Chapter Eighty seven

"Billionaire business mogul, Damien Kingston is not only a cold businessman after all. He's turned out to be a really sweet husband too. Amid all the speculations of a separation because he and his spouse had been apart since the year began, he has once again proved us wrong with a sweet gesture for Valentine's day." The blonde entertainment news anchor said with a wide grin and turned to her partner.

"Here's the tea guys. He surprised his wife at her father's hospital room in New York where she had been since the beginning of the year due to her father's unfortunate illness. He had flowers, balloons and all, just for her and you could see the love radiating from both of them." The melanin dripping co host added with a saccharine tone. I snorted.

"Recall that just about two months ago, he planned a similar surprise for her birthday as well as took her on a trip to the beautiful Island of Bora Bora and gave her a sleek Lamborghini Urus for Christmas. Truly, Mr Kingston spoils his wife and treats her like a queen." The third host with an ombre weave and olive skin added with an overly wide TV smile even as she turned to the her colleagues.

"I want me a man like Damien Kingston. She is so lucky!" The black girl exclaimed.

"I totally agree." The blonde one stated with a grin and turned to the camera once again.

"Coming up next-"

I cut short her statement by switching the channel to another one. I was seated in Damien's hotel suite waiting for him to come out so we could go on our date. He had me picked up from the hospital close to evening time and had me wait in the room while he changed into his outfit and that was when I stumbled on the pictures which I did not know were taken of us while in the hospital and were even posted online for the blogs and gossip sites to feed on.

"So Drew was at the hospital for publicity reasons?" I spoke up the moment he came out of the bathroom in his velvet red tux that was matching my flowy dinner dress.

He halted his movements and stared at me for a while. I tilted my head -a gesture that showed I was waiting for an answer.

"Drew came up with the idea to surprise you considering the speculations about us not being together. In fact, he and Aiden come up with and help me pull off every thing I've surprised you with, except the vacation." He confessed watching me closely for my reaction to his words.

"Mhmm." I hummed in thought.

"Since I now know the truth about our marriage, what's the point of keeping up with the PDA?"

"We already started with that and going off the radar right now is somewhat bad for business. Everytime we put something out there that sends the media into a frenzy, sales boost drastically because the public loves the idea of us. I can't even explain how that happens but it does and my PR team thinks it's best that we continue."

I listened to him explain with rapt attention, wondering if I would ever get that low-key life I want.

"We're not putting everything about our lives out there babe, I promise. We're just going to give the public what we want them to see and think." He said now holding my hands, as he squatted in front of me.

"Mhmm okay." I muttered. Not fully convinced but also not in the mood to argue.

'I'm doing this for dad.' I thought to myself.

"Can we go?" I asked. He nodded.

"You look gorgeous by the way." He said and kissed my hand. I smiled half-heartedly.

"Thank you."

***

We had dinner at a fancy Italian restaurant almost like he wanted to remind me of his trip to Italy.

"It's really nice here." I commented as I took a fork full of pasta into my mouth. The restaurant was one of those fancy ones with overpriced meals but it was a nice experience all the same.

"It is." He said and sipped on his glass of wine. I settled for sparkling water just because I did not want anything alcoholic.

"How was your trip to Italy?" I asked him.

He had been in Italy since the beginning of the year because of his nearly completed or should I say, completed resort project.

"It was good. The project's finally complete and we'd be having a grand opening next month." He said with a cocky grin.

I congratulated him.

"I want you to be there." He said holding on to my hand.

"Damien I have no idea when I'm leaving NYC. I can't make any promises." I said with a shake of my head.

"I know that but I still want you to come." He insisted.

"I'll think about it."

"Thank you." He mouthed and I smiled.

Done with dessert, we left the restaurant hand in hand.

"Uhm I need to head to the hospital. Dad's been alone all evening." I reminded him softly as we got into the vehicle.

"Oh he said you'll be spending the night with me at the hotel. He didn't tell you?"

"What? We had a deal and I'm supposed to be at the hospital by nine." I frowned.

"Yes I know that but before I brought you to the hotel he called to say that you would be spending the night with me." He said looking confused just as I was.

I suspected foul play.

"We're going to the hospital right now!" I said firmly.

"Yes ma'am." He teased with a mock bow and told the driver to take us there.

"You look so hot when you get like this..." He said sultrily, pulled me closer and dropped to soft kiss on my neck.

"Damien..." I groaned.

"The driver's looking." I whispered a flimsy excuse to get him off me.

"I don't care." He growled lowly and continued his sweet torture.

"Mhmmm." I moaned, clinging on to him as he kissed, sucked and licked on my neck. He trailed over to my lips and kissed me slowly.

My hands trailed down to his tux and unbuttoned it. I felt his ripped body through his shirt and I got all the more turned on.

His tongue soon plunged into my mouth and we fought for dominance but eventually let him win. French kissing was one of my favorite things to do with him, though we had not done much and I didn't plan on going further anytime soon. Not at all, if possible.

"You're thinking." He stated. I looked up at him and could not deny it. Surely he must have noticed that I wasn't being so responsive.

"Sorry. I just have a lot on my mind." I said and pulled away from him.

"Everything's gonna be fine. Okay, babe?"

"Yeah." I said quietly.

He placed one last kiss on my lips and pecked my forehead just as we rode into the hospital premises.

He got out before me and held the door open for me. I got out and wrapped my hand around his arm as we trudged inside.

As usual, he attracted lots of attention with his presence. The simpering smiles and suck ups from staff had me rolling my eyes every now and then even as I wished we would get to dad's room ASAP but then we had to board the elevator and wait until we got to the floor dad was situated.

What irked me more was the fact that some ladies tried flirting with my husband.Could they not see the wedding band on his ring finger that even had his wife's name engraved on it? Even if they couldn't, didn't they notice I was right next to him?

It was no wonder I noticed envious glances anytime I walked by. How would anyone be envious of a woman whose father was on the verge of dying?

I scoffed the moment we finally reached our destination on the fifth floor and then walked in.

"Finally." I muttered under my breath.

"Dad, you're still awake?" I asked as I went over to give him a peck on his pale sunken cheeks that were once full.

"I just woke up. I thought you were going to spend the night with him?"

"She insisted I brought her here and you know what they say sir; Happy wife, happy life." Damien said with a teasing smile on his face.

"Indeed son." Dad said with a weak smile.

I rolled my eyes at both of them.

"I'll go change out of my outfit." I said to no one in particular. My heels were killing me.

"Won't you say a proper goodbye to your husband?" Dad said, pausing my footsteps.

"Actually I'll be spending the night here." Damien said and I gaped.

"Damien you don't have to. The couch wouldn't even fit both of us." I tried dissuading him but he was insistent.

"I don't mind sleeping on the floor."

"But-"

"I just want to spend time with you before going back. I can't remember the last time I slept next to you. I've missed that." His honeyed words sure melted my heart. Not only mine but that of my father and the nurse who came in for a nightly routine check-up on my dad.

"Awww. I'll see to it that a bed is brought in for you sir." She said with blush tinted cheeks.

Soon enough, we had another bed brought into the spacious room. He had his PJs brought in for him and soon enough we were both comfortably dressed.

"There's enough room for you right here." He said, tapping on the bed as I settled on my couch.

Knowing fully well that he wouldn't let me be until I snuggled up next to him. I climbed on to the bed and had myself wrapped in his arms as I drifted into the most comfortable sleep I had had in six weeks.