Married For Show

CHAPTER 4: A DANGEROUS REUNION

​ALEX’S POV

​The glass doors of Ray Enterprises parted smoothly as I stepped into the lobby. The atmosphere was exactly how I liked it—sharp, corporate, and efficient. I bypassed the elevators and headed straight up to the executive suite.

​"Good morning, Mr. Ray. And congratulations," Liv Walker, my assistant of three years, greeted me with a polite smile the second I stepped out. She immediately handed me my dark morning coffee.

​"Thank you, Liv," I murmured.

​I pushed open the heavy oak doors to my private office, only to stop in my tracks. My usually pristine leather sofa was completely buried under an avalanche of designer flower arrangements, extravagant gift baskets, and glossy congratulatory cards. The entire business world was celebrating the Wedding of New York. Before I could even set my briefcase down, my office door swung open without a knock.

​"The newly wedded man of New York!" James announced, sauntering into the room with a massive grin on his face. Honestly, he was significantly more excited about this wedding than I was.

​He closed the door behind him, his grin fading into a sharp, knowing look as he lowered his voice. "Bro... you seriously cheated on your wedding night?"

​I let out a heavy sigh, tossing my jacket onto the desk. "She triggered me, James. She’s... difficult. And hot. Her body is perfect, she’s pretty, and she’s smart. I got turned on within ten minutes of being in the same house as her. So, technically, she made me cheat."

​James stared at me for a beat, then scoffed. "Yeah, right. Blame the gorgeous wife. Keep telling yourself that, man." Suddenly, his eyes drifted to the neatly packed container sitting on my desk. "Woah... is that a—did she make you lunch?"

​"Breakfast, actually," I corrected, sitting down in my leather chair. "She woke up early and cooked."

​James let out a low whistle, deeply impressed. "Woah. Ruby is already keeping you on your toes. So, when are you guys leaving for the honeymoon?"

​"This weekend," I replied, adjusting a stack of papers. "We’ll be in France for a month. It’s what the families agreed on for appearances."

​James opened his mouth to reply, but a sharp knock on the door cut him off.

​"Enter," I called out.

​The door opened, and a striking blonde stepped into the room. She was wearing a tailored designer outfit, her heels clicking loudly against the hardwood.

​"Hi," she said, her voice smooth and dripping with confidence. "I’m Chloe Bells. Your wife’s sister."

​"Oh, wow," James muttered under his breath, leaning against the edge of my desk. "Beauty runs in the family, I guess."

​He was reading my mind. Chloe was undeniably stunning. I kept my face entirely neutral, gesturing to the seating area. "How may I help you? Please, have a seat."

​Chloe crossed the room and sat down, crossing her legs. The hem of her skirt rode up dangerously high, barely covering her thighs. It was hot, and she clearly knew exactly what she was doing.

​She looked at me, tilting her head as a smug smile spread across her lips. "You don't remember me?"

​I looked at her features, searching my memory but coming up empty. "Have we met?"

​Chloe let out a soft, amused laugh, batting her long lashes at me. "Yes. December last year at the Saddleson Hotel. We spent the night together."

​Oh, s**t. James mouthed from behind her.

​I froze, the blood in my veins turning to ice. The Saddleson Hotel. The memory suddenly flashed in my mind—a wild, blurry night after a massive corporate gala.

​James couldn't help himself. He leaned closer, his voice a frantic whisper. "You slept with your wife’s sister? I knew sleeping with half the girls in New York would eventually come back to bite you in the ass, but this?"

​"Shut up," I snapped at James coldly, before shifting my focus entirely to Chloe. I forced my expression back into a mask of pure steel. "I’m sorry. But I still don't get why you're here."

​"I just wanted you to know," Chloe said smoothly, her eyes locked onto mine. She stood up from the chair, moving with slow, deliberate grace. She walked over to my desk and leaned all the way forward to pick up her designer purse, intentionally dropping her posture to give me a completely unobstructed view straight down her shirt. Her breasts were fully on display.

​She pulled back, giving me one last lingering look. "And don't worry... Ruby isn't aware."

​With a sharp turn, she swiveled on her heels and walked out of my office, her hips swaying with every step until the door clicked shut behind her.

​The room was dead silent for three seconds.

​"Call me crazy," James finally breathed, breaking the silence as he stared at the closed door. "But I think she just tried to seduce you."

​I leaned back in my chair, staring at the door with absolute detachment.

​"It’s only seduction if I fall for it," I replied coldly.

The memory of Chloe's suffocating perfume and thinly veiled threats lingered in my mind all day, making it impossible to focus. By the time I returned to the penthouse, the sun had long set, leaving Manhattan bathed in a cool, silver moonlight.

