Alexia’s POVThe drive home was fun, I don’t know how to explain it but it felt like a weight had been lifted after Ethan told me nothing happened between him and Melinda. I know I’m not meant to care about whatever he does with his life but the truth is I would rather he sleeps with an entire football field than Melinda. Call me petty but that is just how it is. After that whole hitch was settled, I genuinely felt lighter, like maybe this whole marriage arrangement with Ethan wouldn’t be so bad after all I started to feel genuinely happy about being married to him and I am starting to have faith that these three years will work out just fine.We get home and as soon as we try to go upstairs a voice booms “where on earth have you two been?” we turn around at the same time to see his mother standing crossed armed looking like she is about to devour both of us.“We just needed some time away mother” Ethan replies, I don’t think I have the confidence to say anything after the way I left
Alexia’s POVI wake up early but I don’t see Ethan next to me, which felt weird because I know he slept here last night but before I get the chance to start worrying, he walks in with a tray full of food in hand.“Breakfast time” he says as he closes the door with his foot and walks over to drop the food on the bed. Now I am fully awake. It isn’t everyday you get breakfast in bed.“Thank you so much” I say as I carry the toast and put in my mouth. It tastes delicious as always, I am sure Matilda made it.“No biggie, I just knew you wouldn’t want to go downstairs and deal with all that this early so I decided why not just have breakfast in our room?” he says with a smile.“Well, that is so thoughtful of you, it kind of makes resuming work tomorrow feel so anticlimactic” I sigh, I mean all this princess treatment sure makes a girl lazy. Do not get too used to it, he is just being nice. The voice in my head ruins the moment for you.“Unless this is your unofficial way of resigning, I bel
Alexia's POVI swear Ethan is trying to get us killed! There is nothing anyone can tell me otherwise. if getting us killed isn't his intention, then why would he be driving on a speed limit of 137 km/hour!!. I thought, worriedly clutching my seat all through the drive to my brother's house. As soon as he parked at the front of our house and turned off the ignition, I leaned back on my seat, closed my eyes for a minute and exhaled in relief.Ethan shoots me an amused look, like he doesn't know he just almost gave me a heart attack. “Hope you enjoyed the ride?”“Enjoyed or dreaded? That was the most scary moment of my life”“Oh stop being such a baby” He teased.“I'm not being a baby, I'm just trying to apply exercise precaution, on that note, I think I will just stick with Jeff driving me from now on”“Ouch, are you saying you are choosing Jeff over me, your husband?What happened to being faithful and loyal to your handsome loving husband?”He gasped dramatically.“Oh be serious please”
Alexia's POV“What are you doing here?” Aiden asked as soon as I sat on the sofa beside the fireplace. I raised an eyebrow at his insolenceAustin, who is sitting beside him, shoots a pleading look. “We talked about this Aiden, you promised to hear her out. I know you are pissed that she came late to our graduation, I'm hurt also, but I am sure she has an explanation, just listen to please.”“Well, I promised to listen to her explanation, but I didn't promise to be civil” Aiden responds without remorse“That is quite enough! The last time I checked this is also my apartment, and I am the one trying to raise money to renew the rent before the landlord throws your ungrateful ass outside. Also, I am still your big sister, so If I were you, I would watch my tone, young man!“Now you will listen to me and you will remain quiet until I am done with my explanation. You can express your grievances when I am done with my explanations, I don't have an issue with that. What I do have an issue w
Ethan's POV “Damn it” I curse hitting my steering. I shouldn't have tried to kiss Alexia. I did not plan it. I only wanted to help unbuckle her seat belt, but when my eyes met her beautiful blues I was wholly captivated. I couldn't look away, and those gorgeous heart-shaped lips, I couldn't resist their lure. My mind keeps replaying that moment in the car. If Alexia had not turned away, I would have gone on with it. Her rejection hurts this time. I thought Alexia was already warming up to me these past few weeks. She has always rejected my advances in the past, way before we signed this contract marriage, but this time feels different.I have always had a crush on her since the moment she became an employee at Blackwoods company and all the times I flirted with her, she always rebuffed me, but this particular rejection stinks because I could have sworn Alexia had started feeling something for me. I have noticed how her eyes seem to follow me when I enter a room. Or maybe it's just
Ethan's POV Melinda watches me as I pour my whiskey into one of the glasses and take a long drink. I can't help but notice the drink tasted off, but shake off the feeling.“So why are you here all by yourself, trying to get drunk?” Melinda asks. She signals a waitress to bring a bottle of tequila for her.I ignore her question as I continue pouring myself more whiskey. I just wanted to escape my thoughts and riotous feelings and if the drink gives me the escape I desperately need, then I will gladly take it. However there is no way in hell I am telling Linda anything about my situation with Alexia, she would just jump on it and see it as another opportunity to attack Alexia, and despite Alexia’s rejection I still don't want her getting hurt.“Ethan, you and I both know you only come here to drink when something is bothering you, so talk to me. Tell me what the problem is and I will fix it”I laugh humorlessly at that. “It's nothing Melinda, I just wanted to have a drink, is that a cr
