TWO: THE PAUPER AND THE ELITE.

“WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU JUST SAY?!”

Alexander Xavier woke up to the most bizarre news he had ever heard in his entire twenty seven years of living.

One, his father was getting married.

Two, he was also getting married.

“You’re kidding right now,” Alex faced his cousin. “Aren’t you?”

He should have known something was up the moment Dominique walked into his room the first thing in the morning. He couldn’t remember the last time he casually walked into his room early in the morning except something was really up.

Another thing he could barely remember was when Dominique Xavier began to live with them. About 6 years older than him but anyone could barely tell. If anything, Alex looked older. Few inches taller than Dominique and having a broader body frame, he looked like the older relative. Unlike Dominique, he had brown eyes just like his mum and grew his hair longer than him.

He, was the first and only child of the Xavier family.

The Xavier family name was no news. They were behind the Xavier Group which was no doubt one of the largest business names the country had to offer. They were billionaires and sure acted up to their name.

On graduating from Harvard Business School, Alexander followed in his father’s footsteps and took over a major branch of their company. His dad was proud of him and his mum was happy for him. Not only had he managed to run the business smoothly and perfectly, he was following his dad’s footsteps by becoming one of the youngest billionaires of the century.

They grew up together and Dominique wasn't really the elder brother he had always wanted. He was the elder brother he had as he couldn't even remember what life without him might have felt like. He was always around.

Just like him, Dominique still lived at the Xavier mansion. For a reason known to him, his dad never allowed either him or his cousin move out. They were both grown men making billions but unless they both got married, Frank Xavier was hell bent on never agreeing to have them move out

Unlike him, Dominique wasn’t interested in business and his dad didn’t push him to study it. Dominique was interested in fashion and followed his dreams by going ahead to study fashion designing. He was good at it and on graduating, established his own clothing line and only took him a few years to climb unto the ladders of success, becoming one of the youngest and most successful fashion designers.

“I’m not, dear cousin,” Dominique laughed, taking a sip of the wine in his hands. “I heard from an undisclosable source that not just one but two members of the Xavier family were going to be getting married. I made my little investigations and turned out it’s you and your dad.”

“That makes no sense!” Alexander finally got up from his bed. “Why would he be getting married? I understand if he’s trying to get me married into another rich family as his way of making more money but him? He has a wife, hello?”

“Alex-”

“Stop,” he knew what his cousin was about to go on about. He was about to talk about his parents and their rather unique relationship. “Don’t tell me to not bother about their relationship.”

“You really shouldn’t though,” Dominique still let out. “You really should stop bothering yourself with their problems.”

Their problems. Mr. and Mrs. Frank Xavier. The power couple behind the Xavier Group. They were known as a successful couple and nothing else. If one didn’t know better, one could as well call them business partners. They were married but other than having a child together, their marriage lacked every other elements of marriage. They were neither sweet nor romantic. It was even hard to think they had the slightest bit of affection for each other or were once even attracted towards each other.

"Easier said than done," was Alex’s response. "Tell me, were they always this way?"

"And just why do you think I would be in the best position to answer that?"

"Cause you're older than me?" Alexander replied, grabbing Dominique's wine glass. "You've probably been around here longer than I have been and you have quite the retentive memory. So, just maybe?"

"No," Dominique shook his head. "Not that I've ever paid attention to. But of course, what do you expect? A loving relationship between such workaholics? They both love their jobs too much to love others."

"Perhaps."

"This is no fairytale, dear cousin," Dominique got up. "The type of love you have pictured in your head doesn't exist."

"You sound so sure."

"Because I am. Look at me for example," he gesticulated by spreading his arms wide. "I fall in love with a new model every fortnight. Do I not promise all the ladies I've been with forever and everything they could ever want? Of course, I do. But just like everything in this world, we grow out of love too and all that's left is duty."

Alexander remained silent, his gaze fixed on the red liquid in the glass wrapped around his fingers.

"You know I'm right, Alex," Dominique continued. "Your mum and dad had both grown out of the stage of being in love probably even before you were born. Right now all that's left is duty and if I'm going to be honest, your dad is performing his duty dutifully."

"No. You don't understand," Alexander muttered, emptying the contents of the glass down his throat. "But it's alright. I don't expect you too."

He found it hard to understand. Why did they get married if they were going to be so cold to each other? Even as business partners, they needed to get along better.

Dominique smiled. "You surely do not but let’s set that aside for now. You seem to have forgotten you’re also going to be getting married."

“Oh I haven’t,” he dropped the glass on the table. “It has to be a joke. All of this.”

