Chapter 20: chapter 20

  Before he can answer, I know there is gonna be trouble. After few minutes of arguing with her, he hung up with a heavy sigh."Is it worse?" I asked him."She is coming here to meet me" he replied emptily."I'm sorry, Chris. I should not asked you for ice cream".He shook his head, "No, it's okay. I mean this happens, I can deal with it" he shrugged his shoulders, "Besides you don't have to worry. There is nothing to show that was you. Beth can totally manage it. Now my entire worry is managing my Mother" he sighed again."I guess, both our parents are shitheads" I bit my lower lip."Of course, there is no doubt in that. But now, you need to get out of this place. I don't want her to yell at you".I stood reluctantly."What?" He asked me."I don't wanna leave you alone"."I can manage this alone. But if she accuses you of anything, I'll definitely snap. You are doing me a favour. So, please go. She'll be here in 10"."Okay then, tell me how it went" I rushed back to his room.I changed my clothes and came down. I bid him goodbye and reached the door."Ana" he called me.I turned to look at him, "What?"He came near and gave me a hug, "Take care" he rubbed my back, "I'll meet you once this gets over" he kissed my head, "And...I...have...something...to...say"."Sure, I'll wait" I hugged him back and came out.I came down and took my car out of the parking lot. When I came out to the road, Freelance reporters were ready with their cameras to snap Chris, if he comes out. These people...they'll never change. Lucky for me that they didn't see my face. He's gonna be under surveillance at least for a week.While I'm halfway to my apartment, Jamie called me, "Yes, Jam?""Have you seen the news?""I'm good, right?" I smiled."Idiot!" He replied in a relieved voice, "I thought you are gonna make a big scene out of this"."If they have shown my face, I would definitely do that"."What's Chris's reaction?""Umm...he is cool about this...But...""His Mother, Right?""Exactly, I don't know how he gonna manage it. I insisted to stay with him, but he asked me to go"."What happened actually?""Well, he went to get ice cream, after we came out of the park. People in there identified him. That's it"."He enjoyed skating?""Very much and also umm...""What?""I told him everything"."What's his reaction?" He asked me after a second."Well, at first he was confused and shocked. Then I explained everything in detail, he understood".As I've said to Chris, Jamie doesn't know what happened to me. I just told him that there is trouble between me and my parents. I requested him not to question me further about that. He respected that. Still now, he knows that I hate my parents and what happened to Jason's father."Okay then if you told your real name, you must told that you like him, aren't you?""Well, I am so close to say that. But, some variables stopped me"."But, you gonna tell him, right?""Sure...sure...I...will".Meanwhile Chris,     "Christopher, explain me. What are you doing with that Magazine girl?" Ma asked me angrily."Ma, there is nothing to explain"."Oh! Really?" Her voice went to a high pitch, "You ran away from the middle of your own party, to be with her. What's the deal with that? Our guests searched for you to wish. You didn't care to respect that".I tried to contain my irritation."Speak out, Mr Rovan. You have to explain that. You know that you are not allowed to hang out with her. Have you considered our family reputation? Look at you, you were totally fine before she came into your life. Now, you are disobeying my words. Are you trying to bring shame to our family like your uncle or....""Stop it!" I shouted, "Don't say more. You are not allowed to talk about that with me" I got angry, "You know what? I'm done with your fucking family reputation. I'm a grown-assman. I know what's right for me. You have no right to control my life. I never liked this career, but you made me choose this. I wanted to be like my uncle".My uncle, Mike Hannigan, Dad's brother. He didn't want to deal with this family shit. So he changed his last name and chose his favourite career. He is now a teacher and living his life contently. To be frank, I'm jealous of that."I accepted that without much choice. But now, you can't control my love life. You should stay within your limits".She smirked, "How can you think that you can be like your uncle? Living in a small apartment, a middle-class job and going to other countries, once a year. Is that what you want?""Yes, because that makes me feel real and content. I'm enough of fucking cameras around me. Even now, look down they are waiting for me like a hungry dog"."That's your fault, Rovan. You