CHAPTER 2: THREE RULES
1732 Words
SIENNA’S POV
“It was an accident.”
“I am sorry.”
I can’t believe I was apologizing to him when he was the one who had bumped into me.
Alexander stopped walking.
He turned slowly and looked at his shirt.
Then at me.
“You call that silly mistake an accident?”
“Silly?”
I stopped,and folded my hands.
“You were the one who walked into me.”
“And I still apologized,the least you can say is sorry too.”
“Your hot coffee also burnt my hand and stained my shirt.”
“My favorite shirt!”
He was given a napkin by one of his staff to use.
“I was walking in a straight line.”
“But you and your imperfect eyesight couldn’t see me holding a cup.”
“Imperfect?”
“Boy please! I also deserve an apology.”
His jaw tightened.
Mine too.
The hallway suddenly felt too quiet.
But I could still hear the whispers.
People were staring.
Some pretended to be pressing their phone but it was still obvious they were watching us.
One woman whispered something to another.
The other woman looked at us.
Then at Alexander.
Then at me.
I could barely hear what she said.
But she better not be looking at me like one of his fans!
Alexander sighed.
“Can we not do this here?”
“You started it.”
I started it,really?”
“Yes.”
“You spilled coffee on me.”
“You bumped into me and didn’t even say sorry.”
“You were standing in the middle of the hallway.”
“And you are being arrogant.”
His eyebrows lifted a bit.
“Arrogant?”
“Yes.”
A tiny smile appeared on his face.
I wish I could reap it off his damn face.
“You barely know me and you’re calling me arrogant?”
“I don’t need to know you.”
Someone behind us coughed.
I looked over.
Three employees were staring.
One of them smiled.
Then another whispered,
“I would definitely ship these two”
I nearly choked.
“Ship who?”
“Girl please!”
The woman looked scared that I heard her.
“Nothing,I am sorry.”
Alexander heard it too.
He glanced at me.
Then at the employees.
Then back at me.
His mouth curved.
He stepped closer.
“Don’t”
“Don’t what?”
“I barely did anything love.”
“I know what you are thinking.”
He leaned closer and whispered near my ear.
“Relax future wife”
The moment he leaned close to me.
I could smell his very expensive perfume.
Gosh he smelt so good.
I hate myself for noticing it and now even admiring it on top.
“Don’t call me that.”
“Why?”
“Because we are not married.”
“Not yet.”
I rolled my eyes so hard they almost hurt.
And the whispers started again.
I looked around.
There I was.
Standing in the middle of Vale Holdings,about to sign my life away for one year,to a man I deeply despise.
I hated it.
I hated him even more.
I especially hated how calm and composed he looked.
Alexander straightened his jacket.
“Come with me.”
“No, until you apologize.”
His eyebrows rose.
“No?.”
“Yes, I said No.”
“Sienna.”
“Alexander.”
He stared at me.
I stared right back.
Then he sighed.
“Fine,do whatever you want!”
He turned around.
“Victoria will be waiting in my office.”
I stopped.
“The lawyer?”
“Indeed.”
That was enough to make me follow him and he knew it.
Because if there was one thing I was sincerely curious about,it was that contract.
My father only showed me the deal but not the marriage contract.
The contract that was about to change both our lives.
His office was exactly what I expected,big,huge windows,dark furniture,expensive paintings, and a view of New York that probably cost more than my entire house. Even the room looked arrogant.
And,sitting calmly on one of the couches was a woman with a black tailored suit.
That must be Victoria.
She stood when we entered.
“Sienna Cross?”
“Yes.”
She extended her hand.
“Victoria Sterling.”
You are even more beautiful in person.
I was shocked.
How does she know me?
Probably it was Alexander that showed her my picture.
He probably showed her the worst picture of me.
I shook her hand.
“Family lawyer?”
“Among many other things.”
I smiled.
I looked at Alexander as he walked past us and sat behind his desk.
Victoria followed.
Then she smiled politely at me.
“Please sit.”
I sat opposite her.
Alexander just sat like the boss of the company.
Of course what was I thinking,he is infact the boss.
“So we are here to finalize the agreement.”
Victoria placed a thick folder on the table.
My stomach tightened.
I looked at the folder.
Then at Alexander.
“Finalize?”
He nodded.
