Chapter Four

004

Alexander did not even look at Ruby as he walked into the ballroom. His cold blue eyes were fixed on me the whole time. He walked with confidence like he owned the place. People around us stopped talking, and just watched him.

Every single guest noticed Alexander.

Every waiter got out of his way.

Every politician, celebrity and billionaire stood up straight when Alexander Thorne walked by. Mark, who had been smiling stopped smiling when he saw Alexander.

Ruby was already smiling at Alexander. She thought she had found someone to throw me out.

"Mr. Alexander " she said, fixing her dress. "I am so glad you are here. This woman does not belong at an event like this. I know her. She is just trying to get in for free."

Alexander stopped in front of us. It got very quiet.

He just looked at Ruby for a time. His face did not show any feelings.

Ruby started talking but she sounded nervous. "If you could just tell security—"

Alexander finally spoke. "Are you finished?" His voice was calm. It was too calm.

Ruby looked surprised. "I... Yes?"

Then Alexander did something nuts. He walked past Ruby and came up to me. Before I knew what was happening, he put his hand around my waist. It felt warm through my dress. My stomach did a flip in reaction to his touch.

I went stiff, my mind blowing away. The whole room got quiet. Alexander pulled me close to him. "Where have you been?" he asked quietly looking at me.

I did not know what to say.

His thumb touched my waist like he was telling me to go with it. "I apologize, darling. I overslept." I said, adding a bit of an ever-loving wife act.

Alexander smiled a little. "I noticed."

Then his face got serious again. He turned to Mark and Ruby. "You seem to have mistaken my wife for an uninvited guest." His words sounded like a fact and a question at the same time.

Ruby looked surprised, and blinked once. "...Your... Wife?"

Alexander did not answer right away. He took my hand instead. His fingers fit with mine like they had done so before. "You have been bothering Mrs. Thorne."

I heard the words "Mrs. Thorne" in that deep smooth voice of his. It felt weird, in a good way.

Mark started laughing. "No way. She is Chloe Adams. She was engaged to me four days ago."

I heard some people in the room gasped. But that drew out no reactions from Alexander. "I know who she is."

Mark looked surprised. "You-you know?" He stuttered.

Alexander’s eyes got cold. "I know who you are."

Mark got nervous, cold sweat already beginning to form where his neck glistened. Alexander took a step forward. "I do not like men who steal from women."

Mark got defensive. "I... I do not know what she has been telling you—"

Alexander cut him off. "I also do not like liars." His voice deep and resolute, as though he planned to end Mark rather than the conversation itself.

The room got cold, but Ruby tried to talk. "This is ridiculous! Mr. Alexander she is manipulating you. She has always wanted attention."

Alexander looked amused, his right brow going up slightly. "Really?"

Ruby nodded. "Yes. She always wanted to be rich."

Alexander said, "But she turned down the diamond necklaces I offered her this week. She said they were too expensive."

“Eh?”

I was surprised. Alexander was making that up. Was he not? Or did I deny freaking diamonds in my drunken sleep?!

Ruby tried to talk, but she couldn’t. Alexander kept talking. "And that watch on your wrist Mark, looks familiar."

Mark hid his arm behind his back. Alexander scoffed, his eyes rolling. "So, it was not my imagination."

He looked at me, pointing at the Rolex. "Is that not the anniversary gift you bought?"

My face got hot. "Yes." I said, feeling a spark of anger boiling under my skin, but as well embarrassment at the fact that I had to admit in front of everyone.

Alexander nodded. "I see."

"She gave it to me." Mark blurted, trying to lie.

Alexander said, "No you stole it. It became stolen property when she asked for it back."

Mark got angry. "You do not know anything about our relationship."

Alexander’s voice got soft. It was scary. "I know enough. I know you cheated. I know you emptied her bank account. I know you humiliated her... I know you thought she was weak because she was kind."

The whole room was quiet. Everyone was listening.

Mark looked around nervously. Alexander leaned in close. "If you keep talking to my wife like that you will see how kind I have been so far."

Mark stepped back. Ruby grabbed his arm. "This is insane! Why would someone like you marry someone like her?"

Alexander looked confused. "Someone like her?"

Ruby said, "She is poor. She is not from your world."

Alexander said, "My world…is wherever she is now." He glanced at me after he said that, and for a second, that eye contact between us held.

I felt weird. Was he just…did he really mean it? This man deserves an Oscar.

Ruby laughed. "You are joking."

Alexander did not smile. "I never joke about my wife."

The words hit me hard. My wife. It felt weird once again, even though I was the one who started this whole marriage thing. But it also felt kind of nice.

Mark looked at us like he did not believe it. "No way. You slept with him?"

I got embarrassed. Crossing my arms, and tilting my head up a bit, giving that intimidating glare and letting out a little scoff. “We wouldn’t be married if we hadn’t.” And I swear I heard Alexander scoff a bit, holding back a laugh.