Alexia's POV Ethan did not come home last night. I arrived home a few minutes past 7:00 pm as the distance from my house to the mansion was about an hour's drive. On getting home, I was expecting to meet Ethan in the house, but he still wasn't back. I stayed up late into the night waiting for him to come, but he didn't. I tried calling him but the call keeps going to his voicemail. I left several messages for him but he hasn't responded to any of them yet.The only silver lining in all is that Linda wasn't also at the mansion by the time I got there. Ethan's Mom, I was told, retired to bed early. Thank God for small mercies. I don't think I would have had the energy for their drama tonight.I just want to explain and probably apologize for what happened in the car. I help but feel guilty about what happened in the car. I know Ethan has barely slept in our room since we got married, however these past couple of days, he started to put in more effort by spending time with me and now I
Ethan’s POV I woke up this morning with a massive hangover. My head feels like it's about to split in two. My eyelids feel like they are glued together. I take a minute to debate whether or not to open my eyes. After a few seconds, I forced my eyelids open only to shut them back immediately as the brightness of the room almost blinded me. The migraine seems to have increased in tempo by just that singular act. The next time I attempted opening my eyes again, I did it gradually and the discomfort wasn't as bad as the first time. I take a minute to try to get my bearings, as everything still appears fuzzy. I stretch my hand over the bed to where my drawer usually is, only to hit empty air. That's strange. My drawer is supposed to be at the head of the bed. Why is my drawer not there, am I not in my room? Forcing my eyes to focus, I take a good look around the room I just passed the night only to discover, that this isn't my room and it's certainly not Ryan's Guest room where I some
Alexia’s POV “I don't want the pink dress. I want to put on the blue dress.” Amy pouted, shifting away from the pink dress like she found it offensive. My little girl looks beautiful with her red hair, Ethan's blue eyes, and a face so perfect “The pink dress is better and it brings out your eyes.” I tried reasoning with my 2-year-old daughter.Today is Allen and Amy's 2 years birthday and Ethan and I are throwing a party for them.The others will soon be here and Amy is still delaying us further.“No mummy. Blue is better because it's the color of my daddy's eyes. I rolled my eyes at her, not surprised by her response. Everything is always about Ethan, to say that my little girl and Ethan are close would be putting it mildly. I have been having this dress argument with her for the past 10 minutes and I'm about to insist she puts on the dress when Ethan walks into Amy's room.“Daddy!” Amy squealed excitedly as she ran at Ethan. I smiled ruefully as I watched Ethan pick up Amy and th
Ethan's POV “Look at my handsome grandson. Isn't he the cutest baby ever?” Mom cooed as she bent over our baby boy sleeping peacefully in his crib. A small smile played on my lips. I haven't seen her this excited in a very long time.“Yeah, he certainly is.” Dad, who is also standing behind her, agreed. “If only that dumb skull over there would allow us to see our granddaughter!” He added drily, shooting a furious glare at me. “I am not letting anyone near my princess, just yet. She needs to spend quality time with her daddy.” I repeated for the hundredth time today, scowling at my Dad and Mom. Just before they could retort, the door to our hospital room was pushed open and Nathan, Ryan, Stacey, and Grace walked into the room.“Great, the entire crew is here!” I grumbled surly. Amelia shoots me a dark look.“Ethan, be nice! They are here to celebrate with us and see the newest members of the family.” I shrugged. I know I was being an ass but can anyone blame me for wanting some alon
Alexia POV. “Come on Alexia, just one more push.” my doctor said for what must be the 20th time. “That’s what you said the last twenty times.” I groaned, glaring at the doctor. I know she is just doing her job but I can't help but feel frustrated. I have been in labor for the past thirty minutes and I still haven't pushed out a baby. I can feel my body tiring and the pain is like nothing I have ever felt before. “Darling just one more! I know you can do it.” Ethan who has been beside me this whole time said, still holding my hand. He looks just as frazzled as I look. I had the irrational urge to laugh as I stared at his rumpled look, imagining the reaction of his staff if they could see their prim and proper CEO looking anything but prim. As I imagined their faces, a fit of hysterical laughter burst out of me as both the doctor and Ethan exchanged twin looks of confusion, probably wondering if I had finally lost it, which just made me laugh harder. A high-pitched cry suddenly c