​I immediately went upstairs, threw off my work clothes, and took a long shower to wash off the grime of the day. Stepping out with a towel around my waist, I walked over to the master suite to check on Ruby, but the room was entirely empty.

​Puzzled, I walked down the hall and flagged down one of the passing maids. "Where is my wife?"

​"Mrs. Ray is out on the back porch reading, sir," she replied politely.

​I nodded and headed downstairs. Stepping onto the expansive, stone-paved porch, the cool night breeze hit my face. And then, I saw her.

​Ruby was half-reclined on one of the lounge chairs. She was wearing a long, flowing blue dress that seemed to catch the moonlight, making her look entirely otherworldly. Her wild ginger hair was loose, framing her face perfectly as she stared up at the stars, a heavy hardcover book resting carelessly on her legs.

​She's beautiful, I thought, the breath catching in my throat. So completely ethereal. "Hi," I finally voiced, breaking the quiet symphony of the New York night.

​She turned her head toward me, a warm, genuine smile breaking across her lips. "You're back. How was your day?"

​"It was good," I replied smoothly, completely burying the memory of Chloe's visit. I leaned against the balcony railing, looking down at her. "How was yours?"

​"It was boring," she sighed, tilting her head back against the cushion. "I know we have a contract to follow, but I can't just be doing absolutely nothing all day for the next five years."

​A low chuckle escaped my lips. "You won't. Our wedding was literally yesterday, Ruby. It would be weird if you were already working the next day."

​She narrowed her green eyes playfully. "But you went to work today."

​"Well, I never said I wasn't weird," I shot back.

​Ruby let out a genuine, musical laugh, the sound echoing softly in the night air. The tension that had been gripping my shoulders all afternoon suddenly started to melt away.

​"We leave on Saturday for France," I said, shifting the topic to business. "We will be gone for a month. Is there any special thing you need to get or pack for the trip?"

​"No, not actually," she replied, her gaze drifting back out over the terrace. "Your house is beautiful, Alex. I really love the design. It's so elegant. It actually reminds me a lot of the very first house my dad bought us."

​"Thank you," I said, a rare spark of pride hitting my chest. "I picked out all the designs myself. I absolutely hate the new modern look—it's too simple. Where is the art in a blank white box?"

​Ruby giggled, the sound light and addictive. "Tell me about it."

​"You're a great cook, by the way," I added, remembering the container on my desk. "Thanks for breakfast."

​"You're welcome. My dad taught me," she said proudly.

​I looked at her, a small smirk playing on my lips. "You're a major daddy's girl, aren't you? James told me, but I'm still surprised."

​She laughed, her cheeks flushing slightly in the dim light. "Yes, I am. I love my dad so much. Honestly... thank you for agreeing to help us out with the family debt by marrying me." She paused, her expression turning a bit more serious as she looked up at me. "I think we should have rules, Alex. There's really no need for us to hate each other for the next five years. What do you think?"

​I chuckled, crossing my arms over my chest. "Yes, I agree. What rules would you suggest?"

​Ruby sat up a bit straighter, her green eyes locking onto mine with complete clarity. "If you want to sleep around, cover your tracks properly. I don't ever want to know about it. No coming home late either without informing me ahead of time. No partying without me—mutual understanding for public appearances. And... tell me about your day and your problems. Let me be your friend for the next five years."

​I stared at her, her words ringing in my ears. If you want to sleep around, cover your tracks. The irony of what had happened with her sister today flashed through my mind, but I pushed it away. Her request to be friends was surprisingly gentle.

​"Okay," I replied quietly. "I can live with that."

​"Do you have any rules?" she asked.

​"Same as yours," I replied.

​"Okayyyy," she said, stretching out the word with a satisfied smile.

​"Have you had your dinner?" I asked, noticing the empty table next to her.

​"No, but I had a really heavy lunch, so I'm not that hungry," she answered, leaning back into the chair.

​We ended up spending the rest of the evening right there on the porch, just talking. For the first time in years, I wasn't thinking about the business, or the trauma of my past, or the expectations of New York. I was just listening to her voice.

​Shortly after midnight, her responses grew shorter until her eyes fluttered shut completely. She had fallen fast asleep.

​I smiled down at her before leaning over and carefully scooping her up into my arms. Her book slid into the chair as I lifted her, her head automatically rolling against my bare chest. She felt incredibly light. I carried her upstairs, navigating the dim hallways until I reached our room.

​I gently placed her down on the expansive bed, pulling the soft duvet over her shoulders. I lingered for a moment, looking down at her peaceful face in the dark.

​Even her lips are pretty, I realized, a dangerous thought slipping through my defenses.

​Shaking my head to clear the sudden tension in my chest, I pulled off my shirt, slid under the covers on the opposite side of the mattress, and fell asleep right next to my wife.