Chapter 17: Doubts

"That's true Your Highness. If your photo gets leaked as my boyfriend, then everyone will think that you are Gavin just like I did. The media won't stop fishing for details until they figure out what's really going on and the reason behind your resemblance," Brione seconded.

Recalling the reaction of the staff she greeted a while ago who looked like they had seen a ghost, Brione turned to Cedric and asked, "Did you remove your mask last night at the party?"

"No I didn't but can you not address me as Your Highness sweetheart? It's too formal and distant. Call me Cedric or even better just call me darling when we are in public. Yeah, it's decided then that you will call me darling and I will call you sweetheart whenever we are in public. When we are alone, you can call me Cedric and I will call you Bri," Cedric commented with a serious face.

"Darling?!" Brione exclaimed.

"Yeah, it's more convincing. Hold on, I will ask my lawyer to add this as a clause in the agreement you need to sign." Cedric said and quickly made a call.

Brione's jaw just dropped as she listened to Cedric instructing the lawyer to revise the agreement and add such endearments as a clause.

'Seriously?' Brione wanted to complain but chose to stay silent. She was more worried about how Mitch and Berry would react when they get to know that she went out with a man who looked exactly like Gavin. Just thinking about how to explain herself to them was already making her head dizzy.

"I'm sure that my manager and assistant will call me any minute now. There was a staff member who saw me with you. I can already imagine him waking those two and saying, 'I saw Brione and Gavin together. Gavin came back from the dead!" Brione commented as soon as Cedric was done talking on his mobile phone.

Cedric clenched his jaw as the words 'substitute and shadow' echoed in his head. He narrowed his eyes and murmured, "I have people who will take care of it so don't worry."

He tightened his hold around her hand and started caressing the back of her palm with his thumb as he whispered, "This feels nice. Do you feel good holding my hand Bri?"

Brione was surprised by the sudden change of the topic. It was as if he didn't care about what she had just said. Nevertheless, she did not know how to answer his question though. 'Should she say 'yes' or 'no'?' She bit her lower lip and sneaked a glance at Cedric whose eyes were focussed outside the window.

"It's not bad. I can live with it," she simply commented, but deep inside she did feel nice holding his hand, maybe because it reminded her of the times she and Gavin held hands before.

"Good. I will take it as you allowing me to hold your hands anytime and anywhere I want," Cedric said next. His gaze was now fixed on her face, observing every little movement. Those amber eyes of his were piercing through her soul. It was so tantalizing as if they were calling her to drown in their depths.

"Hmph," she managed to scoff, looking at him in disbelief.

"So cute…" she heard him whisper before tapping his finger on her nose.

'Oh my God!' she silently screamed. That was it! He was doing too many gestures that were reminding her of Gavin. Just like he did now by tapping his finger on her nose. Gavin would often do that but without complimenting her like Cedric did because Gavin would rather annoy her by saying she looked 'ugly' than calling her 'cute'.

She heaved a sigh, making Cedric frown.

"Apologies if I'm too forward with my actions. It's just that I love expressing myself so if I find you cute I will say it," Cedric commented.

Brione looked at the window and said, "It's okay. I guess I have to get used to it since I'm your girlfriend. Holding hands is fine with me but don't try being too intimate with me okay? You must know your boundaries.

Anyway, you said Manager Ruth will leave the agreement in my room later. I will check it carefully and will remove the clauses that are not to my liking or are beyond my limits."

"Got it!" Cedric answered. He was glad that Brione allowed him to hold her hands freely.

Brione almost jumped off her seat when she felt Cedric's lips on the back of her hand.

"Hey what are you doing? I said I was okay with holding hands, not kissing them!" she hissed.

Brione quickly pulled her hand, feeling electrified because of his gesture.

"No kissing, okay? Let's be clear with our boundaries shall we?" she demanded firmly.

"Hmm, but this is a simple gesture indicating courtesy, politeness, respect, admiration, or even devotion by one person toward another in our country," Cedric commented with a serious tone.

Then he added, "So what is our boundary Bri?"

Cedric's face was very close to hers. Brione panicked and shifted her sight in different directions to avoid meeting his piercing gaze.

"Uhm, I will think about it and then decide. Let me check the agreement you prepared first," she whispered, almost holding her breath as she talked.

Then she felt his fingers press on her chin. Cedric was holding her chin, making her look at him.

"Did you look at your butt?" Brione suddenly asked and immediately turned her gaze in a different direction so she did not see the playful smile on Cedric's face.

Cedric released her chin. He was very amused to see how she was reacting to his actions. Then he released a sigh. He was fighting the urge to kiss Brione and was almost losing the battle but she helped him out by bringing up the awkward topic about his butt.

"I already told you that I can't look at it on my own. Also, I don't even have time to do such an absurd thing. It would be like I'm doubting my own identity if I do that, don't you think?"

"Why? Aren't you already having doubts now?" Brione asked.