"I like the first one better."
Talia said with a shrug and looked at Arthur, who was answering his emails. There was only a couple of days for the engagent announcent and Louis and Lambert were convened for their usual eting at the terrace.
"It’s different than usual. I have a thousand selfies like the second one in my phone cara roll."
Talia passed her phone to Louis and Louis went through the cara roll and there were a lot of their selfies that were similar to the last picture the photographer took.
Louis wanted to publish the last photograph as it showed them as a lovely couple, but Talia differed in her opinion. Lambert didn’t care what picture gets published as he didn’t care that much.
"What’s with this teddy bear? Artie... you look cute!" Louis couldn’t hold back his laughter seeing a bunch of screenshots stored in her phone.
"What the... Iris?" Arthur grabbed the phone from Louis’ hand and glared at Talia. "Why did you even..."
He shook his head seeing the woman he trusted more than he trusted himself, filling her phone mory with the silly faces he made during their video calls.
"I trusted you..."
He pouted at her.
And what’s her obsession over the teddy bear she placed in my study? Why is every picture has that hideous bear in the background? I’ll change my na if I don’t burn that bear first thing after I return ho!
"Oh, co on, Fred! I’ve seen your cara roll." Talia rolled her eyes and Arthur gulped.
Okay, he has a handful of screengrabs where she’d be in a little compromising pose.
"What a drama queen," Talia got up from her seat and sat on Arthur’s lap, and placed a kiss on his cheek.
"I still think the last picture shows the cutesy side of you as Lia said," Louis pressed his lips. Talia didn’t think she could convince him anymore after he ntioned Cordelia and decided to leave it.
"By the way, what picture are you releasing in your side?" Louis asked Arthur.
"It’s sothing we took in the garden of Oakley Castle during the autumn." Arthur showed the picture and Talia smiled seeing the picture she loved, with red roses in the background.
They were sitting on a bench facing the side. She was leaning on Arthur’s chest with her back and Arthur had his right arm around her shoulder, while her left hand was holding his left hand as both were laughing looking away from the cara. It was a picture taken by Sebastian’s son who’s a hobby photographer.
She loved that picture and it is already beside their bed.
"Speaking of pictures, did Bailey cause any more troubles?" Lambert asked and Talia noticed both Louis and Arthur glaring at Lambert in unison, trying to silence him.
Bailey? Bailey who?
"What is that about?" Talia tried to probe, but Lambert stood up and ran away.
"Stop!" Talia tried to get up, but she was grabbed by Arthur’s strong arms around her waist and pulled back.
"Ask your fiance!"
Lambert scread as he ran away.
"Fred, who’s Bailey, and what did he do?" She turned and looked at Arthur.
"Alright. My wife will be waiting for . I’ll leave now. You two have a great night."
After snort-laughing, Louis composed himself and escaped seeing Arthur’s not-so-good mood.
"You really don’t rember David Bailey?" Arthur’s grip around her waist tightened and Talia flinched by his warm breath falling in the nook of her neck.
David Bailey... Why does that na seem familiar?
It took her so ti for Talia to put a face to that familiar na.
Oh, right... David Bailey, an ex-boyfriend of mine! Oopsie... I forgot!
"What did he do?" she turned and looked at Arthur. His arms were wrapped around her waist and as she turned his lips pressed on her cheek. He was warr than usual and for so reason, she felt nervous.
"Nothing. That picture you hung over your bed... He tried to post it to ride on your clout... to remind the tabloids that he was once your..."
"That sick sonovab*tch! And?" Talia felt sick to her stomach. That guy used to act like a good guy and even she believed him. She couldn’t understand how soone could change this much.
"Sir Robert had an eye on him for so reason and he inford that David is trying to use that photograph."
"Mr. Ed is great!" Talia smiled. "And?"
"I contacted the magazine he used to work at when that picture was taken to claim ownership of that picture, and then I bought that picture. That picture won’t be released anywhere anymore."
Arthur kissed her cheek and Talia was relieved. And she realised the sad reality that the mont her engagent is announced, the tabloids would try to dig up their past relationships to create drama.
"Fred, is he handled? And others..?" her voice beca low as she beca sad.
She knew the tabloids will try to get interviews with her past boyfriends and her past acquaintances who probably never knew her, just to get clicks.
She knew this cos with being a public figure and as soone with influence, but since it’s her personal life getting published, it was hard for her to accept.
"Your PR people are on damage-control mode for a long ti, Iris. You know this and public opinion... Let’s not care about that, okay?" he hugged her gently to make her feel secure.
He was mad when he learnt about David Bailey since he was always a thorn in his heart. But when he saw Talia forgetting that guy, his mood got a lot better.
"And he... he lost his job and... lost use of his hands in an accident. He’s pathetic actually... His wife left him, he has no job and... he doesn’t have hands either..."
Arthur picked her up and Talia’s lips curved up.
"Misfortunes never co singly, huh?" she said.
"Our ancestors are brilliant to co up with such a proverb that is true for any ti." Arthur kissed her cheek.
-----
The Day of the Engagent Announcent:
"Purple or Blue?" Talia still couldn’t decide which colour to wear. Her people advised her to wear purple since it is the colour of royalty, but she wanted to wear blue since it is Arthur’s favourite colour.
Now it is not a contest, is it?
"Are you wearing that necklace today?"Arthur was stunned to see her wearing that sterling silver necklace with cubic zirconia gem he gifted her during their high school days.
"Yes, why not? It matches my dress," Talia fixed the necklace. The gem just fell right above her cleavage and looked great with the plunging neckline royal blue dress she was wearing.
"And are your earrings sapphire?" he asked.
"Yep. Can you believe my mum had earrings of the sa design as the necklace you bought? And did you notice my hand?" she shook his hand wearing the bracelet he gifted that belonged to his mother.
"Iris..." Arthur hugged her and his throat closed as he felt like crying.
He knew she considered his every gift the sa, but for an interview that would be watched by millions, she is wearing sothing that cost just hundreds of dollars.
It made him reaffirm why he fell for her in the first place.
"Iris, can I ask you one thing?" he asked, still hugging her.
"What?"
"Will you tell the world that I am your only love?"
Talia looked at him. He didn’t look jealous or like he was playing a ga, but like he wants her to say that genuinely.
Her people told her not to reveal too much personal information and speak as little as possible since even a little detail would always make the journalists want for more, but since she was asked one simple thing by Arthur, she wanted to give him what he wants.
He probably worries about the sa thing as her too. No matter how much her PR people try to control the narrative, there will be one or two people who’d speak to the press whether they know the entire truth or not.
The only way to stop others from speculating is by speaking the truth.
"You are my only love and I will tell the world the truth."
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