The Billionaire’s Substitute Bride

CHAPTER FIVE

Elle

“ One hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars.” There was a long pause.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winning bid of one hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars. Congratulations, Mrs Carlton. Thank you for your incredible generosity.” The auctioneer finally said, before a roar of applause signaled the end of the auction.

Being Dan Carlton’s newlywed wife meant attending charity galas like this and placing the highest winning bid on a seven-day, all-expenses-paid stay at a five-star hotel in Monaco— all while supporting a good cause.

I quickly smiled when I saw almost all eyes were on me applauding and whispering to each other. I turned to Dan to see him smiling as he exchanged pleasantries with a business partner. We held hands as we walked.

I told him the auction was so fun because it really was. I never got to do things like that in my old life. “Yes. You love galas. Especially when you get to bid on something so expensive that you can rub in everyone’s face.”

“A vacation in Monaco.” I laughed before continuing. “ That’s… so what are you going to do with that?” I asked without thinking.

I see his face change lightly from confusion.

“ It’s yours too you know.” He stared at me quietly before speaking again. “Anyways, what do you say about us going to Monaco for our honeymoon?”

I laugh before I remember we’re married. “Sure, let's do that.”

We continued walking when a tall woman approached us with too much excitement. “ Sera, that was so generous of you.” She said as we hugged.

“Oh, it’s always a pleasure to donate to a good cause. Especially if I get a vacation out of it.” The woman laughed.

With time I started to get better at speaking just how people expect the real Sera to speak, just not as rude. It seemed like she was about to say something else but another friend whisked her away. Dan and I were about to leave when he made a move to greet two men who looked engrossed in their conversation.

“It’s definitely a marriage of convenience. I wonder what Mr Carlton sees.” We hear one of the men say to the other.

“She looks too cheerful. Do you think she relapsed again? I think she did.” The second man answers his own question. They were too caught up in their gossip that they didn’t hear us get closer.

“Clear to elaborate what you mean, Mr Rufus?” I turned to look at Dan then at our intertwined hands. I had never heard his voice go so low. He was clearly upset.

The chubbier looking man cleared his throat as if to say something very intelligible. He didn’t. “ Mr Carlton. What d..”

“Next time you have comments about my marriage, maybe think about yours and how everyone knows it’s standing on a rock cause, you know, you constantly hit your wife.” He turns to look at the more professional looking man, who I hate to say, looked disappointed in himself. He took off his glasses and was about to speak but Dan beat him to it.

“Mr Rufus, I expected more from you.” Dan’s face turned soft as he flashed me a smile. We left the two men to really think about their actions.

It might be selfish to admit but sunbathing on a yacht in Monaco, with overpriced champagne and exotic fruits by my side, and of course my husband, was definitely a life I could get used to.

“I could get used to this.” I said out of pure ecstasy. Mostly to myself, as a way of affirming my thoughts but Dan heard me just as he got off the phone.

“ What do you mean?” He laughed. “ Are you being sarcastic? You go on trips like this all the time.”

I sighed. “ Yes, I was being sarcastic.”

After one of the staff had been practically terrified when I tried to touch her, I concluded that most of the workers truly were terrified of Sera. And since Leah clearly wasn’t ready to help, I took it upon myself to find out a whole lot more about Sera. Progress is slow right now. But definitely moving.

Believe it or not even though I technically didn’t have a job, I was exhausted and it was safe to say I needed this vacation. I zipped up my Mabel Alvire dress and stared back at myself in the mirror. Dan and I had dinner reservations at a restaurant at our hotel.

“ You look beautiful.” He said and gave me a kiss on the shoulder. Little things like that made me shy. I still wasn’t used to being overly affectionate with him. And it had gotten more intense since the wedding. I managed a half smile and muttered a thank you.

Dan and I have never really sat down to eat and stare at each other so long like we were currently doing. I’ve never really gotten to study his facial features and am just realizing his freckles.

“ Love your freckles.” He stared at me cautiously as if waiting for a but that also came with an insult.

“What?”

“You’ve actually never complimented my freckles.” Sometimes I speak without realizing I’ve supposedly been in a relationship with Dan for years and I shouldn’t be noticing something as obvious as his freckles now.

“You don’t have your signature lip thing going on.” He gestured to my lips. I realized then and there that everytime I’ve seen Sera on a magazine cover or billboard, she always had on a thick layer of red lipstick. I scolded myself for missing that important detail. “You once told me the day you wear a color other than blood-red, you’ve been swapped and I should go looking for you.” We both laughed, but my laugh was more from a place of nervousness than amusement.

I was glad two teen girls interrupted our conversation. “ Sera Kenz.” They beamed at me before turning to look at Dan. “ Daniel Carlton.” I looked at Dan as well. There we go. That million dollar smile.

Teen girls were not exempted from the city wide crush everyone had on Dan. More times than I can count, I’ve seen teen w*****d writers use him as the face to their characters or book covers. There was also a time he carried tumblr.

“Hi! It’s actually Sera Carlton now. And what are your names?”

They were more than happy to introduce themselves because they went on to do so for the next five minutes. “I absolutely loved your vogue spread. The Summer Reverie was my favorite!” One of the girls said. I hoped at that moment that all the times I had basically stalked Sera would come in handy, as I racked my brain for anything linking Sera to vogue.

“That was so fun to shoot. Autumn Afterglow is still my favorite though.” I said casually. I think I convinced myself actually. They hung around for a few more minutes before leaving in satisfaction.

“Sera, your favorite vogue spread has always been the Summer Reverie. It’s also your most recognized, you’ve always said that.” Dan pointed out. I didn’t have any comeback or excuse at the tip of my tongue. Dan had a look of suspicion mixed with worry etched on his face.

“Are you sure you’re okay?”