24. Caught in the crossfire of President Braun’s overprotectiveness!

'What happened in your conversation?" Chelsey immediately asked as she entered her Dressing Room. 'He still wants me to sign the contract," she replied, sitting on the long sofa. 'What did you do?" Chelsey inquired, moving closer and sitting beside her. 'I said I'll sign on the day of Mr. Cruz's PressCon," she responded to her. 'What? So, you're still going to accept that trashy company?" Chelsey exclaimed in surprise. She shook her head, hearing Chelsey release a sigh of relief. 'I have to do it," she said, signaling the door. Chelsey understood, seeming to grasp the meaning without her saying it. In that building, she had no allies apart from Chelsey and Cecile. Everyone else, especially the two women, were her enemies. She knew all the staff favored Matilda and spread rumors about her outside and to the reporters. No one liked her due to Matilda's poisonous tongue and her PA's constant defamation. She'd known that for a while, but she'd remained kind and a good friend to Matilda. She didn't care about what people said; she knew the truth about herself. She didn't care about what others said and never paid attention to the rumors around her. 'When is that?" Chelsey asked in a loud voice to be heard by anyone outside. She sighed and didn't answer, but a faint smile played on her lips. 'Never mind that. Could you gather all our things? We're going to transfer to my new dressing room," she instructed. Chelsey's eyes widened, and without questioning, she immediately complied. If Xander thought he had fooled her, he was mistaken. She agreed to his proposal to move to a better dressing room. She accepted the offer, but that didn't mean she would sign and submit to him again. He had no idea her plans, and she wanted to laugh at his foolishness. How would he react when he found out she had played him like a fiddle? I can't wait to see him eating his sh*t. Once Chelsey gathered her belongings, they left the old, cramped dressing room together. Everyone's attention immediately shifted to them, and even without looking at them, she knew they were all speculating that she was leaving. 'I wonder where they're going? I heard Sir Xander shouting earlier. Could they be kicking her out?" one staff member whispered as they passed. 'But didn't she just sign the contract?" another colleague questioned. 'Aren't you used to it by now? She'll probably cancel her contract. That's how that woman is, always seeking attention to be talked about and trend!" another person remarked with annoyance. She noticed Chelsey's face turning red; she was affected by their words. However, she didn't let that deter her and calmly walked past them. 'But if she's leaving, why is she heading towards the elevator?" another asked. 'Probably moving rooms," Chelsey sarcastically muttered. They were in front of the elevator when she heard Matilda's scandalous voice. 'Good morning, Briella! How are you today?" She ignored it, facing the elevator and waiting for the doors to open. 'Oh, come on. We should celebrate. We both have contracts! I got Sun Glow Fashion, and you got that cheap—oh, what's the company's name? I forgot. It's not popular anyway," she added snobbishly and approached her. Still, she didn't react, letting her talk away. She wouldn't waste her energy on trash. 'Hey, I'm talking to you," she said, touching her shoulder. Briella turned to her and then back to the elevator. She sighed deeply and locked eyes with her, exchanging a challenging gaze. 'Even though the company that hired me is considered cheap, they're preparing my contract and the PressCon. How about you? Has Sun Glow Fashion called you for your contract? Do you have a PressCon scheduled?" she asked without emotion. Matilda was taken aback, her face suddenly losing color, not expecting those questions. Briella secretly grinned when she saw Matilda's eyes widen, and her lips quivered as she struggled to find words. 'Don't flatter yourself too much, Matty, that's not good. Only brag to me once you slap the Sun Glow Fashion contract in my face. Because any moment, I can slap the contract of the company you're calling cheap in your face. At least, I have proof. What about you?" she retorted. The elevator chimed, signaling that they could use it. She entered first, followed by Chelsey, who had a mischievous smile on her lips. As the elevator doors closed, she noticed Matilda was still frozen. Perhaps she hadn't anticipated her bold words and resistance. 'You know what?" she heard Chelsey say. 'I almost want to kiss those two jerks for what they did to you. Don't get me wrong, but I'm really grateful that you've changed. You've become fierce and full of fighting spirit. I can't wait to see them regretting and shedding tears." Briella gave a restrained smile and looked at her reflection in the elevator door. 