Billionaire's marriage bargain

CHAPTER 4

Melody

The sound of the doorbell jolted me awake. Still half-asleep, I stumbled to the door and swung it open, only to be greeted by an entourage of women carrying an impressive array of clothes, hair appliances, and makeup products.

"Good morning, Melody!" chirped a short, plump woman. "I'm Cheryl, and Mr. Asher sent us here to get you ready."

I blinked, still processing the sudden activity in my living room. Cheryl introduced me to Sarah, the makeup artist, and Grace, the hairstylist. The energy was infectious as they laid out outfits and prepared to work their magic.

"We should pick an outfit first, don't you think?" Cheryl winked at me, exuding confidence as she took charge of the situation.

As I tried on different clothes, I couldn't help but overhear snippets of gossip from the stylists. They spoke in hushed tones, unaware that I could hear every word. Pretending to be engrossed in a nearby mirror, I subtly shifted my position to listen more closely

"Wow, I didn’t think Asher would move on this fast," one of them whispered.

"After what his brother did, I'm happy," another responded.

"What kind of brother steals your fiancée?" the third stylist remarked.

I stared at my reflection in the mirror, taken aback. Was that the rumor Asher didn’t want to talk about? As much as I disliked Asher's guts, I couldn’t help but empathize with him. Betrayal by those close to you was something I knew all too well., No wonder he was grumpy that day.

"Now, let's focus on your hair and makeup," Cheryl said, interrupting my thoughts and bringing me back to the present moment.

An hour later, I stared at myself in the mirror, completely transformed. I couldn't recognize myself—I looked amazing. My hair had been expertly curled into soft ringlets that framed my face, and the smoky eye makeup and lipstick gave me a seductive allure.

The emerald green evening dress I wore had a v-neckline and a plunging back, flattering my figure and accentuating my green eyes. "Wow," I exclaimed.

When the doorbell rang, I opened the door to find Asher standing there, Dumbfounded I thought Asher couldn't get anymore more handsome but turns out I was wrong.

His blond locks were styled perfectly, emphasizing his chiseled jawline and piercing blue eyes. The tuxedo he wore was a masterpiece of tailoring, hugging his frame in all the right places and emphasizing his broad shoulders and toned physique.

"You look stunning," he said looking shocked, his words making my heart skip a beat. "For a smurf," he added with a smirk, teasing as usual.

Rolling my eyes at his comment, I replied, "Ready," as he led me to his Ferrari.

During the drive, we finalized our cover story.

"Remember, we met in a coffee shop a month and a half ago. We started dating three weeks after that," Asher explained.

"Asher Luke Sterling attended Havard business school, graduated with honors at 21, and began working at Sterling co ever since."

Your favorite color is black, Have no favorite food, Allergic to peanuts, hobby is working"I recited

“Most importantly you have a talent for being annoying”I quipped earning a chuckle from him.

"Let see, Melody Rose Carter, valedictorian in high school, earned a scholarship to go to the University of California, studied English literature, graduated at 20, Decided to open a bakery at 22

"Favorite color is pink, You love Chinese food, Allergic to shellfish, You love to read and sing, You love animals, especially dogs.

"You love Ariana Grande and you spend your entire weekend watching sappy rom-com"

I was amazed at how much he knew

As we arrived at a luxurious hotel, Asher looked at me. "Now that we have the perfect cover story, all you have to do is pretend to be madly in love with me," he said, his hand on my waist as we entered the hall. Something in me doubted I would find that hard at all

The hall was breathtakingly decorated, with towering marble columns adorned with exotic floral arrangements, crystal chandeliers casting a soft glow, and plush chairs made of silk and velvet with gold trims.

Everyone in the hall seemed to stare and us. As we sat down, An elderly man in his late 60s approached us, His blond hair had streaks of grey in it, and I immediately recognized Asher's chiseled chin and piercing blue eyes, This had to be his father

"I didn’t think you would make it, son," his father remarked.

"Hello, Dad," Asher greeted him.

"And who might this be?" his father inquired, looking at me curiously.

"Dad, meet Melody, my girlfriend," Asher introduced me, surprising his father.

"I didn’t know you had a girlfriend," his father said, genuinely taken aback.

"We were keeping it lowkey, weren't we, sweetheart?" Asher said, holding my hands.

"Yes, we were, baby," I replied, channeling my best acting skills and touching his cheek affectionately.

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Sterling," I said, extending my hand.

"The pleasure is all mine," he replied, shaking it warmly.

"May I speak to you, sir?" a woman, whom I assumed to be his secretary, interrupted us.

"Nice meeting you. Enjoy the party," Mr. Sterling said as he walked away with her.

"You're a better actress than I imagined, Clumsy," Asher remarked.

"Your father seemed like a nice person, unlike some people," I retorted, not holding back.

