Chapter 5

...

Not even a single word was said about money, apparently, he had paid, the whole panic was for nothing, bags after bags carried out, and I only had to fit into one cloth in a collection and everything will be packed up all of them high fashion, The lady who I have come to know as Oliver did most of the picking, because of her overwhelming bright and energetic personality my awkwardness felt normal or she just normalized it.

Cecilia appeared to be more bubbly than I expected as they both had fun picking outfits and lingerie, at first I was awkward checking out the cloth but the overwhelming compliment from them made me less rigid going in and out of clothes, it felt like it would never end but it did.

The last cloth I wore I didn't change from because Nathaniel did mention I will be meeting with his boss after, I was already tired and hungry, I had breakfast but I picked on the food because of lack of appetite and having many eyes digging holes on my body made me so self-conscious.

"Are you okay?"Nathaniel asked looking at me from the front mirror while I shock my head in disapproval, while my hand was shaking, the familiarity of the previous day when I sat with anxiousness awaiting my fate, everything is going too fast it seems like I might adapt but still, there is a lingering fear that everything is going wrong, I mean everything is, I am in a very unfamiliar land about to marry a man I barely know, and in no time I will bare his child and leave that child behind? Is this really a price I must pay?

The scenery of the city immediately took my attention immediately he started driving, I was so caught up in my feeling yesterday that I wasn't looking to enjoy, but rather in fear, and trying to register everything in my head in case I run away not even knowing I am very far from home, in a foreign city, the more I looked out the more vehicles appear, coming from the countryside it is a very small place with few busy sites. This is the most car I have ever seen.

The ride didn't take long and the next thing, the door was opened, I had no option but to step out, and just right by the entrance he was, Maximilian with his hand in his pocket, slowly I took the time not to embarrass myself in the expensive dress and shoe I now have on,

"Hi," I said awkwardly while he suddenly leaned in sending me into a panic mood and I almost lost my balance, he caught me pulling me close to him

"I hate clumsy women," he whispered sending a wave down my spine

"okay" I managed to reply but he was still yet to let go of me

"I forgot to mention, part of your job is to act like we are in love on official occasions," he said, I swear he keeps adding things to the already long list of complications

"Is this an official occasion?" I asked still trying to escape from his hand which I finally succeed

"What do you think?" he said suddenly smiling at me, and lending me his hand to take on, I would rather walk on my own but reluctantly I took his hand as we began to walk in, I just find this man extremely corny and at the same time devilishly handsome I swear I can't put it to words, of all the things I fear, Good looking people are one of them, and he tops the class in that category which makes him even more dangerous.

I watched as they all seemed to recognize him, as they gushed over him, especially the women, the man in front of me now seemed like a totally different person.

"Oh my gosh, you didn't even have to come all the way over here sir," one of the men said while I watched as he meekly smiled explaining why it was necessary with a very soft smile

"I and my fiance want our relationship very private," He commented while the ladies all blushed calling him considerate, it took everything in me to continue smiling

"How long has your relationship been," One asked me taking me by surprise

"It's been for a while now," I said trying to keep up with his phenomenal acting

"You are so young, I am so jealous," One said while I just smiled not knowing what to answer to that, Nathaniel suddenly rushed inside and whispered

"Paparazzi are here" I heard him say, now I might not know too much but I very much know what a paparazzi is, his brows narrowed, and his fake smile and mask almost slipped up but he remained calm, he immediately grabbed my hand tightening the grip

"I knew something like this will happen," he said handing the pen over to me, without saying a word he stared at me, his blue eyes intense, I didn't even say anything or asked any questions, I immediately signed my name,

"What are the paparazzi doing here?" I managed to ask him

"There is no time for that," he said under his teeth "Put on a nice smile, you never know the angle that might appear on the news," he said to me

"The outside is crowded wow," somebody said gaining the attention of others

"What do we do, I do not recognize any of the media houses, should I take care of them?" Nathaniel asked him, I watched as his lips slowly turned into a smile

"I see there is an eye on me again, this works," he said

"No, it's okay that they are here," he said grabbing me and walking outside, he didn't even care to ask me anything, the flash from the cameras was overwhelming making me cover my face immediately

"It's been a while sir"

"Could you have a moment with us"

"Is this a secret marriage?"

