Contract Marriage with Billionaire

Jealousy

Grace's Perspective:

There were only a few hours left before Alex's plane landed in New York, and I was utterly torn about how I felt. Part of me was exhilarated, but another part hesitated at the thought of bringing Christian and Alex face to face. I wasn’t naive. I knew people suspected Alex and I had a relationship, and I hadn't done anything to discourage that perception. In fact, I rather enjoyed the idea of Christian thinking I was with Alex. The thought or assumption of his jealousy secretly flattered me. I yearned for some form of deep-seated revenge; a part of me wanted to see him hurt just as I had been.

Dinner with Christian was scheduled for tomorrow, but the real surprise was set for tonight. I knew my plans were wrong, but I was going to proceed anyway. I had found out where Christian would be dining tonight and had deliberately made reservations at the same restaurant. My primary aim was to show him that he meant nothing to me emotionally anymore. But I needed to tread cautiously. He shouldn’t directly ask me about my relationship with Alex. The game needed to be played such that he believed there was something between Alex and me, but if ever confronted with the truth, he should believe that he had been the one wanting to see it that way.

I took special care to dress up for the evening. My makeup was subtle, but with my red lipstick and black dress, I looked assertive. Anyone seeing Alex and me at dinner would believe I had put special effort for this date. That was precisely the impression I wanted to give. I wanted to show Christian how happy I was with Alex and how much he meant to me. I wanted Christian to be convinced I had moved on.

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I got out of the car as my driver opened the door. I hadn’t felt this tense in a long while. After a few steps, I felt Alex’s hands around my waist. He had always been overly possessive. I teased, “Everyone thinks we’re dating because of you. I can’t believe they think I could be with someone like you.”

Matching my tone, Alex retorted, “You’re right, G. I can't see why a strong, handsome man like me would look twice at a witch like you.” I smirked playfully.

“We both know I’m more like a delicate princess.”

Alex laughed, uncaring of our audience, “Ah, my little witch, I’ve missed our banter. You're just as arrogant as I remember.”

Flirtatiously, I responded, “I’m not arrogant, darling, just aware of my magnificence.”

Alex chuckled, “You never change, do you, Grace?”

Grinning mischievously, I replied, “Perfect things don’t need to.”

The only person I could be this childishly playful with was Alex. Our relationship had always been like a big brother and a spoiled little sister. As we continued our playful banter and moved deeper into the restaurant, I scanned the room. That’s when I spotted a pair of piercing blue eyes watching us intently. Christian. His face was unreadable, his expression cold.

As we neared Christian’s table, he stood up. The men exchanged greetings, and Christian’s voice was laced with authority, “Didn’t expect to see you here so soon. Welcome to my city. I hope you find it as delightful as I do.”

The conversation continued with slight tension, but it was clear that a game of power and influence was unfolding. As the night progressed, Christian’s piercing gaze was hard to ignore. I was sending him a clear message: I was here to stay, and Alex was on my side.

Yes, I had missed the fun times with Alex, but tonight, my happiness seemed heightened. Anyone watching could tell we were jubilant. The mere thought of this irritating Christian made me even happier. I knew he had no affection for me and would do anything to see me upset. Showing him my happiness felt utterly satisfying.

While laughing at one of Alex’s stories, Christian approached our table, "Sorry to interrupt, but before I leave the restaurant, I wanted to discuss tomorrow's dinner."

I held back my anger, reminding myself to stay professional. This was a political game, and I was ready to play.

Alex responded calmly, emphasizing my equal importance in the business decisions. He wanted Christian to understand and respect that.

Our eyes locked, and in that moment, both of us knew the battle had just begun. Neither of us had any intention of backing down.