A Contract Marriage with my Highschool Crush

Chapter five

Lexie POV

I watched with pain as Mr. Alberto tried to correct Derek.

“Don't threaten your wife like that; I raised you better than that,” he warned.

A grin tugged Derek's lips. “Correction, she is not yet my wife, and Benny was the one who trained me, not you,” he retorted.

Mr. Alberto glared at Derek. “You ungrateful boy, all I have done has been for your own good. I work my ass day and night to build this company for you. Don't you dare tell me I failed in my responsibility".

Derek arched an eyebrow. “Oh, and if I am not mistaken, getting me married to a w***e happens to be among your responsibilities?” He asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

Pain trickled down my skin. With every one of these insults, I found it hard to go on with the marriage. He has not missed a single opportunity to degrade me. Would I be able to survive this marriage?

But then again, my mother needed treatment. I had also promised his father that I would get married to him. I wished more than anything that his words, his eyes, or his voice had no effect on me.

Arrgh, what have I gotten myself into?

“I am not going to have this fight with you. You will come for dinner this evening, where I will introduce you to our family members. Our media manager would make an announcement immediately you both leave, which means the whole world's eyes would be on you. Learn to treat her well,” Mr. Alberto explained.

“It would have been easier treating a pig well than treating her. She's a f*****g gold digger. I wonder why you can't see it,” he said.

I took in a shaky breath as I listened to his insult. First I was a w***e, and now I am a gold digger. The most painful part was that his words hurt more than any other insult. More than my betrayal of Liam.

I just have to endure and move on. With time, he was going to love me. One day he was going to look at me with love. His blue, intense eyes would seem as if I were the center of his world.

I knew he was still hurting from Morgana, but with time he would come around. Love me the way I loved him.

Mr. Alberto sat up right and pointed a finger at Derek, his voice deep with anger. “Let me decide who is a gold digger, not you. I don't want to hear anything bad about her from you. Do I make myself clear?”

Derek returned his gaze with a smile. “You talk as if you have been able to decide something good,” he retorted.

Okay, that was enough. Shouting or disrespecting me was acceptable, but not his father. If only he had known about his father's illness.

“Don't talk to your father like that. He is-” but he cut me off.

He turned his attention to me; his blue, intense eyes pinned me down.

“One more word from you, and I will make your downfall a good horror story. We are not yet engaged. So learn how to stay the hell away from me,” he warned, and walked away, banging on the door behind him.

I watched as he walked away with sorrow in me. Up until now, I had never understood why he hated me. Is it not like I ever did anything wrong to him?

All I did was have a young, stupid crush on him, and that cost me the joy of high school. But here I was trying to put everything behind me and move on.

“He can be stubborn, but he will come around. I know his allegations about you are not true,” he said with a smile.

“Thank you, sir,” I said with a smile, even though everything within me was screaming in pain. Even though everything in me wanted to erase all the dreadful memories he had cost me.

I stood up and walked towards my office. I would rest there for a while, maybe tidy up some work. If I went home early, I would find myself drinking more alcohol than needed.

Today has been a horrible day for me. Immediately, I settled on my couch. Bailey whirled her chair towards me. Her face was laced with concern.

“Are you okay?” She asked.

I nodded with a smile even though my head was aching seriously.

“Don't mind him, okay. He is not worth your attention. You know I never liked him,” she said with a little bit of disgust in her voice.

I raised my eyebrow. What the hell was she talking about? “Who are we talking about?” I asked.

“Liam. I know today is his wedding. Don't think about him too much. Okay? You dodged a bullet. There are many men out there who want you,” she said.

A smile tugged at my lips. Bailey has been my friend since I started working here, and we are of the same age.

Our work routine was simple. Work till five, then go to the bar and discuss every day. Then sometimes we watched movies. She was the only friend I had in New York. Landon and Remi were heading for their different businesses in Canada and London.

“I know, Bailey. He's an ass. I have gotten over it. It's not like I would ever get married to him,” I said.

“Good. Now you can focus on other men like Damon. I think he likes you. Maybe you could give him a try,” she said.

Damon was our accountant and has been genuinely nice to me. If I were being truthful, I would have dated him. He was the kind of guy that any woman would want. He was kind, rich, and would send flowers to your doorstep every day.

Unfortunately, I was engaged to the Devil's incarnate.

“What is he doing here?” She asked me to draw from my thoughts.

I followed her eyes and landed on Derek, who was standing in the doorway. He kept his hands in his pockets, enhancing his masculine shape. He had loosened two of his shirt bottoms; therefore, I could see a bit of his chest.

His eyes searched around the office and finally landed on mine. A smile tugged at his face as he walked toward me. Just that smile caused warmth around my tummy.

“May I speak with you?” He asked, grinning widely. What the hell was making him smile like that?

I nodded and walked away with him. Immediately, we got out of the office. I stopped walking and folded my arms against my chest.

“What do you want?” I asked in a serious tone.

“I will tell you, but let's get to my car,” he said with a smile still on his face.

I heaved a sigh and walked with him towards his limousine. Immediately after we got inside, he took out a bag and dropped it on my lap.

I furrowed my eyebrows. “What is this?” I asked.

“Ten million dollars"

“What is this for?” I asked.

“Oh, it's for you. I can triple it if you want. Just go in there and tell my father that you are no longer interested in marriage,” he said.

A chuckle escaped my lips. “Are you serious?

He nodded. Anger welled up within me. He should stop insulting me in every way possible.

“I know you think everyone loves money like you do, but I don't. I will earn my money honestly and not take it from a man like you. If you are able to convince your dad to cancel the marriage, then it is fine with me, but till then, take your godforsaken money!” I shouted and placed the bag at him.

He glared at me, and his eyes darkened with anger. “You are making the biggest mistake of your life, Lexie. I would make you hate me,” he warned.

He was wrong. I don't think I could ever hate him, even though I wanted to. He will always have an effect on me. Instead of me saying this, I said, “My biggest mistake was having a crush on you, and don't bother trying. I already hate you,” I said and opened the car.

He helped my arms. “Don't you dare walk out of me. We are not done,” he warned.

I tugged a weak smile. “I am already done with you,” I said.

I was so done, done with everything that concerned him. A glint of guilt flashed his eyes. He opened his mouth to say it, but I walked away before he could say something that would make me change my mind.