LOVE AND STRATEGY

ChapterFIVE

Alexander gawked at me, trying to comprehend what I just said. We were about to leave that spot when the paparazzi rushed towards us with different speakers which got me irritated.

"You guys are a newly wedded couple, is this true?"

"Heard that Maya isn't your girlfriend"

The media bashed Alexander and me, and I lowered my head trying to hide the feeling of embarrassment. Alexander slowly entwined his hands in mine before replying, "Maya is the one I love, and we got married on goodwill"

"If this is true, then why don't you kiss your bride" One of the reporters said and he shot him a dangerous glare. I looked up at Alex to see his piercing eyes on me.

I braced up as he gently pushed me to face him then stylishly started leaning in, I tried to hide my expression as the thought of sharing a kiss with him crippled my mind.

He got an inch close to me and quickly gave me a peck which our lips barely touched. I smuggled away from him and he turned to face the camera with that creepy smile of his.

"Satisfied?" He asked in a low tone, and the whole paparazzi went shut with surprise written over their faces. I almost laughed at their faces.

Luckily, the Bugatti La Voiture Noire that was going to take us home arrived in time. Alexander insisted that there wouldn't be any reception or after the wedding party because according to him, he had something to fix.

He linked my hands with him as we walked away from the red carpet that the paparazzi had on us. A butler came out of the car and opened the door first for me to step in and Alexander followed suit.

From the other side of the car, I could see Mrs Sara fuming with anger as she stood outside the cathedral. My mind drifted to Dickson and I felt a sudden change.

The ride to only God knows where was silent as neither of us was ready to speak. Suddenly, his cold yet deep voice said, "We're not going for any honeymoon, remember our deal in this marriage so don't expect extravagant things too much"

I gave him a small nod, glimpsing at the cool street of New York. This was it, my new life. I'd be called Mrs Stone only for one year. I never believed that I would get married to my friend, not just my friend but one of my dearest.

My heart kept shattering into a million pieces, anytime that thought of cheating on my boyfriend, Dickson rammed into me, I felt worse.

The car stopped abruptly in front of a magnificent estate filled with different grades of cars parked in the garage. Alexander stepped out of the car before me. I scoffed silently with an eye roll as different maids and gardeners attended to us.

It was night already, and the clouds weren't getting any younger, the dusk blackened the sky outside. We got into the inside and I gasped silently at the figures lying freely on the wall. I walked over to one and wanted to touch it when someone pushed my hand back.

"Don't touch anything"

I glanced at the giant in front of me and I felt intermediate. The man was huge, and he was putting on shades with his muscle frightening the hell out of me.

"Let her go, Scorpio," Alex's voice said, and the man whom I believed was Scorpio stepped away from me. I rolled my eyes at Scorpio before following Alexander.

*

Alexander never ceased to show me different rooms till we got to a particular one.

"This is your room" He addressed. It's not a surprise to me though. What was I expecting when he wasn't my boyfriend or liver? This was just a contract marriage after all.

Before I could open my mouth to speak, he walked away, leaving me standing to fantasize about the alluring room. It was so big and lavishly with a cool walk-in closet.

I let out an involuntary groan as I made my way to the bathroom to have a cool shower after a long day. Half a minute passed, and I couldn't pour a single drop of water on my body as the thought of how Dickson would be right now injured my heart.

At least, I needed a cool shower to drain my thoughts for a moment.

I sighed heavily before stepping out of the bathroom but then I heard the screech noise of a car in the background. I tied the white towel that was hanging on the door around my breasts before moving to the window.

I blinked twice when I saw that my dear husband was already leaving the house again even in the middle of the night.

"Where's he going?" I thought as my eyes followed him till he zoomed out of the estate. I shrugged at the thought of him going out to meet his other chicks.

It was none of my business anyway. Whether he follows all the ladies in the Metropolis of New York, that's his problem.

My phone which was on the dressing table suddenly started ringing, and I rushed over to see the caller ID.

"D.. Dickson?"

*

(NEXT MORNING)

The chiming and propping messages in my phone woke me up that moment as the early morning sun brightened into my room.

I sluggishly unlocked my phone to see who the hell was disturbing my peace and for a second I froze at what I just saw. "What!"

My eyes widened and I hurriedly came down from the soft bed, putting on fluffy slippers before rushing to Alex's suite.

He told me to always come find him there whenever there's an urgency, and I needed to speak with him.

Alexander was on his laptop busy with whatever he was doing because he didn't even glance up to see who it was.

"What do you want Maya?" He asked, and I gasped, wondering how he noticed I was standing there even without looking at me.

I didn't reply to him and went ahead to show him my phone. He banged his table fiercely as he stood up with anger in his eyes.

"W-what are we going to do?" I stuttered, gently taking my phone from him before he could think of smashing it to the nearest wall.

"Damn, how did they find out?"

I scoffed at him, "We're trying to fix your mess and help gain your reputation back and you went out with another lady last night"

He glared at me but I ignored him and continued scrolling through my phone.

"I knew their marriage was fake!"

"Who in the hell would get wedded yesterday and still be seen with another lady in a hotel!"

I was about to say the last one when he hijacked my phone and successfully smashed it into the wall.

"We need to fix this," He said seething, and I just sat opposite him, folding my hands under my br*asts.

"Only if you'd listen" I mumbled inaudibly to myself, and he gawked at me like he heard what I just said.

"There's only one way to make them believe we're married, and that the photo they saw you with a girl wasn't new and it was edited, an old photo"

Alexander processed what I just said to him and he slowly leaned back in his chair, watching me like an attentive kitten.

"How are we going to do that?"

"We need to go somewhere for our honeymoon" I replied, and I heard him groan multiple times.

"No way!" He rejected me instantly and I rolled my eyes at him.

"That's the only way at least" I reminded him, and I heard him sigh loudly this time as he rubbed his temple.

"And where is that?" He finally asked, surrendering to my opinion.

"I know of a place"