"Yes… And unlike you I will keep treating her like she deserves." He said, tilting his head to the side.

An uncomfortable silence filled the ballroom.

No one jumped to defend Mark, nor did anyone rush to Ruby’s rescue. The same people who had been smiling politely at only moments ago suddenly looked away, finding something far more interesting perhaps.

A senator quietly got up and excused himself from the conversation he was having with Mark earlier. One of the charity board members Ruby was trying to impress cleared her throat, offered a tight, awkward smile and walked away to a far corner of the ballroom. And even the couple standing closest to them slightly took two steps back as though being associated with them became dangerous.

In high society, reputations weren’t destroyed with shouting.

They get destroyed with silence. And Ruby noticed it like it was all a stench in the room with the way her brows furrowed in confusion and subtle panic. Her confident smile had long disappeared as she watched influential guests avoid eye contact with her and Mark deliberately. Some even whispered to each other behind raised champagne glasses while glancing in their direction.

“Mark…”

Her voice barely audible, as though parched with thirst. In response Mark swallowed hard at the realization.

He had spent years possibly trying to build connections with the people in this room through his business. That’s a long time.

But in less than five minutes, Alexander Thorne had made everyone wonder if Mark was someone worth the risk of getting to know.

Suddenly, his phone vibrated in his suit pocket. A sound that invaded the thick silence in the space of us.

Then it vibrated again. And again. Then he took it out when it became unbearable to hear the third time, without much of a thought. There were three unread messages glaring at him from on his phone.

Investment Group: We’ll have to postpone tomorrow’s meeting, Mr. Mark

Mr. Hargrove: I just got a call from one of my representatives at the gala. Call me Immediately.

Unknown Number: The chairman has requested that your company representatives leave after tonight’s event.

Those messages were enough to drain the color from Mark’s face.

Ruby grasped Mark’s arm, panic replacing her confidence she’d been carrying all evening completely now.

“Mark, what’s going on?” She asked, when she noticed his reaction.

He stared at the screen for a while longer before he put the phone back into his pocket. His jaw tightened.

“We’re leaving.”

Ruby blinked once. Looking even more stunned than before. “What? Mark we can’t just-”

“Now.” He said lowly, with a tone that wasn’t angry, only defeated. Damagingly final for the evening.

Ruby looked around hoping to see a familiar face, someone who could acknowledge her now ‘pitiful’ situation.

No one did.

Conversations had resumed around them, but it was more about them than with them. And no matter how much she turned her head, they all looked away a tad bit too quickly.

The attention, smiles and invitations she had received moments earlier had vanished like it never happened.

Mark took Ruby’s wrist, his grip rough and firm.

“Let’s go.” He said once more, and this time she didn’t argue with him. Together, they both walked to the ballroom entrance. No one stopping them, or whispering a word of sympathy as they clearly deserved none.

The heavy doors closed behind them with a click. It sounded remarkably final.

Before anyone could whisper another word, a firm clap echoed across the ballroom, instantly drawing every eye in the room.

An old man, with silver hair stepped forward.

He was wearing a military-style tuxedo. "A remarkable show if I should say so myself. Ladies and gentlemen, it seems our guest of honor has finally arrived."

Alexander’s face changed. He looked respectful, but seemed to be hiding more behind that cold stare. "Gentlemen. With the disturbances taken care of," the old man said, "let me introduce tonight’s newest members of the Thorne family."

I felt weird. Newest members?

Alexander leaned in close to me, his deep voice tickling my ear. "Smile."

I said, "What?"

"My grandfather. He thinks we are already married."

My heart stopped. "And trust me he asks a lot of questions."

Alexander’s grandfather stood tall in the middle of the ballroom. His silver hair was combed perfectly. He had a presence that made everyone notice him in the most suffocating way possible. Even Alexander seemed to fade beside him. The man’s face had wrinkles and his steel-grey eyes were still sharp.

All the important guests straightened up when they saw Alexander’s grandfather.

"Chairman Thorne." they gasped.

"Evening, Chairman." he replied.

People greeted him from all sides. He just nodded briefly focusing on us, on me. His gaze seemed to rather intimidating, like a man who had seen many years of war. I held Alexander’s arm tighter. He squeezed my hand gently in turn, a form of assurance.

"Relax." he whispered. "Grandfather won't hurt you…much."

"That's not very comforting." I said. Alexander just shrugged.

Alexander’s grandfather stopped in front of us. He stared at me for a time looking at my face my dress, my posture. I felt like I was in a job interview.

"So" he said finally. "You're Chloe."

I swallowed hard. "Yes sir." I replied as calmly as I could.

"Hm." he said.

That was it. His unamused hum alone made my anxiety go up. Did Alexander’s grandfather already dislike me?

