Audrey's Pov
He leaned back on his chair and intertwined his fingers with his elbows resting on the armrest, “Should we make this official or do we keep it on a low and see how it goes? I can arrange for a proper marriage ceremony and send out invites, if you want that” He stated and I sighed deeply thinking about what kind of scandal this could bring, everyone knew about my relationship with Zachary because I was a fool for love so I flaunted him. What a waste of time!! “We can keep it a secret for now, if they start spreading rumors those people who attended my sister's wedding know the real story, I wouldn't be surprised if a reporter was there. Let's just keep it under wraps for now, we can make it official later” I concluded and he nodded in understanding, now to address the elephant in the room. “You said I should move in with you right?” “Yes, I'd advise you to do that if we want to convince your family that we are together” He replied curtly. “You are not bothered by the fact that I was dating your brother and you were with my sister?” I don't understand how he is so chill about it while I'm trying to keep it together. I might have gotten my sweet revenge but I still felt betrayed and it will take a long time before I will trust anyone with my heart again. I'm going to take immense pleasure in making them regret what they did to me while healing in the process, “Zachary isn't related to me and like I said before your sister was a passing memory, I couldn't care less about what she did” He shrugged and I couldn't believe my ears. “If Zachary isn't related to you, why is he known as your brother?” I asked in astonishment. "He was adopted by my father, I only have an elder brother. Zachary however isn't who you think he is, the only thing he gets is my family name, your sister must have thought he also had something he inherited from my father but he has nothing.” He articulated and I wished Amelia was here to hear this. I have always known he was lying about inheriting a bank. That was why I took him under my wing. I introduced him to some important businessmen in the corporate world and I made him. Only for him to use all my love and patience to stab my back, he could have betrayed me with anyone but he chose my step-sister. “Thank you for helping me Xander, if I'm being honest I didn't think about the absurdity of my deal before calling” I confessed bashfully and he chuckled. The sound is rough and velvety, Xander is an attractive man with a mysterious cold aura. My sister must have been desperate or stupid to leave him for Zachary. “Don't worry about it I'm sure you must be tired, you should retire to your room to get some rest” He advised and I stood up from the seat, He did the same and led the way walking out of the study while I followed from behind him. We walked side by side in the hallway and some maids bowed their heads when we came across them, “This is your room” We halted in front of a smooth shining cream-colored door, he beckoned for me to proceed and I opened the door. My jaw dropped at the elegant design, I could see my reflection on the white tiles and I gasped as I beheld the golden chandelier. I come from money too but we only have a silver chandelier in our living room not inside our rooms, the purple and white interior designs made me fall in love with the room. Purple happens to be my favorite color and I also love white, whoever designed this knew this is what my room looks like in my imagination. “Is it to your taste?” He asked then I remembered I had an audience, I veered to see three maids standing behind him with their heads bowed. Is he that strict with them? Who am I kidding, it's Xander the enigmatic man with a frosty personality. “Yes, I still need my things to be moved from my father's house” There are some personal things in that house I desperately need to have in here with me. “I already arranged for that they'll be here by tomorrow,” He remarked and I heaved a sigh of relief, “In the meantime, they will assist you with anything you need” He gestured with his hand and they stepped out of his back. I nodded at him and they bowed again, I internally winced wondering if their neck didn't hurt from all that. “If you are not comfortable with anything, my room is right down the hall” His gaze lingers on mine then he leaves taking all his frosty stiffness with him. Time to bond with my maids, I might be rich but I'm not a spoiled brat unlike Amelia who treats our house helps like trash. I love bonding with them, after all, they are humans like me and my mom taught me to be kind to people no matter their status. “Hello girls, I'm Audrey, what's your name?” I asked with a polite smile and they exchanged shocked glances with each other. “Um… Thank you Mistress Audrey” They said in unison and I chuckled at their act to keep things formal, “Let's drop the formalities as from here on, you can call me Audrey or Mrs Audrey when we are alone. Is that clear?” They nodded and smiled at me. It turns out Xander warned them to always be respectful. He even told them we were married and that's why they all referred to me as 'Mistress' while they called him 'Master'. While we were still chatting my phone started vibrating inside my purse, I reached out for it, and to my astonishment, it was Amelia calling. What does my dear sister want from me this time?Audrey's Pov I declined the call but she started calling again so I picked up and faked a sleepy yawn, “Do you want me to tell you a bedtime story, little sister?” I mocked and I could imagine the ugly scowl on her face. “You pathetic thing, you think you've won but you don't know what is going to hit you” She retorted, her voice shaky and filled with hatred for me. I giggled at her frustration, it's funny how the table turned so fast and to think she thought she could frustrate me. I'm a businesswoman. I will always find a way to deal with any situation, “You and your idiotic mother planned to outsmart me, I must say you got me for a minute there you were not as stupid as I thought. But you are not as bright either” I hung up on her before she could start screaming and cursing at me. I'm the biological child of my father. I don't know why they think they can just come in and take what belongs to me, something I worked hard for while Amelia was busy wasting away in one party or an
