Chapter 22: The Fateful Call
My heart pounding in my chest as I reached out to take the phone from his hand. My fingers brushed against his, and I felt a jolt of electricity at the contact. I quickly pulled my hand away, my cheeks flushing with embarrassment. I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves as I dialed my mom's number on video call. The phone rang a few times before she answered, her face appearing on the screen, her eyes filled with worry.
"Marina, where have you been? I've been trying to reach you for hours!" she exclaimed, her voice shaking with relief and concern.
"I was too tired last night, Mom," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. "The Creators Award ceremony was exhausting, and I just needed some rest." I could see the worry lines on her forehead softening slightly, but her eyes were still filled with concern. "I understand, sweetheart," she said, her voice gentle.
"But your father and I have been worried sick about you. We've seen those pictures online, with that man... Matt, is it? They're all over the internet, Marina.
We've seen them. You and that man, Matt, at the Creators Award ceremony. He's holding you, kissing your forehead. We're worried, Marina. We've seen the pictures, and we don't know what's going on. Are you okay? Is he hurting you?"
I could feel the panic rising in my chest, my heart pounding in my ears as I looked at my mom's worried face on the screen. I could see the concern in her eyes, the fear that she was trying to hide. I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves as I looked at Matt, who was standing behind me, his arms crossed over his chest, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction. I knew that I had to play my part, that I had to convince my mom that everything was okay.
I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves as I looked at her worried face on the screen. "Mom, it's not what you think," I said, my voice as reassuring as I could make it. "Matt has been helping me with my content, giving me advice and inspiration for my solo-camping videos. He's been a great help, actually. I wouldn't be where I am today without him." I could see the relief in her eyes as she listened to my words, her expression softening as she realized that I was telling the truth. "Oh, thank goodness," she said, her voice filled with relief. "I was so worried about you, Marina." I shook my head, trying to put her fears to rest.
"Mom, it's not what you think. Matt and I are in a relationship. I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier, but I wanted to keep it private for now. I should have told you, and I apologize for that." I put on a forced playful expression, trying to lighten the mood. "Anyway, enough about me. Look who's here with me." I panned the phone towards Matt, who was standing behind me, a playful smile on his face. "Hi, Mrs. Honeychurch," he said, his voice warm and friendly. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you. I've heard so much about you from Marina," Matt said, his voice smooth and charming. I could see the surprise in my mom's eyes, quickly replaced by a warm smile. "Well, it's nice to meet you too, Matt. Marina's told us so much about her work, but she's been a bit quiet about her personal life lately." I could feel the tension in my shoulders, the weight of the lie heavy on my chest. But I knew I had to keep up the charade, had to convince my mom that everything was okay. "Oh, Mom, you know how it is," I said, forcing a laugh. "I just wanted to keep things private for a while. But now that you've met Matt, you can see that he's a perfect gentleman. He's been keeping me safe, making sure I'm okay." I could see the relief in her eyes as she looked at Matt, her expression softening.
"I'm glad you're with someone who cares about you, Marina," she said, her voice warm. "Your father and I have been trying to reach you since last night. We wanted to congratulate you on winning the Best Outdoor Living Creator award. We've been trying to reach you since last night, but you didn't pick up. We're so proud of you, Marina. You've worked so hard for this, and it's finally paying off." My mom's words brought tears to my eyes, tears that I had been holding back for so long. I was their only child, their pride and joy, and they had no idea that I was trapped in this web of deceit, that I was being degraded and used by Matt. I could feel the tears streaming down my face, and I quickly turned away from the phone, not wanting my mom to see me like this.
"Thank you, Mom," I whispered, my voice shaking with emotion. "Thank you for always being there for me. I love you both so much." I could hear my mom's voice on the other end, but I couldn't make out the words as I tried to compose myself. "You're doing great, Marina," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "Just keep up the act, and everything will be fine." I nodded, my heart pounding in my chest as I realized the gravity of the situation. I had to keep up the charade, had to convince my mom that everything was okay, even though I knew that I was lying to her.
I could feel the weight of Matt's gaze on me, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction as he watched me interact with my parents. I knew that he was enjoying this, that he was getting a kick out of seeing me squirm under his control. But I had to keep up the act, had to convince my mom that everything was okay.
