Chapter 4

Unlike the previous night when I was in a more dreadful situation, sleep was far from finding my eyes, with every step, noise, and even a pin drop I heard, my senses and nerves were alert the whole night, and my eyes mostly focused on the ticking clock.

I believe he will have the decorum, not to visit me yet, but still, he is a Man after all and you never know what to expect from a man, one thing is very sure, he is not very fond of what he got, which is me, and I don't know if that is something I should be happy about.

"What is his name again?" sluggishly

I dragged my feet off the bed already exhausted from the staring competition between me and the clock, the idea of taking a peek around the house sounded better, I mean it's already 5'oclock, maybe too early but it was already the next morning and I can't remember it being in the contract that I have to remain in my room.

Upon opening the door, I heard another door next to mine open, although I tried to rush back but perhaps I was too slow.

"Luna!" his voice pierced the whole hallway, in his hand is a suitcase, fully dressed in a black tuxedo, his hair styled back into a more professional look, the way my name came out casually in his mouth felt weird, we just met and I can't help but be so intimidated by him.

"ehm, uh I was ..."

"You look uncomfortable still in that dress," he said looking me up and down, maybe he was right, it did feel uncomfortable, and coupled with the fact I did not take my bath with a single bar of soap, I feel gross and super uncomfortable.

"I wasn't meaning to meet you this way, but I am heading out now, Nath will pick you up for shopping later," he said while I nodded awkwardly, I don't want to meet you like this either

"What of the wedding?" it slipped from my mouth, I swear I wasn't planning on asking him anything, he paused, and only then did I notice the tie in his hands.

"It's not a wedding Miss Luna, it's what has to be done" he corrected seeming offended

"I mean it's still a wedding even if you call it otherwise" I murmured with the intent that he hears since I clearly don't have enough balls to say it confidently to him

"Can you define a wedding?" he said his brows raised as if I just challenged or crossed a line, I know there is fear Inside of me, intimidated by his aura, his cold hard icy gaze, and his perfect posture but at the time, a fight within me wanting to dominate with word fight, I love to think I am not a coward when it comes to defending myself but I know I am no match for this man especially when it's seems like he is in control of my life.

"A wedding is usually a marriage celebration..." I paused realizing that I wasn't so right, the side of his lips curled into a smirk

"I love to see that you aren't as daft as I deemed, good that you realize fast enough," he said

"Then it's a marriage still," I said feeling insulted, to be honest, I am surprised that I am doing this instead of letting him just go on his way

"Where was this attitude the night before lady?" he asked with a frown

"Let me remind you that marriage or not I am paying you for it so it's still a sham," He said with an intimidating aura before excluding himself, before I knew it I was fuming, mad angry ready to shout but I have to remind myself

"Don't be ahead of yourself, you need him" I don't know how but I need him, this whole mess I got myself into, I really shouldn't have signed that stupid contract, never sign a contract in the state of fear and confusion.

As I arrived in the living room, he was still there.

"Sir, can I help you with that?" A girl in a maid costume different from the one I had seen before said, while I couldn't read his expression, he did allow her to help with the tie, she was giggly and had a shaky hand but still managed to get it done

"Here you go, sir," she said bowing to him, Immediately I rolled my eyes he caught me making me freeze up, he looked me up and down before heading out the door.

I watched as the older woman from yesterday appeared from nowhere and smacked the girl at the back of her head

"Know your place, Carolina," she said to the girl living me livid

"Ouch" the girl winced in pain holding the back of her head

"How dare you do that in front of the master's new lady," she said turning to look at me, huh? What? Why bring me into this

"What?" I said awkwardly meeting the eyes of the others including the girl that was smacked

"You are awake mi lady," the girl from yesterday said bowing slightly completely freaking me out, the other woman smiled warmly before approaching me

"I can not believe a day like this will finally come, a day my young master will bring home a wife, I knew the moment I met you that there was something different about you, I was overjoyed when he shared the news with me," she said beaming with joy,

I literally have no words, in the contract it clearly says nondisclosure to anybody but I didn't know it involved the household as well, as she continued to talk I could already see some gathering together to murmur their thoughts and confusion

"Your hands are super warm," I said trying to swell from the overwhelming compliment on my appearance

"oh is it? It's not as warm as you my dear" she said "Finally this household has a hold to it, the warmth it has been lacking, a woman's touch" she continued, I don't know what she is on about but nothing is lacking about this house, everything is in place in fact the only thing out of place is me, I am sure the maids are much more worth more than me, when the fabric of their material screams luxurious

And I am sure if this woman knows how poor and wretched I am, she would stop gushing me with these praises and if Maximilian knows of how poor I am, I know he wouldn't have wanted to make me a surrogate for his kids.

