The Billionaire's Arranged Bride

Chapter 4

The Billionaire's Arranged Bride

Chapter 4

A Billionaire's Morning

Astrid quickly learned that living with Trey Santillan came with one major problem.

The man had absolutely no concept of sleeping in.

It was six in the morning when she heard movement outside her bedroom.

She opened one eye.

Then closed it again.

A few seconds later, she heard footsteps.

Then a door.

Then footsteps again.

Astrid pulled the blanket over her head.

"Too early."

She had barely fallen back asleep when someone knocked.

Three times.

She groaned.

"What?"

The door opened slightly.

"Astrid?"

Trey.

She sat up.

"What?"

"Are you awake?"

"No."

There was a pause.

"Obviously."

Astrid stared at the door.

"Then why did you ask?"

"I wanted to know if you were awake."

"I wasn't."

"You are now."

She dropped her head onto the pillow.

"Exactly."

Trey opened the door a little wider.

"Breakfast."

Astrid stared at him.

"It's six in the morning."

"Six fifteen."

"That doesn't make it better."

He smiled.

"I thought you might want coffee."

That got her attention.

"Coffee?"

"Yes."

Astrid immediately got out of bed.

"Wait for me."

Trey nodded.

"Take your time."

He closed the door.

Astrid stared at it.

"Okay."

She quickly changed.

---

When Astrid reached the kitchen, Trey was already sitting at the table.

There were two cups of coffee.

She picked hers up.

"Okay. You're forgiven."

"For waking you up?"

"For the coffee."

Trey smiled.

"You're easy to please."

"No. I'm easy to bribe."

"That too."

She sat across from him.

"What are you doing up this early?"

"Work."

"You work at six?"

"Sometimes."

Astrid looked at him.

"That sounds unhealthy."

He raised an eyebrow.

"You're giving me health advice?"

"Yes."

"You just woke up."

"And?"

She took a sip of coffee.

"I'm still right."

Trey smiled.

"Maybe."

Astrid noticed the laptop beside him.

"How many hours do you work?"

"Depends."

"On?"

"The day."

She sighed.

"That's not an answer."

"It is."

"No, it's a billionaire answer."

He laughed.

"A billionaire answer?"

"Yes. Vague and unnecessarily complicated."

Trey closed his laptop.

"You don't like vague answers."

"No."

"Good to know."

Astrid smiled.

"You're learning."

---

After breakfast, Trey left for work.

Astrid stayed behind.

She had planned to spend the morning organizing her things, but after thirty minutes, she realized she had already finished unpacking.

So she wandered around the house.

She found a library.

A small gym.

A spacious garden.

A music room.

And what appeared to be an office that was probably bigger than her entire bedroom at home.

Astrid stood outside it.

She glanced inside.

Then quickly stepped away.

"Nope."

She wasn't going to touch anything.

This was Trey's territory.

She continued walking.

Then she noticed something unusual.

There were almost no personal photographs anywhere.

The house was beautiful, but strangely empty.

Astrid stopped in the hallway.

Maybe that was why it felt like a hotel.

There were expensive things everywhere.

But very few things that actually felt lived in.

She wondered how long Trey had lived like this.

Alone.

She immediately stopped herself.

Not her business.

They had only known each other for a few days.

She wasn't supposed to start analyzing him.

---

That afternoon, Astrid received a message.

Trey: How's your first day?

She smiled.

Astrid: Quiet.

Trey: Good?

Astrid: Too quiet.

His reply came a few seconds later.

Trey: You're free to make noise.

She laughed.

Astrid: Don't tempt me.

Trey: I won't.

She put her phone down.

Then picked it up again.

Astrid: Did you eat?

There was a short pause.

Trey: Not yet.

Astrid frowned.

Astrid: Why?

Trey: Busy.

She sighed.

Astrid: That's not an excuse.

No reply.

Astrid shook her head.

"Stubborn."

She went to the kitchen and asked the staff to prepare lunch.

Then she sent another message.

Astrid: I'm sending lunch to your office.

This time, his response came quickly.

Trey: You don't have to.

Astrid smiled.

Astrid: I know.

There was a pause.

Then:

Trey: Thank you.

Astrid looked at the message longer than necessary.

She smiled.

"You're welcome."

---

By six in the evening, Trey came home.

Astrid was sitting on the sofa, reading.

He stopped when he saw her.

"You waited?"

She looked up.

"Hindi."

He raised an eyebrow.

"I just happened to be here."

"Right."

"I'm serious."

"Of course."

She closed her book.

"How was work?"

"Long."

"Did you eat lunch?"

"Yes."

"Good."

Trey removed his jacket.

"Thank you."

Astrid shrugged.

"Wala yun."

He looked at her for a moment.

"You do that often?"

"What?"

"Take care of people."

She thought about it.

"Maybe."

"You don't have to take care of me."

"I know."

Trey smiled.

"You like saying that."

"Because you keep telling me things I already know."

He laughed.

Astrid smiled.

Then she noticed something.

He looked tired.

Not just physically.

Something else.

She wasn't sure what.

"You okay?"

Trey nodded.

"Yes."

"You're sure?"

"Yes."

Astrid studied him.

Then she nodded.

"Okay."

She didn't push.

And perhaps that was exactly what he needed.

---

Later that night, they ate dinner together.

Trey told her about a problem at work.

Astrid listened.

She didn't understand half of the business terminology, but she tried.

Eventually, he asked her opinion.

She blinked.

"Why are you asking me?"

"Because I want your opinion."

"About business?"

"Yes."

She thought about it.

"I don't know enough about your business to tell you what to do."

"I didn't ask what I should do."

"What did you ask?"

"What you think."

Astrid looked at him.

Then she answered honestly.

"I think you're overthinking it."

Trey stared at her.

She smiled.

"Sorry."

"No."

He shook his head.

"You might be right."

She laughed.

"Wow."

"What?"

"I made a billionaire reconsider his decision."

"Don't get carried away."

"Too late."

He smiled.

For a moment, they simply looked at each other.

There was no awkwardness anymore.

No forced conversation.

No reminder that their marriage was arranged.

Just two people getting to know one another.

And perhaps that was the first real change.

They had stopped acting like strangers.

---

Before going to bed, Astrid stood in the hallway.

Trey was about to enter his room.

"Good night."

He looked at her.

"Good night."

She hesitated.

"Trey?"

"Yes?"

"Thank you."

"For what?"

She smiled.

"For making this easier."

His expression softened.

"You're welcome."

Astrid nodded.

"Good night."

She walked toward her room.

Trey watched her disappear behind the door.

He stood there for a moment.

Then quietly smiled to himself.

The arrangement had only been in place for a few days.

Yet the house already felt different.

Warmer.

Less empty.

He wasn't sure when it happened.

Maybe it was when she filled the refrigerator with food.

Maybe when she sent lunch to his office.

Or maybe it was simply because someone was finally waiting for him at home.

Trey shook his head.

That thought was dangerous.

He had agreed to marry Astrid because it was necessary.

He couldn't allow himself to forget that.

But as he entered his room, one thought remained.

For the first time in a very long time, he was actually looking forward to coming home tomorrow.