Matt signaled me with a subtle nod, a small movement of his head that I knew meant it was time to end the call. I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves as I looked at my mom's concerned face on the screen. "I have to go, Mom," I said, my voice shaking slightly. "I'll call you later, okay? I love you." I could see the worry in her eyes as she nodded, her expression softening slightly. "I love you too, Marina," she said, her voice gentle.
"Be careful, sweetheart. Call me later." The screen went black as the call ended, and I let out a shaky breath, my heart still pounding in my chest. I turned to face Matt, my eyes filled with a mix of fear and defiance. "Are you happy now?" I asked, my voice low and dangerous. "Did you enjoy watching me lie to my mom, watching me pretend that everything is okay?" Matt's eyes gleamed with a mixture of satisfaction and amusement as he stepped closer to me, his body almost touching mine. I could feel the heat radiating off him, the electricity between us palpable.
"Oh, Marina," he said, his voice low and husky. "You have no idea how much I enjoyed it. Seeing you squirm, seeing you try to keep up the charade. It was... intoxicating." He reached out, his fingers tracing the curve of my jaw, his thumb gently brushing against my lips. I shivered at his touch, my body responding to him despite the fear and anger that coursed through me.
"We have a tour to do, remember?" he whispered, his breath hot on my ear. "The paparazzi are waiting, and we need to give them a show." I nodded, my heart pounding in my chest as I realized what he meant. He wanted us to put on a show, to pretend that we were a happy couple in love, all for the sake of gaining popularity. I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves as I prepared to play my part. Matt reached out, his hand wrapping around mine as he led me out of the hotel room. I could feel the weight of his hand on mine, the possessiveness in his grip as he led me down the hallway towards the elevator. I could feel the eyes of the hotel staff on us, their whispers filling the air as we passed by.
I could feel the panic rising in my chest, my heart pounding in my ears as I tried to keep up with his long strides. The elevator doors opened with a soft chime, and we stepped inside, the doors closing behind us with a finality that sent a shiver down my spine.
As the elevator descended, I could feel Matt's eyes on me, his gaze intense and unyielding. I tried to look away, to focus on the numbers above the door, but his stare was like a physical touch, burning into my skin. I could feel the heat rising in my cheeks, my body responding to his gaze despite the fear and anger that coursed through me.
The elevator doors opened with a soft chime, and we stepped out into the lobby. The lobby was bustling with activity, creators and their handlers rushing around, their voices filling the air.
Several creators were led to their respective buses, their faces a mix of excitement and exhaustion. Bella, the Creators Award organizer representative, was overseeing the operation, her eyes scanning the crowd, ensuring everyone was accounted for.
Her gaze landed on me and Matt, standing near the exit. A smile spread across her face, and she made her way towards us, her heels clicking on the marble floor. "Marina, Matt," she greeted, her voice warm and enthusiastic. "I'm glad I caught you before you left. I wanted to congratulate you both on your wins and thank you for being such great sports throughout the event." She turned to me, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Marina, you didn't tell me you were in a relationship with Matt!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with a mix of surprise and amusement. "I mean, I saw the pictures, but I thought it was just for show, you know, for the paparazzi." I felt my cheeks flush, the heat rising in my face as I realized that she was teasing me. Matt chuckled beside me, his arm wrapping around my waist, pulling me closer to him. "Oh, Bella," he said, his voice smooth and charming. "You know how it is. Some things are better left unsaid." But I knew I had to keep up the charade, had to convince Bella that everything was okay. I forced a laugh, trying to lighten the mood.
Bella's eyes sparkled with amusement as she looked between us, a knowing smile playing on her lips. "Well, I wish you both the best," she said, her voice warm and genuine. "You two make a great couple, and I hope you both enjoy your time together." I felt a pang of guilt in my chest as I looked at her, knowing that she had no idea that I was being forced to do this, that I was trapped in this web of deceit.
I nodded, trying to keep my expression neutral. "Thank you, Bella.
We'll do our best," I replied, my voice steady despite the turmoil inside me. Matt's grip on my waist tightened slightly, a silent reminder of his control over me. I could feel his breath on my neck, the warmth of his body pressing against mine. It was a strange mix of comfort and discomfort, a reminder of the power dynamics at play.
As we stepped out of the hotel's grand lobby, the sunlight hit my face, and I squinted, my eyes adjusting to the sudden brightness. Several reporters were already standing by, their cameras at the ready, eagerly awaiting the parade of creators. As soon as Matt and I emerged from the lobby, the 'spotlights' were directed to us. Flashbulbs popped rapidly, their bursts of light momentarily blinding me. I felt Matt's grip on my waist tighten, a silencing command in itself. He leaned down, his lips brushing against my ear, his voice low and commanding. "Smile, Marina. Give them what they want."