“You already know the situation.”
“Yes,yes I know.”
“Then let’s make sure we agree on details.”
Victoria opened the folder.
“There’s a one-year term.”
“I am aware.”
I nodded
“One year.”
“Correct.”
“At the end of the year,the marriage ends with a divorce.”
“Unless something changes.”
I looked up at him.
What does he mean?
“Nothing will change.”
He smiled.
“I like your confidence.”
“No, I am just being realistic.”
Victoria cleared her throat.
“Would you like to read the contract Ms Cross?”
“I read through it meticulously.”
Word for word.
Line for line.
Paragraph for paragraph.
Page for page.
Parts I didn't understand,Victoria carefully explained.
When she was done explaining,she carefully placed a pen beside the contract.
“Anything you would like to add?”
I looked at Alexander with a smile.
He looked back.
Then I said,
“Yes.”
“What’s that?”
“I have three key rules!”
Victoria paused.
I held up one finger.
“Rule number one.”
I looked directly into his eyes.
“No love.”
His smile disappeared for a split second then returned
“Wasn’t planning on it.”
“Good!”
I raised another finger.
“Rule number two.”
I pointed at both of us.
“No touching whatsoever.”
He stared at me.
Then laughed.
“Seriously?”
“Yes!”
“You don’t want me touching you?”
“No.”
“Not even accidentally?”
“Especially not intentionally.”
He leaned back.
“You know, most people would be disappointed by that.”
“I’m not most people.”
“No,” he said. “Apparently you’re the woman who’s going to marry me and refuse to touch me.”
“Exactly.”
He looked at me in a funny manner.
Then he shrugged his lips in an okay manner.
“So you don’t want someone as charming as me anywhere near you?”
I blinked.
I looked at Victoria.
She was trying her best not to laugh.
I stared at him.
“You really like yourself.”
“Who doesn’t.”
“You’re unbelievable.”
“Thank you.”
“That wasn’t a compliment.”
“ I accepted it as one.”
I shook my head.
Then I raised my third finger.
“Rule number three.”
Alexander’s smile faded slightly.
“No questions.”
His eyes looked at mine.
“No questions?”
“No questions.”
“About what?”
“Anything.”
“That is a very broad rule.”
“Good.”
He leaned forward.
“What if I ask where you’re going?”
“You can’t.”
“What if I ask who you’re meeting?”
“You can’t.”
“What if I ask why you’re late?”
“You definitely can’t.”
“And what if I ask why you hate me?”
I paused.
“You don’t need to ask.”
His lips let out a breath.
“Why?”
“Because I already told you.”
He laughed.
Victoria finally spoke.
“I believe we can add the three conditions to the agreement.”
Alexander looked at her.
“Can we?”
“Yes.”
He looked back at me.
“And you’re completely serious?”
“Completely.”
He studied me for a moment before picking up the pen.
“Fine.”
I wasn’t expecting that.
“You agree?”
“To the rules?”
“Yes.”
He signed.
Then pushed the pen toward me.
“Your turn.”
I picked it up.
Before signing, I looked at him one last time.
“This is not a real marriage.”
“I know.”
“We’re doing this for business.”
“I know.”
“And when the year is over, we’re done.”
His jaw tightened .
“I know.”
I signed.
Victoria checked both signatures.
Then stamped the contract.
The sound of the stamp hitting the paper felt strangely unreal.
There it was.
One year.
Three rules.
One marriage.
I closed the folder.
“Done.”
Alexander nodded.
“Done.”
For a second, neither of us spoke.
Then his phone rang.
He picked it up.
His expression changed.
“What?”
I watched him read the message.
He stood.
“I have to go.”
“Where?”
He looked at me.
He smile appeared slowly.
“Asking questions already Ms Cross?”
I frowned.
“What?”
He held up his phone.
“No questions.”
I rolled my eyes.
“You’re annoying.”
“And you’re officially my wife.”
“Not yet.”
He walked towards the door.
“Soon.”
I stared after him.
Then Victoria gathered the contract.
“You two are going to be interesting.”
I looked at her.
“Interesting?”
She smiled.
“I’ll let you figure that out.”
And somehow, I had a feeling she knew something I didn’t.
Something about Alexander.
Something about this marriage.
Something that wasn’t written anywhere in that contract.
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