THE CEO'S FAKE WIFE

After Effect

Beatrice squinted her eyes, feeling a headache for some reason. She touched the bed next to her, it was empty, he wasn't there. She got out of bed and winced at the pain in her right palm which was covered with a bandage.

She walked slowly into the bathroom, remembering what happened that morning. She could vaguely remember everything, arguing fiercely with Luke, the glass shattered, and freezing cold on the stairs leading down to the beach.

She squinted and suddenly remembered something, she touched the coat on her body then opened it quickly and was surprised to see that the coat was not Luke's coat. She flipped through the coat and didn't get any clues, she reached into the coat pocket and was surprised to find a business card inside it.

Matthew Carter

Director of Operations and Systems

C Corp

So the man who greeted her last night was Matthew? She still remembered when he greeted her, but after that, she didn't remember anything else. And Luke, "Where is he?" she wondered while brushing her teeth slowly.

As if Luke could read her mind, suddenly he shouted calling for her while knocking on the bathroom door.

She opened the bathroom door and deliberately let her long hair fall to cover part of her face, to hide the puffiness from crying all night.

He was so surprised when he saw her,

"Geez! Bea, you scared me!" he grumbled, his hand quickly fixed Beatrice's hair and pinned it behind her ear.

"Eat your meal, I've brought it to the dining table, I told the others that you are not feeling well," said Luke casually. Beatrice didn't answer, she just looked at him with a straight face.

"Can you hold the spoon?" asked him while glancing at her right hand which was wrapped in a white bandage.

She didn't answer, she took the spoon with her left hand and began to slowly sip the still warm mushroom soup into her mouth, the warm sensation filling her throat.

"Is it still hurt?" asked Luke again, he tried so hard, hoping that Beatrice would make a sound to answer each of his questions but she just nodded slowly without looking back at him.

"Bea! Say something! Are you mad at me?!" Luke was getting very frustrated. Beatrice just shook her head slowly while chewing the garlic bread in her mouth.

Luke clutched his own hair, annoyed by Beatrice's reaction.

"Okay, you know what? I'm sorry I spoke rudely to you this morning, I was out of control, I'm sorry! Okay?" said Luke in a half-annoyed voice.

Beatrice didn't answer, she put down her soup spoon, then walked away from him and went back to bed.

Luke took a deep breath, then walked towards the bed and approached her.

"I talked to Rebecca last night, heart to heart, do you think it's easy for me Bea? How could I bear to see the person I've loved for years crying in front of me, asking me to give her the last chance? What would you do if you were me?" he said, feeling need to explain to her everything honestly.

He made it, she took a glance at him at last.

"I will not cancel our marriage if that was what makes you worried, you will still get your rights! But at least I know, after our contract ends, Rebecca and I can get back together, after I got the CEO position I wanted, my dad's request for me was to get married, that's it," said Luke, staring blankly at the window that offered a beautiful view of the Mediterranean sea.

Beatrice got up from the chair and tied her hair slowly because one of her hands was very sore. She took a change of clothes and walked to the bathroom carrying Matthew's coat.

"Bea, where are you going?" asked Luke surprised when he saw Beatrice come out of the bathroom wearing jeans and long john. She had washed her face and covered her face with make-up to hide her puffed eyes.

"To give this back," she said as she lifted the coat she was holding in her left hand. Luke gaping,

"Do you know who owns that?" inquired him with his eyes narrowed sharply.

"Yeah, Matthew's," she answered shortly, busy changing her bedroom slippers for boots.

Luke gasped, "Since when are you allowed to interact with him?!" snapped him annoyed. Beatrice shrugged, "Since he helped me? or since you started interacting with Rebecca again, I don't know! which one do you prefer?" she answered sarcastically.

"Bea!"

Before he could finish his words, Beatrice had disappeared from behind the door.

She hurriedly walked out of the villa, choosing to turn through the side door because she didn't want to meet anyone who would definitely ask about her bandaged hands and puffy eyes.

She took out Matthew's business card and started sending messages.

Beatrice: Hi, this is Beatrice, I have your coat with me, can we meet?

It didn't take long, Matthew swiftly replied to her message.

Matthew: Meet me at Santa Maria Asunta, I'm here already.

She quickly walked downstairs and turned on the GPS on her cell phone to show directions to Santa Asunta Church. For some reason her heart felt relieved, maybe she was satisfied because she could take revenge on Luke. But was she doing the right thing? "Yes, Bea! You will only return this coat, that's it!" said a voice in her head.

The Church of Santa Asunta is a tenth-century church with charming architecture located in the center of Positano village.

Beatrice was admiring the view of the Santa Asunta Church when suddenly someone greeted her,

"How's your hand? Are you feeling better?"

She turned to find Matthew standing next to her, wearing a cool dark blue coat that contrasted with his white skin.

"Well not bad," she replied, looking down at her right hand. "Um, here, thanks," she said as she held out Matthew's coat.

Matthew accepted it while nodding slowly,

"So what happened to the newlyweds?" he asked casually, his eyes fixed on the Mediterranean sea that seemed to be crashing down there.

Beatrice snorted,

"Just some alcohol talk! Nothing serious," replied Beatrice, hiding everything tightly. Matthew nodded his head, "So you already know who I am?" he asked, his eyes fixed on her. She cleared her throat nervously then nodded while muttering, "Yeah kind of..."

Matthew took a deep breath.

"I hope you have a different point of view about me, I hope it's not the same as those who called me an illegitimate heir," he said, smiling sarcastically.

Beatrice shrugged.

"It's not my business, it's their business, I see you as a person, as a human being, a good one I hope!" she said casually making Matthew smile a little.

While they were having a warm conversation and laughing, someone grabbed her right hand.

"Let's go Bea!" it was Luke. Beatrice immediately removed her hand from him, "What the hell are you doing! It hurts!" she snapped as she stomped Luke's hand off.

Luke turned at Matthew sharply,

"Stay away from my wife!" said Luke firmly then half running after Beatrice who was walking fast in front of him with an annoyed face.

*****