CHAPTER 4

Alexa's POV

Dusting out my old sequin white dress, I put it on in front of the small mirror, applying a little makeup on my face before grabbing my bag and phone to go out.

I want to sneak out. 

It's still early but I am sure my landlady will be here anytime soon.

She is the reason why I have decided to go for this anniversary, coupled with my determined efforts to plead with my boss to take me back.

I am willing to do all it takes today to convince him that I will be punctual and he will never find any more reason to fire me.

I need this job. This is my only means of survival and without a quick solution, I will soon be out on the streets.

Carefully locking the door with my eyes scanning the entire vicinity for the sight of the landlady, I take to my heels when I don't see anyone.

Just before I get to the bus stop where I intend to take a bus to the anniversary location, my mind drifts back to what happened last night.

That fake man. 

Xander or whatever he calls himself.

How could he be so carefree?

Here I am struggling to survive and keep my job, yet he has everything but one thing. He wants his trust fund to get back at his mother and for that to happen, he needs a pretense bride.

Only a dumb woman would agree to such an agreement and I am not dumb. He can go to hell for all I care.

Even though the offer of a job as an executive chef is tempting, I can't be a part of someone's unhappiness. He wants to make that woman unhappy and she seems really nice.

Waving the thought away, I get to the bus stop and enter to find a suitable seat with my thoughts all over the place.

Thirty minutes later, I get to the venue filled to the brim with guests trooping in and out and making me feel odd with my old dress.

Looking down at my dress, I feel so out of place but a reminder that this isn't just a party but an opportunity for me to get my job back, I summon up the courage as I begin to trot towards the entrance.

The moment I enter, I almost collapse out of fear, my courage disappearing into thin air. The whole place is filled with a lot of dignitaries both from the company and even outside. When my gaze finds my boss, a mixture of hope and caution swirls in my eyes.

Without any more hesitation, I begin to find my way towards him, without thinking of what exactly I need to say to him.

To convince him.

With urgency the same as my steps, I begin to think of what to say to him as I maneuver my way towards him.

From nowhere, Richards appears with a wide grin on his face. "Alexa", he calls out, making me halt in my tracks.

"Hey", I wave at him, looking over his head at our boss. Richard is my colleague at work.

"Where have you been? You were not at work yesterday and the day before. Your number wasn't reachable as well…"

I walk past him quickly as soon as I see my boss going away. I don't want to lose him. Not this opportunity. Even if things do not work out today, I will be assured that I did all I could to get back my job.

Even though I still don't know how to convince him, I hurry after him, leaving Richard calling to me.

Suddenly, my boss stops walking and turns back, perhaps he heard the shout of my name or it is something else.

Our eyes meet and his face turns hard, melting the remaining bit of confidence left inside of me.

My hands tremble and I fiddle with my hair simultaneously.

He makes an attempt to move along but I am quick to block his way with my two trembling hands placed together as though in prayer.

Almost kneeling, I beg. "Please sir, I need one more chance to make this right. Please help me. I promise this will never repeat itself."

He does not say anything. He just continues to watch me with that cold expression, making me gulp down loudly and continue.

"I was in an accident. I lost consciousness and met myself at the hospital. That was why I was late. I couldn't tell you that over the phone because I thought it was best to come see you…"

"Accident?" he scoffs, not convinced with my white lie obviously.

Truly, I was in an accident but he fired me before that. It was the news that made me get involved with that silly man who took me to his house instead of a hospital.

I guess he planned everything right from the start. He didn't take me to the hospital for his selfish reasons.

Waving his thoughts away, I nod gingerly, praying for a miracle. I don't care how it will happen or what kind of miracle is going to happen but I need one.

"Where is the medical report?" he stretches his hand at me while my gaze shifts to the hand as I start to think of another lie to tell him.

I wasn't at the hospital. I was at a man's house.

"You said it was an accident so where is the evidence? You don't even have any bruises or injuries so how do you expect me to believe you?"

I mentally slap myself.

I am so dumb to have come up with a silly thing like this. I should have thought it through before saying this.

I don't have any evidence to back my claim up truly so he won't believe me. I have just lost my chance.

Even though I was willing to do all it takes, I never knew he was going to give me a chance to speak but here I am standing right in front of him, given a chance to explain my reasons but everything is to waste now that I am stupid not to have brought along any evidence.

"Sir, I wasn't bruised. I only lost consciousness due to the shock", I try to explain, though it sounds dumb to me as well.

He drops his hand and stares at me hard before walking past me.

I follow.

"I'm speaking the truth. I swear to you. Please, I beg you, help me…" I get interrupted when someone appears from the corner, making my boss stop walking and almost bumping into him.

I recognize him.

The man from two nights ago.

To hide my face, I turn back slowly, trying to walk out of here before he sees me.

I can't get this job back.

I have lost my chance.

"Good morning, sir", I hear my boss say politely while I continue to walk slowly back the way I came.

"Alexa?" Someone calls out and I turn quickly, forgetting the real reason why I am going back in the first place and thinking the unfamiliar voice is my boss'.

It isn't my boss' voice.

It is his.

The manipulative man who hit me with his car and took me to his overly-furnished mansion instead of a hospital.

My boss turns with a surprised look on his face. "You know Alexa?"

The man nods, smiling at me and taking long strides towards me while I stand still, watching with shock.

Before I know what is happening, he is beside me and he swings his arm around my shoulder, my body hitting him in close contact.

My boss' eyes grow large as well as mine.

Within a minute, a sudden idea hit me.

This is another opportunity. I should use this to my advantage. I don't know who this man is and how my boss knows him but I'm sure he is one of the dignitaries and knowing him will make my boss give me back my job.

I let out a short pretence of laughter that sounded strange to my ears too.

"Erhmmm…he is…I know…"

"Alexa is my bride", The man suddenly announced, shocking the living hell out of me and making me disengage from the contact.

"What?!" We both exclaim in extreme shock.