Chapter 4

Alana’s POV

If anyone had told me I’d be signing a marriage contract in my grandmother’s rosewood-panelled study with three people watching me like hawks, I’d have laughed in their faces.

“Three years.” Lucia says “No scandals, No public fallout. You’ll act like a real couple.”

“Act.” I say under my breath.

Rafael sits beside me, legs crossed the calm like this is just another business deal. His jacket is off and his shirt sleeves are rolled back, one arm casually resting on the armrest as if he doesn’t have a care in the world. I can feel his eyes on me, studying my every breath.

There are five clauses.

Clause one: We live together.

Clause two: We attend all public events together.

Clause three: No romantic involvements outside the marriage.

Clause four: Divorce at the end of three years, no strings attached.

Clause five: Whoever breaches the contract is going to provide the sum of five hundred million and may be sued to court.

I sign my name with trembling hands when I notice a sentence written below.

“We get engaged this weekend?” I say disbelievingly. My head feels lighter all of a sudden and I nearly collapse.

“The press are outside already ” Lucia says like she didn't hear me.

I want to scream. I want to bolt. But I don’t. Instead I plaster a smile on my face and suck it up.

We step outside the patio and immediately the flashes from cameras of almost a dozen media outlets go off at the same time.

Before I have time to process it, I feel a warm hand slip around my waist and I freeze.

“We should look convincing.” He whispers close to my ear. His touch is surprisingly gentle, not possessive.

He leans in slightly and lifts the diamond clasp of my necklace, letting his fingers brush the nape of my neck.

“You forgot to close this.” He says smoothly, snapping it shut.

A shiver runs from my neck down to my spine and I do all I can not to falter in front of the cameras.

I want to shoot him a glare but, conscious of the cameras, I lift my lips in what I hope is a convincing smile as I say “Do not touch me without warning” under my breath.

He smirks at me and leans in closer, making my breath stutter. He trails a finger down my face with his eyes never leaving mine. “Oh, but where's the fun in that, wife?”

“I'm not your wife.” I stop myself from gritting my teeth. He raises an eyebrow until I reluctantly admit “Yet.”

The reporters go into a mad frenzy at our closeness and the camera sounds become more aggressive.

I smile like I’m not losing my mind. He keeps his arm around me like it’s natural. And the world sees a billionaire and his wife-to-be.

“How long have you guys been seeing each other?’’ One reporter shouts.

“Was it love at first sight?” another one goes.

“Who made the first move?”

“How soon is the wedding?”

I simply smile and keep my mouth shut.

Love at first sight indeed. Wait till I tell them I don’t even know the dude’s middle name.

“The engagement party will be held at the Grandos Palaus this weekend.” Lucia answers. “I’m sure you have many questions and all will surely be answered by then. For now let’s give the lovebirds some breathing space, shall we?”

They all nod reluctantly as they are ushered out of the patio by our security officers.

I exhale deeply when the last of them trudges off after a final glance. I need to lay down and process this.

We all step back inside into the main guest area.

“The engagement party is this weekend. I’ll have her ring size sent to you so you can purchase a ring, something befitting of course.” Lucia says to Rafael.

She looks at me next. “I’ll have Rosalind come here for your measurements. Your dress needs to make a statement.” She pauses for a second then continues “The press love a good love tale, so the both of you need to figure out one because you’ll be saying it at the engagement party. Also remember that you’re both doing this for your families and it’ll end soon, only if you just cooperate.”

Renald nods agreeing with everything she says.

I head to my room, slam the door loudly and slump on my bed.

I know how much it annoys Lucia when I leave without her dismissal.

The last time I called her grandmother was when I was five years old. Lucia -my grandmother- wasn’t always like this. She was very happy and very sweet.

As a child, I was told that she single handedly grew her skincare brand into what it is today. An empire. Voss Elixirs.

She was just a regular person, a very kind soul at that.

It all started after my parent’s death. She became aggressive, would go on for days at a time without speaking to anyone, then would come back like nothing happened. The doctors said it was her way of coping with the loss but it was killing my grandfather slowly, seeing the love of his life become miserable.

He died six months after.

And my grandmother totally snapped.

She became cold, calculative and very calm.

She no longer smiles. And when she does, it never reaches her eyes. She became a shadow of herself.

She told me to call her Lucia and not grandmother anymore. I think it helped her feel more detached from me.

The only time I’ve seen a flicker of true emotion on her face was today, when she was talking about the contract. That’s why I decided to go along with it. In the hopes that maybe somewhere down there, my happy and cheerful grandmother will resurface.

My chest feels heavy, weighed down with the realization of what I had just done.

Three years. Just three years. Then it will all be over.