CHAPTER 4: The Terms of her New Life 2

She met Alexander again that evening. She had walked into his study unannounced and she quickly hid behind a large wooden shelve when her eyes spotted him.

His study was a grand space lined with books and glass walls overlooking the garden. Her eyes swept across the several books lined on the shelves. This would probably be her favorite place in this mansion. Her eyes went back to Alexander again.

The fading sunset casted a golden hue across his face, softening his usual severity. He looked almost…. human.

“You’re settling in?” he asked without looking up from his laptop and her cheeks flushed that he had noticed her.

Not that she was good in being discreet.

“Trying to,” she replied with an exhale.

“It’s… different.”

She walked towards him with steady steps.

He glanced at her briefly.

“Different isn’t always bad.”

“I suppose not,” she shrugged.

“But it’s still strange. All of this. The house, the staff, the contract…”

Her voice trailed. “You really think anyone would believe we’re married?”

People of the upper class weren't too easy to deceive…right?

“They won’t have to believe,” he said simply. “They’ll see what I show them.”

Rosa gave him a look. Wasn't he exuding too much confidence?

“And what about me?” she asked.

He finally looked at her, his gaze direct.

“You’ll do as I say. Smile and speak when necessary. Stay by my side during public appearances and keep your head high. You will have to look like you are beneath them, while still showing humility”.

She frowned. “You sound like you’re hiring a robot.”

“Not a robot,” he said quietly. “A partner. One who understands discretion.”

Rosa crossed her arms. “That’s not partnership. That’s performance.”

What he needed was an actress.

He leaned back in his chair, studying her with a slight narrow of his eyes.

“You aren't afraid to argue, are you?”

“Should I be?” She blurted.

His mouth twitched, almost into a smirk and Rosa's belly did a flip.

“No. It’s refreshing.”

Rosa didn’t know if that was a compliment or a warning.

A knock at the door interrupted them. Mrs. Dill appeared again.

“Sir, Mr. Donovan from the board is on line two.” She said with a slight bow.

Alexander nodded. “I’ll take it in a moment.”

He turned back to Rosa.

“We’ll have dinner together at seven. I’ll have Mrs. Dill send something appropriate for you to wear.”

Her eyebrows lifted. “Appropriate?”

She needed to dress formal? For just dinner?

“This house hosts standards,” he said simply, and that was the end of it. Rosa gaped as her eyes looked back and forth between him and Mrs. Dill. But the woman only gave her a dull glance and walked away.

By the time dinner arrived, Rosa had changed into a navy blue dress Mrs. Dill brought up. It fit perfectly. Almost too perfectly and it amazed her. How did they know her exact body measurements?

She caught her reflection in the mirror and barely recognized herself.

Her normally dull-like hair now shone with gloss. Her lips were painted a slight shade of red and her usually disorganized lashes now looked thick and long. She actually looked…pretty.

She smiled, revealing a dimple on her left cheek.

When she entered the dining hall, Alexander was already there, seated at the far end of the long table.

The table reminded her of the ones she saw in historical movies. This house must be ancient.

He rose slightly when she approached, a gesture of courtesy she hadn’t expected.

Wow, perfect gentleman.

“You look suitable,” he said. “Sit.”

Suitable.

“Thank you”, she said, taking the seat adjacent to him.

“You’re… big on formality, huh?”

He poured wine into her glass.

“Formality keeps the world from falling apart.”

“Or keeps people from getting too close,” she said before she could stop herself.

His eyes lifted, meeting her slightly shocked ones over the rim of his glass. “Both.”

She gulped and looked away.

The rest of the meal passed in careful quiet. The clinking of silverware reflected the murmur of distant rain outside.

Every time she dared to look up, she found him already watching her and her heart literally leapt to her oesophagus. She cleared her throat, shifting in her seat uncomfortably. But he didn't react, his expression was stoic.

When dinner ended, he stood up , commanding attention.

“Next tomorrow, you’ll accompany me to an event downtown. It’s a private gathering of the board members. It will be your first appearance as Mrs. Wade.”

Rosa’s fork paused. “Next tomorrow? Already?”

Wasn't it …too fast?

“Yes.” His gaze hardened slightly. “The sooner the world sees us together, the better.”

“What of your family?“ She asked gently and his eyes flew to her intensely.

“You'll meet them soon too."

She nodded, forcing her nerves down with a gulp. “And after that?”

He hesitated, then said quietly, “After that, the contract begins. For real.”

Later that night, Rosa lay in bed staring at the ceiling, listening to the soft hum of the rain against the windows. Somewhere down the hall, Alexander Wade was probably still awake, buried in work and secrets she couldn’t begin to understand. He was too distant. Not that she expected him to be fond of her but…. the air around him felt like walls had been placed so high, not even an earthquake could crumble it.

And yet, even in the quiet, she could still feel him. That magnetic, unsettling presence that filled every corner of the house, like he could see everything she did.

She turned over, pulling the duvet close to her chest, exhaling softly.

12 months. One year. That’s all there was. Twelve months of pretending, of playing a role she didn’t ask for.

But as sleep slowly claimed her, one thought refused to fade.

Pretending might be the easy part.

Not feeling anything - That was what scared her most.

Because she couldn't deny that he already an effect on her.