The Prince's Leased Bride

She just got paid. Ten thousand quid in cash Alice rubbed her eyes with a hand; the amount was laid down the glass table. “I’m dreaming right?” she gawked and placed her glass of scotch on the table, its contents whirring slightly as she leaned forward to inspect the money. “Is that not enough?” a voice asked, she looked up at the man’s face. His dark grey eyes stared back at her, blank and unflinching. He crossed his arms over his tuxedo clad chest.   Her head was pounding… what did she get herself into? *** The sky was dark and ominous, promising a night filled with heavy downpour and a bleary atmosphere. A deafening clap thundered from the distance. However, the apartments in the streets of Halberry stood tall and unwavering. “And stay out!” The landlady’s voice screeched as Alice’s clothes, shoes and other belongings were thrown out into the cold pavement. The young woman winced, her briefcase landing at her feet. The door thudded as it closed in front of her. “Geez, I could have paid this 30th,” She knelt down and opened her suitcase, “Probably.” She grabbed her lacy lingerie, and frowned at some whistles coming from behind her. Passer by perverts, she stuffed her underwear into the case. They probably had some place to sleep though, her shoulders sunk at that thought. Did she have to travel home to her parents? That would be embarrassing! Not to mention very inconvenient at this time, the streetlights already lit up the avenue and the trains were most likely packed now. “Oh… wait, I have an idea.” Alice pulled out her smart phone from her pocket and dialed a number. She waited for her friend to answer, already stuffing her clothes and the remainder into her bag. “Hello?” the monotone voice of her ever reliable friend.  “Hey Lizzie, how are you doing? Good I hope~” And with a roof over her head. Alice looked up at the sky and winced as a cold drop splattered on her forehead. “The weather’s been pretty gloomy eh.” “Better as I can ever be, although you know I’m not one for idle chitchat. What’s the situation?” Alice could hear shuffling at the other end; it was odd, was her friend already coming to the rescue?   “I was wondering if you wanted to have a sleepover?” Alice grinned, she was a genius. “I see, a sleepover… let me guess, my place?” was her friend’s reply.  “Mhmm~?” Maybe she did have some hope. “Nope.” Or not at all, she collapsed on her knees. “Why?” She whined at her friend. “I’ll be going to Kevin’s hag do party.” Her face scrunched up, “Wait? Hag do?” Did she hear her best friend correctly? “You know, it’s a bachelor and bachelorette party at the same time.” Lizzie drawled from the other end as she continued to shuffle about non-stop, perhaps to find her key. Kevin’s hag do…the thought finally sunk in. “He’s getting married?! To whom?” Alice almost dropped her phone, she knew what a hag do was, but to have her ex-boyfriend getting married was unbelievable.   “Goodness, you can’t hide the shock.” Her friend’s snicker sounded over her phone. Alice gathered the rest of her clothes and dumped them into her bag, “Yeah, he shouldn’t get over me.” “I’ll take that as a joke. But anyway, if you’re looking for a place to sleep, why not come with me?” “Well, I suppose it wouldn’t hurt. Plus I want to see if the lassie is pretty.” “That was sadly expected from you. I’ll pick you up soon love.” *** The hag do party wasn’t that bad. Alice and Lizzie parked outside at a rather fancy hotel bar that Alice couldn’t help but feel a bit envious that Kevin was able to afford something like this after just a few years. Had being heartbroken lead him to heights of success in his career? Well he should be grateful of her if that was the case. “You feel okay Alice?” Lizzie’s brows furrowed over her green eyes as she glanced at her friend. The young woman who normally sported an energized aura seemed too quiet, even her blonde hair looked a bit dull. Alice clutched her suitcase a bit too tight, knuckles popping before she swerved to meet Lizzie’s gaze. “Never better girl! Look at this place.” She emphasized the size of the building, “I’ll surely sleep well than when I’d been at that cramped apartment.” Alice pulled off an impish grin. “At least greet the bride and