'Their days of celebration are numbered." Chelsey chuckled at what she said. The elevator came to a halt, and the doors opened. They walked out together and headed towards her new dressing room. 'How did you convince Xander to give you a dressing room on the second floor?" Chelsey asked as they walked down the hallway. 'I didn't. I just told him I'm moving to a new dressing room as I want in exchange for agreeing to attend the contract signing," she replied. They stopped at a door in the east wing. She took out the key and opened it. 'Then how did you get this room?" Chelsey asked. She opened the door, and Chelsey gasped as she took in the entirety of the room. It was worlds apart from the old and messy dressing room Xander had given her. The room was spacious, with neat sofas and a coffee table. There was a small counter to make coffee and other food, a small refrigerator, and centralized air conditioning. 'Oh my God, I want to kiss the floor because the place is so beautiful!" Chelsey exclaimed, rushing towards the small refrigerator. 'There are sandwiches and canned juice here too! Whoa!" 'Cecile arranged this room for me. She talked to some staff on this floor to provide everything I need," she said, closing the door. 'Wow, that girl loves you, huh?" Chelsey remarked as she opened the cabinet and grabbed some chips. 'Let's just say she's returning the favor. Besides, we have an agreement that she'll benefit from in the future," she replied and sat on the long sofa. She took out her cell phone when she felt it vibrate. She saw a message from Braun saying he couldn't pick her up due to a last-minute meeting, but he was sending Luigi to give her a ride home. She sighed; she could commute back to the mansion without anyone following her. 'Why the sigh?" Chelsey asked. She placed her cell phone back in her bag and shook her head. 'Nothing, just remembered something." 'Can I use the TV to watch my KDrama?" Chelsey asked with a grin. 'Do whatever you want," she said, handing her an extra key. 'Did you handle the tasks I assigned to you? We're leaving next week and might spend two weeks in Baguio." Chelsey nodded. 'Yep, I got everything sorted out. Ma'am, Janice also gave me the sketches of your outfits and the theme. She wants you to study everything so you won't struggle on the day of the photoshoots. You're also going to do a fifteen-second advertisement and a two-second teaser for the magazine preview," she explained. She nodded and took note of everything Chelsey said. 'Send me all the details to my email. Did you pack your things?" 'Of course!" Chelsey replied, beaming. 'It's not every day I get to travel to Banaue. I'm tempted to vlog and post it on YouTube!" 'You know you can't do that, right?" She raised an eyebrow at Chelsey. Chelsey pouted and crossed her arms. 'Well, I'll just upload it after the magazine comes out! I can't miss that opportunity, can I?" She shook her head, knowing she couldn't stop Chelsey from doing what she wanted. What mattered to her was that they wouldn't overlook any small detail. She wanted her first time in front of the camera to be perfect. She wanted to show the world that the former model, who had been among the top ten models globally, was making a comeback! She'll be back and aiming for the highest rank in the modeling industry! In the afternoon, she received a text message from Luigi. Fortunately, Chelsey had left earlier, as she had some tasks to complete. After closing her dressing room door, she headed to the elevator. She shared it with a few others who seemed repulsed by her presence, choosing to squeeze themselves into the back of the elevator. She discreetly rolled her eyes and ignored them, holding her head high while waiting for the elevator to stop. As soon as the doors opened, she stepped ahead of the others. She left the building and found Braun's familiar car parked. She approached it and got inside. 'Good evening, Madam," Luigi greeted her. 'Good evening, Luigi," she greeted back with a smile. 'Is Braun still in a meeting?" Luigi started the car and left that place. 'Yes, Madam. After I drop you off at the mansion, I'll immediately return to him," he politely replied. 'I'm sorry if I inconvenienced you. I texted Braun not to pick me up because he needs you more. I can take a taxi and get a ride." 'Your safety is what matters the most, Madam. If his meeting weren't with important individuals, he would probably be with you right now," he said to her. 'The President cares about you too much." She remained silent, her tense shoulders facing the window. ‘The President cares about you too much.' Yes, she knows that, and she's very thankful for it. 'Tell me…" she began, still not looking at the man. 