A Dangerous Pretence
1074 Words
CHAPTER THREE
The first sign that something was wrong came on a Monday morning.Alexer woke to dozens of notifications,She opened her phone and her name appeared across several entertainment websites.WHO IS ADRIAN ASHFORD’S MYSTERY WIFE?
Another headline read:
THE WOMAN BEHIND THE BILLIONAIRE
Alexer frowned.She had expected attention after marrying Adrian but she had not expected this much.She walked downstairs,Adrian was already in the kitchen,he looked at her.
“You’ve seen it.” he asked
“Yes.” Alexer replied
“I’ll have my legal team handle the reporters.”
Alexer sat down.“Why are they suddenly interested in me?”
Adrian hesitated.
“Lucas.”
She sighed.
“Again?”
“He has been investigating the marriage.”
“Does he know about the contract?”
“I don’t think so.”
Alexer looked at him.
“You’re not sure?”
“No.”
She became quiet,Adrian sat across from her.
“Whatever happens, don’t speak to reporters.”
“I wasn’t planning to.”
“Good.”
He reached for his coffee,Alexer noticed the dark circles beneath his eyes.
“You didn’t sleep.”
“I did.”
“How long?”
“Three hours.”
She shook her head.
“You work too much.”
“You sound like my mother.”
“That’s insulting.”
He almost smiled.The day continued normally until evening,Adrian had a charity dinner at a hotel in Malibu.Alexer attended with him,The event was crowded with executives, actors and wealthy investors.They walked through the ballroom together,Adrian introduced her to several guests.
“This is my wife, Alexer.”
Each time he said it, Alexer felt something strange,She reminded herself that it was part of the agreement,Nothing more.Later, they stepped outside onto the terrace.The Pacific Ocean stretched beneath the night sky,Alexer leaned against the railing.
“This is beautiful.”
Adrian stood beside her.
“You like the ocean?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“It makes everything feel smaller.”
He looked at the water.
“I understand.”
For a while, they said nothing,Then Adrian spoke.
“Alexer.”
She turned.
“If this contract didn’t exist, would you still have come with me tonight?”
She looked surprised.
“Why are you asking?”
“Curiosity.”
She smiled.
“I don’t know.”
“That’s an honest answer.”
“Would you have asked me?”
Adrian was silent.
“I don’t know.”
She laughed.
“Then we’re both useless.”
“Probably.”
The conversation ended when his phone rang,He stepped away to answer it.Alexer watched the ocean,She did not notice Lucas approaching.
“Mrs Ashford.” Lucas called out to her
She turned,Lucas Reed smiled.He was well dressed, confident and charming in a way that immediately made Alexer suspicious.
“Mr Reed.” she replied
“I’ve wanted to meet you.”
“Why?” she asked
“I’ve heard a lot about you.”
“I doubt that.”
Lucas laughed.
“You’re direct.”
“I prefer honesty.”
“Then you may not enjoy the Ashford family.”
Alexer frowned.
“What does that mean?”
Lucas glanced toward Adrian.
“Ask your husband.”
Before she could respond, Adrian returned,His expression changed when he saw Lucas.
“Stay away from her.”
Lucas smiled.
“Relax, Adrian. We were talking.”
“Then the conversation is over.”
Lucas looked at Alexer.
“Enjoy your evening.”
He walked away.
Alexer turned to Adrian.
“What’s his problem?”
“He wants my company.”
“That’s all?”
“No.”
Adrian looked toward Lucas.
“He wants to destroy me.”
The next morning, the secret was exposed.
Alexer woke up to a phone call from Sheila.
“Alexer, have you seen the news?”
“No.”
“Look.”
Alexer opened her phone,Her heart dropped there it was.A leaked copy of the marriage agreement,The headline was enormous.ADRIAN ASHFORD’S MARRIAGE WAS A CONTRACT,She read the article someone had revealed everything.The six month agreement,The payment,The rules,Everything.Alexer felt sick,Adrian walked into the room.He saw her expression.
“What happened?” he asked
She turned the phone toward him,He read the headline.His jaw tightened.
“Lucas.”
“You said he didn’t know.”
“I was wrong.”
Alexer stood.
“You knew this could happen.”
“I didn’t.”
“You investigated me before you proposed.”
“I did.”
“Then why didn’t you protect me?”
“I was trying.”
She shook her head.
“Trying isn’t enough.”
Adrian stepped closer.
“Alexer.”
“Everyone thinks I married you for money.”
“You don’t owe anyone an explanation.”
“I do when they’re destroying my reputation.”
“I’ll fix it.”
“You can’t fix everything.”
He stopped,She could see that the words had hurt him.
“I’m sorry,” she said quietly.
“Don’t apologize.”
She sat down.
“What happens now?”
“We deal with it.”
“How?”
“My lawyers are already working.”
She looked at him.
“What about the company?”
“The board is concerned.”
“And your family?”
“Victoria will survive.”
Alexer gave a weak smile.
“She may kill me first.”
Adrian almost laughed,Then his phone rang his assistant’s voice was urgent.“Sir, the board has called an emergency meeting.”Adrian closed his eyes.
“I’ll be there.” he replied
He ended the call,Alexer looked at him.
“You should go.”
“I don’t want to leave you alone.”
“I’ll be fine.”
He hesitated,Then he left.Alexer sat by the window.She had entered this marriage because she needed money,She had expected six months of pretending.She had never expected to care about Adrian,But now that everything was falling apart, she realized something she had been trying not to admit,She was afraid of losing him.Not the money,Not the house,Not the lifestyle,Him.Across Los Angeles, Adrian entered the boardroom,Lucas Reed was already there.He leaned back in his chair with a satisfied expression.
“I told you the truth would come out.”
Adrian looked at him.
“You’ve made a serious mistake.”
Lucas smiled.
“We’ll see.”
The meeting began,And for the first time since the contract had started, Adrian was fighting for something that could not be bought,Alexer.
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