Not waiting for a response from his cousin, Alex walked out of his room, heading to his dad’s. He needed an explanation for all the bizarre things he was hearing.

Without bothering to knock to ask for permission, he opened the door to his dad’s room on getting there. His dad was seated on one of the comfortable cushions decorating his room. It was a regular huge sized room in the mansion. Wide, painted in the regular cream colour with various expensive furniture lurking around.

“Alex, you’re here.”

“Yes, I am,” Alexander replied. As he had never been a fan of uselessly beating around the bush, he went straight to the point. “I heard some crazy rumours today. I want to believe they are nothing but crazy rumours indeed so well, I’m here to confirm that.”

Frank Xavier coughed, adjusting himself in his extremely comfortable seat. “Oh. What rumours?”

"I heard you're getting married. Or should I say, planning on getting married, Mr Frank Xavier?"

A short silence fell between them, Alex getting the answer to his question.

"Oh, so it's really true," Alex took a few steps backwards, his dad’s expression saying it all. "So it's not just a rumour, wow. I guess I thought so too. Just wanted to hear it from the horse's mouth."

"And you didn't even think I deserved to know? Do you even have any idea how I got to know?"

"Alex," his dad tried to calm him down. "Of course, you deserve to know and I intended to tell you but it only happened yesterday! I'm terribly surprised on how you even heard about it."

"That isn't the issue here," Alex couldn't see himself calming down. "You're getting married. Frank Xavier is getting married. Someone from the Xavier family is getting married and it’s not me or Dominique. That’s the issue. It makes no sense. Why should you be getting married? You’re married. Just why do you want to get married?"

"You must have missed a part in the rumour,” Frank replied. “You’re also getting married, son. And why do you think people get married, Alexander?"

"Definitely not because their children do not want them to."

"Oh, Alex," Frank sighed. "Don't tell me you're being like this because of Elaine's social status just like your mother."

"What?" Alex was taken aback. "Mum knows already? You couldn’t even wait for her to get back from her business trip? Oh, heavens."

"It's no big deal, son," Frank placed a hand on his shoulder, Alex immediately brushing it way. "You're just being overdramatic. You're surprised? Sure, I understand."

Alex shook his head. "Who are you getting married to anyways?"

"Didn't the rumour include that part of the story?"

"I'll pretend I didn't hear that."

"Elaine."

"And just who might that be?" he already did not like her.

"A maid."

"What?"

"A maid, Alex," Frank laughed lightly. "She's a maid that works here, at home."

"So you're saying you, one of the most successful man out there, is leaving mum, Mya Xavier, one of the most successful, bold and strong woman out there to get married to a mere servant?" Alexander could barely believe his ears.

"Come on, Alex. Don't be like this."

"Like how?!" Alex laughed. “Are you insane?”

"Okay what do you want me to do?!" Frank’s voice finally rose up. "I'm not letting your mum go, I just want a new wife. What's wrong with that? Marriage with your mum is no fun, you of all people should know that so what's wrong if I want to just make myself happy a little bit? Or because I'm Frank Xavier or a successful business man or a husband or a father I have no right to do what could make me happy?"

"No, of course not," Alex smiled. "It's fine. You're free to do whatever you want. But trust me, you're not getting married."

“You don’t get to have a say in that,” Frank said, stopping Alex in his tracks as he was about to leave. “If there’s anything you should be bothered about, it should be your own wedding. I’m sorry this wasn’t how I intended on breaking it to you but you’re getting married son.”

Slowly, Alex turned to face his dad. “What?”

Frank shook his head. "I’ve been thinking about it for a while now and I’ve finally made my decision. I’ve picked your bride too. Vanessa Constantine. The Constantine family name should ring a bell, don’t you think? Her dad owns the Constantine Oil and Gas family. Needless to say, they’re a big shot. I spoke to her father about it and we both agreed you’ll both be a great match.”

“What?” Alex repeated, listening to his dad talk. Was he being serious? Him? Get married? He wasn’t ready for marriage not to talk of marriage with a total stranger.

“Alex-”

“Stop talking,” he cut his dad off. He couldn’t afford to listen to him any longer without him losing his mind. “Just stop.”

He needed a break. It was all happening too fast and it was close to driving him crazy.

And he knew exactly who to blame.

"You said her name is Elaine, right?"

"Alex -"

"And she works in this mansion, does she?" he continued his interrogation.

"Alexander,” his dad knitted his eyebrows at him. “What are you thinking of doing?”

“Oh, you don’t have to worry about that,” he cracked his knuckles then turned to leave. “Excuse me for now.”

Except he was going to needing to worry.