"I don’t think you should be saying that to someone who is offering you a million dollars," he quipped with a hint of amusement.

"Who is offering who a million dollars?" a tall man interjected,

"Hello, Ryan and Crystal," Asher greeted them coldly.

Judging by Asher's sudden change in mood, I guessed this was his brother. My gaze trailed over him. They had completely different facial features. Ryan had jet-black hair, grey eyes, and a slightly more rounded chin compared to Asher. He was handsome but didn't quite match up to Asher's striking appearance.

He was accompanied by a stunningly beautiful woman with long black hair that shimmered under the light. She had high cheekbones, and softly curved lips, and wore a long white sequined gown that accentuated her figure.

Was it my imagination or did she just frown when she saw me?

"Hello, brother. I didn’t think you would make it," Ryan smirked.

"And who might this be?" he studied me with a calculated gaze.

"This is Melody, my girlfriend," Asher introduced me, and I didn’t miss the frown on Crystal's face this time.

A look of shock flashed on Ryan's face, but before they could say more, Asher swiftly led me away, leaving them stunned.

As we stepped onto the dance floor, the air filled with melodious slow, soulful music. I felt Asher's strong hands encircle my waist, pulling me close. Tingling sensations ran through me as I rested my head on his chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart.

As we swayed to the music, I couldn't help but notice Crystal's intense stare at Asher. Her eyes remained fixed on him throughout the dance, and it was something was up. As the song neared its end, a surge of anger bubbled within me at her audacity, and I decided it was time for a little payback.

Aware that Crystal was still watching, I took a daring step. Rising on tiptoes, I closed the distance between Asher and me and planted a kiss on his lips. At first, he seemed taken aback, freezing in surprise for a moment. However, he quickly responded, pulling me closer to deepen the kiss. Waves of pleasure and ecstasy washed over me as our lips moved in sync,,.I melted into the kiss, savoring the sweetness of his touch and the electricity that pulsed between us.

But just as suddenly, reality intruded. The complexities of our situation flooded my mind, and with a sudden jolt, I pulled away breathlessly, taking a step back.

"I-I'm sorry," I stammered, trying to explain. "Crystal's gaze was staring, and after what she did to you, I wanted to show her what that feels like."

"I understand," Asher replied softly, his eyes reflecting a mix of understanding and gratitude.

"I guess you heard about what happened, "He said as we moved away from the dance floor.

Before I could respond, we were interrupted by the secretary who informed us that Asher's father wished to speak with us at his house after the party.

The remainder of the evening passed in a blur as Asher introduced me to various people. Exhausted from the charade and the emotional rollercoaster of the night, I was glad when the party ended.

As we left and headed to Asher's father's house, an awkward silence hung between us, the aftermath of our impulsive kiss lingering in the air.

Arriving at his father's mansion, I was awestruck. The grandeur of the place resembled a modern-day castle, with marble-clad exterior walls, expansive balconies, and terraces offering breathtaking views of the estate's lush surroundings.

We were ushered into the family room, where Asher's father, along with Ryan and Crystal, awaited our arrival.

I could sense Asher's instant change in demeanor.

"Why did you call us here?" Asher's said impatiently

.

I felt the tension simmering, ready to erupt at any moment

"Come on Asher, "Ryan taunted, A smirk dancing on his lips."We all know why you're so upset. Can't handle losing to your little brother, Huh?".His eyes glinting with mischief.

“Enough Ryan’’Their father interjected his voice carrying authority firm but tinged with weariness.

But Ryan seemed determined to push Asher to the edge. He continued, each barb cutting deeper. "Maybe if you weren't so busy being Mr. Perfect, you wouldn't have lost Crystal."

The tension in the room was palpable as I watched Asher's jaw clench and his hands ball into fists. I could sense his patience wearing thin, and I desperately wanted to intervene before things escalated further.

Before I could intervene, Asher spoke up abruptly. "Father, Melody and I have something to tell you,", His sudden announcement caught me off guard, and I looked at him with surprise, wondering what he was about to reveal.

Then came the shocking confession: "We lied, Melody and I aren't dating," Asher confessed, his words hanging in the air like a heavy cloud.

"I knew it!" Ryan's voice pierced through the silence, his tone triumphant.

My confusion deepened as I gazed at Asher's face. Why would he do this now, after we had come this far? Had he suddenly changed his mind about our plan?

And then, in a stunning twist, Asher declared, "We are married," as he pulled me closer to him. The room fell into stunned silence once again, the bombshell of his revelation reverberating through the air.

I was left speechless, my hands instinctively moving to cover my mouth as I struggled to process the unexpected turn of events. Asher's declaration echoed in my mind as he proudly announced, "Everyone, meet Mrs. Asher Sterling."