'Does he care too much about others as well? I mean, I've heard rumors about him. Merciless, heartless, and ruthless. Everyone in our industry fears him. He's so powerful that everyone needs to bow before him. And in all my time in showbiz, no one has dared to challenge him." It took a while before she received a response, as if Luigi was weighing whether he could answer her question. 'He does. Our President takes care of everyone in his company but in a different way. What you've heard about him is correct. Some say he's dangerous and can't be offended. He's incredibly hardworking, which makes him powerful. Everything he's achieved has been earned step by step. Some might say he's in his position due to luck or protection. But the truth is, it's his hard work and passion. He always believes that to achieve something, you must pursue it relentlessly and never give up. Even when the world is against you, you must continue moving forward and making your dreams come true." She glanced at him through the rearview mirror and saw his genuine smile as he talked about Braun. 'How long have you been Braun's assistant?" she asked. Luigi momentarily paused but then scratched his head before speaking. 'I don't know, it's been so long, and with so many things I manage, I've lost track of the exact number." She nodded and didn't disturb him as he drove. Her cell phone rang, and she saw Braun's name on the screen. Her face lit up as she answered. 'Hello, Braun," she greeted him. 'Hello, wife. Have you reached our home?" he asked on the other end. 'We're on our way. How are you? Will you be there for a while?" she inquired. 'I think so. We're waiting for one more VIP personnel before we start the meeting. But if you tell me you missed me, I'll come home and be with you," he teased. 'H-Huh?" His words brought a flush to her cheeks. She hadn't expected that and wasn't prepared for it, so she wasn't sure how to react. He needs to stop teasing me! I might fall for his taunts! 'Just say the word," he said in the most affectionate tone. She gasped and shook her head repeatedly. Her heart raced erratically, and her imagination was running wild again. 'H-Hey! Stop it," she scolded. She heard his soft chuckle. If she weren't in the company of others, she might have rolled around in delight at her overwhelming happiness. Or rather, she was tickled by his playful teasing. 'Call me when you get home, okay?" he said sweetly. 'Okay," she replied. 'I need to hang up now," he said on the other end. 'Take care, bye." 'Bye, I'll be home very soon." After saying goodbye, she put down her cell phone and took a deep breath to calm her racing heart. With each passing day she spent with Braun, even just hearing his voice, her feelings for him grew stronger. They hadn't even been married for a month and were still getting to know each other. Yet she felt like those few days were enough to let her heart fall for him again and submit to him. After a while, they reached the mansion. Luigi quickly bid her farewell and left after she thanked him. As she entered the house, she felt she might go deaf from the overwhelming silence. The mansion was incredibly large, big enough to accommodate ten families. She'd prefer to live in a simple home if given a choice. However, she had to get used to this lifestyle because she had married the wealthiest and most powerful figure in the showbiz industry. After changing into comfortable clothes, she went to the kitchen to prepare their dinner. She sent Braun a text message, letting him know that she would be cooking their meal. He called her in less than a minute, and she was surprised when she answered. 'Hello?" she said. 'You don't have to cook for us; wait for me, and I'll be the one to do it," he offered. She blinked in surprise and couldn't believe it. She couldn't understand why he didn't want her to cook. Didn't he enjoy her cooking? 'Don't you like the food I cook?" she managed to ask. 'No, it's not like that," he replied. 'Then I'll prepare our food, President Braun," she insisted. For a moment, she heard nothing on the other end of the line until he sighed and gave in. 'Okay, but please take care. I won't be there to watch over you," he said. 'I'm not a child for you to watch over. Come on!" she retorted. She heard his soft chuckle before saying goodbye again. After hanging up, she realized why he had laughed at her last statement. She had claimed she wasn't a child, yet she had acted like one. Sighing, she placed her cell phone on the table and opened the refrigerator to take out meat and vegetables. She wanted to cook a simple dish. Braun wasn't picky about food, and she knew some of his favorite dishes. After washing the vegetables and meat, she chopped them with the other ingredients. She also took out a tilapia; she planned to make sweet and sour fish. Once everything was ready, she started cooking. She was so engrossed in her task that she lost track of time. She only realized how much time had passed when she finished preparing everything on the table and heard a car pulling into the garage. Checking her cell phone for the time, she was surprised that she had spent over two hours preparing everything. She looked at her finger, which had accidentally been cut while cleaning the fish. When the door opened, she saw Braun entering. He walked straight to her and hugged her. 