Billionaire's Exhibit Wife

Chapter 13-

‘I just might die tomorrow ‘ the words resonated bitingly through his ears.

Certainly, she was not afraid of him given her current portrayal of how vulnerable she is with hugs and tears. What then could have brought up such ideas?

What was she so terrified of?, Zane reviewed the possible causes of her fright, simmering it down to the only person who had, since the beginning of time, leaned irritably to the demise of their union.

‘Had my mother already paid her a visit before my men could get to her?’, Zane notioned.

‘ If so’, he considered as his hand navigated towards her pigmented hair, combing through it’s texture ‘then why has she not mentioned a word of it to me?’

‘Or perhaps she is just genuinely scared of this huge leap.’

“Do you wish for me to stay another night?” Zane treaded lightly, now gently grazing the length of her hair with an open palm, hoping to soothe her worries away.

He was now getting a hang of demonstrating empathy. Offering a shoulder, a chest rather, to cry on. Reassuring her with promises, being the general opposite of his normal advertised self.

And it bugged him. Especially with his compassion being blandly turned down.

“No” she mumbled, not even considerate to offer a single explanation. At least, not openly.

She would rather not have him snooping around her belongings in the middle of the night and come across the load of cash. Anyone who knew her would be smart enough to know that it was not earned by merit. And hanging on to it could mean but one thing... Deceit.

Moreover, what could Zane possibly do if Carol did in fact send men to terminate her, she mused at the thought of him thinking he could actually protect her.

He’d probably be knocked out before he even knew it, and lay fast asleep on the floors while she was getting riddled with bullets using a silencer.

Which might then add to his guilt... Being there and not be able to do a thing. She had no desire for him to feel frustrated with himself.

“No?” Zane repeated in awe. What woman would not desire to have him in bed with her. Even if she was insane, certainly she was not blind.

Elora could sense the hostility coursing through that single word. His pride had been hurt on several occasions when it came to this woman, it seemed, enough times for him to manifest it outwardly.

His strokes became even more rigid, not in any way easeful to the mind. Leaving her no choice but to pull away from the embrace she instigated.

No matter, Zane sucked her back in, closer than ever, before Elora could make her getaway.

“Your men are there to watch over me” she immediately thought up something, reminding Zane of the actual reason to his question, probably besides having a woman in bed.

He made a mental note to increase her security overnight, lest regret eats him alive if something were to ultimately happen.

“ I will send a car to pick you up tomorrow morning” his hold now loosened, giving Elora enough space to finally inhale sufficient air for her brain.

And the thought that it was already too late, and he had done ample brain damage crossed her mind, especially if one were to take regards in his next moves.

“You would get dressed” he reached his arms out, palms now cupping her cheeks as both thumbs simultaneously wiped away the tears from her eyes “Look like an angel for me” he then leaned in, placing a soft kiss atop her hair before pulling away once more “Look more exquisite than anyone else for me”

Her eyes creased despite having blushed with a grin, confused by his change in persona.

It was downright more like hypnosis to her, where all she could do was to be entranced by his basic instructions and nod a yes once he finalized.

Which is exactly what she did.

Elora nodded, having cleared all doubts and finally made her decision with his aid. She would give back Carol's money the first chance she gets.

He had ultimately managed to convinced her to show up tomorrow, Zane thought as he heaved a sigh of relief.

‘What a tax’ he regarded, wondering if the charade, the false front, the back and forwards convincing. If any of it was actually worth it.

Having his parents riled up tomorrow would certainly make all worth the while.

Elora might not have known it then or perhaps she did, and perhaps she was just as proud as Zane to accept the fact that she had conceived an affection towards a certain asshole.

She had actually slept soundly, beforehand conjuring how tomorrow’s ceremony will be taken place as she indulged mainly in his mesmerising words... “Look like an angel for me” emphasizing her gown, which she had not yet caught a glimpse of.

No matter, the Valentino gown being the first he’d delivered, she could do nothing but dream up a fantasy gown. Saturated with the rare feathers of a snow owl, or an exaggerated overspread of sparkling glitters from top to bottom, including on her hair.

A girl could only dream.

