Jayden's POV

This is the best solution. Not the ridiculous idea of meeting up with Juliet and confronting her about the newspaper headlines.

That won't do anything. The deed has been done and the only way to rectify this is to accept the invitation to the business dinner party which I rejected last week because Isabella would be going to Verona two days after.

I just need to make an appearance there to rule out the rumor about us being in a contractual marriage.

Isabella also likes the idea but she wanted to confront Juliet and we argued back and forth about that before she agreed not to go.

That will only cause a scene. What she has done is enough.

It might actually ruin the idea of getting divorced after a year but I won't let that bother me. I don't let people's disreputable talks about me get to me, I see no reason why now should be the beginning of letting their talks get to me.

After a year, we are getting separated and that is final. I don't care if they get to relate it to the news that Juliet willingly gave out to the press. I wonder how she did that.

All I care about right now is how to make sure that we rule out the rumor and look real during the dinner party.

I am wearing a custom-tailored two-piece suit with black luxury leather oxford shoes while Isabella is wearing an elegant sleeveless off-shoulder bodycon long dress.

It is also black and she is wearing silver earrings and a necklace with her hair packed in a low bun.

With arms entwined, we venture further into the bustling hall filled with numerous businessmen and women from around the world.

I can feel Isabella's nervousness but I am not saying anything to assure her that the day will go well. She needs to get used to pushing back her nervousness and getting the day done with each time we go out.

We walk in until a familiar face stops us.

"Jayden", he says in a low voice but I can't recognize him. This was the reason why I didn't want to come initially. I know there will be a lot of people here today and I was trying to avoid associating myself with long-distance friends and former business partners. Some of the men from the billionaire's club will be here but now that we are here, it can not be avoided.

He pulls me in a tight hug, making me leave hands with Isabella. His cologne attacks my nostril and I remember who he is almost immediately.

"Sebastian?" I call, more like a question to be sure that he is the one.

Sebastian is among the billionaire club members but he left even before I did. It's been a long time and I guess that's why I couldn't recognize him at first glance.

The cologne reminds me of who he is. The same cologne Helena wanted me to always use whenever I want to go out. Sebastian smelled the cologne on me and told me he uses it too.

"Yes, buddy. How have you been?" He asks as he disengages from the hug. Before I can answer, he shifts his gaze to Isabella who isn't standing awkwardly like I thought she would be doing.

The smile on his face widens.

Isabella is standing with a beautiful smile on her face, watching the two of us as we hug.

"Your wife?" He demands and I nod without a word. He embraces her and kisses her two cheeks.

I roll my eyes.

Is this necessary? A hug should be enough, right?

"How are you doing, Isabella?" He questions and my eyes widen. How did he know her name? Did Isabella tell him?

Before I can think further about it, he faces me squarely again. "I never knew you would come. I am so happy you are here."

"Yeah, I'm happy to see you too."

"It's been so long since we last saw each other", he announces with a big grin on his face as he searches my face.

I shrug nonchalantly.

"Is she the one someone said you are in a contractual relationship with?" He asks and the smile on my face fades off.

He already knows about Isabella even before we bumped into him. That must be how he got her name.

How the hell did he know when he isn't even a resident of New York City? I am sure he flew in from wherever he is hiding just to attend this business dinner.

It is a business dinner but I feel it is more of a trick to convince the businessmen they want to partner with to accept their proposal. I am amongst the businessmen whose automobile industry has been shown interest in but I'm not interested in any partnership for now.

"What do you think?" I laugh fakely, thinking of what to do to make him believe the story isn't true.

Isabella and I disengaged our arms when he hugged me and it will look too real to be true if I hold her hands now all of a sudden. It will look like we are putting up a show.

"Baby, I need to use the restroom", her voice pulls me out of my reverie and Sebastian's eyes fall on her.

Thankful for the interruption, I turn to Isabella. "I will be waiting here for you, love."

She leans in and pecks my lips and something flashes across my memory.

The kiss.

"Will you be able to find your way to the restroom?" Sabastian's concerned tone does not give me a chance to dwell much on this abrupt peck on the lips and the similar one that took almost two minutes the other day.

That kiss was different. It was intense. No one was watching.

This one is quick. Where everyone is watching.

But surprisingly, I could feel the jolts of electricity running down my spine at that little affection, even though it is fake.

Isabella nods and walk away.

"She is beautiful", Sabastian comments, and I realize I am watching her walk away. She does not only look beautiful, but she is also elegant and sexy in that dress.

"Wow!" I snap my head towards him, making an effort not to show my displeasure at his comments. "You made a good choice."

"Yes, thank you", I force myself to smile, wishing he can just disappear. I was happy at first to see him but now that he is flirting with my wife, I want him gone.

Sebastian is a huge flirt. This is why he isn't married yet. He almost got married to one Indian girl whose father was a member of our billionaire club but he ruined it with his flirtatious acts with other women.

He was not only caught cheating with another woman. He was also caught flirting with the girl's step-sister.

The girl's father was an American but her mother was an Indian and she spent her whole life in India until that year when she flew to America to meet her father's new family.

Sebastian won her over with his sweet mouth. Her father was against it but the innocent girl insisted until Sebastian cheated. That was why he left New York.

I would never allow that to happen between him and Isabella.

Even after our separation, there are some certain men Isabella can never be with, some certain men I would never support her to go out with and Sebastian is top on the list, followed by Alejandro.

"I heard about Helena's death, I'm really sorry about that", his face turns sour and I nod in acknowledgment.

He likes Helena. If I didn't trust her, I would have accused Helena of cheating on me with him but funny enough, Helena was never out with me to the club members' party.

"May her sweet soul rest in peace", he says. "Amen."

"Amen", I utter too, wishing for a topic change.

As if hearing my thoughts, he sighs and the smile is back on his face. "Isabella looks stunning, where did you find such a beautiful bride?"

I only smile.

Sebastian is the last person I would tell that I got married to my Assistant.

"About the rumors, is it true?"

"Of course not", I deny with a deep frown. "How can you believe such bullshit?"

"I thought as much. She looked really beautiful on the papers but seeing her closely, I believe she is twice as beautiful as she looked on the papers. How can you be in a contracted relationship with such a beautiful, sexy woman?"

This is it. I am done with this conversation. The more he compliments her, the more annoyed I become.

He is not only using simple words like beautiful anymore, he has upgraded his compliments to being sexy.

What the hell is that for?

"I should go now, Sebastian", I say to her in a quick tone. "I should go look for my wife. She might not know her way around."

"Oh!" He only murmurs and nods his head in understanding. Before I can take a step away from him, he raises a finger. "If it turns out that you are truly in a contracted relationship with her, then it means it is for a limited time. Don't hesitate to let me know so I can ask her to marry me…."

"Shut up!" I growl out loudly before turning away from him in irritation.

He isn't only letting me know that our future separation will make this rumor true, but he is also talking about getting married to her after I am done with her.

Leaving him standing there, I begin to take long strides toward the path Isabella took on her way to search for the restroom.

Remembering what Sebastian just said about getting married to Isabella after we are separated, I growl again inwardly. "What the hell!

****

I smell jealousy in the air.

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