Alexia’s POV “You are the reason we are late for this dinner! So be ready to handle your mom's complaint.” I said, shooting an accusing look at Ethan as he helped me out of the car.“Don't worry! You can blame me, you can blame me.” He was laughing. I struggled to hold on to my anger as the laughter I had been holding on tried to bubble up at his playfulness. I love Ethan's playful side. It's a side very few people are privileged to see.He took my hand in his ass and ushered me into the mansion.The dining room was as grand as I remembered but it still looked cold and sterile. Our dining room isn't as big and grand as this but I will pick it over this one anytime, any day because of the warmth it exudes.The long table was elegantly set with silverware, crystal glasses, and ivory candles that cast a warm glow across the room. At one end, Ethan’s mom was already fussing over the placements, rearranging flowers and adjusting napkins, her excitement barely contained.As we entered the
Ethan's POV “Gentlemen, I think what you guys have come up with is good but if we want to truly broaden our space in France we could do better than this.” I said viewed the projections on the screen.I leaned back on my chair. One of the benefits of being the CEO is that you are privileged to sit at the head of the table and take in the reaction of your team. I noticed that at more comment some of my team members nodded their agreement while some were still frowning like they don't totally agree with me, which is actually okay by me. I am comfortable enough in my space to allow dissenting opinions so long as the reasons are good. In my view it helps in business.Liam lifted his eyes to meet mine like he was about to say something and just as I was about to tell him to go ahead, my phone buzzed quietly on the table. I glanced down, and a small smile tugged at my lips when I saw it was Alexia's name flash on the screen. This one she is calling me in the middle of work, she must be m
Alexia’s POV I thought about all I had learned this morning as I approached Nathan’s office. What she had found was more complicated than she’d anticipated, and she knew she needed Nathan’s support to get to the bottom of it.I tapped lightly on the frosted glass door, hearing the muffled “Come in” from inside. Taking a deep breath, I stepped in, finding Nathan behind his desk, absorbed in his computer screen, closing the door behind me, as I walked up to his desk. The sound of the door closing, jolted him as he looked up in surprise, his eyes lighting up when he saw her.“You are back so soon?” He asked, sounding surprised.I smiled at him. “Yes, at least for now. I have spoken to a few of your staff, and I think I will speak to the others later. I don't want to rush things so whoever is responsible wouldn't suspect we are unto him or her.Nathan raised an eyebrow, interest immediately piqued. “Did you find anything from the few of them you spoke with?”I nodded, settling into th
Alexia’s POV I munch on the apple Elsie placed in my front earlier. I feel restless as I sit here just eating food and watching TV. I wonder how those stay-at-home moms do it. I envy them because these past couple of weeks off work have me feeling antsy and restless.Our sitting room which was bathed in a soft, afternoon light, with the faint scent of her favorite lavender candle lingering in the air, would usually cheer me up a bit, but today the reverse was the case.I was just reaching for the fashion magazine Stacey brought when she came to visit last week when my phone buzzed.Seeing Nathan’s name flash on the screen, I answered with a calm voice, trying to hide the surprise I felt. This should be the first time I am getting a call from him. "Hey, Nathan! What’s up?""Alexia, sorry to call out of the blue like this," he began, his tone unusually serious. “I know you are on bed rest and shouldn't be doing any work, which is why I feel like shit calling you, but I have exhausted
Ethan's POV I leaned back in my chair, my sharp gaze fixed on the report in front of me. For the umpteenth time, I wish Alexia was here to help me with this. Fielding reports was her area of expertise, not mine.I glared at the series of financial graphs glowing from my tablet screen, if only I could magically wish them away, thought, sighing deeply.Despite the report's importance, my mind was elsewhere. I rubbed a hand across my jaw, lost in thought, wondering if I should take a rare moment off and spend some time with his wife.I have been on these reports for the past two hours and I haven't made much of a progress.Just when I was about to push the report aside and take some much-needed break, my phone rang, jolting me from his reverie. Dad's name flashed like a beacon on the screen and a flicker of surprise coursed through me. I certainly wasn't expecting a call from him. He seldom called unless it was about business.“Dad,” I answered, my voice sounding professional, though w
Ethan's POV I picked up my suit jacket from the back of the chair I had hung it earlier, ready to call it in. It's been one hell of a day filled with a series of meetings. I had barely catch my breath since I got back from my visit with Ken.As I strode out of my office, locking the door behind me, I noticed the lobby was nearly empty, which isn't strange seeing as I am almost always the last to leave the office. Chloe had gone home about an hour ago.I walked through the main hall keeping my stride calm but purposeful.I know looked more relaxed than heI had in the series of meetings as if I was shedding the CEO mantle with each step toward the exit.I took the elevators to the down floor today. I want to conserve the little energy I have left because I intend to play some fun games with Alexia when I get home. I already anticipated the thrill of playing with her would be elicited inside.Stepping out from the elevator I strolled to where my car was parked outside and opened the p