Loveless Arrangement

Chapter Two

I heard the crowd murmuring behind us, they were wondering what was happening. Xavier took another look at me and held out his hand again. I took it and mounted on top of the alter with him.

Throughout the period of the service, he didn't even look at me. To the others, he was staring into my eyes but he was actually looking over my head.

The service ended after the priest pronounced us as husband and wife and Xavier grabbed my hands, pulling me out of the wedding hall with him.

My parents and his dad followed after us immediately and when we were in a secluded area he turned and addressed the small crowd that was gathered behind him.

"We're meeting back at the ballroom in ten minutes." He told us and stormed off.

"What trick are you trying to pull on us Connels?" Mr Kingston Snr asked before also turning in the opposite direction and leaving.

"Let's go." Dad ordered and I followed him.

"What could you possibly have done to upset them now?" Mum started talking when we arrived in their room.

"I didn't do anything mum, I promise. I haven't even said anything to Xavier." I pleaded with mum.

"Oh just shut up Isabel. You had one simple job and that was to act like Blair and you couldn't even do that. If the Kingston's end up changing their minds, it's going to be all your fault." Dad sneered in my face, making me tear up immediately.

I had done everything they asked of me, I even went as far as marrying Blair's husband, someone I didn't know nor care for or love. I had done everything and they still weren't pleased.

What more do I have to do?

"I'm sorry and I sincerely apologize. I'll do better." I apologized to them in tears, wiping my face as I was apologizing.

"Your tears aren't fooling us. Just do a f*****g good job, is that too much to ask?" Dad threw his hands up in an exasperated manner.

"I'll do better." I promised and willed myself to stop crying.

We all covereged back in the ballroom after ten minutes. Xavier still had the same blank expression he had on his face since the moment he discovered I wasn't Blair.

"Son why don't you go ahead and tell us the reason you asked us to gather here." Mr Kingston Snr instructed Xavier and he stood up and spoke.

"It's simple. That isn't Blair Connel." He pointed at me. I quickly avoided his eyes by casting my eyes down.

"You're right, she's not Blair, this is Isabel. And does it matter who is who?" Dad countered Xavier immediately.

"Yes it does matter. If you read the contract very well, it stated that I was supposed to get married to Blair Connel and since this isn't Blair, I'm afraid our deal is off." Xavier declared.

My heart dropped to my stomach and I was about to make a move and talk but one sharp look from mum made me quiet down.

"I'm glad you mentioned the contract," Dad started, "and I did read the terms of our agreement. I even had my lawyers go through it and you would be surprised by what they found." Dad added, taking his time with talking.

"Stop with the games Connel and cut straight to the chase." Mr Kingston commented, already fed up with dad's antics

"My lawyers found a loophole in that deal of ours. The contract states that you have to marry one of my daughters, it didn't say which one," Dad pulled out his triumph card, "so really we're not breaching the terms of our agreement are we? Isabel is still my daughter."

Judging by the looks on the Kingston's faces, I believe dad was right and there wasn't anything they could do. They had already lost this war.

"The wedding reception is cancelled," Xavier growled out, "we leave in five minutes." He directed the last part to me and stormed off again.

I realized what he meant was that we'd be leaving together. Since we were now husband and wife, we were now going to be living together.

"Very clever of you to discover that loophole." Mr Kingston Snr applauded dad.

"It wasn't easy and we didn't spot it immediately but we saw it in the end."

"Good for you and I must say, you have a beautiful daughter." He turned his gaze to me and looked me up and down, a hungry sort of look in his eyes.

I felt violated but there was nowhere I could hide and nothing I could definitely do, so I just stood there and watched as he eyed me up and down.

"Come say hello to your father-in-law. I don't think we've been properly introduced yet." He beckoned to me and I'm sure mum and dad would lose their calm if I refused his invitation.

I stepped towards him hesitantly and I continued to take small steps till I was right in front of him, he pulled me in for a hug as soon as I was at arms length.

I felt disgusted because he was not just hugging me, he was feeling me up as well but I dared not make a sound in protest.

"Let's go, we're leaving now." Xavier reappeared in the room after I separated from his father.

"We'll have all your belongings moved over to the new house." Mum had told me and that was it. They didn't hug me goodbye or anything, I nodded in return and followed Xavier out of the room.

A black car was waiting for us at the main entrance and when we entered, the car zoomed off immediately to God knows where.

"I have to say, it's a nice trick you and your family pulled on me." Xavier started talking beside me.

I was so terrified of him, so I couldn't speak or look at him.

"Great. I got the dumb twin." He murmured beside me before turning all his attention to his phone which he pulled out from his pocket.

This was what my life was going to be like now, one sided conversations with a stranger. No words was exchanged between us again till we got to our destination.

It was an apartment complex and the driver drove the car into the underground parking lot, "Walk fast or you might be finding your way up by yourself." Xavier addressed me briskly and he stepped out of the car.

I stepped out immediately too and followed him through the parking lot, I was hot on his tail. He led us to an elevator door and when we stepped inside, he pressed the button for the top floor.

He must live in a penthouse, I wondered in my mind.

The doors closed and it took us about three minutes to reach the top floor and it was three minutes of intense awkwardness for me. I'm sure Xavier didn't feel the awkwardness, seeing as to how he was on his phone the entire period of the elevator ride.

The doors opened when we arrived at the top floor and it led directly to his penthouse. We stepped out and the doors closed behind us again.

I watched as he took off his suit jacket and discarded his bowtie to somewhere in the room while I was still watching him and awkwardly stood in the same position since I got off the elevator, I wasn't sure what I was supposed to do.

He looked at me like he suddenly remembered I was here, "Follow me." He told me and I did.

We took a staircase that led to another floor. He opened a door and entered into a room, I followed after and I found myself in a large room.

"This is your room. Feel free to do with it whatever you like." He told me and proceeded to leave the room.

"Will we be sleeping here together?" I finally gathered enough courage to talk to him.

"I'm sure I didn't stutter when I said it's your room."

"You didn't but I just thought we'd be sleeping together." I mumbled out and looked at my feet, not being able to look into his eyes.

"I get it now. This is your game plan? Your father asked you to come here and throw yourself at me like the w***e you are right?" He sneered and slowly started walking towards me.

I backed away immediately, "No, there's no plan I swear. I'm just filling in for Blair till she comes back." I tried explaining myself to him but I'm sure he didn't believe me.

He continued to walk towards me and a soft gasp leaves my mouth the moment my back makes contact with a wall. I was trapped. There was nowhere to run to.

"Why are you running from me Isabel? I assure you I don't bite, not unless you want me to." He smirked when he invaded my personal space.

I peered up to him through my eyelashes and saw a hungry look in his eyes. He slowly started leaning down to cover the distance between us and I thought he was going to kiss me so I closed my eyes immediately.

A quiet moan escaped my mouth when I felt his lips on my neck. I quickly covered my mouth but it was too late, he already heard me.

Xavier chuckled and slowly backed away from me, "You're way easier than most girls." He started, a giant smirk on his face.

"What?" I asked breathlessly, the little stunt he just pulled on me affected me more than it should have.

"You're no match for me Isabel, think of what I can do to you if a simple peck on the neck has turned you into a breathless fool. You're not a real challenge Isabel." He finished and put as much distance between us as possible.

"So run home and tell daddy dearest, you have failed." He finally said before turning around and leaving me alone in the room.

The only thing that was on my mind was that the next two years was going to be the worst and longest two years of my life.