Chapter 005

Alexander

Motherfucking Christ!

I turned sharply towards the not-so-innocent girl I had chosen. Her gloomy face infuriated me the more. But I wasn't going to let her see how her words had rattled me.

"What did you just say?" I asked calmly. I needed to hear her say it again.

"I'm pregnant," Amelia repeated, her voice barely audible.

I raked my fingers through my perfectly cut hair. “And you're telling me now? What happened to that knowledge when you agreed to be my wife?”

"I... I was scared. I… I found out before I was arrested," she stuttered as she tried to speak.

I glared at her, my mind racing with different thoughts. How do I play this to my advantage? Fuck! Fuck!! Fuck!!!

Inhaling deeply, I took a menacing step towards her and she retreated in response until she was backed against the wall. Her eyes glistened with unshed tears. But that wasn't going to faze me.

“I… I'm sorry, Mr Smith,” she trembled lightly. Goosebumps attacked her arm and my hand subconsciously caressed it.

“Alexander to you.” My gaze fell on her face and slowly settled on her lips between her teeth. The sight undid me. For a moment I thought of nothing except the feeling of having her lips on my skin.

Fighting the urge not to trace her lips with my finger, I inclined my head to whisper in her ear. "Let me be clear, no one must find out about this. You and the baby you're carrying belong to me, till your contract is over. Do you understand?"

I felt her nod her head. But that wasn't enough, I wanted to hear her speak. “Use your words, Amelia,” I commanded hoarsely.

She swallowed and her long, slender throat moved in response causing my grip on her hand to tighten. I inclined my head towards it, sniffing it. What I would give to taste her right here.

“Yes, I understand,” she whimpered, bringing me back to my senses.

I dropped my hand and stepped away. I can't be attracted to her, no matter how I felt. She was my employee. I needed to get laid.

"Time to go, Amelia," I instructed, walking out of the room. We hastened through the corridors and into the elevator.

I could feel her gaze on me, questioning but unresisting. She knew better than to say anything to me, at least for now. We reached the car, and I opened the door, ushering her in with a firm hand on her back.

"Take us home, Dean," I commanded him as I eased in.

We pulled up to the estate, I knew Paul would have already briefed my grandfather on the outcome of our meeting. The thought of facing my grandfather made me tense. It was not going to be easy but it had to be done. I paused to collect myself before stepping out of the car.

"Come on, Amelia," I held the door open for her to come down. "When we go inside, don't say anything, I'll handle the talking."

"Okay," she murmured, her hands clasped together.

She walked in a daze, her eyes glazed over as the butler let us in. "I can't imagine living here without getting lost," she said breathlessly, her voice breaking the silence in the huge foyer.

"You'll get used to it. Now, stop gawking," I ordered her.

"I'm... I'm sorry. I didn't know I said that out loud. I've just never seen a place like…"

We walked through the passage and entered the sitting room, I could feel the weight of my grandfather's gaze upon us.

Amelia shifted uncomfortably beside me. Her eyes darted between me and my grandfather.

She was a nervous wreck and I worried that my grandfather might sense it. Placing my hand on her back to calm her down, I guided her further into the room.

Without acknowledging my guest, Pa Martins went off.

"Alex, what did you do? I got a call from Paul telling me you got married. Is this a joke?" Grandfather glared at me, his face red with anger.

Pulling his gaze away from me, he stared at Amelia. “Is she the one you claim to be married to?”

I hesitated, unwilling to break his heart and jeopardize a lifelong friendship by exposing Paul's true motives to my grandfather. But I was also unprepared for this conversation.

I turned to Amelia, who was now visibly trembling beside me. She didn't need to be present for this discussion. "Amelia, would you please excuse us for a moment?" I asked, my voice soft but firm. "I need to speak with my grandfather alone."

"Where does she think she is going?" Pa Martins asked with a stern voice, stopping her in her tracks.

Amelia stood still, uncertainty etched on her face, unsure of how to respond or what to do next.

"I was just..... uh..." Amelia stuttered, her eyes calling to me for help.

My grandfather's gaze narrowed. "Take one more step and I'll have you arrested for trespassing, young lady!"

I stepped forward, intervening. "Pa, that's not necessary."

"Finally, you can speak. I want to know why you told Paul you wouldn't marry Selene. And what's this I hear about a marriage certificate? You'd better start explaining."

Sighing deeply, "I know you're upset, Grandpa and I don't know how to explain it to you."

"You've been engaged to Selene for years now. You can't wake up one morning and decide not to marry your fiancee."

He wasn't letting up and my head was beginning to ache. Today had been a stressful day. I pulled my tie down and undid a few buttons, grounding myself.

"That was your decision, not mine," I replied calmly.

"You'd throw away a union with Selene, a woman with impeccable breeding and a fortune?" Disbelief laced his voice when he spoke.

I scoffed. If only he knew how far from the truth he was. "I don't want to get married to Selene. I don't want to merge with their company."

"Why Alex, give me one good reason?"

I remained silent. I didn't want to lie to him. Not yet.

Turning his head away from me, he asked. "Is the marriage certificate real?"

I nodded. Then realized he couldn't see me. “Yes, Pa.”

"I'll consult my lawyer and have it annulled tomorrow. You are going to get married to Selene, Alex. I made a promise to a friend. I'm not one to go back on it."

I sighed in frustration. "I can't marry her, grandfather."

He pressed me for an explanation, "You can't or you won't Alex?"

Won't, I said inwardly but out loud, "I can't."

"Why? Tell me why?!"

I took a deep breath, collecting my thoughts, and then the perfect excuse came to my mind. "Amelia is pregnant with my child!" I blurted out.

Amelia's jaw dropped open, her eyes wide with shock. I couldn't care less about her reaction but I needed to buy time with Pa Martins. I have to get Paul to declare his company bankrupt to get Pa off my back.

"Would you want me to abandon the woman carrying your grandchild just because I'm engaged to another?" I asked.

My question had the effect I wanted on him. His face went white as a sheet, his eyes wide with disbelief. He sat there, unable to formulate a response. The silence in the room was thick, the only sound being his laboured breathing.

Finally, my grandfather found his voice, "You....you expect me to believe that she is pregnant? And with your child?"

Technically, it was mine. "I wouldn't lie about something like this."

I held my grandfather's gaze, my eyes locked on his. My expression was calm, daring him to question my honesty.

He glanced at Amelia, his gaze dropping to her pregnant belly, and his face softened. "If truly she's carrying my grandchild, then she can stay." He said as he turned his face back at me.

I gave Amelia a subtle nod, signalling her to go ahead. She hesitated, then nodded and quickly made her exit.

I stood there in the room alone with my grandfather. "I'm sure Paul and Selene would understand."

"No, Alex. I gave him my word and I am not one to go back on my word."

I knew that Grandfather's commitment to keeping his promises was unwavering, and it would be a difficult hurdle to overcome.

Disappointment was evident on his face. But I knew that protecting the company and our family legacy was a far greater priority than his promise or friendship.

I sighed and turned to walk away. I halted when Grandfather called out my name.

"Alex, I can't have the press ridicule this family."

"I know and…"

His next words cut my sentence short. "Get the maids to arrange one of the master's bedrooms, Selene will be moving in tomorrow."