However, in Zane’s own words... It is something far more exquisite than anything she would ever possibly behold.

The downside to this, Elora at some point explored the likelihood, it had not been like the medieval times when the newlyweds were to bed each other that night.

A shared bed... and more.

She’d set her alarm for the morrow and despite being asleep, her adrenaline kicked in and had her wide awake sometime before daybreak.

Her belongings were, as neatly as possible, packed into two silver valises that now sat still close to the door. Including, making space for the envelope.

Being overly idle, she proceeded to take a quick wash, both body and hair, with the cheap bar soap she’d gotten from the nearby gift shop.

Awaiting some sort of call or message to pop up so she could get on with quelching her overly high curiosity.

He did say in the morning, but failed to mention when exactly, Elora notioned as a set of four sudden knocks made her a bit wary of her situation.

It’s not like there was room service... Lest it be Carol or her hitman patiently waiting on the side if we were to consider news of my persisting stay reached must’ve her ears.

“Mr Zane has requested that you be escorted, Miss Jensen” a female’s voice called out, simultaneously landing three more sequential knocks on the wooden door.

A woman? To protect her? How exactly is a woman supposed to be any different from him?

“He thought you might feel safer around a female’s presence” she clarified, as though being able to read minds.

Elora did not know if it was thoughtful or dumb. Definitely leaning more towards dumb. But that was Zane to her. Sympathetically unwise.

She peeped through the hole and was welcomed by a blonde, who looked like a Felicity, staring back at her.

“Chloe” she introduced once Elora accessed her room, right away extending out her arms to grab hold of the valises.

Exeating the lobby, the receptionist’s unfriendly face was not there to bid her a more than happy farewell which Elora found strangely odd but too engrossed in what awaited her to be bothered by a bitter woman’s absence.

The inky jeep, parked just a short distance before the entrance gave way once the doors were unfurled. Also revealing a man, coated in a black suit and tie, a shade altogether, who looked like a Richard, standing beside it.

“Pleasure meeting you Miss Jensen” he initiated a short pleasantry, a slight bow of his head in which Elora assumed to be a greeting “George”

He sounded so Britishly fancy, she noted with glee as she always had a weak spot for an English accent.

George held his hand out, Elora carefully taking it as she hoped into the vehicle. Taking in the scenery of the longest drive as she knew not her next destination.. nor where the venue itself was being held.

One thing she knew for sure, she was already eager for this day to come to an end.

Zane, on the other hand...

‘They say it is bad luck to see the bride a day before the wedding...’ Zane mused at the stupid theory as he fixed his collar.

He had spent his morning looking through the company’s stocks sky rocketing numbers. A new milestone, he would say.

If this was the bad luck, then he wondered what the good would look like.

He briefly observed himself in the mirror. Armoured with a grey suit that had more gold buttons than usual, and a darker shade of black on several edges.

He decided to go with a little black ribbon this time, compared to the everyday tie. He thought it made him look silly, but he knew he could pull off any look.

By his left pocket, he’d neatly tucked in a beige napkin and cuffed, slightly above it, a petite light pink rose head.

“It is time“

Time to get on over with this day that secretly burdened him a great deal. Time to stop putting up an act for Elora once she says the words ... “I do”

Zane walked out of his dressing room to be greeted by the resounding harmonious blast of both the choir and brunettes beautifully playing the violin on various corners.

The venue had been arranged in a vast hall now arrayed with hundreds of white oval chairs and equally hundreds of mini chandeliers dangling above them.

A few aerial silks performing acrobatics while hanging from a special fabric.

It was an okay wedding, Zane thought as he imagined his bride, appear before him dressed angelically exquisite to make it more sublime.

White fog coated the floors, spreading about when he walked towards the front.

He noted several discreet stares from most. None of them uttering a word directly at him, but amongst themselves, all the while having their gaze hooked on him.

He honestly wished he could kick them out this instant. No buts. He would do it if he cared that much.

His pinpointed his mother, cheering loudly at the VIP section with father, looking quite unimpressed

Zane could tell, solely from Carol’s glee, that there was something wrong.

Where is my fiancée?