Stand By Me Darling
Chapter 163: Press Meet (2)

Chapter 163: Press Meet (2)

"Let me fix my hair first!" Talia pulled her hand out of his grip and Arthur stopped in his steps.

"You look fine," he smiled looking at her. She looked perfect for him, but she would think different. She really didn’t look ’presentable’ by her standards.

"No I don’t! You need to..." she touched his cheek and started speaking continuously, "You go wash your face first. You are oily. It won’t look good through a camera. Do you have a makeup artist with you? If not, I’ll do a simple makeup for you..."

Arthur felt his scalp go numb by what Talia suggested. She is not the first one to suggest that. Everyone asks him to apply makeup before standing in front of cameras, but still...

"It’s getting late, I need to-"

"Then stop wasting time!" it was an order this time and Arthur just nodded.

"Yes Ma’am!"

Arthur sat in the chair frowning after he washed his face.

"You weren’t opposed to makeup back then," Talia asked dabbing foundation on his beard line that had a five o’clock shadow. Thankfully his skin tone was closer to her skin tone and so she could use her foundation on him. Both of them had the fair tone. "You even wore eyeliners and lipstick without complaining..." she spoke softly.

Talia used to practice drawing eyeliners and wearing lipstick on his face since she didn’t want to ruin her face and this guy wouldn’t say a beep. And now he looks like someone who’s about to be sent to the gallows.

"I was not going to be standing in front of dozens of cameras back then, was I?" he grunted. "Don’t go on drawing those things on me now. They are hard to wash off."

Talia just snorted and proceeded to apply some powder using the brush and as she was applying on his nose, he giggled and squirmed his face away, "That’s ticklish"

"Stop it!" Talia finished applying the powder struggling with his giggles.

"Your lips are dry!" she said and brought him some water to drink and as she looked thoroughly, he did look very handsome; fresh and bright. Suddenly she regretted making him wear makeup.

What if he attracts more women? Eh, he’s going to be sitting with me! He would need this if he wants to look compatible with me!

Talia with a pompous smile, appreciated her own beauty and calmed herself down. She then applied a little chapstick on his lips and his lips now had a healthy look to it.

She then combed his hair, corrected his tie, his cufflinks and took a step back and checked him from top to bottom.

"Hmm, perfect!" she said and a smile formed in her face. Arthur looking at her smile, felt blissful.

How wonderful our life together will be!

"I look... Amazing! Wow, Iris" Arthur said looking at the mirror. He really was pleased and he couldn’t help but chuckle. She even did his hair perfectly. All these within five minutes.

How amazing is my wife!

"Get ready and join me soon. I’ll leave for the hall now," he kissed her forehead and left the room with a skip in his step.

When Talia finished brushing her hair and touching up her makeup, Mr. Ed got in and told her that her arrival to the hall will be made to seem like an unplanned event.

As she was led through the hallways of the second floor where the conference hall is, Jordan met her and there was some commotion when some of the reporters standing there, tried to interview her, and soon the situation was ’resolved’ and a seat was added beside Arthur.

As Talia entered the room, Arthur donned a very pleasant smile as he welcomed her with kiss to the cheek and Talia’s entire body stiffened by the amount of flashes going on. Through the room Talia could see many prominent reporters from Esteria.

Maybe Arthur sensed her stress, Talia felt a warm hand gently placed on her back and she felt comforted.

That’s right! I’m not alone.

Arthur introduced Talia to the CEO’s of the other corporation they are collaborating with, in another project and this press conference is to announce the collaboration and also to talk about the new shipyard they are building.

But with Talia’s arrival, some of the reporters got very excited. They wanted to know about the relationship between the grand daughter of Jerome Brunton and the current Chairman of Northern Star.

Talia felt her heart beating out of her chest sitting in that room with reporters with their phones and notepads in their hand. In the back there were many cameras placed on tripods and she looked to the side to see Mr. Ed standing vigilant, with his fingers interlocked and back straight.

With Arthur at one side and Mr. Ed at the other, Talia felt safe.

The conference started and speeches were given about the collaboration and Arthur gave details about their new project starting and how beneficial it would be for the locals and also how environmentally conscious they are in building their company; the usual speech.

