A fragile truce

ALEXANDRA'S POV

“You're back, I was beginning to think that you had gotten lost in this labyrinth of a building” Sarah exclaimed, her eyes looking worried.

I forced a smile at her and hid the ring on my finger by folding my hands together. “There was a slight hitch in the payment plan so I was going over it with him,” I said nonchalantly, sweeping my gaze over the dinner.

“How's things here?” I asked with a soft sigh.

She looked back at the employees and she smiled. “Successful as usual”

Great, at least that was working out fine.

“So how much longer until we have to leave?” I asked her

She checked the glittering wristwatch on her hand and smiled. “An hour”

“Shit. Get Tom and Paige to make sure the drinks are still available and make sure the line chefs are still doing their job behind.” I said, collapsing into the nearest seat by the side of the hall.

“On it” Then she was off leaving me to my thoughts.

Fuck, what was I doing?

I was usually very conservative and shy but now, I didn't even recognize myself. Firstly, I had sex with a stranger then I found out the stranger had employed me and now, I was married to that same stranger and I still didn't know any shit about him!

Okay no, we weren't married on paper yet but soon, judging that he seemed desperate to marry soon.

I extended my finger and checked the ring with a scrutinizing gaze. Just a bland band but yet it held so much meaning. Starting with the fact that I was married. Fucking hell.

Sighing, I removed it and tucked it into my purse, it was of no use for anyone to see it for now.

My phone rang and I stood up, quickly leaving the building to hear myself over the noisy background of the dinner.

It was an unknown number. I always had this fear of unknown numbers but I was curious, who was it?

“Hello?” I said, my voice wary.

“Miss Thompson, I wanted to call you back up to my office but I decided that it would be better for me to see you in private. You're still at the party, right? I'm going downstairs now” Ethan's voice came out on my end.

I struggled to keep my heart from racing. “I actually stepped out for some fresh air” I muttered into the phone.

There was a pause followed by a heavy sigh. “I'll be out in a moment, wait by the entrance, we can talk in my car” Then he hung up.

I should have considered that rude but I was too far out of feeling anything of that sort, my hands felt clammy and sweaty as I put my phone back in my bag.

Sure enough, a minute later, the man himself with a hard expression came hounding out of the massive building, striding toward me.

“Leaving soon?” He asked simply, his car keys in his hand as he got to me.

“No, I wanted to take your call and I couldn't hear myself over the noise so I stepped out” I explained, trying to match his large strides as he walked to the parking lot where a black Rolls-Royce sweptail was parked.

He fished out his keys and unlocked the car, motioning for me to get in the front at the other side.

He didn't even bother to open the door for me, he just got into the driver's seat, tapping his fingers on the steering impatiently.

Sighing, I got in and faced him, suddenly aware of how his Caribbean blue eyes seemed to dim in the already dim light of the car.

Someone once told me that money wasn't happiness and this man seemed to be living proof, he didn't seem happy and he didn't try to hide it much, maybe he went about his daily life easily but I liked to study a person deeply to know who they were and I wanted to know him more strangely.

“Okay, so I think we'll have to go on a date” he informed me, his voice calm.

My eyes widened and my heart began pounding. “A date, why?” I tripped over my words, anxiously rubbing my palms on my clothes.

He looked me dead in the eyes and went. “surely, you didn't think I would introduce you to my parents without knowing shit about you right? I'm not exactly going to know that by magic” He frowned at that and muttered something under his breath.

Fair enough.

“Oh… I understand” I quickly said, trying to mask my nervousness.

“There are certain rules and I'm sure you know the most important one” he craned his neck to look at me and I quickly looked out the windshield not wanting to look into his eyes.

God, this was uncomfortable. We were just sitting in the dark car in a parking lot and the air was heavy with tension. The uncomfortable kind.

“You tell me, this is an uncomfortable position for me as I don't think I ever thought I would enter a contract marriage” I whispered, unsure if he heard me.

He seemed to have heard me judging by the soft sigh that escaped his lips which always seemed pressed in a thin line. Suddenly I wanted to know how he looked when he smiled, he would look ethereal, that was the only explanation.

“This... let's not look at this as a contract marriage, shall we? We're both benefiting something without being in love but… I don't like that term much”

I looked at him dryly and a scoff escaped my lips before I could stop it.

“So what is this? Marriage with benefits? There's no such thing, Mr warner” I said, with a discreet roll of the eyes which he caught and glared at me.

“Watch your tongue, Miss Thompson, I don't like it. Let's get along, shall we?”

I looked out the window again, feeling sheepish. “Sorry”

“Didn't ask for an apology, Miss Thompson” he paused, his expression unreadable. “Anyways, the second most important rule is that no one must know of this,” he said matter-of-factly.

“I know that”

“Well forgive me then because you look like the type that would break under interrogation. No matter how much someone probes, you do not in any way disclose the truth of the arrangement or it's null, is that okay?”

Biting back a retort, I nodded. “Yes, Mr Warner”

“Good, you may head back to the building. I have somewhere to be” he said, fingers tapping against the steering while waiting for me to leg it

I got down from the car and looked back at him with a soft expression. “Good night, Mr Warner”

“Ah, yes, the most important rule. Don't fall in love” He switched on the ignition and stared out at me. “Good night Miss Thompson”

“You can call me Alexandra,” I said, trying to form some sort of truce.

“No,” he said coldly then he zoomed off leaving me in the parking lot.

Well, there goes my husband.