CHAPTER 5

Xander's POV 

His eyes swirl with fear and dread at my announcement, making me guess what this is about.

He must be the one who fired her from work.

The boss she told me about two nights ago.

Holding her back in place, I plaster a smile on my face and surprisingly, she doesn't say anything but relaxes next to me.

"Alexa…you…", he stammers, looking from me to her in confusion.

Then it hits me.

I have made a big mistake. 

Alexander Smith, my supposed bride is not to be known by anyone else but me since she just arrived in the United States. Secondly, she is supposed to be a business person and not a cook.

From the tag name on his coat, I see his name. 

Mr. James Martins.

James Martins has been Alexa's boss for God knows how long. If she eventually accepts my proposal which I am 90% sure of now, then James will be a problem.

I watch him gulp loudly, composing himself before flashing her a smile.

"Can I see your bride for a second, sir?" he demands, making me raise a brow in confusion.

I'm not being protective. I just wonder what exactly he wants to see her for.

The woman beside me nods at him eagerly and before I know it, she is out of my grip again.

I fold my arms and stare at her back. James bows in courtesy before following her to a distance. They speak for a while before she starts to smile widely like someone who just won a jackpot.

James comes back with her and smiles at me again. "It was nice meeting you, Mr Gold."

With that, he disappears through the corner, leaving me with Alexa who is smiling sheepishly.

"What was that about?" I question out of the blue. She turns to me slightly with creased brows.

"What do you mean?" she demands sharply, not taken by surprise by my question.

"Did you just use me?" I feign annoyance, my face hard.

"What?!" she scoffs, stepping backwards and looking amused. She studies me from head to toe before folding her arms around her bosom like I am doing.

I am thinking she will burst out and say something rash before stalking off but instead, she is silent.

"You just used me to get back your job, didn't you?" I ask again, wanting to trigger her so she could say something. 

I don't know if he gave her the job back but that is my assumption. He would definitely give her back to get on my good side.

She glares at me coldly. "You are crazy."

She turns to go back but I am quick to stop her by blocking her way with my two arms spread out wide in front of her.

"I don't know you yet you claim I am your bride. First, you called me that shit two nights ago in the presence of your mother and her maid, then you had to tell me about what I need to do to become a pretend bride and now the same thing is happening. I thought I made it so loud that I wasn't interested in your stupid and silly offer?" she barks, her eyes red and raging in obvious anger

"The same offer which you just used to your advantage?" I snap back at her without hesitation.

She wants to make me look like the bad person here instead of appreciating what I just did for her.

"To my advantage? I never asked you to introduce me to my boss as your bride or whatever, did I?"

"You didn't object, did you?" I snap back at her.

A look of disbelief crosses her expression and it disappears as fast as it came.

Shaking her head, she laments. "It's so obvious you are nothing but a jerk and I won't let you use me…"

"I am the one being used here and I'm sure you know what it means for me to talk to James about you again", a smirk leaves the corner of my mouth as I take a step closer to her, taking note of her old white dress.

It looks like something that has not been worn in ages.

Apparently, she is desperate and with just a little push, she will succumb to my wish soon.

She backs away, an emotion flashing across her face.

I move closer and closer until her back hits the wall.

She is fiery.

This is what I need.

A woman who has the personality of my imaginary bride,  Alexander Smith. She is Alexa but she has every bit of my imaginary description of Alexander.

Including her sharp mouth and beauty. Her green glassy eyes and pointed nose.

As well as the curves which are outlined by this old dress.

I didn't notice that two nights ago.

"You have options", I begin. "Pretty good ones. It's left to you to pick whichever is best for you…"

"I…" she interrupts me but I am quick to place a finger on her lips to stop her from arguing further with me.

I am done here.

I just want to pass a message across and that will be all.

"You don't need to argue further. Right now, I know you are tempted to tell me to f**k off but that will do no good because I am going back to the party to get James to be on my side. Just a word from me and you will lose your newly secured job. Understood?"

Her confidence from earlier seems to have dissolved.

She looks threatened right now and it fills my insides with laughter at the drama that is about to unfold in the coming weeks.

"Instead of getting back your previous job, you can become an executive here like I told you the other night. Aside from this, you will lose everything. You won't get a job nor will my offer stand forever. You have just tonight to decide. After tonight, I won't budge you again but I assure you, you will lose your job for the second time in just two days", I say, dead serious this time.

I have been so lenient with her.

She is the perfect person for the job. All I need to do is to get James on my side so he won't say a word to anyone about Alexa being the Alexa that worked here but my own Alexander.

"I'm waiting", I point out when she isn't saying a word, just staring at me.

I am good-looking. That should be enough reason to accept my offer if money isn't enough. It makes me wonder what exactly is stopping her when she obviously needs this help.

Pride, I guess.

I smile within myself.

All of a sudden, I see her bending down and dashing towards the exit and I follow, quick enough to grab her roughly and turn her back as her chest hits mine and her other hand goes over my neck region to hold onto me so as not to fall.

We remain in that position staring at each other with our chests beating erratically.

She jerks back to reality and tries to stand upright but she is unable to as the ripping sound of her dress reaches my ears. 

With dread, we both stare down and a low whimper leaves her mouth.