02 The Walk of Shame

Lauren

I did not know the gravity of the situation until Soren spelt it out. Xavier wasn't in his senses anymore. He ran his finger through his thick curls repeatedly, yanking at his hair and trying to remain calm. I could swear I heard a low growl from him, but it might have been the hangover.

"I have fucked up, Man," he said, looking at Soren, and I knew why he would feel that way.

His father always believed he would fuck things up. This wasn't good for him at all.

"Where were you last night?" I asked Soren, and he frowned at me.

"Where I should be, of course. I was in my room. You should be asking him where he went after we parted ways at three in the morning," he said, pointing at Xavier, and we all looked at Xavier. He looked a bit guilty, and I knew somehow he was the cause of his problem.

"I met a girl at the bar, and we drank and chatted. I was still awake, and I did not want to waste time. I knew we were leaving today and wanted to enjoy my time a little longer before going to bed. We had a couple of drinks, and we even danced a bit. That is all I can remember.

The rest is foggy. She claims I was the one that called the chaplain to wed us. I can't remember doing that. She had me videoed and all.

The psycho bitch was talking as if it was romantic.

I asked her who the fuck marries a man she just met? I said it was a mistake, and we would file for an annulment, and she refused. She refused outrightly," he said, and I had to guess what had happened to Xavier. He had been marked, and he fell into the trap.

"You have a family lawyer, right?" I asked an obviously stupid question, but there was no harm in asking.

Xavier looked at me and nodded.

"Well, we should return to Riverbend and see that lawyer today so he can advise you on the following action. I think you were marked," I said, and I heard what sounded like a low animal growl from Xavier again. Soren touched his shoulder, and he calmed down.

The two of them had always had a weird way they communicated, almost as if they knew what the other wanted to say, wanted or needed before the words were spoken aloud. It was a weird connection, but I guess it comes with knowing someone all your life.

"Where is she now?" Landon asked.

"I kicked her out of my room," he said, and he shouldn't have done that, but someone that would go through such length wouldn't stay away. I am sure of it.

"I think we should get going, and you should call Attorney Gilbert Locke," Soren told him, and Xavier nodded. I suspected Gilbert was the family lawyer.

"Okay, let's go," Xavier said, and I stood still. At least he should give us time to pack. Not all of us can afford to forgo our clothes.

"Let me just grab my things," I said, rushing to the closet and throwing everything in Landon copied me too.

"What about you two? Won't you pack?" I asked, and Soren shook his head.

"The rooms we stayed in belong to us," he said, and I wondered why I bothered asking. Of course, they will own rooms in the Remington. They had the money.

We finished packing in thirty minutes. I couldn't change my pyjamas, so I just wore a flip-flop with sunglasses, ready to leave. This was really humiliating, but how could I be thinking of beauty and shame when Xavier was in trouble? I sucked it up and dragged my bag. Xavier took my bag from me, being the gentleman he was. I was amazed to see he had the time to be kind. I guess it was innate for him.

Xavier carried my bag while speaking on the phone on our way out, and people looked at us.

It was obvious that we had not showered. Landon and I looked hungover with sunglasses on. I was in my pyjamas and, likewise, Landon, who was wearing shorts with smiley faces and a white t-shirt.

Soren was wearing boxers and a singlet, and Xavier looked dishevelled in his white shirt and shorts, part of the outfit he had on last night.

Xavier was in his own world trying to solve his predicament while we dealt with the walk of shame.

A car was waiting at the entrance, and we entered. Xavier was very short with the driver, yelling at him to step on it.

He wasn't himself at all.

I wondered where the woman had gone.

I did not see the name on the certificate, so I did not know her name, and with how Xavier was feeling, I dared not ask him. Landon and I remained silent throughout the drive while Soren spoke to Xavier about the action he could take.

My headache remained, and I wished I did not come on the trip in the first place.

I had an interview in two days, and now this.

I doubt I can head home immediately when we arrive at Riverbend. It will be insensitive of me to abandon Xavier.

At least it was only fair to remain with him until he asked us to leave.

We flew in a private jet back to Riverbend. An SUV was waiting at the airport, and the moment we got in, Xavier ordered it to take us to Jackson and Son's towers.

I knew that must be where Gilbert was.

I wondered why he worked on Sundays. I guess it comes with the job.

My head was banging, and I wanted to ask for a painkiller, but Xavier did not seem like someone I could speak to.

He was all shades of anger, and it didn't seem like it would improve.

I had tears because of the headache, but the sunshades helped. Hopefully, Gilbert can wave the magic wand, and we can all go home.

We arrived at the Towers, and Xavier was out the door when the SUV stopped moving. Soren followed him, leaving Landon and me to follow. We moved quickly, and the people on the ground floor stared at us.

"Hold the lift!" Landon said and hurried past me. I followed him, too, but the elevator had closed when we arrived.

I wanted to leave at that instant because I was mad.

None of this was our fault.