I took a deep breath, plastering a fake smile on my face, my stomach churning with a mix of fear and anxiety. The cameras clicked furiously, their invasive gaze penetrating deep into my soul.
I could feel the weight of Matt's hands on my bare midriff, his fingers tracing the curve of my waist, pulling me closer to him. My E-cup breasts swung freely beneath the thin fabric of my crop white T-shirt, the cool air of the morning sending a shiver down my spine. I could feel the heat rising in my cheeks, my body responding to his touch despite the fear and anger that coursed through me. I forced a smile, my eyes meeting his, a silent plea for him to stop, to let me go. But his grip only tightened, his fingers digging into my skin, a warning that I was to play along, to give the paparazzi what they wanted. I took a deep breath, trying to steady my nerves as I looked into the sea of cameras, their lenses glinting in the sunlight. I could feel the weight of their gaze on me, their eyes hungry for a story, for a scandal.
I looked towards Matt, my cheeks flushing with embarrassment, but I kept my voice steady as I whispered, "How are we getting to this 'tour' of yours?" Matt's eyes gleamed with satisfaction as he looked down at me, his grip on my waist tightening slightly. "Our ride is here," he said, nodding towards the entrance of the hotel. I followed his gaze and saw a sleek, black luxury minivan pulling up to the curb, the driver dressed in a crisp uniform stepping out to open the door for us. Matt led me towards the vehicle, his hand never leaving my waist, as if he was afraid I might try to run away. I could feel the eyes of the paparazzi on us, their cameras clicking furiously as we made our way to the minivan.
Matt opened the door for me, his hand pressing against the small of my back as he guided me inside. The interior was plush and luxurious, with leather seats and a cool, air-conditioned environment that was a welcome relief from the warm Treyo's morning. As we settled into our seats, the driver closed the door behind us, shutting out the noise of the crowd outside. Matt reached over and buckled my seatbelt for me, his fingers brushing against my thigh, sending a shiver down my spine. I could feel the heat rising in my cheeks as I looked at him, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "Comfortable?" he asked, his voice low and husky. I nodded, my heart pounding in my chest as I realized that we were alone, the driver separated from us by a partition. Matt reached out, his hand cupping my cheek, his thumb gently brushing against my lips.
"Those paparazzi out there are hungry for a story, Marina," he whispered, his voice low and dangerous. "Let's give them something to talk about." And before I could react, his lips were on mine, hot and demanding, his tongue pushing its way into my mouth. I was shocked, my body stiffening in surprise as I realized what was happening. I could see the flashes of the cameras through the tinted windows of the minivan, the paparazzi and fans outside capturing the moment. I knew that this was all for show, that Matt was putting on a performance for their benefit. But my body betrayed me, my heart pounding in my chest as I felt the heat of his kiss, the electricity that coursed through me at his touch. I could feel his hand on my thigh, his fingers tracing the hem of my hot pants, inching upwards, his touch setting my skin on fire.
I tried to shake him off, my hands pushing against his chest, but he was relentless, his body pressing me further into the leather seat. His kiss deepened, his tongue probing my mouth, demanding entry. I could feel the heat building between my legs, my body responding to his touch despite the fear and anger that coursed through me. For a moment, I struggled, my mind screaming at me to push him away, to break free from his grasp. But his grip was strong, his body heavy, and I felt a wave of helplessness wash over me. I let out a soft moan, the sound muffled by his mouth, as I finally gave in, my hands dropping to my sides, my body relaxing into his embrace. He took advantage of my surrender, his tongue digging deeper, his kiss becoming more passionately forceful.
I could feel the cameras clicking away, the chants and whistles from the paparazzi and fans outside growing louder, like a deafening soundtrack to our unwanted performance. Matt finally pulled away, his lips swollen and breath ragged. He looked at me, his eyes dark and smoldering, a satisfied smirk playing on his lips. "That should give them something to talk about," he murmured, his voice barely audible over the din of the crowd. He turned towards the driver, his voice booming with authority. "Let's go, driver. Take us to the first stop on our 'tour'."
The sudden change in Matt's demeanor caught me off guard. One moment he was devouring my mouth, and the next, he was barking orders like a seasoned commander.