The Girl He Craves novel (Sophie and Aiden)

Sophie's pov Paparazzi.

I wasn't ready for that yet. Especially when Aiden and I had yet to lay down the rules of this fake engagement. We had yet to even discuss anything other than me having to pretend to be his pregnant fiance. How did the paparazzi even know we were there? How did they know we were 'engaged'?

Unless...

Was it that interviewer woman?

Was it Aiden's grandfather?

Aiden's warmth seeped through me as he tugged me closer and gave me a reassuring squeeze. "I'm right here Sophie. All you have to do is keep your head down, and ignore their words until we're actually ready to talk."

I pull in a lungful of air, trying my best to relax my nerves. I've never done this before, never even seen a paparazzi in my life before so I had no idea what to expect.

"Ready?" Aiden asked and I nodded slowly.

I was obviously not ready. My stomach was cramping with knots and I thought I was on the verge of having a heart attack. This did not scream ready, this screamed the opposite.

Aiden sensed my hesitation and leans down to whisper in my ears reassuringly. "I'm not going to make anything happen to you Sophie. I'll be by your side always."

My heart skipped abeat or two.

His words warmed me and made me feel better, especially with the honest tone he used when he said he would always be by my side.

"Okay, I'm ready," I breathed out, and after a few more

lungfuls of air to calm my nerves, Aiden and I walked out of the restaurant.

I squint, cringing slightly as flashes and the sound of clicking, runs through the air. Aiden's hand around my waist grows hard with firmness and with a slight tug he began to pull me through the throng of paparazzi who was thankfully giving us room to pass through.

"Miss how did you and Mr. Xavier meet?" One asked loudly, trying to get her question through the numerous others.

"Miss, why have we never seen you with Mr. Xavier before?"

"What's your name miss?"

"How did you manage to get the playboy bachelor to commit to you?"

"How did Mr. Xavier propose?"

"What do you do as your career?"

"Miss can you say a few words, Miss!"

I winced. So many questions slapped me left and right as we made our way to the SUV. Thankfully they were so occupied with us, they were slowly dispersing around the SUV.

I keep my head down slightly as Aiden guided me towards the Suv quickly. My heart was beating in my chest like a drum and I was surprised it didn't surpass the sound of the clicks from the cameras. When we reached the Suv and Aiden opened the door quickly a question had him freezing.

"Mr. Xavier is this the woman who has your heart?"

I could've gone inside and ignored the question. I could've ignored the beating of my heart as I waited with battered breath for his answer. But I stopped and waited for what he would do or say. Aiden turns around and answered whoever asked the question. "Yes,"

And with that he nudged me to get into the SUV and with my body going numb from his words, I stumbled in ungracefully.

When I'm seated, I stare forward, completely mute and confused. Stunned.

Did he just-

I shook my head. I was reading way too much into this. We were supposedly engaged so he had to say yes. He didn't mean them, this was an act.

When Aiden got in I licked my suddenly dry lips and shifted slightly, feeling awkward.

"How the fuck did they know we were here?" He growled after slamming the door close and drowning out the voices and the clicks of the cameras outside. "They showed up suddenly sir," Mitch said.

"Get us out of here Mitch," Aiden demanded while glaring at the paparazzi as they made a fuss outside.

Mitch nodded and quickly drove out of the parking space.

Aiden sighs, leaning back in the seat as he brushed a hand down his face.

"I'm sorry about this Sophie. I know how they can take

someone off guard. Especially when that someone was not expecting them to show up. I don't know how they even knew I was here..." He huffed.

My brows furrowed and I looked at him." They knew about the engagement so it's either your grandfather or that interviewer," I said as I thought about it.

These were the only two people who even knew about our 'engagement. It really doesn't take much to know that it was either of the two.

But what confused me though, was that the paparazzi knew where Aiden and I were. Who gave them the heads up?

"My money is on that interviewer. She probably followed us. Who knows. Or maybe it was one of the celebrities in the restaurant. These insta models always have a damn phone in their hands. Could be one of them too." He grumbles in annoyance. "I don't know. But I'm sure it was not Sergio."

My brow raised. "What makes you think it was not him?"

Aiden turns to face me. "Because darling, my grandfather is a businessman. Every step, he takes with caution. He would not randomly let the media know I'm engaged so abruptly. Besides, that woman probably did this for money. They sell anything nowadays. Our engagement is a hot topic, she would not miss this opportunity."

I searched his face and then nod. "What are we going to do now that it's out there that we are engaged?"

By now social media must be swimming with things about us.

Aiden sighs and looks at me fixedly. "We act engaged."

I gnaw on my lips, my stomach knotting when he answered my silent questions.

"That means we act like a couple when the cameras are on us, when Sergio is in the same room or anyone else. We have to sell it, Sophie." He whispered.

I bit into my bottom lip harshly. Acting like an engaged couple meant that we would have to hold hands in public, and do all those things a loving couple does....

Could my stupid heart remain calm and not fall for him during that time? Especially when I still didn't even know how long we had to act like we were a couple to be wed. "How long must we pretend for Aiden?" I whispered, now getting extremely nervous when I realized what I signed up for.

"As long as it takes."