Chapter Four: Her Husband’s Rules

Lily and Christopher rode in his limousine to their new home. Lily had never been in a limousine before, so instead of staring at the rigid features of Christopher, she decided to fill her eyes with the beauty of the car.

She could not understand why he was so upset.

“Why are you looking around like that?” Christopher asked.

Lily was a little startled at the sound of his husky voice. He was eventually talking to her! They hadn’t exchanged a single word since they said ‘I Do’, and even when they got into the car, Christopher sat away from Lily. Don Grander and Emily told her all she needed to know about whom she would be impersonating for a year, but they failed to tell her what sort of relationship Christopher and Ashley shared before her death.

Heck, she did not even know how Ashley died.

“What?” Lily asked, confused. She could not meet Christopher’s cold stare.

“Why are you looking around the car like that?” Christopher repeated.

Lily chuckled nervously. “First time jitters, I guess,” Lily said offhandedly, but when she raised her head and caught Christopher’s confused and quizzical gaze, she realized that she had slipped.

Oops!

Lily cleared her throat and rephrased. “I meant the wedding…um, wedding jitters. Never been married before, you know…so it just makes me feel and act in a funny way,” Lily rattled on. She was battling to hide her nervousness.

Christopher looked at Lily in a scrutinizing manner, and when he saw that Lily kept her head bowed because she could not meet his gaze, he looked away. 

Lily released the air she did not even realize she was holding when she sensed that Christopher was no longer looking at her. “Phew, that was close!” Lily said within herself. She was terrible at lying, because growing up, Lily had been so responsible that she did not even have to tell lies, because she never got into trouble.

“How the heck did I find myself in this situation?” Lily asked herself.

In no time, they arrived at the biggest, grandest, and most luxurious mansion that Lily had ever laid her eyes on. Even the ones that she had had a glimpse of during her shifts at the wine shop were nothing compared to this. She had thought that Don Grander’s house was luxurious, but this right here took her breath away.

Then she followed Christopher into the living room where all the domestic servants stood, waiting.

“You already met Greg, my driver, and the bodyguards outside,” Christopher started the introduction without even checking to see if Lily was following up. “This is Maggie, the housekeeper. Standing next to her is Bab, the doorman. And next to him is Juliet, the house chef,” Christopher said.

“You are welcome home, ma’am,” they all said in unison. 

For lack of the right thing to do or say, Lily just flashed them a bright smile.

“Whatever you need is taken care of, of course,” Christopher said to Lily before turning to Maggie, “Get her boxes from the driver,” he told her.

Maggie turned and left the living room instantly.

“Come with me,” Christopher told Lily in his regular husky yet cold voice.

Lily followed like a lamb being led to the slaughter house. Lily would have been awed by the interior beauty and design of the house, but now, she was more worried, because she knew that they were heading to the bedroom.

“I heard Ashley is a wild freak in bed.”

Lily could not get those words out of her head as they approached the bedroom. There would be expectations, and she knew nothing about sex.

“This is our room,” Christopher said as they stepped into a spacious bedroom with a large plush bed.

Lily began to panic.

“Are you okay?” Christopher asked even though his voice was devoid of any form of concern.

“Yeah, I am good,” Lily tried to steady her nerves. “Gosh, I cannot afford to mess this up. Get a hold of yourself, Lily Bashwood,” Lily tried to talk herself out of the panic she was experiencing. After breathing in and out, she felt a little at ease. “Yeah, I am fine,” Lily said for emphasis.

There was that look from Christopher again.

“Alright, so let us get down to the rules,” Christopher said, but Lily heard differently.

“Huh?” Lily asked with wide eyes.

“The rules!” Christopher barked angrily and frustrated.

“Yeah, sure,” Lily nodded her head, grateful that it was not what she had thought she heard.

“We are only married in paper, and the both of us know that this marriage is based off on a contract, so no strings attached whatsoever,” Christopher started.

“Okay,” Lily was beyond relieved.

“I shouldn’t have to spell it out for you, but I like to be on clearer terms with people to as to avoid mix ups, so in that case, we are to stay away from each other’s business. What I do with my day and time is none of your business,” Christopher said gruffly.

Lily’s mind went to the clingy woman. “Is it because you have a lover already?” Lily dared to ask.

At first, Christopher was lost. “What are you talking about?” He asked.

“I saw the way you two were at the wedding reception…a little too publicly clingy,” Lily said without looking at Christopher.

“Oh, you mean Aimee,” Christopher scoffed nonchalantly. “She is just one of my board members, nothing more,” he said dismissively. “I abhor scandals, Ashley, and I know you wallow in it, but for the next one year, I need you to behave yourself, otherwise this contract is off.”

“Yes,” Lily accepted readily. She had a lot of things to say and ask, but she sensed that Christopher would not give her that right.

“The rule is that while we respect each other’s dignity and image in public, we stay away from each other in private. Is that clear?” Christopher asked.

“Yeah, super clear,” Lily answered, all her fears and worries gradually dissipating.

Then without warning, Christopher took a few strides towards Lily and kissed her deeply; way different from the one at the altar in front of everyone.

“But you just said we…” Lily started to say breathlessly after the kiss, but Christopher interrupted her gruffly.

“I only wanted to confirm something, Ashley,” Christopher said. He faced the door and said, “There is something oddly different about you, and by God, I am going to find out. If you and that greedy father of yours attempt to play with me, you will be fucked.”

Then he stalked out of the room, slamming the door.