4. KELVIN

KELVIN POV

“That’s enough pictures. Thanks everyone, for coming, me and my wife will be going home now…”

“Just one last pose,” one of the photographers called out, “Put your hand around her waist.”

The photographer was just doing his damn job.

I hesitated for half a second before placing my hand around Betty’s waist.

She stiffened on my touch.

“A little closer, Mrs Kosh,” the photographer directed

Mrs Kosh, she must like the ring of that name.

I pulled Betty gently against me then she whispered to me “Is this close enough?”

“Apparently not.” I retorted

“Closer, yes, perfect.” The photographers continued taking pictures, but I got lost in my thoughts.

I could smell her perfume, her head barely reached my shoulder and her body was warm against mine.

I never liked physical touch, I couldn’t recall the last time I let someone this close to me, close enough that I could notice their breathing.

Betty whispered “Okay, I am getting tired of this show, my cheek is burning from these fake smiles. When do I get my payment and when do I sign the contract?”

She was business minded, I liked it. She definitely understood the assignment

I looked down at her, “As soon as we leave here,”

“What’s the contract clause like?” Betty whispered, raising her chin for the next pose.

“Number one, no physical touch” I said between gritted teeth “This is the last time we will touch. Other rules will be in the contract,”

“So you make the rules, huh?” Betty scoffed

The photographer called out, “Look at each other.”

Great, we turned and for a few seconds, we just stared.

Betty was not talking as usual, I noticed her brown eyes, they were beautiful, I wanted to push a tiny strand of hair near her cheek but I stopped myself immediately.

Why did I suddenly forget there were cameras around us and this was just a performance?

We were still looking at each other, while the photographers took the pictures when I noticed the scars on her face, concealed perfectly with makeup.

God, who did that to her?

I knew nothing about Betty, for all I know she was a fashion designer, what if she was also a fighter too?

“Are we done?” Betty asked, “My legs are shaking.”

I released her immediately but I took her by her hand, leading her gently out of the crowded venue and the photographers and paparazzi’s still requesting for more poses.

My car was waiting. The chauffeur bowed as we entered the car. Immediately I sat inside, I loosened my tie so I could finally breathe well.

Betty instantly pulled her shoes off, and we exhaled in sync, like we had been suffocating and feeling castrophobic.

“I wish I could say I enjoyed my wedding,” Betty started, “So what next? Another performance of being your wife in front of your family at your home?”

I looked in her direction, no words. Absolutely no words for real.

None of my family members had attended the wedding but I wasn’t about to start talking about what was happening in the Kosh family.

I threw my face, looking outside of the window, for some solace and quietness.

“When you held me, I…I noticed your palm seemed colder than normal,” not Betty’s voice pulling, disrupting my peace.

I turned to snap at her but the look on her face stopped me.

Betty didn’t look like she wanted to spite me, she looked concerned “Are you fine?” She asked

Was it becoming visible that my health was deteriorating? Doctor Anna told me to take my drugs and I would be fine for a while.

“It’s normal,” I responded, throwing my face away again.

The drive to the mansion was silent, until my phone rang.

“Congratulations cousin,” Reg’s voice sounded more like a mockery than a compliment. “So you finally found yourself a wife. Grandma must be celebrating in her grave.”

I hung up the call, tightening my hand around the phone.

It was never my plan to marry a stranger, but the inheritance clause my grandmother wrote required me to have a legal spouse by a deadline that was only days away, or controlling shares default to my cousin, Reginald.

Even if I had been trying to buy time, I was out of it.

Vanessa stood me up to make me a laughingstock in front of the public. That was why I quickly had to take control by marrying a stranger.

Vannessa could go to hell.

I suddenly felt uneasy, a sharp pain on my chest, then the dizzy spell.

I checked my wrist to see the time, I had to take my drug that instant, but it was in the cabinet at my penthouse.

“Drive faster,” I instructed the driver

My heart palpitations grew louder, making my chest hurt badly.

I needed to be at the estate as soon as possible, I tightened my hand in a fist forcing myself to stay calm.

The car pulled into the estate and I stepped out quickly “You will be staying over tonight, that makes this believable,”

“Staying over? No Mr Kosh” Betty objected

“Kelvin” I corrected

“Mr Kelvin,” she responded

Look, whatever, I turned to walk inside the house.

“I can’t stay over, I…I have to return home,” Betty followed behind me.

“It’s the night of our wedding,” I turned around, stopping Betty on her track

“Fake wedding,” she corrected,

I turned to continue walking, Betty did the same.

Another sharp pain ripped through my chest, my vision blurred, I quickly reached for the wall but I missed.

“Mr Kelvin!” Betty screamed

Betty hands firmly grabbed my hand elbow, out of instincts I shrunk my arm from her

“Are you fine?” She asked her eyes dancing around me in concern

What does she care about? She just needed her money and that’s all

I straightened up but another wave of dizziness hit me

Betty tightened her hand around again, this time moving closer "Stop pretending you are fine. You are sweating and your eyes are red,

Her voice wasn't teasing but soft and concerned.

I looked at her, her face was just inches from mine.

I could feel her breath against my jaw.

For some reason, I didn’t pull my hand away from her “Why do you care? Because of the money I owe you?”

She frowned. “Because you’re my husband.”

The word hit differently, husband.

I stared at her lips before forcing my eyes back to hers. “This is a contract.”

"I know.”

“Then don’t get attached.”

She rolled her eyes, "Please. You’re not that irresistible.”

“Really?” I moved closer, closing the inch between us as I looked at her lips, leaning closer.

Her lips… I wanted to kiss it.

Betty shuddered, her eyes fixed on mine.

Betty swallowed “Didn’t you say no physical touch?” she whispered.

Her words snapped something inside me. What the hell was I doing? I was the one who had made the rules. No physical touch, no feelings, no strings attached.

Yet there I was, standing inches away from my contract wife, staring at her lips like I had forgotten every rule I had just created.

I looked back into her eyes “You’re the one holding my hand.”

She glanced down at our hands before quickly letting go. “Because you almost fell.”

“I didn’t ask you to catch me.” I stepped back. “Stay away from me.”

Her brows knitted together. “You’re the one who came closer.”

I had no answer for that, instead I turned away from her, trying to steady my breathing.

This was ridiculous, I had known Betty for barely a few hours.

She was loud. Clumsy, annoying and somehow, I had almost kissed her and the worst part? I wasn’t too sure I regretted it.