News

The morning light barely seeped through the curtains when Isla's phone started buzzing relentlessly on her nightstand.

She groaned, burying her face deeper into the pillow, hoping whoever it would give up. But the ringing persisted, sharp and insistent. With a frustrated sigh, she reached for it, squinting at the screen. Serena.

A bad feeling curled in her stomach as she swiped to answer.

"Isla! Wake the hell up and turn on the news!"

Isla pulled the phone away from her ear, wincing. "What ?" She croaked, voice still thick with sleep.

"Just do it! Now!"

The urgency in Serena's tone sent a jolt of unease through her. Isla fumbled with her remote, her fingers clumsy as she turned on the TV.

The screen flickered to life, and the blood drained from her face.

BILLONIARE CEO DAMIEN CALLOWAY SECRETLY TIED THE KNOT!

Her name, her face, splashed across every major news outlet. Paparazzi footage played on the loop grainy image of her and Damien leaving the hotel, stepping into separate cars. Flashing headlines scrolled underneath.

Her breath caught in her throat.

"This can't finally happening," she whispered, but the evidence was right in front of her.

"Oh, it's happening, alright," Serena said grimly on the other end. "The whole world is talking about you. Paparazzi are already outside your office. Some are even looking for your old cases trying to dig up anything scandalous. Isla, they're calling you-"

"I don't want to know," she snapped, running a shaky hand through her hair. " I'll be in the office soon." Serena was about to protest on that but she ended the call and rushed to clean herself up.

Isla ignored the speculation. She had seen high-profile scandals before-celebrities, politicians, CEOs- always thinking they were careless enough to let their personal lives become public folders. But now. She was the headline.

POWERHOUSE ATTORNEY ISLA BENNET'S SECRET MARRIAGE TO BUSINESS MOGUL DAMIEN CALLOWAY- A STRUGGLE OR SCANDAL?"

"NYC's RISING LEGAL STAR AND BILLIONAIRE CEO TIED THE KNOT IN VEGAS? WHAT ARE THEY HIDING?"

"CALLOWAY & BENNET: POWER COUPLE OR POWER PLAY?"

At first, Isla thought she could ride it out. People would lose interest in a few days at least, that was the plan.

She was wrong.

By the time she stepped out of her office building, she was met with flashing cameras and a barrage of questions.

"Ms. Bennet! Is it true you're married to Damien Calloway?"

"What does this mean for your career?"

"Are you in love with him?"

The last one nearly made her laugh. "Love? She wasn't even sure how she ended up as his wife.

She didn't stop. She didn't flinch. With her signature sharp heels clicking against the pavement, she slid into her car, slamming the door shut as the driver sped off

Her phone vibrated nonstop with messages from clients, colleagues, and, of course, Julian.

Julian hadn't been passive since the revelation. If anything, he came back and became more persistent. Tonight, she barely made it to her apartment before he was waiting for her. His arms were crossed, his jaw tight. "So, what's the plan, Isla?

She dropped her bag on the counter, exhaustion weighing on her. "Plan for what Julian?"

"For this." He gestured towards the news that was playing showing both her and Damien pictures. "For the media circus, for him and lastly for me"

She exhaled sharply. "Julian, I don't"

"Yes, you do.'' His voice cut through the space. "You and I both know something isn't right here. No one knows of this marriage except You. The bastard. Serena and Me. So who will have such a mind to expose this despite the fact they know the consequences."

She swallowed hard but said something. He stepped forward. "But that doesn't change the fact that you are his wife. And the longer this drags out, the more complicated it gets."

She closed her eyes briefly. She knew that. Every second her name was linked to Damien's the harder it became to untangle herself.

Julian's voice softened, but there was an edge of desperation. "Isla, let me fix this. We can fight this unwanted marriage. I can help."

She opened her eyes, meeting his. "I don't think you can."

Silence stretched between them. Julian's hands clenched. "So what? You're going to let him own you."

She shot him a glare. "No one owns me."

"Then prove it." His voice was low. "Because right now, it looks like he's winning."

"Julian, why are you doing this? When I told you about the marriage. You freaked out and said you needed space. For a whole two weeks, Julian. You didn't message me for a whole 2 weeks to know how I was faring. Now a scandal happened and you're here all of a sudden, as what? Is my prince charming in knight armor?

"No Isla, that's not it. I'm doing this because I still love you and I want to be with you. The thought of you with that man makes my blood boil. You are only meant for one person Isla. And that's Julian Mercer."

The next day, Serena didn't waste time dragging Isla into a private meeting 

"This is bad."

"I noticed," Isla muttered, tossing the tabloid onto the desk.

Serena crossed her arms. "I had to personally assure several clients that you weren't abandoning your career to become some billionaire's trophy wife. And the partners? They are worried. Some of them are considering reassigning your biggest cases."

That got Isla's attention. Her spine stiffened. "They wouldn't dare."

"Oh, they would." Serena leaned forward. "Look, I'm worried about you, your illness, I don't this scandal to be the one weighing you down and not receiving the appropriate treatment. You look paler now because of it. I just don't care what's going on between you and Calloway, but when you get better a little you need to get in the front of this before your reputation takes a hit you can't recover from.

Isla clenched her jaw. "I'm already working on it."

Serena arched a brow. "Are you? Because right now, he controls the narratives."

That stung. Isla hated being outmaneuvered.

That evening, Damien was waiting for her outside her apartment. The moment she saw him, she said.

"What now? I'm not even going to ask how you got my address."

He was unreadable, his posture relaxed but yet eyes sharp. Those eyes looking so soulless were rather searching into hers.

"You can't stay here."

She scoffed. "Watch me,"

"Paparazzi are swarming this building. Julian's practically living in your shadows. And your firm? They're losing confidence in you."

Her finger curled into fists. "I don't need you to remind me of my problem, Damien."

"Good," he said smoothly. "Then let's talk solutions."

She narrowed her eyes. "And let me guess. Your solution is for me to move into your penthouse."

His lips quirked slightly. "Now you are getting it. Also, It's my estate. My penthouse is crowded with reporters."

Isla let out a dry laugh. "I'd rather set myself on fire."

Damien leaned in slightly, voice lowering. "I don't particularly enjoy this situation either, but the longer we resist working together, the more vulnerable we are,]. Right now, someone out there wants us tangled in this mess. Until we figure out why, keeping up the appearance is the only best way to maintain control."

She hated how logical he made it sound.

He continued. "We play along for now. In public, we are a united family. In private, you stay in your corner, I stay in mine. You keep your job, I keep mine. And once we uncover who orchestrated this. We dissolve it."

"I don't need your help."

"You need stability and I need answers." He lets that settle before adding. "And if you don't accept, be prepared to deal with more reporters, more speculation, and an ex who won't let go."

Isla swallowed. She hated being pushed into a corner. But deep down, she knew- there was no walking away from this.

Not yet.