Episode 6:Learning to Live Together
1118 Words
Lena’s POV)
The elevator ride to Alexander’s penthouse was suffocating. My nerves felt like they were wound too tight, ready to snap at any moment. The weight of everything the spontaneous marriage, the reality of who Alexander truly was, and now moving into his home pressed down on me.
When the elevator doors opened, I stepped into a world I didn’t recognize.
The penthouse was breathtaking. The walls were glass, offering an uninterrupted view of the city below. Every detail screamed luxury from the marble floors to the designer furniture. But it also felt cold, like a space meant to impress, not to live in.
Alexander walked in behind me, his footsteps echoing in the vastness.
“You’ll get used to it,” he said, as if reading my mind.
I turned to face him. “Do you even live here? It feels like a showroom.”
His lips curved into a smirk. “I work late. Home is more of a pit stop.”
That explained the lack of personality. No photos, no signs of life. It was like he existed in a vacuum a man who lived for his work, detached from everything else.
“Well, it’s… nice,” I said, though the word felt inadequate.
Alexander chuckled. “Nice? That’s the most polite insult I’ve ever heard.”
I grinned despite myself. “I’m just saying, a plant or two wouldn’t kill you.”
“Noted.”
The silence stretched between us, awkward and heavy. I shifted my weight, suddenly feeling out of place in his world of polished perfection.
“So,” I said, breaking the tension, “where do I sleep?”
Alexander’s gaze darkened slightly, and for a split second, my heart skipped a beat.
“I had a room prepared for you,” he said, his voice low and even. “Down the hall. You’ll have your own space.”
“Good,” I said quickly, trying to ignore the heat rising in my cheeks.
“This isn’t… that kind of arrangement,” he added, as if reading my thoughts.
I nodded, grateful for the clarity, though a small part of me wondered what it would be like if things were different. If this wasn’t just a business deal.
The next morning, I woke up to the scent of freshly brewed coffee. Groggy, I shuffled into the kitchen to find Alexander already dressed in a sharp suit, sipping his coffee as he read the morning paper.
“Good morning,” he said without looking up.
“Morning,” I mumbled, grabbing a mug and pouring myself some coffee.
We stood in silence for a moment, the tension from last night still lingering.
“I need to make something clear,” I said finally, setting my mug down.
Alexander folded the paper and gave me his full attention.
“I’m not giving up my freelance work,” I said firmly. “I need to keep working. I need my independence.”
He nodded slowly. “I wouldn’t expect anything less.”
Relieved, I took another sip of coffee. “Good.”
“Though I have to admit,” he said, a hint of amusement in his tone, “I’m curious to see how you balance freelancing with being Mrs. Blackwood.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’ve handled worse.”
“I don’t doubt that.”
His gaze lingered on me a moment too long, and I felt the familiar flutter of nerves in my stomach.
I needed to focus. This wasn’t real. It couldn’t be real.
Later that day, as I was setting up my workspace in the penthouse, the doorbell rang.
“Lena?” Alexander called from the living room. “It’s for you.”
I frowned, heading toward the door. Standing there was a young woman with warm brown eyes and a kind smile.
“Hi,” she said, extending her hand. “You must be Lena. I’m Emily Alexander’s sister.”
“Oh!” I said, surprised. “It’s nice to meet you.”
She stepped inside, looking around the penthouse with a soft laugh. “Still as cold as ever, I see. My brother never did have much of a decorating touch.”
I smiled. “It’s a bit… minimalist.”
“That’s a polite way to put it.”
Emily was warm and friendly, a stark contrast to her brother’s reserved demeanor. We sat down in the living room, and she immediately started asking about me where I was from, what I did for work, how I ended up in this bizarre situation.
“I have to admit,” she said, sipping her tea, “I was shocked when Alexander told me he got married. He’s never been one to follow the rules, but this… this is next-level rebellion.”
I laughed. “It wasn’t exactly planned.”
Emily’s eyes twinkled with curiosity. “So, what’s he really like with you? I know my brother can be… difficult.”
I hesitated, unsure how to answer. “He’s… complicated.”
“That’s one way to put it.”
There was a pause, and Emily leaned in, her expression softening. “I just want you to know, Lena, that if you ever need someone to talk to, I’m here. Alexander may be my brother, but he’s not the easiest person to get close to.”
“Thank you,” I said, touched by her kindness.
As she left, I couldn’t help but wonder what secrets Alexander was hiding. He wasn’t just complicated he was a puzzle I couldn’t quite figure out.
That evening, Alexander and I sat across from each other at the dinner table, the city lights twinkling beyond the windows.
“Your sister is lovely,” I said, breaking the silence.
“She is,” he agreed, his tone softer than usual.
“She seems worried about you.”
Alexander’s jaw tightened. “Emily worries too much.”
“Maybe she just cares.”
He met my gaze, something flickering in his eyes. “Maybe.”
We fell into silence again, the tension between us crackling like electricity.
Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore. “Why did you really do this?”
“Do what?”
“Marry me. You could’ve found someone from your world someone who fits.”
Alexander’s gaze darkened, and for a moment, I thought he wouldn’t answer.
“Because I don’t want someone who fits,” he said quietly. “I want someone real.”
His words sent a shiver down my spine, and I realized, with a jo
lt of panic, that I was starting to see him differently.
This wasn’t just a business deal anymore.
And that terrified me.
- Writer
