Faux Vows, True Desires

Chapter 436

"Mr. Martinez, Mrs. Martinez," the two secretaries greeted Owen and Cecilia with respect.

Cecilia, carefully assisted out of the car by Owen, simply smiled in response.

"Mr. Martinez, Ms. Yates," Walter approached with a respectful greeting.

Cecilia remembered him and returned the greeting with a smile.

The secretaries exchanged confused glances. Why was he now addressing Mrs. Martinez as Ms. Yates?

Their eyes darted towards Cecilia, who seemed initially bemused by being called Mrs. Martinez, but then noticed Owen, whose lips curled into a pleased smile, clearly enjoying the title bestowed upon Cecilia.

"This is my ex-wife and current girlfriend, Cecilia. Someday, she'll be Mrs. Martinez again. Calling her Mrs. Martinez now isn't wrong—it'll get you used to it sooner, and Cecilia can get accustomed to it as well," Owen cheerfully introduced Cecilia to the two secretaries.

In the past, Owen and Cecilia had kept their marriage a secret, with very few in the know.

Even if the secretaries had their suspicions, they wouldn't dare pry until he made an official announcement.

"Cecilia, these are my secretaries, Quincy and Ron."

Owen's secretaries were all male, a fact Cecilia was well aware of, partly because of Ruby. Although Ruby treated Owen as a backup plan, she was extremely possessive and couldn't stand to see attractive women around him. To appease her, Owen had replaced his secretaries with men.

Cecilia couldn't help but feel a twinge of jealousy, but she quickly put it behind her.

Ruby had occupied a place in Owen's heart for a mere decade or so, while Cecilia was destined to be part of his life for the decades to come. Whatever Owen had done for Ruby in the past, he would surely do more for Cecilia in the future. Why bother comparing herself to Ruby?

Besides, it was Ruby's turn to be jealous, not hers.

With this thought, Cecilia's mood brightened.

"Quincy, Ron, Nice to meet you," she greeted the secretaries politely.

They responded eagerly, both noticing Owen's special care for Cecilia.

As for Ms. Scott, who once strutted around their company like she owned the place, she was history. They were ready to erase her from their minds.

"Walter, is Mr. Spencer here yet?" Owen asked, turning his attention to Walter.

Walter led them into the Pinehurst Hotel, reporting as they walked, "Mr. Spencer will be here in two minutes. Mr. Martinez, Ms. Yates, please go ahead. I'll wait here for Mr. Spencer."

Owen nodded.

He tightened his grip on Cecilia's hand and, flanked by bodyguards, entered the hotel. The secretaries wisely stayed behind with Walter, choosing not to play the third wheel.

The hotel staff, witnessing Owen holding onto Cecilia as if he'd lose her the moment he let go, were filled with curiosity but dared not ask. One thing they were sure of—their boss had finally changed his girlfriend!

Owen's business meetings in the hotel always took place in the presidential suite on the top floor.

The hotel manager was waiting at the elevator, greeting Owen with due reverence before using a VIP card to access the lift. The doors slid open, and he gestured for Owen and Cecilia to enter.

"Cecilia, let's head up," Owen said, leading her into the elevator.

The bodyguards didn't follow immediately, leaving the two alone.

As the elevator doors closed, the hotel manager turned to Jay, the head of security, and asked, "Who is the young lady with Mr. Martinez?"

Jay replied, "That's Mr. Martinez's girlfriend, Ms. Yates. If Ms. Yates ever visits, make sure you treat her with the highest regard."

The manager, taken aback, quickly thanked Jay for the heads-up. Now he knew not to make any missteps.

Jay and the others waited briefly before the manager swiped his card again, and they all stepped into the elevator.

"Cecilia, feeling nervous?" Owen asked tenderly.

Cecilia laughed, "It's just meeting a stranger, nothing nerve-wracking. Don't forget what I do for a living—I meet strangers every day."

In her eyes, the wealthy and the penniless were all the same; money didn't make any difference.

Seizing the private moment before others joined them, Owen pulled Cecilia close and kissed her on her lips. "Cecilia, you were born to be the lady of the Martinez family. Most people would be nervous, but not you. That means you're a natural fit for this world."

Cecilia rolled her eyes playfully. "Owen, it's only today I've discovered you're quite the talker."

Owen chuckled. "There's a lot about me you don't know yet. I invite you to keep turning the pages, all the way to the last one."

"And what's so exciting about the last page? Everyone's last page is the same."

"Sweetheart," Owen coaxed, "say something sweet."

"Do men really like sweet nothings?"

"Men and women alike."

Cecilia laughed, cleared her throat for effect, and began, "Well then, listen up. Owen, you are the epitome of dashing, a vision of handsome, a cut above the rest—even more so than the male waiters at Neon Nectar Nightclub. My admiration for you flows like an endless river."

Owen was speechless.

"Feeling good all over now?"

Silence.

Cecilia gently pinched Owen’s cheek, amused. "I'm not used to this side of you. I kind of miss the old, rascal, troublemaker Mr. Malicious. This new you is too perfect, too considerate—I can hardly find any fault in you." NôvelDrama.Org exclusive content.

Owen grinned, "Then don't bother. How about you kiss me twice for my performance instead?"

Before Cecilia could respond, he pulled her into his embrace once more, tilting his head to capture her rosy lips, stealing their sweet essence.

Cecilia's lipstick had been completely kissed away.

“I don’t always carry makeup with me,” Cecilia complained to him.

His eyes twinkled with mischief as he said, “I've got a way to make your lips as red as if they were painted with lipstick.”

“How so?”

“I'll kiss you until your lips are flushed with red, just as if you've applied lipstick.”

Cecilia didn’t know what to say.

By the time Mr. Spencer was escorted upstairs by Walter, Cecilia had lost count of how many times this wolf in gentleman's clothing had kissed her.

As soon as Mr. Spencer entered, Owen returned to his guise of seriousness.

Cecilia lost any chance she might have had for sweet revenge.

She didn't understand the intricacies of business, but that didn't prevent her from listening intently, behaving with both grace and propriety.

It made Owen once again admire her in his heart, convinced she was born to be his wife, naturally adept at socializing and flawless in her conduct.

He was determined to marry her sooner rather than later.

Tonight, he had kissed her so many times. He hadn't thought much the first few times.