CHAPTER FIVE: Tricked

ARIEL'S POV

"I heard we're having our honeymoon in Hawaii. That's really great," I ask happily as I face Alex, who sits beside me in the car, but I get no reply, which makes me angrier.

The wedding finally ended, and we are now on our way to our honeymoon, which I heard is going to be in Hawaii, a place I have always dreamt of spending even if it's just a day there.

I continue to focus on my phone, as it will take a long time before we arrive at the airport. I check around for places I might love to visit during my stay there, and luckily, I find an amazing restaurant with a lot of good reviews. I want to show Alex, but knowing that he won't reply to me, I just shake it off.

“We are home,” Killian announces as he quickly gets down and opens the door for me. I finally figured out his name and also found out that he’s Alex's secretary, but the way Alex refers to him seems more like they’re brothers than boss and employee.

As I step out of the car, I ask Killain, "Have we reached Hawaii? But by car?”

None of them answer my question as Killain shakes his head, letting out a huge sigh, and I wonder what's wrong, and then Alex also slams his hand on his forehead with his fist tighten and I feel he wants to say something to me but shove it up and then heads into the... wow, this is amazing.

With my mouth wide open, I check out the breathtaking sight in front of me as what I'm seeing right now is nothing but a paradise. This is just like my dream house, but it’s just a pity that I won't be able to achieve this until I die.

The mansion stands tall in the midst, with huge towering trees lining the driveway that leads to the main entrance, colorful flowers, and a grand staircase leading to the door. Golden statues are placed at every corner of the mansion, and I wonder if they are really made of real gold. The parking lot is filled with fleets of luxurious cars, which I'm sure he won't be able to drive for the rest of his life. There are also Juliet balconies with a big swimming pool at the back.

Suddenly I feel a spray of water on me. Turning back, I see the fountain, spraying water from the sculpted marble spout. The view looks so cool and amazing. Enjoying the view, my eyes land on Alex entering the house and I quickly rush after him, but on getting to the entrance, I can't find any handle.

“How exactly did he go in? I definitely saw him passing here,” I wonder aloud as I search for a handle to open the door but don’t see any, nor is there a key card reader to enter. Feeling frustrated with my head lowered, just then the door opens, and I raise my head to see Killian with his hand on a small button near the door.

“What are you doing here?”

"Just waiting for you," I lie so he won't think of me as illiterate. Turning back, my mouth opens wider as I see an elevator in the house.

Like, seriously...

“So, are we going inside with an elevator?” I ask no one in particular because I'm sure he won't reply to me if I direct the question to him.

Killian enters, and I quickly follow him. As the elevator comes to a halt, I'm welcomed by a grand view of the living room. The walls are adorned with amazing artworks, which are definitely from a renowned and popular artist. A gleaming marble floor and plush cushions with throw pillows in the middle of the room. A sparkling, giant chandelier hangs overhead, with a grand piano at the side of the room. To the right entrance, there is a cozy sitting area, with armchairs arranged around the fireplace.

“Follow me,” Killian's voice brings me back to reality as I watch him climb the spiral staircase that leads upward.

I follow him up, and he leads me to my room and drops my boxes in. The room is also a wow as it is big and spacious with walls painted in purple hues. A king-size bed at the center of the room, a large dressing mirror, and then I notice a small door at the corner of the room. Upon opening it, I see a room that looks like a big wardrobe, and I think this must be the dressing room.

But who uses a whole room as a wardrobe room? They are really amazing, and this must be because they have nothing to spend their money on. I walk out of the dressing room and decide to first take my bath before anything else. I undress and then head inside the bathroom, but on entering, I stop in my tracks.

Okay, I've had enough of this today. A bathroom with a glass door that separates the bathing area from the rest of the room. You can see through it, but it's somehow blurry. I heave a loud sigh and then head in and start taking my bath.

I’m taking my bath when I suddenly hear a fire alarm. “What! Is this huge mansion burning down?” I exclaim as I quickly grab my towel and rush out, with lather still on my body.

"Fire... Fire..." I keep shouting, trying to alert everyone, but as I get to the living room, the alarm stops, only to meet Alex with a straight face without any emotion.

"I definitely heard a fire alarm just now, so where is the fire?" I ask Alex, who is just staring at me as if he has lost his mind.

"Alex," I call his name out loudly, trying to bring him back to reality.

"I'm the one who pressed it, just trying to get your attention," he responds.

"But you could have just knocked on the door or called my phone. Oh, I forgot you don't have my number. But you didn't have to press a fire alarm just because you're trying to get my attention. Do you know how scared I was?" I yell at him angrily.

