Chapter 7

Kate's POV

My face paled as I took in my CEO's gorgeous form. Slowly, I gave him a once over….

Wait…did I just admire the asshole? Nah. Must be the excitement from tangling with Maxwell.

I glared at Mr Benedetto, trying to hide the flutter in my chest. “What are you doing here?” I asked, trying to sound calm.

I knew full well what he was here for. The reception party for our wedding that never happened. The same party for which he had asked me to be ready by four in the evening.

I cast a quick look at the wall clock hanging on the opposite wall. It showed a few minutes after three in the evening. Did I sleep that long?

“I said I was coming to pick you, didn't I? I also said you're to be ready and waiting by then,” Mr Benedetto said, his gaze fixed on my face as though daring me to refute him.

I felt a surge of annoyance at his tone. But despite myself, I wondered what it would be like to sit beside him at a table of high society, acting as his wife.

I hated myself for the thought.

“Thanks for saving me,” I said, turning to walk away. But he grabbed me. I felt his calloused hands, and like magic, it conjured up a part of last night formerly buried under the inebriation of alcohol.

My breasts tingled at the thought and my nipples hardened.

Like falling dominoes, other parts of the night flashed into my mind. My insides turned to jelly even as heat pooled between my legs.

I just hoped it doesn't show in my face.

Valiantly, I glared at Mr Benedetto. He returned the gaze with an equal intensity. For a moment that seemed like eternity, our eyes locked.

As if in slowed time, I saw the anger in his eyes drain out, to be replaced by a passion that made me quiver inside.

But just as quickly, the anger was back. He looked down at my hand, then released me with an expression that said my skin disgusted him.

“You will need a new skincare routine,” he commented.

I snapped back to reality.

Right, this was a self centered asshole. A domineering man that cared nothing for what others thought. I felt ashamed I had had such thoughts about us.

Angry at myself now, I plopped down on the couch, avoiding Max's limp form which had slid to the floor. I didn't trust my anger to remain if I tried to walk away again and he grabbed me.

“I don't remember agreeing to be your wife,” I reminded him.

Mr Benedetto seemed to struggle not to lash out. At last, he sighed and sat down on the opposite couch.

“Maybe I'm being too unreasonable –”

“Damn right you are!” I interjected.

He shrugged. “Alright, I am. I can't just order you to become my wife, even if you're my employee – nodding that vigorously can snap your neck young lady – Why don't you tell me why you're so against being my wife?”

I bit my lips. Somehow, a reasonable Mr Benedetto took all the fight out of me. I wished he would be a little unreasonable so I can lash out some more, but I quickly banished the self sabotaging thought.

This was my opportunity to escape the fate of being a pretend wife. I would be foolish to let it go.

“I'm not against being your wife, per se,” I said, choosing my words carefully. “What I'm against is being forced into a role I didn't agree with. I don't like being ordered to do so as though I have no opinion of my own,”

Mr Benedetto raised an eyebrow, his expression thoughtful. “Go on.” he said, his voice neutral.

I shrugged. “That's about it. Plus, I barely know you,”

Mr Benedetto tapped a finger on the center table, his expression thoughtful. Then he leaned forward and locked eyes with me. Once again, the intensity in his eyes made me shiver.

“So, what do you propose I do? Because, you see, I can't just pick another person. It's your picture, your face, that's in the news,”

The question stumped me. What should he do? My initial answer was that he announce that it was a mistake. But thinking of it now, I knew it wasn't so logical.

How come I was in a wedding dress in the first place?

The answer to the question would bring a lot of publicity I wasn't ready to face. Plus, the negative publicity might affect the new campaign in ways I wouldn't even be able to imagine. If I lost my job, I wasn't so sure of getting another one any time soon.

“I don't know,” I answered honestly.

Mr Benedetto smiled. “Alright. While you think up a solution, would you do me a favor? As your boss,”

I nodded, then realized what he might want to ask for. But it was already too late.

“Would you just act this evening? Once the reception party is over, I will have enough time to convince you instead of forcing you.”

I thought about it. “Alright.”

Mr Benedetto nodded. “Thank you.”

He walked out and soon returned with three dresses still in their packets.

“The bank told me you didn't use the money I sent you, so I figured you haven't bought the dresses like I asked you to,” he said, throwing the dresses to me.

“They're all made according to your size. Personally, I prefer the dark blue one. But it's your pick,”

Wondering how he knew my sizes, I gathered the dresses into my arms and walked into the room.

In order to save time, I just put on the blue one. Like he said, it fitted me snugly. And it looked perfect on me.

In a few minutes, I had my bath, done my hair and was ready to go. Me Benedetto was waiting for me in front of the house.

He held the door open for me, then got into the car himself. As the car rolled down the street, my phone rang.

I looked at the screen. The caller ID showed it was my aunt.