5 rules

ALEXANDRA'S POV

“He'll be here in a moment,” the guard told me as I was led to the living room of the large mansion that I struggled not to gawk over as I sat down on a black sofa that sank under my weight.

This was so comfy.

As I relaxed into the chair, I felt his presence behind me and I stiffened, craning my neck around to see Ethan standing there with a black turtleneck which he rolled the sleeves up and gray trousers.

And he was staring down at me.

With a frown.

Oh well, nothing I wasn't used to seeing.

I quickly sat up straight as he walked around the chair to come and sit in front of me, his hair slicked back.

“Should I be worried that you paid me a visit, Miss Thompson? Especially after you ignored my last phone call asking if you got the ring” he went straight to the point, his legs crossing over the other.

“I did get the ring and I actually did not plan on ghosting you. I did receive the money and it's just that I had a lot of work yesterday so I didn't have the time to check my phone and all also I had to make a few stops at some places to finalize some things” I hurriedly explained.

A few stops meant the hospital but he didn't need to know that.

“Yeah about that job of yours…” he paused and raised a brow. “You'll have to quit”

The air was knocked out of my windpipes. “Excuse me?”

“I don't mean it like that… it's just we need to make our story more believable and to do that, we need to do it this way. Quit your job and come work under me and before you say something like what about after the deal… I assure you that the deal will continue long after the deal until you're ready to call it quits” he explained.

I relaxed slightly while thinking about it. It would mean working solely for him… was I up to that kind of arrangement? Linking my work to him also?

“Deal” I reached into my bag and pulled out the papers he had sent to me days back.

“Have you signed it?”, he eyed the papers.

I shook my head, pulling out my pen. “I went through it and I saw something about some rules. What are those?” I asked.

“Rules,” he said simply.

“Yes, I know that they are rules but what rules?”

He uncrossed his legs, placed his hands on his legs, and leaned forward.

“Right, we haven't discussed this yet. There are 5 rules that are to be followed at all times. Number 1 is that this is kept very confidential as I stated before” he paused, continuing when I nodded.

“Rule 2, there shall be no form of PDA or emotional attachment in private. Everything is reserved for the public”

I mentally noted everything he was saying. “Rule 3, don't expect me to give a shit about your personal life. I will treat you well but I will not interfere in your personal life and neither should you interfere in mine”

Nodding, he continued. “Rule 4, there is no other person in our arrangement. You shall not see someone for the duration of this contract and I shall not too. Do you have someone?” He suddenly asked.

“You're only asking that after I accepted to marry you? No, I don't” I said with a discreet roll of the eyes.

“Then rule number 5… there is no room for love”

“I think I got that one pretty clearly the first time,” I said with a slight grin which he didn't return.

“Are we clear now? Note that I will make sure you are properly taken care of within the one year of our deal and I just want you to do your part”

I quickly nodded to that and signed the papers.

He quickly pulled it over to him, his eyes searching the paper and he smiled slightly.

“Finally…” he muttered.

I felt uncomfortable in his presence so I said the first thing that came to mind. “Your parents must really pressure you a lot for you to want to go into a contract Marriage”

He dropped the papers at that and looked at me. “Let's just say my parents are not your average type of business tycoons. There's nothing for me to do except this because I need to get them off my back. It almost feels like they're planning to get rid of me and make my heir take over” He said thoughtfully.

That was probably one of the longest explanations he had given me. Wow.

“I'm sorry. Heir?” I repeated after him, realizing that we had not spoken about that aspect before.

“Yes, heir,” he said casually, not realizing how my face had paled.

“Mr Warner…” I squeaked and he raised his head.

“Oh no, not you. We're not going to be intimate or anything. Calm down. I'm just saying” he quickly said, noticing how I was.

Oh, thank fuck for that.

I relaxed in my seat. “Okay, you should have made that clear because I began to fret that sex was a part of our deal and…” I began to panic, explaining myself in a frenzy.

“Nope, it is not. Happy?” He cut me off with a glare.

Right. I should stop babbling much.

“Of course and one more thing. I may have told my best friend what this is but don't worry I swear, she won't talk” I said.

He palmed himself across his face. “Oh lord, why am I not surprised? I knew you couldn't keep it…” he cursed silently.

“I swear she will keep it” I assured him.

He pointed a finger at me. “If she's anything like you…”

“She's not” I cut in.

He dropped his finger and looked away. “Very well. I'll let this one slide. The marriage papers are ready and I'll send them to you to sign it. You should move in by tomorrow too, my parents will be coming over next week to see you” he explained standing up.

I stood up too and stretched a hand out to him. “Goodbye, Mr warner”

He looked down at my hand and tilted his head. “Goodbye, Miss Thompson”

“Shake on it, would you rather I pull the move you did at the cafe?”

He scoffed and shook my hand. “Goodbye, Miss Thompson” he repeated.

I smiled and walked out of the mansion.

As I neared my car, my phone beeped and I saw a message from the doctor making my heart skip a beat.

The message was simple. “The surgery is due to start today. Come over if you wish”

The outcome of this surgery would determine what happens to the deal. My sister could not die.