Just as I was about to lose my mind, the doorbell rang as the sound echoed through the whole apartment.
Dave might still be passed out from all the heavy medications, but he could wake up any minute. I need to stop whoever wants to create another nuisance for me to handle.
To confirm, I first walked up to his room, slightly opening it, and glanced around. Fortunately, he was still asleep. For a moment, I stood there watching his peaceful face, which did not have any cold or rude expression.
I like him better when he sleeps. I took a note in my mind, still gazing over the handsome but coldhearted husband of mine, when this time, a knock came from outside along with the call out for me.
Closing the door, ensuring he would not wake from his sleep, I walked towards the door at a fast pace and opened the door. Not wanting that person to create any more disturbance.
"Who is it?" I asked, opening the door when Josh’s panicked face came into view.
Not waiting for a moment, he stepped into the apartment and kept walking back and forth while mumbling something which I clearly could not understand a bit.
Why is everyone blabbering or mumbling like a freaking kid?
I screeched internally as I stopped in the mid track, asking, " Care to tell how this mess was created. I thought this was sorted out."
"So, do I," Josh replied as he kept panicking. I shook my head as I went into the kitchen, grabbing a glass of water, knowing we would have a very long conversation to do.
Forwarding the glass in his direction, I offered to talk calmly. He gratefully took the glass as we sat on the couch. Placing my hand on my lap, I locked my gaze on him.
I let out a breath, forcing myself to stay cool, because the last thing I needed right now was for Dave to wake up and walk into this mess.
He didn’t need to see headlines with his name and a blurred-out back of a girl becoming some new fantasy ship for the internet. Probably he would not even care because it was normal for him, but for me...It seemed to have the opposite effect on me.
I crossed my legs, trying to act as unbothered as humanly possible. "Okay, Josh. Chill. Breathe." He took my advice and took a few deep breaths as he sipped on the water, yet the tension on his face remained like before, so I added.
"You’re going to give yourself a heart attack, and then I’ll have two patients in this house. Not happening. So, relax and talk."
He blinked at me like I’d lost my mind. "Are you... not freaking out?" His words made me fist my hands, clenching the piece of cloth.
"Oh, I’m screaming inside," I deadpanned. "But screaming doesn’t delete the internet. So."
He blinked again, unsure why I was so calm and not panicking like a madman. Sure, I can do that, but that will not solve any problem; instead would wake the devil from his sleep.
"So... you’re seriously not mad?" He again asked, scrutinizing my every move.
"Who said I’m not mad?" I smiled sweetly, tilting my head in one direction, giving him chills with my too-sweet smile and strangely calm expression.
"I’m just being strategic about my blood pressure. Plus, Dave’s asleep, and if he wakes up and hears you having a breakdown louder than a dying kettle, it’s going to be you putting him back to sleep. Not me."
Josh shut up instantly, looking toward Dave’s room like he was afraid he’d accidentally summoned him. The Devil.
I leaned back, crossing my arms. "You said they can’t find the girl, right?"
He nodded. "Yeah. Her face’s completely turned away. Plus, the scarf helped. No tags. No leaks. Just a bunch of people speculating and making edits."
"Great." I clapped my hands once, quietly. "Then this isn’t our problem.
The moment someone tries to claim it was me, we’ll deny it. You’ll deny it. And by the time the news cycle moves on, no one will care about ’Davis’s scarf girl’ anymore."
Josh frowned. "But what if someone does figure it out?"
I leaned forward, whispering with a mischievous smirk, "Then let’s hope they enjoy guessing games. Because I’m not confirming anything."
Josh stared at me for a second. "You’re scary when you’re calm."
I shrugged. "Comes with dealing with chaos on a daily basis."
He looked like he wanted to argue more, but thankfully, just then, my phone buzzed again. Another message from Caroline. Probably another theory or fan edit, or meme. I ignored it.
Right now, priority was simple: Keep things quiet. Don’t let this spiral. And definitely... don’t wake up the guy who might remember that kiss.
I didn’t even know how I’d face him.
I rubbed my temple, letting the phone buzz again and again until it stopped. Probably Caroline was giving me a minute-by-minute update like she was running some gossip channel.
I didn’t ask for this.
I just wanted a quiet morning. Maybe a proper cup of tea. Maybe go back to bed after Dave’s meds kicked in. But no.
The universe heard "quiet" and threw me into a headline scandal with a side of mystery identity drama.
Josh finally sat still, still breathing like he had run a marathon, but not pacing anymore. I took that as progress.
"You said this started trending when?" I asked, grabbing a cushion and hugging it to my chest, more for comfort than anything.
"Late last night. Somehow, those reporters leaked the picture, and it just blew up this morning. Because of the recording Dave’s sir gave me, we were able to sue them and their company for good."
"Ohh." Now I know why he was recording their conversation. Though I did not want to admit but, Dave’s got the full package with beauty and brains.
"So, now what?" I shot back, he just shrugged, "We are trying to find something juicier gossip to distract the public attention from this while we remove all the pictures, which would need a week or two."
I shook my head. Great, just freaking great.