Instead of replying to me, he simply walks to the cushion and has his seat with his legs crossed. 

"I've got  something to say and it won't take long," he finally says, and I decide to take a seat as well to hear what he wants to say. "Stop!!!" He suddenly screams, causing me to flinch in fear. 

"Is there something wrong with the chair?" I ask, surprised by his outburst.

"Can't you see how you look? Do you want to dirty my cushions? Do you know their worth? I'm darn sure if I sell your entire household organs, it won't be worth half the price of a single piece," he yells in a mean voice, and I wonder if he really shouted like that just because of this, and I'm burning in anger with what he said about my family. "You can just stand like that, I won't take long," he adds. 

Since the house and everything in it belong to him, I decide to follow his instructions and remain standing like a statue while he sits like a king. He points at a brown file on the table, and I pick it up, finding a paper with rules and regulations written boldly on it. 

"What's this?" I question him. 

"Can't you read?" He replies rudely. I try to calm myself down and proceed to read the 26 rules and regulations listed on the paper. 

The first rule states that I must not meddle in his business and he won't meddle in mine either, and that seems quite fair. The second rule states that I have to wake up by 5am every morning.

Is he joking with me right now?

"Why do I have to wake up at 5am every morning if I'm not taking care of a baby?" I ask angrily.

"This mansion has 25 workers, including maids, but because of you, I sent them away so no one would know about our contract marriage. So, essentially, you’ll now take on each of their roles," he replies with a grin, seeming to enjoy the situation.

I’m stunned as I read through the rest of the rules. I’m required to seek permission for every action, including simply stepping out of the house. Daily laundry duties fall on my shoulders, and I’ve to prepare meals according to his preferences. Additionally, he insists that his Caribbean clothes be hand-washed, refraining from using a washing machine.

"You know what? I quit. I'm not doing this shit anymore, and I'm filing for divorce right away. You should have been honest about expecting me to be your slave, not just a contract wife, you psycho. Now, I'm out of here, so do whatever you want and rot in hell," I say angrily, retracting my steps and heading towards my room.

"Well, you're free to file for a divorce, but you'll have to pay me 2 million," he states, causing me to halt in my tracks and turn back to him. 

" 2… million what?" I ask incredulously, shocked at the sudden demand for such a large amount.

"Looks like you didn't read the contract thoroughly because it clearly states that if you file for a divorce before the one-year contract ends, you must pay a sum of $2 million," he explains, leaving me in shock.

"Where the heck is that crazy clause? I read it carefully, and I’m darn sure that I didn't see anything like that, so can you tell me how that clause just popped out of nowhere?" I retort angrily. 

He then retrieves the contract and hands me a small microscope and I wonder why I need a microscope to read. I take it from him and scrutinize it again, but I see nothing of such, my eyes then shift to the tiny words at the end of the document. Using the microscope, I read: "PARTY A, WHICH IS ARIEL ALDRIDGE, WILL PAY THE SUM OF $2 MILLION TO PARTY B, WHICH IS ALEXANDRA MAYFAIR, IF SHE FILES FOR A DIVORCE BEFORE THE END OF THE ONE-YEAR CONTRACT."

"$2 MILLION!!!" I scream in disbelief, unable to fathom that I had signed such a contract and been tricked.

"You tricked me! How could you add such a clause and have it written in such tiny words that I can't even see with my bare eyes? It's absurd and I'm being scammed," I fire at him angrily, but he only keeps laughing, and then in anger, I squeeze the contract and quickly rip it into pieces, throwing it to the floor and stomping my feet on it.

"Wow... Do you think I'm a fool to give you the original copy? That's a fake one, and honey, or should I say sweetheart, you are free to file for divorce, but you must be prepared to pay that money. Do you have any idea how many lawyers are dying to pick up my divorce case? I doubt you will actually get any because they will be scared out of their ass to even pick a fight against me," he says, grinning. 

"Oh, I heard you are a curator at some nameless gallery. Do they pay you much? How exactly are you going to get that amount of money?" he teases, stands up, and then proceeds into his room.

"By the way, I want Korean cuisine for breakfast. Do not forget to wake up early and prepare my food. If you refuse to follow the rules, trust me, you won't want to see my other side," he adds with a stern face before finally leaving for his room.

I fall on my knees, unable to believe I have just jumped from the frying pan into the fire. How am I going to escape from this monster? I keep asking myself different questions as I drag my feet and proceed into my room.

Then a message pops up on my phone, checking the message, it says that I have been reinstated back to my position. They must have heard about my marriage to him. Then I remember that I haven't finished my bath, so I proceed to the bathroom again. After bathing, I jump on the bed and drift off to sleep. It's really been a long day.