ARRANGED WITH A BILLIONAIRE CEO

A MYSTERY

AUSTIN

"I have a boyfriend," she declared, her eyes fixed on mine. I struggled to even focus on her words, so captivated was I by the flicker of defiance that ignited those depths. A genuine chuckle escaped my lips, a soft, disbelieving sound. I shook my head, my smirk widening. "You're a terrible liar, Elise."

A spark of genuine anger ignited in her eyes then, just as I'd anticipated. I saw her hands clench into fists at her sides. Poor thing. She truly had no idea who she was dealing with. I, Austin Alderidge, a man who wouldn't invest a single penny without a rigorous background check on a company, a product, or even a prospect, would hardly forgo a thorough assessment of my future bride. Naive. If she believed for a second that I knew nothing about her, she was utterly, tragically naive. Gary, her personal driver and shadow in New York, had done a commendable job keeping me updated. Some might call it stalking; I preferred to call it research. After all, she was going to be my wife.

What could possibly be bothering her so deeply that she would resort to such a transparent lie to halt this marriage? The question gnawed at me. "I'm a businessman, sweetheart. I don't make decisions without prior knowledge," I stated, my gaze piercing her brown eyes. I watched her take a deep, shuddering breath, wrestling for composure.

"I don't care what you are, Mr. Austin Alderidge," she retorted, her voice strained but firm. "And why are you even ready for something as traditional as an arranged marriage?"

For a second, her question gave me pause. "Because my parents are happy about it," I answered honestly. Her gaze flickered towards the distant main door of the mansion. I tried to read the subtle shifts in her expression, but as always, there was nothing to betray her. My eyes lingered on her profile: the soft strands of hair dancing in the cool breeze, shadowing her dark, dense eyebrows. The gentle curve of her cheekbones beneath the veil of her eyelashes. Her button nose, tipped with a delicate blush of red, made her look surprisingly… cute. And her lips. So soft, so plump. I wondered, with a sudden, potent curiosity, how they would feel tangled with mine.

My gaze lifted back to her brown orbs as she turned her head, fixing me with that same unreadable intensity. "And what about you?" she asked, her voice softening almost imperceptibly. "Are you happy with this?"

I took a deliberate step closer to her, closing the distance between us. "I am," I confirmed, my voice steady. It baffled me, how utterly impenetrable that sharp mind of hers remained. "Why are you so desperate to deny this marriage, Elise? And if you're that desperate, why don't you say so to your own parents?" Finally, I voiced the question that had consumed me the entire evening.

She took a shuddering breath, a slight tremor running through her. She shook her head, her arms crossing defensively over her chest. "I can't. But you can. I'm pretty sure you wouldn't want a loveless marriage with a cold wife, would you?"

My gaze dropped to her crossed arms, a fortress she'd built around herself, before meeting her eyes again. "Or perhaps that's exactly what I want. A cold wife who wouldn't demand attention. You're perfect." I watched, with a flicker of satisfaction, as annoyance and anger sparked in her eyes. Her jaw tensed, her posture rigid.

"I can't cook," she tried again, her voice flat, meeting my gaze defiantly.

"You don't need to," I countered smoothly. "I can hire a cook for both of us."

"I don't clean either," she continued, pushing.

I took another deliberate step closer, encroaching on her personal space. "I'm not looking for a maid in disguise of a wife, Elise," I said, my voice calm but laced with a clear finality, leaning slightly into her face. She visibly flinched, shrinking back a fraction, and blinked, finally looking away from me.

I wished, fiercely, that she would look into my eyes just then, allowing me even a glimpse into those elusive brown depths. She took a step back, clearing her throat, the small sound betraying her composure. "Austin, I would be an extra responsibility. A burden for you." She tried to sound convincing, a desperate plea. I sighed, straightening to my full height. "I'm a very responsible man, sweetheart," I stated, my eyes locking onto hers again.

She opened her mouth, ready with another argument, but I cut her off. "This arrangement is making our parents happy, Elise. And I would do anything to keep them happy. I suggest you stop trying, because I won't let anything in this world take that happiness away." I declared, the statement a promise and a warning. Then, I extended my hand to her. "Let's go inside now."

She stared at my outstretched hand, then up at me. Anger, frustration, and something akin to fear warred in her eyes before she expertly slipped back into her familiar, emotionless mask. Without taking my hand, she simply turned and started walking back towards the house. I stood there for a moment, my hand still extended in the cool night air, watching her retreating back. I clenched my jaw, stuffing my hands into my pant pockets, and followed her inside.

Our families were settled in the opulent living room, their cheerful chatter and laughter filling the air as they discussed wedding dates and arrangements. Elise was already back in her seat beside her mother, an unreadable, distant expression on her face, lost in her own mind. I took my place beside my father.

"I hope you both got to know each other a little tonight," my father began, beaming. "We were thinking of setting the date for next month. Is that too early for you?"

Her eyes snapped up, first to my father, then to me. "Next month? It's too early, Dad." I interjected smoothly, surprising even myself. "We'd like to take our time getting to know each other better before we set the date."

A momentary silence fell over the adults, a brief hesitation, before my mother's smile returned. "Of course, dear," she chimed in, "marriage is a big step, and it's important to understand each other. Take your time, but try not to exceed two months. I'm so excited for this wedding!" Her excitement for her son's wedding was palpable.

I smiled and nodded at her. "Okay, Mom." I glanced at Elise. She was still lost in her thoughts, seemingly untouched by the conversation. I didn't miss the almost imperceptible flinch when her mother nudged her gently. She offered my mother a small smile, but even from here, it felt utterly hollow. I wondered what her genuine smile would look like… she barely spoke, and she was clearly unhappy about this. Perhaps it truly was just an empty arrangement, for now.

Elise… you're the mystery I am impossibly, utterly tempted to solve.