Chapter 5

In an ordinary situation, Gina wouldn't have agreed to move into Henry's mansion. True, she wasn't well to do and she liked the good life, but she also prided herself on her level of self respect. Gina was ready to stay in her own house and find a way through the marriage, if it meant keeping her dignity. However, there were two problems with that.

One, her rent had expired three months ago and she was living on borrowed time based on her charming kindness to the old woman who owned the two storey building she stayed in. Secondly, and more importantly, the contract she signed included a clause that stated she had to stay with Henry for the most part of the year during their marriage. In other words, she was bound to him for three quarters of the season and couldn't stay on her own, even if she wanted to. Every time she remembered it, she half felt like slapping herself because she neglected to read that part.

Gina's mind continued to drift on the many choices she had before a shake of her hands brought her back to reality, standing face to face with Henry's mom. She was tongue tied, so she just smiled at the woman who seemed to be glowing, while her son grimaced and pulled her in for a short hug with Gina watching. Although there was not a lot of words passed between the mother-son quo, she got the feeling that they were quite close and somehow, she found it hard to believe because of who Henry was. Also, she didn't quite know how the woman would be yet.

After some minutes, all three of them went into the house and Gina could feel two pairs of eyes behind her watching as she marvelled at the elegant display of wealth. Everywhere she looked was filled with some antique or decoration that screamed money and class, and she nearly stretched her hand out to touch them. However, she felt conscious of the fact that Henry or his mother could snap at anytime. She quickly held her hand and looked away, slowly walking further into the house. She didn't want to be embarrassed, not in front of the guards.

"You didn't inform me you were coming, Mom," Henry said, with a tone Gina could not quite comprehend. But his mother could because she laughed and touched his hand, before looking towards where Gina stop with a huge grin on her face.

"It was obviously a surprise," she shrugged and spread out her hands as she walked forward to give the soon to be bride a hug. "I wanted to see my son and my beautiful daughter-in-law. Is that a crime, honey?" As Gina hugged the woman back, not like she had a choice, she knew for certain that the woman would be around for a few days. She watched Henry's face as he shook his head slightly and then stared at her so much, that for a second, she forgot how to breathe. In shock, Gina blinked her eyes and realized that he was telling her to play the role she was recruited for.

She quickly smiled and put on her most charming look. "I am so sorry I didn't call before Henry and I got engaged. I was packed up with work, and frankly, I wasn't sure you would like me." Gina had long since learned that for some people, the best way to get through to them was make them feel more important and she had a feeling it would work for Henry's mother. She wasn't surprised when the woman fervently shook her head and took her hand.

"Nonsense. Don't worry about that. I'm just happy that my boy has found himself a pretty wife. He's had a tough time with women, and the last one, I don't know if he told you, left him quite–"

"Okay, Mom. I believe Gina has heard enough. Why don't we freshen up and come back for dinner?" Henry hastily offered, much to their chagrin, as Gina was very much interested in his past relationships. She didn't know a lot about the man, but she felt that an insight into his love life would give her some clarification about him. However, she could detect a hint of annoyance – and was that embarrassment? – on his face. No doubt he didn't want her in his private business.

As the topic was changed and his mother started talking about the situation of the business at home, Gina busied herself with coming up with plans to learn more about Henry from his mother. Secretly, she hoped she brought his baby pictures with her. What a field day she would have! Soon, they got upstairs and while Henry showed his mother to her room, Gina tried to see if there was a third room she could stay in. She was so engrossed in this that she didn't realize when Henry put his hand over her shoulder and kissed her cheek.

"My love, our room is this way. The biggest for the best," he grinned and Gina looked at him in shock. She knew he was being Iike that for his mother's benefit, but it was so out of character for him. For a second, she felt he was a different person and she couldn't lie that she didn't like it. Falling into character herself, Gina smiled and leaned into him until his mother entered into her room. Henry dropped his hand faster than a child would a fire, and the smile wiped off. After the guards carried the bag into their room, Gina turned to Henry.

"We can't possibly share a room," she started, glancing at the queen sized bed and imagining how soft it would be. Surely, there were other rooms like that in the big house and it wouldn't hurt to have–

"I couldn't agree more with you," her soon-to-be husband answered swiftly and when she raised her eyes to meet his, he shoved his hand into his pockets and Gina could have sworn she saw him stand a little bit straighter. "However, we don't have a choice. My mom came here unannounced, and we certainly have to put on a show for her. If there is one person that can smell foul play, it's her."

The first thing that came to Gina's mind was that Henry Thorn was scared of his mother. That gave her a bit of courage, and she shrugged. "If she can smell a lie, why start it? Would it hurt so much if you told her the truth?" She knew she had said something quite foolish, but she kept her head high and waited for the response, all the while eyeing the soft bed.

"It's a water bed, and the only one in this house," Henry glanced at the bed and back at her, while spotting a smirk which soon disappeared. "Do you think I would be stressing over this if I could just tell my mother the truth?" It was a rhetorical question, but Gina caught the drift and sighed in defeat before looking around the wide room.

The second most loveable feature was the huge wardrobe placed at one corner of the room. As she walked closer to it, she saw that a section opened into a closet and she gasped in delight. The brightly lit room was twice the size of her bedroom and it was filled with clothes of different colours and styles. "Are these–"

"You have to wear something during your stay here," Henry grimaced again, standing at the door of the closet and Gina watched as his eyes ran over her body before coming to rest on her head. She shuddered slightly, unable to decide if she found it sensual, insulting or downright annoying. "No one wants to see you in the cheap clothes of yours."

Insulting, it was. She clenched her fists as she felt small vapours of steam from her ears. Her clothes, no matter how cheap, were bought with hard earned money and she wasn't about to let anyone downgrade her for making an honest living. "Excuse me, I got those clothes with my money and I'm not ashamed to wear them. It wasn't an issue for you when you asked me to marry you."

Henry scoffed and shook his head lightly. "Believe me, it definitely was."

Gina's gasp filled the tense air and she folded her arms in an attempt at come back when a knock sounded and she sighed quietly. She moved away form the closet and watched as Henry opened the door to reveal his mother in a fresh set of clothes. If she looked like a regal queen some hours ago, now she resembled a royal goddess. She was so pretty, and though she would never admit it, Gina saw where Henry got his good looks from.

"I heard some noise earlier on. Is everything alright?" A part of Gina wanted to come out and say she no longer wanted to be part of the sham, but before she stepped forward, Henry answered for them both.

"Everything is fine, Mom. We were just discussing the marriage plans." The woman's face lit up and she swiftly walked into the room, dragging both her son and Gina with a beam on her face.

"That's what I want to hear. Let's discuss it then."