show for the press?" She gritted out in annoyance.

"Baby, your ankle..." Drake said loudly, his hands steadying her.

"That stumble could have been nasty."

"Don't patronize me. I have handled enough manipulative clients to recognize a performance." Moira hissed under her breath.

"Just so you know, I am not ready for this show. I will find my way out of here right now." She told him firmly, her chest heaving up and down.

Drake leaned in, his arm wrapping around her waist again and his lips brushing her ear.

Moira struggled to keep her heartbeat steady as the effect of the proximity between them was driving her heart crazy.

"Al Majid of Qudrah Petrol is waiting inside." Drake whispered to her.

"Qudrah Petrol?" Moira stiffened, the name ringing a bell.

"Yeah, the same Qudrah Petrol that controls sixty percent of your family's oil supply contracts. He and his entire team are here to congratulate us. Shouldn't we give them what they want to see?" Drake asked her, his voice remaining low.

At that moment, Moira felt a camera light at her face and slowly plastered on a smile.

"You calculated jerk! Using my family's business interests against me?" She muttered through her perfect smile.

"Mrs. Sinclair! How does it feel being married to our city's most eligible bachelor?" A reporter called out.

"Like a fairytale, although some fairytales have unexpected twists, don't they, Honey?" Moira replied smoothly, directing the second part of her sentence to Drake, years of courtroom experience keeping her voice steady.

Drake's grip on her waist tightened imperceptibly.

"Every day with my Moira is a new adventure." He said, smiling at her like she was all he could see. All that mattered.

"And some adventures involve perfectly orchestrated public displays." Moira whispered, maintaining her camera-ready smile.

"Mr. Sinclair, you can't seem to keep your hands off your bride!" Another reporter pointed out, excitedly.

"Would you, if you were married to the city's most brilliant attorney?" Drake replied and laughed.

"Flattery won't save you later." Moira promised him under her breath.

"Threats already? I love when you get feisty, baby." Drake replied, leading her toward the entrance of the Astor's penthouse.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Few days later, in the seperate bedroom that Moira used;

"No, this is ridiculous. This husband of mine hasn't come home since two days ago and he isn't picking my calls..." She complained, looking at her phone screen expectantly.

"So ridiculous! So annoying! I mean, I have exposed lying spouses, won impossible cases, and here I am, unable to crack my own husband's facade."

"Has this been his intention from that first day..." She wondered and became solemn as her mind drifted back to that fateful day twelve years ago.

FLASHBACK

That day, 13-year-old Moira had been standing on the roof of her parents' penthouse, tears streaming down her face.

"It is a long way down." A voice had rang out, before she could leap forward, startling her. It was Drake. 16-year-old Drake.

"You! Why are you here?" Moira had muttered sullenly and that was when she remembered his family were supposed to come over for a meeting dinner.

"Go away!" She yelled at him.

"Not after seeing what you are trying to do... Come here, take my hand." He said and held out his hand to her, his eyes glued on hers.

"Stay out of my business... Go away." She had shot at him. However, Drake moved closer, still holding out his hand.

"This isn't the solution to whatever you are going through. Whatever it is, believe me, it will be over... It will get better, with time." He said to her, persuasively.

Moira shook her head and a stray tear dropped from her eye.

"No, it can't... I will forever be alone. I caused this. I caused this damage to myself... My life... My family..." She was saying but broke down in tears.

"I am tired of everything. It can never get better. Now, I will forever be alone after I did that to my..." She tried to continue but choked on a sob.

"Well, I tell you this minute that you are not alone anymore. I'm right here." Drake had promised her.

"It hurts... I am hurting because I hurt s--so--someone..." Moira was saying painfully, clearly struggling to say the words so he cut in smoothly.

"You don't have to talk about it at all. I just need you to know that being alive means things can get better. I know you are strong enough to make it better." He told her assuringly.

"How do you know that when you don't know me?" She asked weakly.

"I know enough. I know you are smarter than most people twice your age. I know you see through everyone's pretenses. Most importantly, I know you are not meant to end your story here." He had told her sincerely.

"You are just saying that." Moira insisted weakly.

"When have you ever known me to just say things? Come on. Give life another chance to surprise you." He said and reached for her.

And like that, she had let him lead her away from the edge, his hand warm and steady in hers.

"This stays between us." Moira had said firmly.

"Of course. But I will be checking on you so this doesn't repeat itself." He had replied.

"I don't need a babysitter." She had protested.

"No, but everyone needs a friend sometimes." He had told her that while looking directly into her eyes. He had looked sincerely concerned.

END OF FLASHBACK

"That is when I fell in love with you, Drake Sinclair. My hero. My first and only love."

"You gave me a shoulder to lean on and I have fallen helplessly for you since then..." Moira mumbled sullenly.

"How can I stop loving you now? How can I cheat on you when I have kept my body and heart only for you since I was thirteen?" She asked the wall she was facing as if Drake was there to answer her.

Then she stood up straighter.

"No, I won't give up on us. Not now, not ever. I will find out what changed. I will make you love me again." She firmly made a resolve.

Then she strolled to the window side, to look at the sky while doing some thinking;

"What should I do? What can I do to make things right?"