Alter Ego: His Sultry Lover

Katherine started to sputter. 

"It's okay if you don't want to. I understand," Cage said quickly. 

"I'm not saying no," she clarified. "I just don't understand why this conversation came up. I mean, I pretty much live with you now?" She was mildly confused. 

He chuckled and raised his arm to stroke her cheek lovingly. "We are out of town right now. I want you to move in with me when we return to City H."

"And the people?" she asked, taking in the proposition and actually thinking about it.

"I haven't figured out the logistics yet, but with all your friends basically moving out, you'll be left to pay the EMI on your own every month. We don't get to spend much time anyway, so it would be fabulous if you lived with me. You could rent out your apartment and not have to worry about the EMI."

"And the people?" she asked again. 

He brushed her hair back and cupped her cheek. He wanted to do everything in his power to reassure her. He was going to be fine no matter what the world threw at him and he was going to make sure nothing could touch her, either. 

"When I was falling, for a split second, I was scared that I would die. It made me think about what is important. Not the endless questions that people will ask but just living my life with you." He paused and pressed a kiss on top of her head. "I love you. We may not have known each other for years but I know it. I'm in this for life. I'm sorry it took me thinking that I was going to die to tell you what I really wanted."

Her eyes shined with unshed tears. "I don't want to think about that. And you don't need to convince me. I had pretty much decided to ask you myself but then backed off because it was too shameless."

Cage pushed her away from him, looking at her face carefully.

"You should have been shameless. I wouldn't have to pretend to say it in the throws of passion then." He pouted.

"So, we're doing this..." she trailed off. "We have a couple of months until we return to City H. By then, we can figure out how to move in."

Every small thing in the life of a couple seemed so hard to them. One was an international superstar and the other a public figure who needed to be careful. So much had to be considered to take a single step. 

Cage groaned all of a sudden. "The week before you move in, we need to go to the store."

Her nose wrinkled with dissatisfaction. "Why?"

"We need to pick out new paint for the house. You can choose what you want to do with each room." Katherine beamed. 

"You want me to paint your house?" 

"Our house," he corrected her. "Yes, you choose."

"Your house is really beautiful. Why do you want me to..." She sounded mystified. 

"This is serious." He lowered his head to press a soft kiss on her lips. "I'm serious about you." Her eyes sparkled but she made a show of studying him. 

"You must have hit your head too hard," she scoffed. 

"I didn't do much to make it my own house. I let my mother take over and decorate. I let the cleaners do the rest. I want to build a home with you. One that feels like our home."

And there it was again. 

"Stop sounding like a lost puppy. It doesn't suit you." She pinched his cheek and chuckled. "Okay, we'll paint everything. Let's have fun!" she cheered and dropped down beside him.

"If you think I'm being unreasonable because I hit my head and am emotional, I'll ask you when I'm all better." His confidence was overwhelming. 

"I don't doubt you one bit," she confessed. 

- - -

Two days later, Cage had shot a couple of scenes and was beyond tired. While he was napping, his phone rang approximately too early into his nap. Groaning, he rolled over and slapped his hand around to find his phone. 

"Hello?" he grumbled, throwing his arm over his eye to block the light.

"Good morning, asshole," Stephen fumed from the other side. "I went away for a day to meet Angelina and you went out with Katherine without telling me?" he asked. 

Cage blinked, confused. He checked to see if he was really awake before responding to his manager. "Stephen, what the fuck are you talking about? I didn't go out with Katherine since that day at the restaurant. You drove me."

"What?" Stephen sounded equally confused.

"I stayed in the hotel room for the last four days, recovering."

There was silence on the other end of the phone, then a sigh. "Put your phone on speaker and get your browser going."

Cage sat up with a groan and squinted at the phone as he did as he was asked. "Okay," he said with a yawn.

The browser was on and Cage was plastered all over social media. The articles and shares were widespread. The bad part? Katherine was in the picture. He cursed under his breath as he read through the article. 

There were pictures of them together in the car when they were in City O. Him waiting outside the hotel. Even their pictures on their dates. They had everything. Thankfully, none of the pictures had Katherine's face in them. Her head was turned in each one or obscured by his arm. 

Worst of all? The newspapers had mentioned which hotel he was staying in and hinted that Katherine was staying with him.

"Fuck fuck fuck fuck." He couldn't stop. His hand was embedded in his hair as he pulled savagely. 

"Don't worry, I'm booking the first flight back. Just make sure Katherine stays indoor for now. I'll try to clean up the news and issue a statement."

"What are you going to do with these photos?" Cage asked, panicking slightly. 

"I'll try to take them down. Just... trust me."