groom you know?” Lizzie bit back some laughter, relief settling in her stomach. “Ugh, fine." Alice scrunched up her face, "Hoping that the bride won’t kick me out you know?" "I'm sure she won't be that mean! Shall we go in?" Lizzie and Alice linked arms as they entered the place. The lights were too flashy and everyone was b****y loud in the bar as the music roared but she could crash in here for a day or two. If she was lucky, maybe three at most “Hey Lizzie-” Alice watched her best friend get lost in the crowd of people. She groaned to herself, clutching the luggage in her hand. “Excuse me, coming through!” She pushed aside the lot who were dancing their butts out and somehow she ended up by the drinking section. Several people were seated and talking, as a cute bartender passed their drinks. A small grin formed on her face. Who would lose the opportunity to be a little less sober? She made her way to a seat at the edge of the counter, “I’ll have one cider please~” She paused for a moment. Maybe she should have greeted the bachelor and bachelorette first? A mug of cider was pushed in front of her as the bartender gave her a foxy grin. She grinned back at him. Yeah, she could do that later.  After a couple of drinks… “So he was my ex.” She hiccuped and leaned to the woman beside her. “Really, couldn’t believe he’d forget about me.” Alice paused to laugh, “He was really a dork but this party is nice.” She sipped some of her beer. “Yes Alice, you’ve told me several times.” The woman beside her became oddly familiar. “Oh LIZZIE!” Alice tackled her friend into a hug, “I missed you. Where were you?” “I congratulated the couple at the Marble Hall.” Her friend struggled out from her arms. “Oh damn, I knew I was supposed to do something!”  She laughed as her shoulders shook, “It slipped my mind.” “I was gone for what? Thirty minutes and you’re already wasted.”  “Give me a back ruuub.” She nudged her friend. “I think I’ll go get you a cab.” Lizzie stood up, and Alice clung to her. “NOOO!” she sniffled, “I don’t have anywhere to gooooo!” “You’re right.” Lizzie sighed, Alice was currently homeless. “There are a couple of couches over there for her to rest.” Lizzie and Alice looked at the bartender. He placed a pitcher of water in front of them, with a couple of light snacks. “Drinking alcohol can get you real dehydrated; better help her drink some water too.”  “Oh how nice.” Lizzie helped her friend up and swung Alice’s arm over her shoulder, “Sorry for the bother.” Her face eased into a small smile. “Not a problem, we always get a handful.” He chuckled and scratched his cheek, “Would love to help you out more, but a bit occupied.” He glanced at the other customers waiting for refills and gave her a sheepish smile. “This is already a lot. Thank you.”   “Gosh Lizzie, you have the hots for him” Alice groaned while hung over her friend. “I already called dibs.” A look of amusement crossed over the bartender, “She’s really drunk.” “Yeah…” Lizzie blushed before she helped her friend walk over to one of the couches; it was a bit far from the dance floor. The lighting was less of an eyesore and it seemed like somewhere they could get some decent rest. “Unbelievable!” Alice shook her head as she laid down the couch; she threw a look at her best friend who returned from the bar area with a pitcher of water and some crackers. “You’ve made me into a wing man!” she laughed before sighing. “Ah this bed is so soft.” Her friend poured a glass of water and held it out, “I think you just embarrassed the two of us.” Alice sat up and grabbed the glass, drinking it in one go. She coughed and thumped her chest. “Nonsense, he liked you.” She placed her glass on the table, teetering “I’m sure he was being nice.” “Psh, I saw him making googly eyes at you.” “And I’m to trust a drunk to tell me that?” “I’m not drunk!” “Says everybody who’s drunk.” Lizzie rolled her eyes. Alice yawned, covering her mouth, “Honestly though, go have fun.” Lizzie gave her a distrustful look like a mother, “Aw, I’m not going to do anything irrational. I’ll just be taking a nap now.” Her friend’s shoulders relaxed a bit, “Promise? We wouldn’t want you to get arrested for pawing off a male.” “Seriously, just go before I chuck you with my phone.”