"From now on, I am no longer the person in charge of the household but her, her ladyship, that is young master's order" My jaw literary dropped, non of this was In the contract just like the marriage thing wasn't in the contract.

I have been made to do lots of things in my life but an acting wife is far from the things I ever thought I will have to deal with. The knock on the door interrupted my thoughts, I immediately took fast strides to open the door

"Good morning," Nathaniel said standing by the door with Carolina carrying with her things I recognize to be bathroom wares,

"I came to fetch you" he announced

"This is for you, ma'am," Carolina said with a condescending look, I am so familiar with that look that I recognize it anyway no matter how you try to hide it, I got it a lot from people for no reason,

"I will join you soon," I said to Nathaniel as I stretched my hands to grab the stuff from Carolina, she walked herself in, and like I guessed when I looked up at Nathaniel to know if he caught on to what was happening, he had no idea, he was just looking at his wrist, one thing I love about being a woman is my gut feeling, sometimes it's too slow to catch on but when it does come fast it is super fast

I guess it's her job to serve me since I am supposedly the wife, but walking in like that and brushing her shoulders against mine was uncalled for.

"It seems you came with nothing," she said carelessly placing the towels into a rack while I stood by the door of the closet looking at her, I swear I never catch a break

"Yes I didn't," I said

"I wonder why? Because you won't be staying long? Young Master never brings home a woman so..." oh now I see where her tone is coming from

"What makes you think I wouldn't stay long?" I asked her, the sharp tongue-fighting spirit in me unable to just shut up

"I'm just saying," she said looking my outfit up and down, I get that the outfit I wore isn't poor at all but compared to this house and the kind of wealth I suspect this man has, the outfit might be called shabby

"Do ask for me if you need anything, Ma'am" she said with a slight bow walking off with her shoulders raised, I can see clearly the shade but what exactly was the reason for all that, something about her left a sour taste in my mouth or maybe the fact I haven't brushed my teeth, either of those.

One thing was clear the room I will now be calling mine hasn't been used in a long time or even before because there is nothing I can use there at all, except luxury decor and bedding.

The ride to the mall gave me anxiety, do I just tell him I don't have a card or cook up something or just tell him the truth, I mean I feel more comfortable with Nathaniel than whatever his name was. The girl from yesterday sat close to me, Nathaniel said somebody to help carry things, which things? I swear this is a nightmare.

I expected he would live us at the entrance but he followed us inside,

"Oh you are here, is that her?" a young lady dressed in office attire with a nicely styled bun approached us with a smile, she looked me up and down but not in a bad way which still made me self conscious

"The size you gave was perfect," She said smiling at Nathaniel

"Take good care of her then," he said as the lady got a hold of my hand, dragging me to her, all through panicking I inhaled sharply trying to compose myself and force a smile as she dragged me into a room filled with outfits, good thing the maid followed behind, for the first time she smiled which made me relax a bit.

"You have no idea how honored I am to be able to dress, the woman of the most powerful man in town" the lady whispered all smiles and giggly

"Omg, I can't wait to show you my collections when I received the call yesterday I thought I was dreaming" she continued while I just listened confused, Maybe me not knowing who Maximilian is was indeed a reason to be mad about, with the way she talks about it, is he really a celebrity?, but this morning he seemed like an office worker.

"What is the name of your maid, help me with that darling," the lady said

"I am Cecilia," she replied with a smile bringing over the magazine and looking at the woman as if in awe of her

"Have we met before you look familiar?" The lady asked

"Yes, last year you gave me your autograph at the..."

"Oh you are a fan" The lady cut her short with a smile while I just stared trying to grasp my confusion, first and foremost who on earth I'm I involved with, that I got to wear clothes handpicked by a woman who seems like a celebrity, I should have known immediately I saw her, she had the face of a star even with how simple her outfit seems.