Three

CHAPTER 3

IRENE'S POV

One could easily get attracted to James Fraser without knowing, as merely seeing alone erased whatever thought I had about Nathaniel away from my mind.

What I found the most intriguing about his appearance, however, was that despite his look being all smoke and fire, he didn't try to take advantage of it.

There were some weird things about him, however, something I can wrap my fingers about, but can only see when I look into his eyes.

After turning down his request to drive me home, I made my way out quickly to get a cab before his presence did more harm to my heart than good.

At the doorstep I found a package from an anonymous person, I opened my door before walking in, wondering who had sent the black dress and wine.

My phone buzzed with a new notification.

Wear that tomorrow

It was a brief message with James' name written boldly underneath it.

I padded into the bathroom, hoping I would wash away all the anxiety I was feeling about the next day.

The warm water spilled from the faucet, matting my hair to my face and shoulders, but the thought remained as all I could imagine was getting married to him as the water ran down my body, swirling into the drain.

I closed my eyes.

There is a difference between lusting after a man and feeling attracted to him. At that moment, I felt a kind of attraction toward him.

An attraction I had no control over, I could feel my thoughts cluttering a space already filled

with an unpleasant truth.

All this was happening too, and while I was getting married to a man I don't know I got, it was just like a point in life.

A point when you know what you

what you want to do is wrong, and you have to decide whether to go ahead and do it or leave and walk away.

This was that point.

I was doing it anyway.

I was getting married to a man.

The thought of it left fear and dread drifting down my stomach.

However, when it settled in, all it gave out was an opposite effect—sinking into my soul and sending waves around me.

The man could be rude, arrogant, or even a killer, I don't know.

The logical part of me didn’t want me to get involved, but when I thought about the money and his handsome face, I did want to give him anything he wanted. Which was a serious problem.

The idea had left a thrill in me, it left a dangerous desire to know for sure what it would be like.

Yet, I didn’t have time to spare. I was getting married to him and nothing could stop it now.

***********

Nothing but silence was filling the car as I made my way to the registry where we were supposed to meet.

The quiet seemed to eat at me the entire drive. And the worst thing about it was I didn't know why.

All I thought was about if I was making the right decision, I had barely known this man.

The closest we've had to conversation was a dinner date, the same day I had said yes to Marcus.

I was still in thought when the car he had sent earlier that day halted in front of the registry.

I looked out of the car, and he was standing right there looking devilishly handsome in his suit holding a file in his hands and glancing at his watch.

“Right on time.” He said as soon as I got out of the car.

“You look beautiful.” He said as we made our way into the registry.

I would have said he looked ravishing as well, but my mind was divided as I just wanted to get over everything I had come here to do.

We didn’t have to wait. As a woman walked us to where we needed to be, all through that while I could see he kept on glancing at his watch.

My rapid heartbeats filled the room as I counted the moment of the ceremony from start to finish.

I counted the gurgle of the judge’s words, the cold sweat encasing his face that he had to wipe away with a handkerchief.

I thought about the stranger that was about to be my husband for better or worse.

His presence was made noticeable by his cologne that possessed everything in the room as the words from the old judge filled the room.

“I do.” The two words were spoken by this man as his gaze burned into mine.

I repeated the words as I was told to, and then the

exchange of rings came.

Soon I was staring down at the diamond ring on my finger looking costly and must have cost a fortune.

The room fell into another awkward silence as the judge cleared his throat, giving James more time to look at his watch, clearing his throat as well.

I jittered suddenly, realizing I had been standing there rooted at a spot for five minutes, so absent-minded that I had forgotten they were waiting for me to sign the marriage contract.

Leaning over the table, I signed the marriage contract, I was his now legally.

We kissed on the lips. Our first kiss was so Soft, heartbreaking, and unreal, but then I had to do anything to convince the judge.

Outside, the sun shined bright, from the cloudless

sky.

“You did well.” He said with a smile as we made our way back to the car.

He stopped in the middle of the sidewalk after getting the doors for me.

I could still feel my nerves still vibrating deep in my veins as he leaned over the car.

“I have to be somewhere.” He muttered.

I stared at the contract in his hands, understanding what all this was all about.

“No problem,” I replied, trying my best not to look grumpy about the situation.

The car soon drove away and all I could do was hope.

Hope that this wasn't my biggest mistake.