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1102 Words
Chapter 4 - Keep my identity a secret
"Mother!" she called under her breath.
Her mind flashed back to the conversation she had overheard at the office.
Could this be the file they wanted?
She unpinned the book and started reading through it, her eyes fluttering with his page she turned.
She was about to open the last page when her door opened, she quickly hid it under her bed and stood up.
Alex was stunned by her behavior, he entered the room and sat down on a couch crossing his legs and staring at her intensively.
"What is your purpose for marrying me?" he asked out of the blue.
Emily found his question eerie but she knew he would ask soon and she was prepared for it.
She opened her mouth to recite the lies she had prepared but Alex's next words shut her up.
"Don't you lie to me, I could kill you and compensate the whole world to remove your existence" he threatened.
Emily shifted backward hearing his threats, she knew Alex wasn't one to play with.
How would a man have acquired so much under 10 years if he didn't have other support?
"I'm a journalist," She sat down and looked up at him, "I discovered a story my mother was yet to finish from one of her papers, I wanted to play journalist, so I decided to finish the story up"
Emily closed her eyes and sighed, her body quivered as she recalled the night from before, she wished she had never begun.
"But the story is real and the incidents are scarier than I thought, my life is at stake and you are the only one who can help me" She opened her eyes after rushing her words.
She looked up to see Alex staring at her, the look in his eyes did not change from the intense look.
What was he thinking?
"What makes you think I am not part of the people who are supposedly going to harm you?" Alex inquired curiously.
Emily looked down at her palm and then faced him, "You would have a lot to lose, besides, my father was the one who set us up and I decided to take the shot" she explained.
Alex was confused for a while but nodded, he crossed his eyes and adjusted himself.
"You might be my wife, but there are some rules. Never enter my sector of the house, don't touch my things, and also, respect your boundaries" he spoke authoritatively.
Emily held herself from rolling her eyes, she felt like a stubborn child who was being cautioned.
"Agreed" she forced herself to mutter.
"Also, I would appreciate it if you could keep my identity a secret," Emily pleaded.
If he was stating rules, why couldn’t she?
Alex stood up and nodded.
He walked out of the room without saying another word or wishing her a good night.
Emily scoffed watching his back, was this really the heartthrob of the country?
"So cold" she cursed under her breath.
...
Alex entered his room and sat on his couch, he grabbed his phone and sent out a text.
He wondered why a father would set up his daughter for a blind marriage.
Alex shook his head and stood up, he entered his bed, switched off the lights, and covered himself.
...
The Next Day
The whole Villa was in a cool atmosphere as everyone went about their chores calmly.
Alex walked down the staircase, his hair messy and he was still in his pajamas. He noticed the housekeeper arranging the table for one.
He didn't think too much of it and sat down.
He picked up his cutlery and began eating, when he was done, he stood up.
He looked around and on impulse, he asked, "Where is Emily?"
The housekeeper who had just arrived to clear up, stopped what she was doing and shrugged.
"She was in a rush when she left the house" She stated.
Alex nodded and turned to leave but stopped, "My parents would be coming tomorrow, get someone to clean up their room and also, make a nice dish for them" He instructed and walked back to his room.
It was a Sunday, a day to rest.
He brought out his phone to see a message, his eyes narrowed into a slit and a side of his lips curved upwards.
***
Uriel News House
"How could you miss something so important?!" Mrs Jamieson yelled and threw the loads of paper on Emily's face.
"Do you know how much we would have to lose and it's all because of your silly mistake, why can't you be useful?!" She screamed and brushed her hands through her hair.
Emily stood there with her face down, she knew this mistake was hers but she also knew that she wasn't supposed to be treated in such a manner.
But, what could she do? How would she survive with no job?
"Clean this mess, immediately!" Mrs Jamieson yelled and walked away.
Emily stared at the woman, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath then bent down and started backing the papers.
"Oh, did poor Cinderella get a morning scolding?" Giselle a coworker asked with a wide grin plastered on her face.
"Knock it off, this ain't the time" Ewan scolded adjusting his glass, and then rushed to help Emily.
"Are you okay?" he asked with frowns forming on his forehead.
Emily dropped the last file on her hand on the table and turned to him nodding with her lips curved upwards.
"Yeah, it's nothing. I can handle it" She turned to her corner and began working ignoring everyone around her.
"If you like her so much, why don't you tell her? Maybe you two nerds could get married" Giselle, who had noticed Ewan's behavior toward Emily, jeered.
Ewan's eyes lit up at Giselle's suggestion but on getting no reaction from Emily, he ignored Giselle and got back to his work.
Giselle had noticed the slight change in his expression and smiled widely. She glanced at Emily who was buried in her work.
An idea crept into her mind, "Let's see how this goes" she muttered and walked away.
Emily was so lost in her work that she didn't notice the flashes on her phone until she felt a vibration and her loud ringtone filled the air, then she regained herself.
She picked up the phone without checking the caller.
"Hello?" The warm voice at the other end made her smile.
It was like a hot cup of tea on a cold winter morning.
- Writer