The least Soren and Xavier could do was tell us to go home or hold the elevator so we could go up together.

I looked at where the elevator was going and saw it stopped on the twentieth floor.

We waited for the next elevator, and it took three minutes. The building was busy, and even though it was Sunday, it gave me a weekday vibe.

Landon and I headed to the twentieth floor, and I knew we would face the dilemma of which office to go to.

I held on to the name Gilbert just in case.

The man that got into the elevator with us kept staring, and I had to turn and face Landon to spare myself the discomfort.

It wasn't every day you saw a woman in pyjamas in an elevator of a corperate building on a Sunday.

I knew we were a sight to see.

I cursed internally and wished this was all a bad dream.

We finally got to the twentieth floor, and we exited the lift. Just as I suspect, we had no clue where to go.

I walked to the enquiry desk, and the woman there looked at me as if I were crazy.

I still had the shades on and wouldn't take it off.

"Please, we came with Xavier Blackwood. Do you, by any chance, know where he went? Gilbert's office?" I inquired, and she looked at me as if I were stupid.

I saw her hand inching closer to the phone, maybe to call security because we looked like crazy people, when Soren called out to us.

"Is okay, Maya, they are with us," he said, apparently figuring out what she was planning on doing. I wondered how he knew we were there.

We went to him, and he ushered us into a large office.

We weren't supposed to be there. At least I wasn't supposed to be there.

The office screamed of luxury, old money.

The world had obviously been kind to the lawyer if this was his office.

Everything was polished wood. The grandeur and opulence were intimidating, but I managed to compose myself.

Xavier was pacing about the office, and an old man, who I supposed was the lawyer, was sitting on his chair at his desk, staring at him, annoyed, displeasure evident on his face.

"So you mean there is nothing I can do?" Xavier asked the man, and he shook his head.

"I am afraid not, Xavier. This certificate is authentic and binding. People get hitched in Citadel all the time. If she doesn't want an annulment, then you are in big trouble," the man said, and I honestly felt sorry for Xavier.

"The only thing that can make this wedding null and void is if you were already married and you aren't so…" he continued and stopped speaking.

I could see the glint in his eyes. He had an idea.

"This might be crazy and seriously illegal, but I suppose there is a way to make this void," he said, and Xavier was attentive.

We all were.

Learning that something could be done about the mess was an extraordinary reprieve.

I was hopeful it was a great idea so we could go home and put this all behind us.

"Well, I do not know how you will take this, but I can speak to one of my connections in the court and backdate a wedding licence for you to, let's say, three months ago.

Then we can file for the annulment of this one. Once the dust has settled, you can annul that marriage too," he said, and Xavier was attentive.

"Please do it. I will pay," he said, and Mr Gilbert seemed uncomfortable.

"You will need a bride for this to happen, and because it is illegal, it has to be someone you trust. Someone who won't sell you out for money because, if we get any woman, she could still betray you no matter how much we pay her.

We do not know who the woman you married is or her intentions. We have to be careful," he warned, and Xavier froze because it would be difficult to get someone crazy that would do something as illegal as a false marriage.

"But won't that be creating the same problem?" Soren said, and we were attentive.

"He wants an annulment, not a divorce, so he does not lose anything. If we get him a fake wife and backdate the certificate, what if she decides to divorce him and take him for half of his wealth?" Soren asked, and Gilbert laughed a bit.

"Once we get the bride, she will sign a full-proof prenuptial agreement. It will cover all that.

She won't be entitled to anything when she leaves other than the money we will pay her for her service," he said, and Soren nodded, which made more sense.

"I must say, Xavier, if we take this route, the earlier, the better. If it is possible to do it first thing in the morning tomorrow, it will be wise because we do not know the intentions of this, Isabella Knight," Gilbert said, staring at the certificate, and that was when Soren looked at me.

"You are single, Lauren. I am sure you can help Xavier out," he said, putting me on the spot, and my eyes widened.

"What!" I exclaimed, and Xavier looked at me pleadingly. He had eyes that would make you do anything. I felt sorry for him, but I wasn't crazy enough to commit a crime on his behalf. What if we get caught?.

"Yes, Yes. Lauren is perfect. You are perfect. She is my friend, and she won't hurt me. Perfect," Xavier told his lawyer as if I had agreed, and I was on the spot.

"What are.." I started, and Gilbert cut in.

"It will be temporary, Lauren, just long enough for us to cancel the wedding in Citadel. Just a maximum of six months. The truth is even if we go to court tomorrow and ask for the wedding to be cancelled, you two will have to wait or six months to avert suspicion, and the good part is, as long as the marriage isn't up to two years, you can have an annulment.

It will be like it never happened.

Of course, you two are friends, so it will be easy. You won't be required to fulfil conjugal duties. It will be just for the show. Just until Xavier is out of the bind," Gilbert explained, backing me into the corner.

I looked at Xavier, and I could see the hope in his eyes. I did not know when my head nodded, agreeing to the madness.