Chapter five

That evening Ariel was thinking of how to escape and look for Jack but Jeffrey knock and enter her room.

"Ma'am, it's time to leave," Jeffrey said to Ariel. 

Ariel looks surprise and wonder where they are taking her again, but she thinks it might be an opportunity for her to escape, so she gladly followed him.

Looking at all of Alaska's men, they looked dangerous; they were not people to be messed with. 

She wondered where Alaska was, since she did not see him. 

Getting into the car, she wondered where they were taking her, until the car stopped at the front of a big mall. 

"Ma'am, we need to check in here for now," Jeffrey said to her, as they opened the car door for her.

 She looked at them all bowing for her and wondered why they were all calling her ma'am and bowing. It dawned on her that it must be because she is now Alaska’s wife. 

"Am I truly his wife?" Ariel's heart seemed broken. 

"His borrowed wife?" She felt like crying. 

She felt she needed an explanation for whatever was going on, but who would she turn to for that? She felt she was being abducted in daylight, and no one was saying anything about it. 

Who would even say anything to Alaska and his men? She thought of shouting for help, but she knew it was useless, because no one would come to her aid, not even the police or authority because they all fear him. 

She reluctantly entered the mall as Jeffrey led her into a VIP room. Jeffrey whispered some things to the ladies there and left the room. 

Ariel did not even care; she just sat down on the chair, heartbroken. After Jeffrey left the room, the ladies started to work on her makeup, her hair, and had her changed into a new outfit. 

Looking at herself in the mirror after the whole session, Ariel blinked; it seemed she was totally transformed into a new person, and everything on her was worth millions - the jewelry, purse, shoes, and the dress. 

She looked awe at herself. 

She felt different, money was sure good.

But thinking about getting involved with someone like Alaska, she felt drained and could not care less. All she wanted was to escape. 

Jeffrey soon came in to lead her back to the car, Alaska’s men followed her closely. She knew was been monitored, just like that she had lost her freedom.

"Where are we going?" She managed to talk for the first time that day.

 "You will be attending a ball with the don as husband and wife," Jeffrey reluctantly replied. 

Ariel raised her brows, stunned.

“This occasion is very important to don, just like his life” Jefrey explains the importance of the ball to her and why her presence is important. His afraid that she might cause problem for Alaska at the ball so he tries to let her know her duty but he did go into much details. 

** 

That day is an important day for Alaska; he had never been nervous his whole life. He always has everything under control, but for the first time, he seems nervous. 

After he submitted a copy of the marriage certificate for verification, and it was confirmed that he indeed got married, the board of election was surprised that someone like Alaska actually got a wife, and they wondered who the wife was, because the condition was to disqualify him from the candidates for the position believing no one will marry someone like him.

Wanting to see for themselves, they asked him to bring his wife to the assembly ball that evening.

 He seemed nervous, not because he was not confident in himself, but because he did not know if Ariel would actually cooperate with him at the ball. 

He knew that if she did not cooperate, he would be exposed about borrowing the marriage, and all of his efforts would be wasted. 

As a mafia lord, he could use force, but he was determined to prove everyone wrong and campaign like other candidates, then become the governor. 

It was almost time for the ball to start; he was already waiting in the dressing room for Ariel, where she was supposed to meet with him. He wore a black tuxedo suit; everything was all black, his hair combed back neatly. 

He looked really handsome like a gentleman, walking back and forth, he seems more anxious than nervous. 

The door to the waiting room opened; Ariel lifted up her head and looked up to Alaska, who looked stunned to see her. Alaska was amazed at her beauty; she looked gorgeous in the creamy long gown, her hair styled perfectly. 

"She is pretty," he muttered to himself, staring at her.

 "Don," Jeffrey's voice instantly jolted Alaska.

 "You are here," Alaska snapped out of his daze. 

Jeffrey moved close to Alaska and whispered some things to him. Ariel didn't care about what they were saying and just sat down on the cushion chair in the room. 

"Bride, you have to cooperate with me this evening. You have to go to the ball with me," Alaska moved closer to her trying to explain her role to her. 

But Ariel was rather scared of him and shifted back on her seat. 

"There can be no mistake, else..." Alaska looked at her with dangerous stares. 

Ariel nodded shakily. 

Alaska sighed and turned to Jeffrey; they started discussing and left the room. 

Ariel's face fell the moment Alaska and Jeffrey went out of the room. She hated herself and her life. She thought she would wake up that morning and everything Alaska told her yesterday would be just a nightmare, but it was all true. 

It dawned on her that she would have to become Alaska's wife for real, even though she did not agree to such a thing. 

"Am I going to really be his wife?" she thought to herself.

 "How did this happen?" She was so confused about everything happening so fast; she didn't know what to believe. 

She shook her head in denial that she was going to be Alaska's wife for real.

 "I cannot go to that ball! Everyone will see that I am his wife. Everyone will hate me for associating with him," Ariel sobbed silently. 

"I can't let that happen!" 

She knew that if she went to the ball with Alaska as his wife, the whole country would know that she is Alaska's wife. People didn't associate with him, knowing how dangerous Alaska is, so if they knew she had become his wife, they would stay away from her too. 

Everyone would hate her and believe she must have married him for money. 

Ariel hated that; she had never been loved all her life until she met Jack, and now her life would turn to be hated again. She knew she couldn't bear that. 

"I have to find a way, even if I must die," she thought, determined to do anything to get away from Alaska.

 As the two men continued to discuss outside, Ariel was left alone in the waiting room, trying to process what to do. 

She knew she was trapped in a situation she didn't understand, with a man she knew was the most dangerous. As she looked around the waiting room, she noticed another door leading to another room; her eyes sparkled, giving her a glimmer of hope. 

She knew she needed to get away from Alaska as soon as possible, even if she would die, but first, she needed answers.

 She needed to find out if Jack went to the registered their marriage like he said. She thought that if Jack truly registered their marriage, she could expose Alaska and might be able to get away from him. 

She entered the small room and luckily saw a window; she tried to open the window, and it easily opened for her. Ariel sighed and instantly thought of getting away; she quickly took off her shoes and climbed out the window, then jumped down.

 She looked around to make sure none of Alaska's men saw her, then she took to her heels. 

"The ball is starting; go get her to the car," Alaska told Jeffrey looking at his watch. 

"Okay, don," Jeffrey entered the waiting room, but Ariel was gone. 

Jeffrey came back into the waiting room and realized Ariel was gone. 

"Don, she is gone," Jeffrey exclaimed, and Alaska rushed into the room quickly to see that Ariel was truly gone.