bought them here" she pointed her index finger at me, "You are careless with that girl. You forgot to watch your ass".Ugh...I...Can't...can't...I'm fed up arguing with her. I hate her...but at least she gave birth to me, not like Ana's mother. That lessened my hate for her by 0.1%"Look, Christopher" her voice now ordered me, "You know the consequences if you don't obey my orders".I clenched my jaws in anger. That's the only reason I'm doing all the crazy stuffs you ask me to do."Do you want that to happen?" She intimidated me.I shook my head in failure, "No...please...don't do that".She smiled contently, "Good. Now listen to me. It's a relief that Paparazzi didn't know her face. I fixed a match for you, Nadia Parker. I want you to marry her. So, date her, make her fall in love with you. Come out to the public, so they may know that she is that mystery girl. Is that clear?""Anything else, Madam? Your slave is ready to fulfil that also" I replied sarcastically.She stared at me and was ready to leave, "Trust me, I'm doing this for our family reputation".She left after a minute. I came back to the couch and sat rubbing my face. Fuck! She spoiled my morning. Chuck came inside after few minutes, "Ooh! Looks like you got a good dose?"I rubbed my forehead, "I don't know when I'm gonna murder them".He smiled, "What are you gonna do now?""I can't convince them. But, I can convince another one. They think they are good at this" I took my phone and dialled Nadia's number.After several rings, she answered, "Umm...Hello...who is this?""Nadia, it's me, Christopher Rovan".Her voice became delighted and showed respect, "Hello, Mr Rovan. How are you?""I'm fine, call me Christopher. What about you? How is your business going?""Yeah, we both are fine"."Umm...Nadia...I called you for a reason"."Sure, what's up?""Ummm...look my parents...wants me to Date you. But...but...I don't have any interest in that...I mean...you are good, smart and beautiful. But...but...I'm not into you...I like you...but not...in that way" I struggled for words."Christopher, Relax!" Her voice was normal, "You don't have to be sorry. Cause, I have a boyfriend".I let out a relieved breath, "You...you...do?""Mm-hmm, his name is Leonard"."Well then, problem solved. I'm happy that you have a boyfriend".I can hear her smile from another side, "So, is everything okay?""No...No...can you do me a favour?""Tell me"."I want you to call my parents and say that you are pissed and didn't expect this cheap behaviour from them. You...literally want to yell at them. So that they may have to rethink twice before introducing me to another girl. Can you do that?"She chuckled, "They really want you to get married, don't they?""Yeah. But, I'm not ready for that"."Fine, I'll do it. But on one condition?""What?""You need to promote my brand, deal?""Consider it done"."Same to you" she smiled and hung up."Wow! Chris! This going to take an unexpected turn on them" Chuck appreciated me."I did what they said"  I shrugged, "Now, I want you to search for the best therapist in entire America. I need an answer within a week"."Week?" He laughed, "Give me two hours"."No, I don't want you to simply scroll through Google. I want a real result. Dig deeper about them, Enquire about their patients and their method of practice. I need the best one, okay?""Umm...If you don't mind, why now?""Just do what I say".  Two days later,     When the paparazzi couldn't find anything, they gave up and went to chase another news. So, now I'm going to meet her. I still couldn't come out of the shock she gave me. These two days I couldn't sleep thinking about that. Chuck is still searching for a good therapist. He knows what'll happen if he messes up the result.I reached her apartment. I tried to knock, but it was unlocked. Strange! I opened the door and went inside.She is in the kitchen, Preparing dinner nervously. She was in blue jeans and a green half sleeve t-shirt which says 'Be Cooooool'."Hello?" I called her.She jumped hearing my voice, "Shit! Chris! How...how did you come in?""Door was unlocked"."Fuck! I didn't lock it?" she rubbed her head with shaking fingers.She was tense and nervous. Her face sweated profusely. Before I can ask what's the matter, she poured two glasses of wine and gulped it down in a single breath."Woah! Woah!" I went near her and stopped her, "What's the rush with the drink?""Chris" she called my name in mixed emotions of confusion and sadness."What is bothering you, little head?" I asked adjusting the messy bangs on her forehead.She touched the back of my palm, "Grace..." She replied, "She...is...coming here to meet me. They identified me from the news".    Â