chapter 5
1320 Words
,,I think... I'll eat salmon" She replied looking at the card. Most of the dishes were strange, and at least salmon was familiar to her.
Mr. and Mrs. Kenswick often ate salmon, and for good behavior they sometimes let her have a piece too. They always said it was a blessing for her to eat expensive fish with them at the table.
"Okay... I'll take the steak, do you want anything else?" He asked, putting the menu on the table.
"No, thank you." She smiled slightly at him.
They talked for a while when Adeline's phone rang.
,,Excuse me for a moment." She answered while going to the bathroom.
"Yes, I'm listening?"
"Good morning! May I speak with Miss Adeline Evans?" She heard a woman's voice on the phone.
"Yes, how can I help you?" She asked, frowning.
"Congratulations! You won the competition - The wife - Warmest regards!"
Adelina grabbed the sink to keep from falling.
"What... What, what contest?"
"Ma'am, the casting for Mr. Theodore Prescott's wife, the one you applied for the day before yesterday."
Adeline slumped to the floor. She couldn't believe what she was hearing.
,,Ah yes, fine, thank you." She said, trying to take a breath.
,,We will send you a text message with the contract details and arrange your first meeting with Mr. Prescott. Once again, congratulations on your win, see you soon!"
"Fine, thank you." The connection has been terminated. Adeline wasn't used to panicking, but now she was fighting for every breath.
Was the wife contest real? She won?!
She couldn't believe it. She slowly got up from the floor, looking in the mirror. She was as pale as ever and felt dizzy.
With a shaking hand, she reached for the phone to call Ivy.
,,Pick up the f**k, pick up" She whispered to herself, trying to stay on her feet. After a few rings, the call ended sound was heard.
"Damn it, why does he have to not answer now?" She threw the phone on the floor.
How did she win the contract wife contest? What will her life be like now? Can she just not go?
Adeline was afraid that if she didn't go, there would be consequences. The most powerful billionaire in town chose her as his wife and she wouldn't go.. This would cause quite a scandal in the city. She didn't want to make any more enemies.
She returned to Noah, pale and breathing heavily. He immediately noticed that something was wrong.
,,Adeline, are you okay?" he got up from the table and grabbed her hand.
"Yes... fine... I just don't feel well. I'd like to go home now if you don't mind?"
"Wouldn't you rather go to my house?"
He asked gently, hugging her waist.
"No, sorry" She pushed him away when she felt his hands on her.
Without looking back, she hurriedly left the restaurant. She heard footsteps behind her so she started running. She grabbed the nearest taxi and quickly closed the door.
She glanced slightly over her shoulder, seeing Noah searching for her.
"Lady, are you going or what are you doing?"
Start the taxi driver cleared his throat, hurrying her along.
,,Ah... yes, yes. Please come to Pancake Street" She said nervously, adjusting her hair.
"As you wish" The driver hit the gas, leaving Noah behind.
...
Adeline returned home thinking that she had spent all her last money on a taxi. Normally she would have walked if it weren't for the fact that Noah was following her.
He was nice and handsome... but she was about to be married now. She didn't know how to explain it to him. They've barely had their first date and she's married.
She walked around the house looking for Ivy. It seemed as if she was not at home.
"Maybe she's at work?" she thought, slapping her forehead. It was so late that it was impossible. It was almost 9 p.m.
She was just about to call her again when she saw a text message on her phone's notification screen. It was from the same number as the previous call.
...: ,,Good evening, Mrs. Adeline Evans. We are writing to you regarding your win in the competition - The Wife - organized by Mr. Theodore Prescott. Your first meeting with your future husband will take place tomorrow at 8 p.m. at a Scottish restaurant. We kindly ask you to dress elegantly. Reservation for table number 8. Please be prepared to talk about topics related to your life so far. Please answer every question asked by Mr. Prescott and speak to him with full respect. Calls may be recorded. Have a nice evening!"
Adeline read the text message several times. Can calls be recorded? Lots of privacy...
"Hey Ada, why are you up so early?!" She heard her friend scream behind her. She turned around briskly, dropping the phone from her hands. Ivy was standing behind her in the living room with some guy at her side.
Addie narrowed her eyes at him. For God's sake, it was that guy from the garden!
"What... what are you... Ivy what? What are you doing here with him?" Adeline stuttered as she picked up the phone from the ground.
During this time, Ivy managed to read half of the message visible on the screen.
"No, what am I... what are you?! You won the contest?! Oh my God, you're really going to be his wife!" She jumped up, clapping her hands.
"What, whose wife?" The man behind her spoke up.
"Ivy, for God's sake, shut up. Tell me, what is that man from the estate doing here?!" She asked, shouting over her.
Hearing this, the man raised his finger to his lips and looked at Ada with a murderous look.
"What estate?" She asked, stopping cheering.
Addie looked at them for a moment. The man looked at her coldly.
"Hmm... I must have confused him with someone else." She looked away.
"Ah yes... so what about your future husband? Aren't you happy you won?!"
"What husband?" The man asked.
"Ivy, let's talk about this in private."
"Okay.. Alaric, it was fun, but you know... let's meet tomorrow, okay?" She blinked at him, smiling.
"As you wish, kitty" He kissed her forehead and then walked out the door.
,,So..."
"No, no. What are you doing?! You said you didn't want a boyfriend, and suddenly you're messing around with someone 20 years older?!" Addie was shocked.
"You know... I thought so until today, but I met him and immediately fell in love..."She laughed awkwardly.
"What... so you're saying you met him today, and you were just about to have s*x?"
Adeline couldn't believe what she was hearing.
"Chill out Ada... I'm an adult" She waved her hand at her friend.
"You better tell me about your future husband." She smiled ambiguously and nudged her.
"They called me while I was on a date with Noah... I can't believe this is actually happening..."She sighed as she sat down in the armchair.
"I have my first meeting with him tomorrow."
"Oh... what about your job as that weird cleaning lady?" She asked.
"Good question. My new husband probably won't want me to work there." She sighed. She was truly stressed and overwhelmed with thoughts.
"So... quit this job?" Ivy said.
"I told you it wasn't that simple."
She hid her face in her hands.
"We need council approval to leave that place."
Ivy shook her head significantly.
"But you know... if your husband is the most powerful billionaire, maybe it won't be so difficult."
"Maybe... maybe so" Adeline sighed, rubbing her eyes.
"Someone's calling" The girl noticed.
Ada looked up and moved it to her phone. Noah.
"Oh my God, I won't answer" she groaned, stretching in the chair.
"Are you sure?" Ivy asked.
"It might really piss him off, and it won't help anything."
Adeline reluctantly reached for the phone.
- Writer
