Merging Hearts (Smitten Hearts #1)

Chapter Forty-one

Rain

I scatter the papers across the room with a loud ‘Damn it!’ and the people in the office with me flinch. My fingers rake through my hair as my jaw tightens in frustration. It just keeps getting worse by each news article.

Can someone get anything done secretly in this country?

Where did they get this information? And most importantly, where did they get these recent photos? If they had speculated that the source was close to me, I would have counted a lot of people who could have done this. But they said the source was close to Hazel.

Only one person fits that description and that’s Kang Su-mi, but Hazel will have my head in a plate if I mention that.

Her research reports are spread on my work desk. She’s a criminal-record free Korean-American who needs money for her younger brother’s orthopedic surgery. She’s also a loyal follower of Tea For You .

The perfect candidate for a suspect.

“I’m done with it,” I hear my PR manager say as she walks to my lawyer who checks her laptop for whatever is on it.

In the room with me is my lawyer, my media team, my assistant, and the two trusted staff present at the wedding.

“This is perfect. Run through it once more and send it,” my lawyer replies to her and faces me. “We’ll send out a press release now, and you have a public address in thirty-five minutes.” I give him a nod and rest my head on my palms.

Who dared to come near my house, take pictures of my private family life and sell it to the press? Not just to any press, but to Tea For You . Those newspaper nerds are malicious. They don’t care, they just want their pockets filled.

I inspect the photos again. It doesn’t look like dispatch-taken pictures. It’s done by a random human who has no fear and decides to mess with a Dacosta.

People still haven’t learned to not mess with me.

I’ll make their life a living hell. Whoever it is.

I check the clock and wince. Hazel must be awake. She must have seen everything, including the comments people left.

I’m the one who messed with her simple life and brought her into the limelight, and I blame myself for it. I can only hope Angela is watching and taking care of her like I begged her to.

I’ve never had to beg anyone in my life, but I can’t imagine her waking up and seeing herself trending on the internet with no one by her side to comfort her and tell her it’ll die down, because it always does.

I despise having to leave her, but I have bigger issues. If I don’t say anything on it, the public will believe it’s true, and there’s no bigger insult than referring to my wife as an escort.

“Press release sent! Public address in twenty five minutes.”

Tia walks to me and hands a paper over. “That’s your speech, sir. You have to go over it and tell me if you want me to remove or add anything.”

My team and lawyer are attempting to launch a better story about the circumstances of the marriage and make it seem like it was a love marriage from the start. That’s the only way to save Hazel’s name from the backlash of the public.

“Mark, put Lawrence on the phone and tell him I need every captured moment at the front of my house in the past few months,”

“Yes, sir.”

Lawrence is my assigned head security guy from a large security company, and he handles the surveillances in my houses.

“Public address in ten minutes,” someone announces again and I breathe out in anger. I need to stop hearing that or I’ll lose my last shit.

Rustles start in the office as everyone packs their things in preparation for the address. I get up, fix my suit, and prepare to not murder anyone in the conference room.

I step up to the podium and take a seat with my lawyer, assistant, and PR manager. I scan the expectant faces before me. Camera clicks and reporters murmur fills the air. My jaw clenches, fury dancing in my eyes.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” my lawyer starts and the room falls silent. “I’m Mr Rain Dacosta’s lawyer, and he’s here to address the scandalous posts that have been circulating. He’ll take questions now. Please let’s be civil about it.”

The room breaks out into a cacophony of questions, while I wait to pick out one.

“How do you respond to the allegations made against you? And is Hazel Wilmer really your escort?”

Anger boils within me, threatening to spill over, but I keep calm. I’m at the front of dozens of cameras, and every mistake will be added to the news. “First of all, Hazel Wilmer is my wife. She has been for four months now.” I play with my finger, hoping the cameras catch the ring burning around it. I had to pick it up from my vanity table to put it back on.

Loud murmurs erupt from the room. “Your wife? Was it a love marriage, an arranged marriage, or did you marry her to debunk the rumor of you going out with your assistant?” My eyes slide to Tia who rolls her eyes. This media people never listen.

“Tia Freeman is an exceptional assistant and a valued asset in Dacosta Technology. We have a professional relationship based on respect, trust, and support. Any other suggestion is purely fiction. Hazel and I met, connected on a deeper level, and exchanged vows in an intimate family-only gathering. Hazel is naturally private. To respect her decision of no unnecessary scrutiny, we shared our special day with only special family and friends.”

“How has this affected your personal life, relationships, and your future projects?” I manage to pick out again, despite the noise.

“It has only been a few hours, but the misunderstanding has taken enough toll on my business and my wife. Family and friends have been supportive, but all future projects are on hold because they might face close scrutiny, and Dacosta Tech doesn’t want that. We separate personal lives from business.”

Three shareholders have called for updates on if the news is going to affect their shares. The devil works fast, but these shareholders work faster. Stock sales are being canceled, which will result in loss when calculating the issued share capital. Nothing major yet, but that’s why the public address was necessary—to make sure nothing major happens.

Knox and Renzo have called me three times—first to check on me and the follow ups were to ask for updates. Dad is working behind the shadows to keep the board of directors in check.

With all these supports, the scandal will last the maximum of a week.

“Do you plan to take any legal actions?”

My fists clench and my rage intensifies. “Absolutely. My legal team is currently on it as we speak. Once the person who dared to take pictures of me and my wife in front of our home is found, they’ll be facing a legal charge for invasion of privacy.”

“He’ll only take one more,” my lawyer states.

“What do you have to say to the general public?”

“I have nothing to say to the people who were so quick to throw stones at the woman who happens to be the victim in all these.”

My PRM signals to me to answer no more questions, but that’s when the hall becomes even more bombarded. Ignoring them all, we walk out of the conference room, hoping that this helps die the matter a bit.

“How’s she?” I ask Angela as I march into the house.

“She was shaken to the point of having a fever. I made her some soup, so don’t worry.” How can I not? “I gave her some pain relief, and her friend came to check in on her.”

My eyes narrow on their own. “Kang Su-mi came?”

Angela affirms.

I’ve planned to keep that woman on a roll to see how she moves. Especially financially.

While I won’t tell Hazel what I feel about her best friend, I won’t let her off the hook either. I’ll make sure she faces legal issues if she turns out guilty.

“Will you have dinner?”

“No.”

I make my way to the room and find Hazel covered under the blanket. After my shower, I lay beside her, propping my body up with my hand.

My fingers trail her peaceful face and I drop a kiss on her shoulder.

“I’m so sorry, Principessa .”