Chapter 5

Valerie.

It was yet another day and the air inside Collin's mansion was different. 

Heavy and Quiet. These were the two words that best describe it.

It almost felt like something sacred had started and couldn't be undone.

  

Staring out the tall window in one of the guest rooms, I watched the sunrise from the mountains and lined up to the sky.

My reflection stared back at me from the glasses and all I could see were my tired eyes.

Despite this, I didn't feel broken.

Not after the agreement with Collins.

Suddenly, a soft knock made me turn my neck to the door.

"Come inside," I said. 

Collins walked inside the room dressed up in his Armani black three piece suit. His cologne filled my nose with an alluring smell.

"You are up early." He said with a confident smile on his face.

"I couldn't sleep," I replied with a distant voice.

Collins let out a heavy breath and walked over to my side with his shoes hitting the ceramic floor quietly.

"Last night was a lot." He said, also staring at the sunrise.

"That is one way to put it," I replied, turning my head to face him. "Are you sure about this? About us faking a marriage and about me working in your company."

He turned his head to the side, studying me curiously with his blue eyes. "I don't fake what I care about sweetheart." 

I swallowed a huge lump down my throat. 

Hearing him pronounce those words did something to me that couldn't be explained.

"Come on," He said, offering his hand. "Let me be the one to introduce you to a new life."

**

After a couple of hours on the road, we arrived at the Collins Corporation headquarters. A massive tower of glass up to the sky.

Collins held my hands and we walked into the premises. Some of the workers greeted him and he simply waved.

We used the elevator and while it ascended, I stared at the transparent glasses showing the width of the floor.

Collins's office was on the seventeenth floor and from the view, New York City looked like something out of a dream.

"The directors are here." He said and before I could give him a response, the door opened and a group of men and women dressed up in black suits all walked into the room.

Collins exchanged pleasantries with them, while I remained steadfast on the ground. "Everyone, this is Mrs. Valerie Collins." Collins introduced.

At first I was taken aback by the title but realized we had started acting out the plan. This forced me to keep my head up high.

"We are glad to have your wife in our midst, Mr. Collins." A man who seemed to be in his early forties responded.

So far the directors all looked nice until my eyes landed on a set of eyes glaring at me. A young lady with brown hair had a pout on her lips.

Almost like I stole something from her.

"Valerie will be working under my supervision." He continued to speak. "Also anyone who disrespects her will answer to me."

They all nodded their heads and as the meeting proceeded, I placed the thought of the lady gazing at me in my mind.

She is one of the people I certainly need to be careful about.

**

During lunch break, my desk was set up next to Collins' office. It had a very good view and the table was stacked with documents.

"You will catch up," Collins assured with a smile. "I know you are a fast learner." 

"Please, don't flatter me," I replied, rolling my eyes at him.

"Come on Val. You survived worse than this." He said leaning on my desk.

I stared at him for a moment. His words struck a soft spot inside of me. "Why do you keep saying that?" I asked.

"Because we both know that I am telling the truth." He said and walked away before I could say anything else.

Such a strange man indeed.

***

When evening came I was back at the mansion to wind down for the evening. Some documents were tucked under my arm and I dropped them on the table.

The door hadn't closed behind me when I heard Collins call.

"Valerie!" 

I traced his voice to the lounge where he was pouring glasses of wine. 

Soft cool music was playing in the background, while I sat down next to him.

"I figured you would need this." He said and handed a glass over to me.

"Thank you." I said and picked up the glass and emptied the entire content. "Your staff all hates me."

"Don't worry sweetheart, I know they will love you in the next one week." He said and then looked up at me with a serious face.

"Or they should be prepared to leave."

I couldn't help myself from laughing. "You don't care about what people think about you."

"Not when I have made up my mind," He replied and sipped his drink.

I returned the glass to him and our fingers brushed against each other.

"I have been thinking," I said to him. "About the baby."

Collins' expression changed. Perhaps I should not have raised the topic for him.

"Go ahead."

"I am scared," I admitted with my eyes locked into his own. "I don't know what kind of mother I will be. I don't even know what kind of wife I was."

"You are a woman trying to love a man who did not deserve you." He replied calmly. "And you still are repeating the same mistake." He said, shaking his head in disappointment.

I paused for a moment, accessing his words. There was something he was hiding away from me and beneath the tone, I could feel it.

A soft knock came to the door and I got up from the lounge, stretching my body before heading over to the living room.

I pulled the door open and a young lady appeared before me with a bag sitting right next to her.

"Who the hell are you?" She asked with disgust, looking me up and down.

"Collins Wife," I replied.

"Val. What is going....." 

I turned around to see Collins frozen on the spot.

"Jasmine." He pronounced and in that moment, it dawned on me.

His ex-wife had returned.