'H-Hold on, I smell like sweat," she said shyly. 'What did you cook?" he asked, guiding her towards the kitchen. But before she could answer, he noticed the band-aid on her finger. 'What happened to your finger?" he asked concernedly. 'Mr. President, do you need anything?" Luigi asked as he entered the house. She took a deep breath and tried to take her hand away from his grasp. 'It's nothing, I just—" she didn't finish her sentence as he turned to Luigi. 'Luigi, take the medical kit, now!" he ordered. He led her to the living room and made her sit down. Although confused, she remained silent and allowed him to take charge. 'I told you to take care of yourself, didn't I?" He furrowed his brows as he removed the band-aid from her finger. 'Braun, I just got pricked by a thorn. It's not deep," she explained to him. 'Luigi, where are you?! Hurry!" he shouted. Luigi quickly rushed out of the kitchen, carrying the medical kit. Braun immediately took it from him, opened the bottle of betadine, and applied some to a cotton ball. He gently dabbed the small cut on her finger. 'From now on, you're not allowed to use the kitchen when I'm not around," he reprimanded her. She stared at him with her mouth slightly open. She wanted to say something, but she couldn't find the words. She could see the corner of Luigi's mouth twitch as though he couldn't believe the President's overreacting behavior. 'What?" Braun raised an eyebrow after cleaning her cut and reapplying the band-aid. 'I just got pricked by a thorn, Braun. Why does it seem like a big deal to you?" she retorted. He held her hand and looked at Luigi. Luigi smirked and quickly excused himself. 'I don't want anybody to hurt you," he said when they were the only ones in the house. 'Nobody hurt me. I told you, I got pricked by a thorn," she still insisted. 'Even if it's just an ant that bites you, it's not okay with me! You're important to me, and I care about you. You can't get hurt, do you understand?" 'You're ridiculous, President Braun!" she exclaimed. 'If taking care of you and treating you like my Queen is me being ridiculous, then so be it," he said, gazing deeply into her eyes. She was taken aback and swallowed hard. She gasped as he lightly touched her face. Even that gentle touch sent a sensuous shiver down her spine. Her mind was flooded with his presence, and all she could think about was him touching her most sensitively. Unconsciously, she bit her lip as she indulged in the thoughts swirling in her mind. His lips approached hers, brushing against them briefly before pulling away. 'Promise me you won't cook for me," he said. She frowned and glared at him. 'I can't do that. I am your wife, and I'll cook for you whenever possible! You're just being overprotective." She remained silent, staring at him as if his decision was unchangeable. They engaged in a brief staring contest, but in the end, she surrendered. She couldn't maintain prolonged eye contact with him; his gaze was so intense that it felt like she was melting under his scrutiny. 'Okay, you win," she sighed. 'I promise I won't cook if you're not around." He smiled and took her hand. 'Okay, let's eat. I'm eager to taste your cooking." He helped her stand, and hand in hand, they headed to the kitchen to enjoy their meal. As they ate, she couldn't help but remember what Luigi had said to her earlier. 'The President cares about you too much." ‘In that case, I'll do the same. From now on, I'll do everything he wants and care for him just as he always does for me.' She observed him eating enthusiastically, noticing he hadn't touched the sweet and sour dish she had prepared. Did he not like that dish? 'Why aren't you trying the tilapia? Don't you eat that kind of dish?" she asked, puzzled. He shook his head. 'I love it, it's just... I'm contemplating what to do with the fish bones. I want to pulverize the thorns so you won't get pricked again. Also, I'm considering not buying any fish with bones in the future. That way, I can prevent you from getting pricked." What the heck?! Her jaw dropped at his statement. Was he serious? She only got pricked by a fish bone, but he seemed to be going to extreme lengths to avoid her getting hurt again. 'Pulverize the thorns of the tilapia? Seriously?" She was utterly baffled. He laughed at her reaction. 'Don't worry, it's just an idea. But seeing you react like this makes me want to do it even more." Poor tilapia, caught in the crossfire of President Braun's overprotectiveness!