Fake Marriage to the Cold Billionaire

Chapter 4: Time to Think

(Alexander's POV)

I swirl my drink around in my glass as I sit at the bar with Harry, fascinated with the dark color of the bourbon combined with the clear ice. All night, women had been constantly coming up to me at the bar, hoping to get a dance from me or a sliver of my time. But tonight, I wasn't in the mood to fool around, tonight I had a lot on my mind.

Harry interrupts me from my thoughts when he speaks, “You've been acting strange all night Alex, what's up with you?"

I merely take a sip of my drink, “Nothing, I've just got a lot on my mind lately."

Harry nudges me with his elbow, “Ah still worried about the fact that you still have yet to find a woman to get engaged to and that your father approves of."

I simply nod and taking another sip of my drink, because in truth I wasn't concerned about that at all. I had found the perfect person to marry, even if she was only a simple waitress that barely made minimum wage. Yes, Reagan was indeed the perfect candidate and I had known it from the moment that I had the first time I had seen her, crying because she couldn't pay for her tuition.

Reagan Taylor, I had seen her before mostly when she had been mopping or sweeping or taking other people's orders. But in reality, I hadn't noticed her, it was like when you saw someone in passing and didn't take notice of them because they weren't important. But today after I had heard her situation I had decided to take action because I knew that we could both benefit from each other.

When Reagan had spun around I had almost been caught off guard thinking that she was going to slap or punch me. Her deep blue eyes had been filled with annoyance, her raven black hair was pulled into a messy ponytail with tendrils that framed her face. Even though she was small she still looked like someone that wouldn't take s**t from anyone and that's what had perked my interest in her.

I wasn't attracted to Reagan in the slightest, even though she was quite an attractive woman but her fire, her defiance, and of course her looks had me determined to make her accept my proposal. I knew that we could benefit from each other and not only that but Reagan would make a good wife, even if the marriage would be fake. She seemed like someone that could adapt very quickly to my world and someone that would be just as powerful as I was. Yes indeed, if she would accept my engagement we would most definitely be a force to be reckoned with.

I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket and look down to see who the text was from, my father. He was demanding that I again come to the office tomorrow morning to discuss more about what we had talked about that night I had come to his office. I had an inkling that my father had a candidate already picked out for a potential fiancée. I down the rest of my drink and ask the bartender for another, there was no way that I was going to let my father control this situation.

**********

I wake up with a pounding headache, regretting having as many drinks as I had yesterday. I sit up in bed and rub my temples in an attempt to alleviate the pain that I was currently going through, but to no avail. I decide that the best thing that I can do for my hangover was shower and get something for my headache. I quickly showered and got myself ready before heading downstairs and being greeted by Albert.

“Here sir, I assumed that after your night you would be needing this." In his hand, Albert held a silver platter with a tall glass of liquid that was thick and dark red.

“Thank you, Albert." I take the glass off of the platter and take a sip, almost gagging and spitting the drink right out. I had come home drunk many a time in high school and Albert had made this drink for me many a time but that didn't mean that I ever would get used to the taste.

I quickly down the rest of the drink and make my way into the dining area inspecting the array of food that was placed on the table. My head was pounding so furiously that the mere idea of food disgusted me, so I grabbed two croissants and a glass of orange juice, shoving the food into my mouth and downing every last drop of juice from the glass both quickly before heading out the door.

“Good afternoon, sir." Mike, a security guard that worked at Griffin International greets me as I enter the building and I in turn give him a nod to show my acknowledgment of his greeting.

I make my way to the elevator and entered when one opened, pressing the number that corresponded to the floor where the CEO's office was located. When I reach the floor that I had designated on the elevator, I make my way to my father's office this time not even bothering to knock as I enter.

“Father, what is this about this time?" I demand before noticing that we weren't alone in the office. In the chair seated in front of his father's desk sat a woman, which I could only tell from the long red hair that flowed down the back of the chair.

The woman stands up and turns around and I try to keep my face stoic and blank as I stare back at a very familiar face. Victoria Copenhagen, someone that I had once slept with and who also had a very close relationship with my family, particularly my father. Instantly, I realize what this meeting was going to be about. Victoria was here because my father saw her as an option to be my potential bride and I would be damned if I let my father go through with this.

Victoria comes up to me and gives me a sultry, sweet smile flipping her hair over one shoulder, “This is a surprise Alexander, I didn't know that you would be here."

I merely grunt, I knew all too well that was bull, she knew I was going to be here. Victoria had a small part in the company, but she wouldn't just come here for no reason. My father must have made her aware that I would be at his office today.

“Is this some sort of ambush?" I ask, now annoyed with the whole situation.

“Son, I was just telling Victoria how lately you've been wanting to settle down and we thought that it would be a good idea if she was your escort for my upcoming event."

I chuckle sardonically and look at Victoria, “I don't know what my father told you but I don't plan on bringing anyone with me to the event let alone going in the first place."

For a moment, something flashed in Victoria's eyes, an emotion that I could not read but she plasters that sweet smile on her face again and touches my arm gently, “Oh Alexander there's no harm in the two of us attending together as friends."

I shake her hand off of me, “You should quit while you're ahead Victoria, nothing will ever happen between the two of us."

I wasn't someone that hoped for miracles but in this situation, I needed one badly. If Reagan did not accept my proposal then my father would push for Victoria, and that marriage would never happen not if I could help it.