CHAPTER 5 - Right In Front Of Me

The voices in his head just wouldn't stay quiet. George sighed heavily as he paced around the open space in his large bedroom, just a few steps away from the gigantic mirror that rested on the wall. Every few minutes, he would sneak a peek at the mirror, staring at himself. He was clearly losing it, his mind wouldn't stop creating negative scenarios of when he and Rachel would meet.

Tomorrow….

He couldn't believe they were to meet tomorrow. What had he been thinking to pick her in the first place? No woman in her right mind would want to be married to a man that looked like him.

He was even more confused, why did she agree to the proposal? Why would Rachel agree to marry into a family she was told to stay away from? It didn't make any sense. She didn't even know him — it had been over five years. Why would she easily agree to marry a stranger? Was that normal?

George was frustrated. He thought 'walking around' would help his mind stay focused, but the confusing thoughts flying around in his mind only increased.

He walked closer until he stood in front of the mirror, shirtless. His brown eyes skimmed the exposed flesh from his torso all the way up to his chest and back to his face. He was badly scarred, at least that's what he thought. How would Rachel react when she saw him? Would she spit on him in disgust and cancel their marriage on the spot? No, maybe not that. She would probably scream in shock and run out of the villa.

So many thoughts and questions…

If any of that happened, then he was really going to be a laughingstock in the whole of Imperial Hub Limited. He wasn't sure if he could stand it.

He remembered how he would daydream about kissing her back then, before his accident. He would imagine what her lips tasted like, and when he would get a chance to steal a kiss from her.

But that was then….

Things were different now. He wasn't sure if she would want him to put his lips on hers this time. Tasting her warm lips with his tongue and kissing her till he had to come up for air, pressing her soft body flush against his till he could feel the curves of her breasts, getting lost in the enticing heat between her l—

Ugh! come back to your senses. George shook his head, trying to drag his focus back to what was important, ignoring the red hot heat that coursed through his veins. What was wrong with him? He closed his eyes for a few seconds, thinking and then it clicked.

Her father….

She was probably marrying him so she could get access to more information that would help her get justice for her father. She obviously knew he was innocent just like he did. That had to be the reason, the only logical reason…for a woman like Rachel, who had no interest in his wealth.

George stood in a daze for a moment, lost in thought. He really wanted to help her investigate her father's case, but that would also be a problem. He had been warned to stay away from her family, but he had gone ahead to propose to her — which was already causing so much chaos. If his parents discover he is digging into Arthur Reeves' case again, this villa would literally go up in flames.

Yet, even as he knew his parents would not take this information well, he made up his mind to help Rachel get justice for her father. He should have done this years ago, but he had been so scared of what his parents would say. That was not the case now.

The sound of a knock on his bedroom door brought him back to reality and his personal assistant and friend, Tony Williams strolled in. He paused for a second, looking at George before he burst into laughter.

"What's funny?" George mumbled, not in the mood for his teasing.

"The lover-boy-who-is-terrified look is all over your face" Tony replied in between laughter "You look like you could faint any time soon."

George sighed "Is it that obvious?"

"Yup, you really need to calm down" Tony settled on a chair close to the door and focused his eyes on George again. "She'll be here by 10:00am tomorrow. You have to be prepared for whatever happens, overthinking won't change anything"

"I know…I know." George muttered, before moving over to sit on his bed. "Tony, I need your help with something. It's a secret between us, no-one must know about this"

Tony sensed the change of his tone and leaned forward at the edge of his chair "Sure, Is something wrong? What is it?"

"I want to reinvestigate the case related to Arthur Reeves, I need you to help me with that."

"WHAT?!!... No way. You're looking for trouble, your father is going to cut me into two"

"Please, I have to," George insisted. "I know my parents won't like this, that's why I said it should be a secret for now"

Tony remained silent, he wasn't enjoying where this conversation was heading to.

"See, we've both had our suspicion for years that Arthur Reeves was innocent…" George continued, determined to convince Tony. "...and I thought hard about why Rachel would agree to marry me, there was only one logical reason"

Tony shifted uncomfortably on his chair before asking "What's the reason?"

"It's because she wants easier access to the company to investigate all that happened five years ago…"

Tony's eyes widened in understanding of what George was saying.

"...I mean, think about it" George continued "She has probably heard of my fire accident as it was all over the news back then. She doesn't know me in any way, back then we didn't really talk to each other. What would make her decide to marry a scarred man who is a total stranger to her?"

"I get what you're trying to say" Tony nodded in agreement and wrapped his hands around his chest. "So…?"

"So…I want to make things easier for her. I will investigate the case for her in secret and help her. If anything goes wrong, I'll take the responsibility" George smiled with a dreamy look on his face "Who knows, that might be the start of her falling in love with me"

Tony rolled his eyes so hard they could fall, "Ugh, I get it. Her dearest superhero in a shining armor"

George chuckled before getting serious "So, are you in?"

"Sure, I am"

                      ~~~~~~*~~~~~~

Rachel dragged the last bag of her belongings to the gate where a driver stood beside a sleek, black expensive Lexus Jeep. She had bade farewell to her mother, who was crying in her room — still afraid of her marrying into that family. Her friend, Sophia stood by her side with a sad smile on her face, trying to hold back her tears. Rachel couldn't lie to herself, she was afraid — afraid of what to come. She didn't know what to expect.

"This is not the type of marriage I wanted for you" Sophia whispered with a teary voice "A marriage of revenge…Don't you think you deserve better?"

"Yes, I guess I deserve better" Rachel arranged the final bag of her belongings in the car "but sometimes, things have to be done differently"

The driver came forward and signaled it was time for them to go. Rachel opened her arms wide for a hug as her eyes welled with tears "So, are you going to hug me or not?"

Sophia stepped forward and they hugged tight.

"I can come over there to see you right? Will that be a problem?" Sophia asked

"Of course not, you can come anytime." Rachel buckled her seatbelt as the driver turned the car on. "That shouldn't be a problem. Please take care of my mum, will you?"

"I will. It's alright"

An hour later, Rachel stepped out of the car and stood in front of the most beautiful villa she had ever seen. It had been years since she had seen this place, she had forgotten how magnificent it was. Maids moved around, carrying her belongings to a destination she believed to be where she would be staying, and she followed along.

The armed bodyguards seemed to know who she was as they didn't try to stop her from entering. As she stepped inside the building, she gasped in awe of the exquisite interior decoration. From the marble staircase to the sapphire stone tiles, everything was so magnificent, even the silk curtains that covered the sculptured windows were beautiful.

How long had she been away from this? Her father's villa used to be similar to this. It had been like a piece of heaven to her back then, but she didn't know what it looked like now. Everything had been taken away from him for a crime he didn't commit.

A petite maid walked up to her and whispered "Miss Rachel, we've been expecting you. Mr George Scott is waiting for you." She turned her hands to the marble staircase "This way, please"

Rachel turned towards the staircase. Her husband-to-be was at the end of this staircase — at the top floor. She didn't know what to feel. She made her way up the stairs and it took her to a wide open space. Rachel looked around and saw a man standing in front of a window — with his back to her. She had to say, he had a good physique, with broad sexy shoulders that every girl would dream of.

He still stood by the window with his back to her, Rachel assumed he didn't know she had arrived, so she moved a few steps closer and introduced herself. "Hello, Mr George Scott. I'm Rachel Reeves."

It's...it's nice to meet you" He replied and slowly turned around.

When Rachel's eyes met the face of the man she was to marry….

She gasped in horror.