Chapter Four - The Vow
1233 Words
With the directions from her grandma, Alicia got to the study room and knocked gently. She twisted the door knob and let herself in before Xavier could answer her. A frown made residence on her face being a woman on a mission.
She sat on the chair across the desk and for a minute, neither one of them uttered a word to the other. Xavier continued to go through the files on his desk and completely ignored her, until she was ready to have his attention.
“An arranged marriage,” she whispered.
“What did you say?” Asked Xavier.
“Why didn't you tell me? You knew about my past and you didn't tell me anything. You knew about what that monster's parents did to mine and you didn't say anything. You couldn't even explain how you are supposedly married to me,” Alicia lashed out.
Xavier frowned. “I've barely been with you for five hours. In those five hours, you've accused me of being a kidnapper, attempted murder, and you have tried to run away, twice. How am I supposed to tell you, hey your ex husband's parents killed yours and you're the sole heir to their riches?”
“Don't make me look like a bad person,” Alicia mumbled, accepting her defeat.
She rose back to her feet and walked towards a photo portrait of a couple behind Xavier's seat. She could see the resemblance between the woman and Xavier, they're cat like smokey eyes. From his father, a well groomed hair, but Xavier's hair was much longer.
“What happened to them?” She asked him.
“Same thing. Killed on my birthday,” Xavier responded.
Alicia twisted her head to the side for a moment and sighed. She turned around and saw Xavier standing behind her. She jilted, scared by his shadow but was relieved knowing it was him.
“How are you coping? With everything you've just found out?” Xavier didn't want to appear concerned, so he turned to avoid her gaze while waiting for an answer.
“Nana wants me to get rid of the baby.”
Xavier laughed. “There's no way she asked you to do that,” he said, afraid that she might be telling him the truth.
“She said he's the child of a monster, and will grow up to be a monster, just like his father,” she continued. “I told her I wouldn't do it. That's why I came to talk with you.”
Xavier clears his throat roughly. “What do you want to do?” He asked with mischief.
“I want to make him pay for everything he did to me. Sleeping with that slut on our matrimonial bed. Turning me into a slave for the both of them, for the death of my parents. I want him to be miserable,” Alicia spat bitterly.
“You want revenge?” Xavier asked, pretending to be uninterested in her desire.
“Yes,” Alicia affirmed. “But I don't know how.”
He smiled. “You're a Boston. Nothing's impossible for you to do. That's lesson number one. Lesson number two, the world is at your feet, say the words, and it'd be burnt to the ground.”
Alicia exhaled sharply and walked to his seat. She sat comfortably and crossed her legs. There was a bottle of wine on the table and an empty cup. She helped herself to a glass of wine and took a sip slowly, her eyes never leaving Xavier who's gaze was intense and unbearable.
“I didn't come to you for lectures,” she mumbled. “But lesson two, learnt.” She smiled.
“Hmm. If you really want revenge on Kelvin, then we'll have to start from the very beginning.”
“What do you mean?” Alicia asked.
“What do you know about managing a business?”
“I studied Business Administration in college,” she replied.
Xavier chuckled. “Yeah, well that's not really going to help you deal with your father's business partners.” He informed her.
“They are very cunny men, and you have to be just as cunny as them to win. Same thing goes for Kelvin, he thought he was smart enough in getting your property, but he only got his hands on what I let him.”
“You're in charge of my finances?” Alicia inquired.
“I'm in charge of you,” He answered with a frown. The responsibility of taking care of such a matured woman seeming like a burden.
“Oh please, don't say it's because you're my husband,” Alicia scowled.
Xavier looked at her and his frown vanished. “Okay, let's settle this.”
He walked to the other side of his desk and sat at the seat opposite Alicia. He folded his hands under his jaw and stared into her eyes, hunting for her weakness, hunting for her fear.
Alicia felt she was being judged. She fondled with her hair, doing her best to avert her eyes from his gaze, but each time she looked away, she was drawn back to stare at the beautiful man before her.
“You parents entrusted you in my care. I'm only doing this to honor them and my promise. Our marriage is only on paper, I'm not in love with you, and no matter what happens, we don't let out feelings get in the way of business. Got it?” He said to her.
“So we're making vow?”
“To revenge, and a mutual partnership,” Xavier smirked.
“To revenge,” Alicia said, excited. “And a mutual partnership.”
He snatched the cup of wine from Alicia's hands and poured himself a drink. Alicia seemed upset, but he didn't really mind. He wasn't going to show her any sympathy.
“Does Nana know about your plan?” Xavier dropped the empty cup of wine back on his desk and picked up his phone from a pile of papers.
“Yes, she does. But I have to find a way to lie to her about the pregnancy,” Alicia told him, scared of losing her unborn child.
Xavier ignored her and raised his phone to his ear. He was on a call, but whoever he was trying to reach wasn't bothered by his phone calls.
He snapped and slammed his hand on the Desk.
“Who are you calling?” Alicia asked.
“Your supposed to be tutor when you're ready to take over your parents company,” he told her.
“Well fire him,” She smacked her lips together like she had just finished applying her lipstick.
“Huh?”
Alicia signed. “I have you, don't I? Why do I need some stupid totur to Teach me about my families wealth,” She scuffed.
Xavier smiled. “So you wouldn't mind going to work tomorrow,” he declared.
“Huh? Tomorrow? But I just learnt about my parents today. How do I jump into the spotlight that soon?” She asked nervous about the big day.
“I'll set up a meeting with the stake holders,” Xavier announced, ignoring her questions. He stood and walked to the door, but whispered before leaving the office.
“Welcome back home Mrs. Boston, let the games begin.”
- Writer