"A private one perhaps?"

"Is this really happening? Are you really getting married" The questions poured in

"How long have you been dating?"

"Who is she?"  he ignored all of it as a group of bodyguards I never knew was there guided us to his Car.

He looked at me as if assessing my look once again

"This is strange," I said unable to hold it in anymore

"What is?" he asked me

"Does this mean I will possibly have my face on television now?" I asked overwhelmed

"Possibly," he said nonchalantly

I swear to God, apart from his face there is nothing likable about his personality

"None of this was planned, not just yours but mine as well, I know that this will happen but not this early on," he said while I tried very hard to contain myself, do I look like I want my face on the media, he seems popular enough so I suppose this isn't the first time, why was I not warned at all.

"Sir"

"Call my name" he corrected

"Did it ever cross your mind that I should know that I might end up on the web with paparazzi?" I asked keeping my voice as low as possible no matter how angry I might be, I still can not talk to him or show any challenge for I don't know how he might react,

"you should be aware of this when you met me,"

"I have no idea who you are sir, how I'm I supposed to sign out both my dignity as a woman and as well invite the world to see me do it!" I shouted and immediately the car stopped,

Oh fuck now, what have I done now, this is why I always get sent out from homes and orphanages because of my anger and sharp tongue

When I looked up, he had his face looking off the window as if he didn't hear a thing I said while Nathaniel was looking at me through the front mirror, I have no idea what he was trying to say but I suspect he was telling me to apologize, I would rather count beans or work as a maid.

"So working for me is signing out your dignity?" he suddenly asked now facing me

"I mean not like that" I replied unable to look at him

"You didn't think of it this way when you agreed in the first place," he said making me go quiet if this man sends me back, one I now owe him the money he paid which I don't have, and again a bridge of contract, and in the wild Macho will definitely find me again.

I remained quiet as he took call after call, he barely said a thing, except yes or no, I laid my head by the side of the car facing his direction, and my eyes were greeted by his side profile, even while sitting in the car, his posture was still better than mine, his jawline sharp enough to cut paper, I was immediately distracted by his Adam's apple that was going up and down, I noticed a line on his forehead that wasn't there before

It was his vines popping taking me by surprise, my eyes trailed to his hands to see him folding his hands but even with this his face remained calm

"Drive," he said to Nathaniel, as the car began moving I noticed the car in front of us and the one at the back starting as well, which means they were with us, the bodyguards I guess, he continued talking on the phone, a new fascination as I looked at his veiny hands popping as he folded them, he stopped the call then looked at me, I panicked as I immediately tried to face away from him hitting my head in the process, embarrassing.

Thankfully he didn't say anything, as he leaned in on the car, curiously I strained my eyes to the side, I almost gasped as I saw him loosen the tie on his neck and unbutton it neck leaning back with his eyes closed, I caught myself swallowing hard, all of a sudden it's hot in here.

My eyes refused to stop looking at him, what is this magnet, this is why I said Good looking people are dangerous, I have never looked or felt this oddly uncomfortable at a man, the kind of discomfort I want to feel again, I can't express it well, he looks perfect like he was dropped from heaven or even hell, who knows, the more I looked at him the more details I see, his lips all through dry looks tempting for some reason

'He must be a good kisser' What on earth are you thinking Luna, get it together, is he sleeping? There is a mole under his eyes too

He suddenly turned around and only then did I realize how close I have come just to take a closer look at his face, he opened his eyes staring at me, Fuck I'm doomed

"Do you like my face that much?" he asked with the most narcissistic voice ever, I tried to move away but he held me in place surprising me

"What are you? a sneaky one? How long have you been staring?" he asked

"I wasn't staring"

"A liar too? I just caught you" I swear I can't breathe properly at this point

"I don't like you but you aren't bad looking yourself, so I might allow you to look more if you say the truth"

"I don't like you either" I snarled offended, he let go of me while I finally catch my breath shifting far from me, what on earth was that, I turned to see him cleaning the hand he held me with while I rolled my eyes for him to see.

I heard and caught Nathaniel giggle from the front mirror

"I see you are enjoying your job too much Nath," Maximilian said with a stern voice

"No sir"...