The way Arthur spoke made Talia swoon for him. He really had the great charm, attracting everyone’s attention towards him, with a great command of the language using layman terms to explain everything. He was such an amazing public speaker.

No wonder no one opposes his place in the Northern Star! He really has skills!

The most important thing Talia got, that made her extremely delighted was, it was apparent Arthur loved what he is doing. He loved his job and it was so apparent.

That’s good!

She was glad she attended this press meet.

Soon the questioning time arrived and most of the reporters were from business magazines and they focused on the collaboration mostly. Only the reporters from Esteria tried to ask questions to Talia.

"Lady Talia... Or should I address you as Princess Talia?" one of the reporters asked and even though Talia couldn’t clearly see his face, she could heart the blame in his tone. It could be sensed that he actually blamed Talia for leaving her home to take a higher title in another country.

Before Talia could answer, a crispy voice of a female rang from the back.

"She is both! And it is basic knowledge to use the highest title when in doubt. But guess the Star Paper’s reporter isn’t versed in manners it seems," and Talia could hear the sneer in her voice.

"Your Royal Highness!" Talia could vaguely see a figure standing in the back. They were in a little higher platform and there were a lot of focus lights on them and so Talia clearly couldn’t see those who were seated to her front. She smiled and nodded.

"Good evening!!" she greeted, "I’m Gretchen from Berkton Tribunal."

"Good evening, Ms. Gretchen," Talia smiled.

"Mr. Sinclair and you seem pretty friendly when everyone considers you two as arch enemies. Can you tell us about it?" Gretchen asked.

"Arthur and I..." Talia turned to look at Arthur and he looked at her with a smile, " We were classmates during high school.... Jordan too!" she pointed at Jordan and Jordan nodded with a smile acknowledging it. "Arthur and I were desk mates and we were pretty close friends back then... I would think we are still friends. What do you say, Arthur?" she looked at Arthur with a playful smile.

"We are friends," his eyes had a gentleness and he patted her shoulder.

"See! We are friends." Talia said with a smile.

And soon there was a frenzy among the reporters as they wanted to know how their family allowed their friendship and were they in love and if so they wanted to know why they annulled their marriage and so many questions.

Talia and Arthur both ignored the questions. And someone in the group asked if Talia regrets that her grandfather gave the company to Arthur.

"Grandpa is the wisest person I know," Talia stated, "I never questioned his decision to pass on his legacy to Arthur Sinclair. And now that I’ve watched Arthur’s presentation and heard his speech, I can see why grandpa trusted him with the company. He will be terrific and I have hopes that he will lead Northern Star to new heights," Talia spoke truthfully.

Arthur who was sitting to her side, couldn’t help but look at Talia with awe. She is not holding back her praises for him in public. Only in public will she praise him like this. So he just wanted to bask in this happiness for a little longer.

"What are your thoughts about nationalising Northern Star?" it was Gretchen who asked this question.

"Nationalising Northern Star? Why though?" Talia shrugged with a smile, "Northern Star is not a basic service provider like water, electricity or gas. I heard about the talks for nationisatiin and I still couldn’t find any rationalisation for the Council to even discuss it."

As she spoke, Arthur with a stiff expression turned to the front breaking his eye intact with Talia. He is supposed to be for nationalisation and he is supposed to act this way to make everyone believe that he doesn’t agree with her.

"Because the Honorable High Council works for the common people and they don’t want wealth to accumulate with one family. In Esteria only the Brunton family is expanding their wealth by exploiting the hardwork of the common people and resources of Esteria," the same male reporter from Star News spoke again.

Talia knew the Star News was a mouthpiece for the High Council and they will be biased towards them.

’Working for the common people? If only you heard what they think of the common people!’ Talia wanted to sneer.

"And which expert in economics can confirm that only the Brunton family benefitted from Northern Star’s growth? Can you present a single study supporting that claim, Mr..." Talia squinted her eyes. Her hands have long gone cold facing confrontation. She really was not a person who is good with confronting others. But she cannot stand and watch others trying to tear her grandfather’s beloved Northern Star to pieces.