Chapter 3 Hectir

• Hector's Pov
• "You've been managing our companies for years, and you have a very good track record. Our board of directors is all applauding you, but now they're doubting your capacity as CEO because of this controversy. How could you let this happen, Hector?" Dad appeared disappointed in me. When he saw the news about the affair, he was furious. And now that the firm is in jeopardy, he is even more enraged.
• "I'm sorry, Dad," I said. "I'm not expecting this to happen; I've been friendly to him since he's the son of our business partner, but I had no clue he had love for me, and I have no idea who's responsible for sharing those photographs," I said to Dad.
• What happened between me and Greg was just a misunderstanding. We've been friends for years now, and even though he is gay, I treated him just like my other friends. But I'm not expecting that he will do that. I'm not aware of his feelings towards me. And that day, he confessed his feelings for me. I was shocked upon hearing it. When I told him that I couldn't reciprocate his feelings, instead of accepting he went berserk. And I didn't foresee the next thing he would do.
• He kissed my lips!
• I was so stunned at the time that I didn't recover soon. Imagine how terrified I was at the moment. A man kissed me on the lips! I want to punch him in the face and beat him up. Thank God, I was able to restrain my fury.
• And now I have to face my dad's wrath because of the controversy circulating in society that I am gay. Our companies were affected by that scandal.
• "We have to do something before it gets worse, Hector," Dad said to me.
• I guess I already know where this conversation is leading to.
• "I know what you're thinking, dad. And it's a no," I said to him. I'll resolve this problem on my own. And I promise you that I won't let this ruin our company and our name." I assured dad. I won't let him use this situation right now to make me marry the woman he wants me to marry.
• "All right, son. I'll give you an opportunity to fix this on your own, but if you don't succeed, you have to marry my compadre's daughter." Dad rises up and is about to go when he turns to me and adds, "And I'm giving you a week to accomplish that, son," he said before leaving me stunned.
• How can I possibly do that in a week?
• I sit problematically while massaging my temples. I have to do something or else Mom and Dad will get what they want. And it is me marrying that woman whom I don't even know.
• We are already done with precautionary measures. The videos and pictures are turned off now. As well as the media. But still, people saw the pictures of me and Greg kissing. And they are thinking that I'm a homosexual. That's why Mom and Dad were pursuing their plan to set me up for a wedding with their compadre's daughter.
• "That woman!" All of a sudden, I remember the woman who I bumped into that day. She asked me if I wanted to have a contract marriage with her. Of course, I declined her offer. I don't know her. Why would I acknowledge her offer?
• She informed me that she does not want to marry the man whom her parents had chosen for her. And she's proposing a contract marriage to rescue me from further humiliation. To think about it, it will benefit both of us.
• I remember she gave me her business card.
• I have to find it.
• I looked for the business card of that woman, and I found it in my wallet. After thinking about it for a minute, I called her.
• I'd rather have a fake marriage than marry someone I didn't know for real.
• *****
• To resolve my problem and to make people believe that I'm not gay, I had a contract marriage with Silvana Lopez. And we have been acting as a married couple for eight months now.
• I am still the CEO of the Valderama Group of Companies. And the rumors about me being gay were already forgotten by the people. Greg Smith left the country because he couldn't accept the fact that I'm married now and I don't have any feelings for him.
• And Silvana? I don't have any problems with her. She is very nice and simple. It's a good thing she comes from a wealthy family too. Mom and Dad accepted her that easily, even though they are having a problem with their business at that time. But their company is stable now. I helped them to dissuade their company's bankruptcy.
• And now, I'm helping her to pursue her passion. Which is painting. Now that we are married, Well, just a contract marriage. But our parents didn't know about our deal. So, technically speaking, for them, we are a real couple. That's why her parents can no longer oppose any of her decisions. If she wants to paint instead of managing their business, then she can do it now. And I'll support and help her. As a sign of gratitude, because of her, I finally got rid of Greg and the controversy about us and me being gay. Plus, I don't have to marry the woman my parents want me to marry. Our contract marriage gives us freedom from our parents.
• I can see that Silvana was happy and excited about her first-ever art exhibit and the gallery of her own that we are planning to build.
• Her happiness was radiating from her.
• Silvana is a breath of fresh air.
• I guess I have to thank the architect who designed my vacation house in Rizal. Because of that modern-medieval house, I was able to meet her.
• But the unpleasant part was that she witnessed the scene where Greg was kissing me and the back-hugging moment.
• And now she thinks that I am gay.
• That is why she always teases me about being gay.
• "Hey, Princess! I mean Prince," I heard her giggle after correcting herself. "Dinner is served. Let's eat." She added.
• I looked at her with a grim expression on my face and said, "You are always making fun of me." Then I walked towards her.
• "Sorry... Are you mad at me?" Silvana worriedly asked.
• "You already know that I can't stay mad at you," I told her and that is a fact.
• "I know, right. That's why I love you," She said, and that caught me off guard for a moment. "Let's eat; our dinner is waiting for us." I was back to myself when I heard her.
• "Okay, let's eat". I smiled at her and walked with her to the dining room.
• How can I prove to her that I'm not gay? And that I've already fallen for her?