On Monday I went to the office and realized that I had everyone staring at me.

I worked in a small private financial institution. It was basically a desk job, which involved going through data and preparing reports. Nothing as thrilling as being married to the man who used to be the hottest bachelor in New York.

People had seen the interview and the photographs of our picnic in Central Park. Now, it wasn’t only strangers and the media that were showering me with attention, my colleagues were as well.

Rosie, the girl who sat beside me in the adjoining cubicle, stood up to talk to me while I was in the middle of typing.

“Hey, Jessica. Or should I be referring to you as Mrs Cormack now?” she asked, folding her arms over the partition.

I looked up at her, not in the mood for a conversation like this.

“I’m still Jessica, Rosie.” I told her irritably. Rosie didn’t seem to get the hint that I wanted her to go away.

“So, what is it like being married to Leo Cormack. Also, why did you keep it a secret from all of us?”

My fingers continued to float over the keyboard, I was trying to zone her out. The last thing I wanted to do was discuss Leo, not while I was feeling this way.

“It’s a regular marriage. Nothing strange or different about it. I didn’t want to tell people because of the attention I’d get.” I replied.

“Nothing different about it? He’s like one of the most eligible bachelors in New York City. Or at least he used to be, till you snagged him up. I hope this whole thing with Kylie Musgrave hasn’t been bothering you.” Rosie continued.

I clenched my jaws in anger.

“It wasn’t bothering me till people started feeling sorry for me.” I told her and Rosie smiled.

“You two look divine together. I could tell…I watched the interview on E News. He is so in love with you. Just the way he looks at you…wow!”

My cheeks flushed, and the back of my neck grew hot. She had no idea. It was all an act. Leo felt nothing for me, other than a pure sense of friendship. I knew I could always rely on him, but only as a friend. And now it was beginning to feel like once this was over, we wouldn’t even be able to be that anymore.

“Hey, Jessica, is it okay if I ask you something personal?” Rosie continued, leaning in towards me over the cubicle. I was about to tell her no, but she didn’t wait for a response.

“What’s he like in bed? I mean, I’ve heard he’s amazing and generous. Is he really?”

Her eyes were crazed and wide. She was in the gossip mood, full throttle.

“I can’t believe you just asked me that!” I snapped.

Her brows crossed and she looked confused.

“It’s just a usual girly chat, Jessica. You don’t have to get so stuffy about it!”

“Have you asked Erica over there the same question? She got married a few weeks ago.” I raged at her. Rosie rolled her eyes.

“I was just trying to be friendly.” she said.

“No, you're nosey and gossipy. It’s because of people like you that people like Leo get thrashed by the media through no fault of their own. Stay out of my personal life, Rosie!”

I jumped out of my chair and grabbed my coat to go. I could see that Rosie was shocked and upset by the way I had spoken to her. I was usually a rather quiet person in the office, and I had definitely not spoken that way to her before.

“Wow. All right, then.” she mumbled and sat back down on her chair again.

I stormed out of the office and on to the busy streets. I needed some air. I needed to get away from people who were constantly staring at me. But I hadn’t thought about the cameras that were going to follow me while I went for a walk.

Now that they’d caught me alone, they followed me closely and tried to talk to me too. I kept my head down and tried to outrun them, but there were three paparazzi, and they were everywhere. At every corner, I took and every angle.

It was like the media couldn’t get enough of Leo Cormack’s new mysterious wife.

Thankfully, I had my sunglasses on, and behind the dark lenses, they couldn’t see how my eyes were watering up.

I was expecting a blast of media attention on me once we went public with our lie, but now it was overwhelming. These cameras were a constant reminder that the marriage I had with Leo; was just a lie. That in a few days, he wouldn’t need me anymore.

I would have served my task, and then I’d be discarded, shrunk down to the position of being the constant, reliable friend that I’d always been to him.

But how was I ever supposed to forget the way he’d made me feel that night? How perfect and natural it felt every time he kissed me.

I was running from the cameras and trying to keep my tears at bay at the same time. Now that I had him, I knew I didn’t want to let him go. I was married to Leo, a dream of ten years had finally come true, and very shortly it would all be over. A rude awakening from a magical idyllic dream.

Maybe I’d never return from this vacation. Perhaps I needed to go away forever. If I never saw him again, maybe then it would hurt my soul and mindless to be without him.