Alexander spoke up. "Grandfather." he said. Alexander’s grandfather ignored him looking at our hands.

"You finally listened to me." he said.

Alexander’s eyebrow twitched. "What do you mean?" he asked.

"I told you years ago that working so much would make you old and lonely." Alexander’s grandfather said.

Some guests laughed, me included. "I see you've solved one problem." he added. Alexander smiled slightly.

"I wasn't aware I was a problem." Alexander said, looking at me with a raised brow, making me look the other way.

Alexander’s grandfather looked at me again. "My grandson Alexander works so much, it’s unbearable." he said.

"I've noticed." I replied.

"He forgets to eat." he said. "Skinny to the bones." I agreed with him.

"He doesn't sleep enough." he said. I looked at Alexander. "...Eye bags everywhere." I replied.

Alexander’s grandfather laughed loudly. "Brilliant." he said. He patted Alexander on the shoulder.

"She knows your habits." he said.

Alexander sighed. "I've created a problem." he said.

"You didn't create anything." his grandfather retorted. "You just chose well."

My face felt warm. This was getting harder. The more people accepted our said marriage. The guiltier I felt.

Alexander’s grandfather reached into his pocket. Pulled out a box.

"Oh no." Alexander said.

His grandfather ignored him. He opened the box. Inside was an antique emerald brooch surrounded by tiny diamonds.

The guests gasped. One woman whispered, "That's the Thorne family heirloom..." Another added, "It was his wife’s piece."

Alexander’s grandfather lifted the brooch carefully. "My wife wore this for fifty-two years " he said softly. His voice was full of emotion.

‘Well, I’ll be damned.’ I thought to myself.

"I always said the woman who joined this family would get it." he said.

I stepped back. "Oh, no... I don't deserve something as delicate as that, sir. Thank you, but I can’t take it." I said. Alexander’s grandfather just smiled.

"You can." he said.

"I really shouldn't " I said.

"You will." He answered back, with a finality in his tone that shut me up.

Alexander pinched the bridge of his nose, letting a tired sigh escape his lips. "Grandfather..." he said, his voice echoing and vibrating the hall at once.

However, Alexander’s grandfather simply said, "I'm eighty-one years old. Let me have this one thing."

He pinned the brooch to my dress. It sparkled against the fabric.

"There." he said proudly. "Now you look like a Thorne."

Suddenly cameras flashed everywhere. I blinked, rather shocked, only to see that reporters had gathered around us.

"Um, Alexander..." I said, almost whimpering in helplessness.

One photographer shouted, "Mr. Thorne! This way!" "Mrs. Thorne, smile!" "Look over here!" "Chairman, one family photo!"

"Family?"

Alexander leaned closer. "Don't panic " he whispered.

"I don’t have to panic. I’ve screwed up so badly that the fear in me has gone numb." I replied, with a plastered smile on my face that was anything but happy.

"Chloe." he called, but I could only manage to look up to him, with that nervous smile.

"Tell your sister that she’s been my angel when I’m gone." I said.

He smiled slightly, holding back a chuckle, I’m sure. "You’re gonna be alright, Chloe." he said.

"You’re anything but comforting right now. " I said, but Alexander just shrugged, a knowing smirk spreading slightly on his lips. One that I just had the need to punch off his overly handsome face.

I looked at him incredulously. He almost seemed amused.

Alexander’s grandfather waved his hand impatiently. "What're you two waiting for?" he asked. Alexander turned to me.

"May I?" he asked. "What do you mean?" I replied.

He put his hand around my waist. "For appearances." he said. Before I could answer he pulled me close.

The photographers got more excited. "Perfect!" "Look at each other!" "Excellent!"

I looked up at Alexander. He looked down at me, and for a moment...the noise disappeared.

The ballroom... The lights... The cameras... Everything faded away. Alexander’s blue eyes seemed softer than I remembered.

Not cold. Not distant. Just... Tired.

As though he carried a weight that no one else could see.

"You keep staring." I whispered. "You started first." he replied.

"I did not." I spoke.

"You've been looking at me since I came into the ballroom, or did you think I wouldn’t notice amidst the drama?" he asked. His eyes going down to my lips for a fraction of a second, but I noticed regardless.

"I was trying to figure out if you planned to save me or embarrass me." I said.

“And which one have I done so far?” He asked.

"I still haven't decided." I replied. Alexander chuckled quietly.

It was so quiet I almost thought I imagined it.

Then... "Alexander?" A female voice cut through the moment. Everyone turned.

A beautiful woman in a silver gown approached rapidly her heels clicking loudly on the floor.

She stopped in front of us her eyes traveling from Alexander... To the hand around my waist... To the emerald brooch...

Then finally, to our clasped hands. Her face went white.

"You actually got married?" she asked, her voice trembling.

Alexander’s expression hardened. "Vivian." he said. I looked between them.

The name meant something. They had history together.