CHAPTER EIGHT

Aurora's pov

“Get in,” He said, opening the passenger door.

“I can open the door myself, Mr Quin, you don't have to bother–”

“We're lovers now,” he said frankly, “I’m merely practicing, you should enjoy this cause the next time we come to the Office. It's strictly business, you understand?”

I nodded, “Yes, Mr Quin,” I said, slipping into his car. Goosebumps brushed my skin as I felt the air conditioner blowing a cool breeze that tickled my skin.

He got behind the wheels, and I was suddenly self conscious.

“Are we leaving yet, Mr Quin?” I asked, looking at him but intentionally avoiding his eyes.

“That's another thing,” he said snappily as he inserted the key into the ignition hole.

“Call me Xander outside the office, nobody is going to believe this is a real relationship if you refer to me like that,” he pointed out.

“Okay, Mr Qui-I mean…Xander,”

The engine came to life with a slow gurrotal roar and he glanced at me patiently.

“You'll get used to it,” He paused, “Aurora…”

The way my name rolled right off the tip of his tongue made me feel some sort of way, I turned my head over to the windscreen.

Get it together, Aurora. Remember this is just a contract.

He drove me to his mansion. I was already prepared to be impressed but my preparation hardly stopped my jaw from slamming to the ground when I was face to face with his blatant wealth.

We drove past the tall, black gates past the marble statue in the middle of the strategically placed water fountain until we made it to the front door.

As we got down from the car, two maids were already at our beck and call.

“There's something fragile in my car booth, take care while carrying it and bring it up to my study,”

His eyes snapped to the other maid.

“Show her to her room,”

When I entered the room, the lingering smell of paint, freshly plucked flowers adorned the place and there was even a slightly thick floral perfume on the sheets.

Everything about the place fiercely yelled in my face that the place had been readily prepared for me, meaning Mr Qui-Xander was confident I wouldn't refuse his offer.

I sat in the bed, sinking on the queen sized bed that was as soft as a cloud allowing this to settle in. He knew he had the advantage and that put me on edge.

“Ma’am?” The maid called me back from my thoughts, I shook my head and forced a smile.

“Yes?” I answered.

“Do you need me to prepare your bath?”

Embarrassed, I shook my head.

“No–Why? I can handle that myself…you don't have to,”

“But Ma’am–” she tried to protect but I wouldn't let her, it sounded silly. I could bathe myself.

I confidently marched over to the bathroom after she pointed to the door that connected it to the bedroom.

I stepped in, and watched my confidence deflate like a balloon suddenly popped by a needle of reality.

The bathroom was as luxurious and excessive and the rest of the place, especially since the purpose was just to wash up.

After turning the detachable shower head over to let out ice cold water, I shrieked, barely regained my balance and finally called the maid in. She came in wearing an I-told-you-so face but was polite enough not to bring it up in words.

Finally, in an hour and half, I was dressed and escorted over to the living room. My legs were aching a bit by the time we got there, did the place have to be so big?

Xander gave me a curt nod and said, “Sit,” then he dismissed the maid.

“How do you like your room?”he said breaking the ice first.

“It's fine,” I said, slowly proceeding to my only complaint. “...but it feels a little too much for me, maybe I can have a smaller, simpler room?”

His eyes studied me curiously.

“Are you trying to tell everyone this is a contract relationship?” He asked, his voice a harsh whisper.

“What if somebody from my family were to drop by unexpectedly? note that the room was just hastingly prepared and there's still more that can be done. I just wanted it tailored to your taste,”

I folded my hands on my lap, my head tilting down a bit. This was so unusual for me. I had gotten used to the role of being the breadwinner, the only gifts I ever got from Zayne were things bought with my own money, and they were household items like vacuum cleaners and blenders–mostly things for the housework and never personally for me.

Suddenly I felt so foolish, I was always smiling from ear to ear when he got me those *gifts* feeling flattered and loved.

Everything Xander said was like a fresh crack on my rose colored spectacles.

“So…I can ask you for something if I need it?” I asked cautiously, letting each syllable pass my lips as I observed his expression.

“Need? Aurora if you want it, then it's yours–at least for the duration of the contract,”

I struggled to get a hold of my emotions, I tried not to get too excited. The more he was offering meant there was more to be sacrificed on my end.

I shivered internally at the thought.

“I should have brought this up before but…what am I supposed to do as your lover? What are my responsibilities?” I asked straightforwardly.

He crossed his legs, letting out a sigh.

“Isn't it obvious enough? Did you sign the contract not even knowing what a lover was?”

“Of course I do, but It's just for show, right? So we only have to pretend right?”

“Yes, which is why we're sharing separate bedrooms. I've given my staff a believable explanation for that so you don't have to worry about that poking holes in our act,”

He glanced at his wrist watch.

“It's late, you should go to bed. By the way we'll be arriving at the office in different cars tomorrow for obvious reasons,”

I nodded, he had pointed out he wanted to keep this *relationship* separated from what we had at the office.