The Arrangement
1311 Words
CHAPTER TWO
Alexer woke the following morning convinced that the previous night’s conversation had been nothing more than a strange dream. Then she saw the contract sitting on her desk. It was real. She had actually agreed to marry Adrian Ashford, she stared at the document for several seconds and said to herself.
“What have I done?”
Her phone rang.
“Hello?”
“Alexer?” Sheila’s voice came through the phone.
“Where are you?”
“At home.”
“You didn’t come home last night.”
“I stayed with a friend.”
There was a brief pause.
“Why?”
Alexer sighed.
“I went to an event.”
“Did you find anything useful?”
“Maybe.”
“What does maybe mean?”
“I’ll explain later.”
Sheila laughed.
“Fine. But you’re buying breakfast.”
Alexer smiled.
“Deal.”
Alexer received a text from Adrian saying.
“The car will arrive at ten.”
She stared at the message before typing a reply.
Alexer: I can drive myself.
His response came almost immediately.
Adrian: I know.
She frowned.
Alexer: Then why are you sending a car?
Adrian: Because my future wife should not arrive at my house alone. Alexer rolled her eyes.
Alexer: Don’t get used to saying that.
There was no reply. At ten, a black car stopped outside her apartment, Alexer climbed into the back seat, and the driver greeted her politely.
“Good morning, Mrs. Ashford.”
She nearly choked.
“Please don’t call me that.”
“Sorry.”
“Alexer is fine.”
“Of course, Mrs. Ashford.”
She looked out the window, deciding not to argue this was going to be a long six months. Adrian’s residence was in Malibu. The estate sat behind tall gates and carefully maintained gardens. The house itself looked more like a private resort than a home. Alexer stepped out of the car and stared at the massive building.
“You live here?”
Adrian was waiting at the entrance.
“Yes.”
“Alone?”
“Usually.”
She looked around the property.
“Why do you need this much space?”
“I don’t.”
“Then why have it?”
“I inherited it.”
Alexer shook her head.
“Rich people have strange problems.”
Adrian ignored the comment and led her inside.
He showed her around the house. The living room was enormous. There was a library, a private gym, several guest rooms, and a balcony overlooking Los Angeles.
Finally, they reached her bedroom. Alexer stopped in the doorway and whispered the room was larger than the apartment she shared with Sheila. There was a large bed, a walk-in closet. She looked at Adrian and asked
“This is my room?”
“Yes.” Adrian replied.
“It’s bigger than my entire apartment.”
“You’ll get used to it.”
“I’m not sure if I want to.”
Adrian turned to leave.
“Breakfast is at seven.”
She frowned.
“I leave for work at eight.”
She sighed.
He looked back at her, then he left. Alexer closed the door and sat on the edge of the bed. The room was very beautiful. She felt as if she had stepped into someone else’s life.
That evening, Adrian took her to dinner at his mother’s house. Victoria Ashford was waiting for them.
She was elegant and composed, with a sharp gaze that made Alexer immediately uncomfortable. Victoria looked at her, then at Adrian.
“So this is Alexer.” she asked
“Yes,” Adrian said.
Victoria smiled politely.
“I have heard about you.”
Alexer forced a smile.
“ Only good things, I hope.”
Victoria’s smile became thinner. “We shall see.” she said
Adrian’s expression hardened.
“Mother.”
“I’m simply being honest.”
Alexer sat down and dinner was uncomfortable. Victoria asked about Alexer's family, education, and previous job. Her questions were polite, but clearly designed to determine whether Alexer was suitable for the Ashford name. When dinner ended, Alexer stood outside with Adrian.
“Your mother doesn’t like me.”
“She doesn’t know you.”
“That hasn’t stopped her.”
Adrian looked toward the house.
“She doesn’t trust easily.”
“Neither do I.”
He looked at her.
“That’s one of the reasons I chose you.”
Alexer looked away.
“Don’t say things like that.”
“Why?”
“Because this is supposed to be business.”
Adrian nodded.
“Right.”
Over the next few weeks, their arrangement became more complicated. They attended charity events, they appeared at business dinners, they were photographed leaving restaurants. The media quickly became fascinated by Adrian’s mysterious new wife. Alexer learned how to handle cameras. Adrian learned that Alexer hated posing for photographs. One evening, after a long charity event, Alexer returned to the penthouse and found Adrian working in the living room. She looked at the clock and said to Adrian.
“You’re still working?”
“Yes,” he replied.
“You’ve been working since breakfast.”
“I have a lot to finish.”
“You should sleep.”
“I will.”
“When?”
“Eventually.”
Alexer walked over and closed his laptop. Adrian stared at her.
“What are you doing?”
“Saving you from yourself.”
“Open it.”
“No.”
“Alexer.”
“Adrian.”
They stared at each other.
Finally, Adrian sighed.
“You are difficult.”
“So are you.”
She walked toward the kitchen.
“Do you want dinner?”
“I already ate.”
“No, you didn’t.”
“How do you know?”
“Because there is nothing in the kitchen that looks touched.”
Adrian followed her.
“You pay too much attention.”
“Someone has to.”
They ordered pizza.
Adrian sat at the kitchen counter while Alexer opened the boxes.
“This is not exactly billionaire food,” he said.
“It’s pizza.”
“I know.”
“You can still eat it.”
He picked up a slice.
Alexer smiled.
“You know, you could actually enjoy yourself.”
“I am enjoying myself.”
“You look miserable.”
“I always look like this.”
She laughed.
“That’s true.”
For the first time, Adrian laughed too.
Alexer stopped and stared at him.
“What?”
“You laughed.”
“So?”
“You should do it more often.”
He looked at her.
“Maybe I will.”
The moment was quiet.
Something about it felt different. Not romantic, just comfortable. They were beginning to get to know each other.
Alexer learned that Adrian hated crowded places, Adrian learned that Alexer always called Sheila before bed, Alexer learned that Adrian secretly donated money to educational programs, Adrian learned that Alexer had a habit of reading whenever she was nervous, the contract remained between them. But slowly, it began to feel less important. Then Adrian received a call. His expression changed.
“What happened?” Alexer asked.
“Nothing.”
She knew he was lying.
“Adrian.”
He looked at her.
“We have a problem.”
“What kind?”
“My business rival.”
“Lucas Reed?”
Adrian nodded.
“What about him?”
“He has been asking questions about you.”
Alexer’s stomach tightened.
“Why?”
“I don’t know.”
Across Los Angeles, Lucas Reed sat in his office, staring at a photograph. It showed Adrian and Alexer standing together at an event. Lucas smiled. He had spent years trying to find Adrian’s weakness. Now, he had finally found it: The billionaire’s wife and he intended to use her.
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