Chapter 5

"Hmm..Interesting." He murmured. His gaze drifted to the window, he seemed lost in thought. I bit my lips as I was clutching my pearls, this has to work. I'm gonna end up in the streets if it didn't.

"Sure," he agreed as he clicked his tongue. He raised his phone, bringing it to his ear. I forgot he was talking to someone in the other line all this time.

"I'm bringing my bride, prepare everything," he commanded on the phone, his voice low and dangerous. I stared at him, my heart was pounding. He glanced at the side mirror, checking on the men trailing our car. 

"And tighten the security, make sure no other people can enter." he ended the call and turned his cold gaze on me. Maybe the trace of emotion I saw on his face a few minutes ago was danger. I don't know. He doesn't sound like someone who would care at all, but this is no time to ponder and regret. Let's get out of trouble first, I'll get away from all of this, one at a time.

I smiled nervously. "So, what's the next step?" I asked visible fear in my voice, or rather than fear it was doubt. I don't think this was a good idea at all and he looks so handsomely scary, I wanna cry.

"Are we set?" I asked again, my voice barely a whisper, my every word was calculated. I know people, and I know someone you can't cross. He looks like one, something I should have realized a few moments ago. My fault.

He nodded curtly. "Yeah," his attention shifted to the driver.  "Head straight to the venue."

The ride was quick, it didn't take us more than 10 minutes before the car stopped.

"We're here, Boss" I looked outside as soon as I heard what the butler said and my eyes grew, the hotel in front of us was the one and only Sierra Hotel, the biggest and most luxurious hotel in the country.

"Is there a mistake? I thought we were heading to the City Hall?" I asked, confused. His brows furrowed and his gaze hardened as if I just said the most insulting thing on his face. He didn’t need to explain anything for me to know there wasn’t a mistake.

"I guess it is," I mumbled, sheepishly.

The driver got out and opened the door. I was about to step out when I felt a hand grip my wrist.  I turned to see him shaking his head, urging me to look at something. I followed his gaze, and my mouth dropped open.  I gave him an awkward smile, rubbing my bare feet together. My feet felt gritty against the leather of the car seat. I forgot that I left my sandals in the bridal suite. I’d been barefoot the whole time. 

He sighed, and shook his head in disbelief, then stepped out of the car.

I lifted my head, his tall frame towering over me. He was now standing in front of me and offered his hand. I wandered my eyes around unsure of what to do. 

He sighed, now more exasperated than the first. Then, two strong arms wrapped around me, lifting me off my feet.  I felt my face pressed against his hard chest.  I froze.

“There’s no way I’m gonna let my bride walk barefoot,” he whispered.  His voice was low and husky, and I couldn’t think of a response.  His eyes were fixed ahead, not sparing even a glance. I peeked my head behind his shoulder. My face flushed as soon as I saw a line of hotel staff, bowing and making way for us.  I burrowed my face into his chest, his expensive cologne filling my nostrils. It was fresh and manly, like a mixture of tobacco, vanilla, and a hint of musk. With how close I am to him, I can now hear the sound of his heart. It was also racing against my every beat like a marathon, it got me thinking, that maybe I wasn't the only one nervous about everything, we are strangers after all.

Lucien's POV

'I wanna fuck her'

I'm like a fucking animal during a mating season. The sense of her skin against mine was sending electric shocks throughout my body.  My heart was pounding, faster than it had in years, I didn't even recognize it, it didn't beat this loud for so long even when I was murdering someone. I kept my gaze fixed ahead, making sure I didn't spare her a glance. I can't be tempted more than this or I'm going spiral, but one is for sure. I'm making this woman mine, no matter what.

The men in front of us flung open the door to the bridal suite.  The woman in the extravagant gown, the one who was supposed to be my bride, and everyone in the room, stared at us with their jaw hanging open. I threw the woman away from my arms as soon as we arrived at the bridal suite.

"Bro!" Claud was catching his breath. It was obvious that he ran all the way here as soon as he heard of our arrival.

"What happened?" he questioned, grinning from ear to ear as soon as he laid his eyes on the woman I brought.

“Fix her up, we’re getting married,” I said, my voice flat. I stepped out of the room, not giving him a second glance. He just stared at me, speechless.  I knew I was shocked too about the things my own body can make me do. I paid him no mind and continued to walk, he was left to do what I asked him before he ran and finally caught up to me.

“Who’s that woman?” he finally asked.  I stopped in my tracks and turned to look at him.

“Find that out,” I ordered, leaving him bewildered.

“Where’s my room?” I asked my butler, who’d been following me the whole time.

“This way, Boss,” he said, leading the way.

I flopped down on the sofa, exasperated,  I was not my usual self, I held out my hand.  The butler reached into his pocket and handed me a cigarette between my fingers. He then flicked a lighter and illuminated the tip.

Cecelia's POV

“Bride? What do you mean he has a bride?!” I exclaimed in shock as the makeup artist was fixing my face. One of them had her hand on my head, trying to keep it still, I didn’t know what to do. And what do you mean he has a bride and was supposed to get married today?

"HE TOLD ME HE WAS SINGLE!" I complained, my forehead creased when I saw a man enter the room. Someone had to explain to me what was going on.