Audrey's Pov Xander escorted me to my father's mansion and I felt a bit irritated by his overprotective attitude, it's not like Amelia will come at me with a knife. Okay hold that thought she might, but I will expect that from her mother because Amelia might be a little witch but her mother is the destructive one. The car halted and I opened the door proceeding to step out when I felt a firm grip on my hand, I turned to see Xander holding me. “Be careful in there, if it was up to me I would have followed you in but you said you wanted to do this yourself, just call me if anything occurs” He articulated in a serious tone then he did something out of the ordinary. He pressed a chaste kiss on my forehead and I froze in shock, I wasn't expecting him to be this worried or concerned about my wellbeing, our marriage is based on me using him for revenge so I didn't get why he seemed so cool about it. Still lost in my head I headed inside my father's house and the moment I walked in it f
Audrey's Pov We settled on having breakfast and my supposed doting husband sat beside me, Amelia looked red and angry while her mother just glared at my soul from across the table. They probably wished I was dead now, unfortunately, I don't plan on joining my mother anytime soon. I'm still stunned by the stunt Xander pulled out in front of them, not that I do not appreciate it but we never really discussed anything like getting intimate.My father sitting at the head of the table cleared his throat and everyone diverted their attention toward him, my stepmother wore a concerned look but I knew it was fake. “Are you alright Dad?” I asked and he nodded waving it off in a dismissive manner, I beckoned at a maid standing on the threshold of the kitchen. “Is there enough milk? Bring some for my father” I ordered and she rushed to go get some milk, my stepmother was still glaring at me like I did something wrong but I just ignored her. “You didn't have to, I'm not going to die anytime
Audrey's Pov I wasn't expecting my boyfriend to be Zachary, I was more than disappointed because it wasn't who I thought it was. My assistant brought him in and he wore a remorseful look, okay here we go again. “Hey, I... Um I just wanted to let you know that I didn't want to do it I was only following Amelia's introductions, she threatened to kill me if I didn't give in to her. She would never be like you and you know I love you too much” He finished his rubbish speech with his sad puppy face. “Are you done? Cause you need to leave” I affirmed and he went down on his knees like the pathetic asshole that he is, I roll my eyes at his facade. “You know how much I love you Baby please, I don't know what Xander told you but I know him, he lies and manipulates you to do things you don't want to do. He is using and the same way he did with your sister, just listen to me this one time and I swear I will never do you wrong again” He begged looking like a clown to me, “Are you still going
Audrey's Pov I left home earlier than I planned to the next day, not because I was running away from him but because I didn't know what to say to him. I don't need a soothsayer to tell me he meant those words he said to me, I don't even know what is his endgame in all these. But those words he said kept replaying inside my head all day long, I got a text when it was time for lunch and it was from Xander. Asking if we could have lunch together I badly wanted to say no but that would look weak so I accepted, “Ma'am you have a visitor” My assistant announced with flushed cheeks, I wouldn't blame her Xander is the kind of good-looking that slaps you on the face. Do I find him attractive? Yes, but I have no interest in claiming him. I don't even know what that means but it sounded so scary and possessive. He was standing outside my office with a bouquet of roses and my eyes widened, now I know why my assistant was giving me those looks. “Uh.. What's the occasion?” I asked as soon as
Audrey's Pov My blood boiled as I glared at the excessive amount of makeup on her artificial-looking face, she looked like she got some work done on her nose. She also looks like she got work done on her face with her plum lips looking like a duck, Xander turned at the last minute and she kissed his cheek instead. “Sarah, it's also nice to see you again. I guess you haven't changed much” He said in an exhausted tone, I just watched the interaction ignoring the thought feeling in my chest. I might have thought of leaving the table for them but I'm not a chicken and it will make it too obvious that I'm pissed at her for disrupting us, I'm not jealous I just hate the fact that he is paying her so much attention. “You know I love..” “Ahem” I cleared my throat interrupting her speech in case she forgot there was someone else there, she averted her gaze from Xander and her blue eyes fell on me with a frown on her face, then it was gone in a blink as if it wasn't there in the fi
Audrey's Pov I stood up to leave and he chuckled as I picked up my purse, “I have no intention of enduring this torture, lunch break is over I have work to do” I uttered blankly. “We are the bosses, that rule doesn't apply to us we can go back anytime” He probed but I had already made up my mind to leave, I would rather leave than hear him speak to me that way. I left the restaurant and went back to work leaving him to his devices, his driver can always go pick him up whenever he is ready to go. I finished all my work for the day and decided to go see my father, I didn't bother you to tell Xander I only told him I would be coming home late today, I drove straight to my father's house after leaving the parking lot. I was told that my father had a visitor when I got there, I wasn't surprised to see my father's attorney with some documents on his hand. “Hello Dad,” I smiled at him and his face brightened, “Audrey my dear, you came at the right time I was just writing my wi
Audrey's Pov By the time I got back to the living room my stepmother and Amelia were there with my father, Amelia frowned when she saw me coming out of the kitchen. I didn't want to cause any drama in front of my father so I bowed slightly and walked towards the exit, “You should visit us soon, come with your husband” Eric said then he started coughing again, our lawyer must have left because I didn't meet him here.“I will do just that” I replied walking out the door, however, my stupid sister followed me just like I presumed she would. “He is tired of you so soon? I wonder why you are always here when you are supposed to be with your dear husband, perhaps he doesn't love you and poor Audrey thought she got a second chance to love, unfortunately, she went to seek it where there is none” She mocked and I halted in my tracks. She is right, I took that bargain without thinking and I might be in for a loveless marriage of convenience for the rest of my life, was it really