CHAPTER 5: A Simple Flutter

The first thing Rosa noticed when she woke up was silence. Not the kind she was used to in the muffled peace of her aunt’s old house, but a heavy, expensive silence.

It filled every inch of the room like air.

For a moment, she forgot where she was. Then her eyes caught the pale gold curtains, the ornate ceiling, the cream walls and the faint scent of rose from the fresh flowers Mrs. Dill must’ve replaced earlier.

Rose…

Rosa

A blush crept to her cheeks as she smiled at his thoughtfulness.

Her life had always been small, one bed-roomed apartments, shared buses. And yet, here she was, surrounded by marble and crystal, waking up as Mrs. Wade. Even if only on paper.

The clock on her nightstand read 6 : 42 A.M. She’d barely slept, but there was no going back now.

A knock sounded at the door.

“Mrs. Wade?” Mrs. Dill’s calm voice floated through.

“Would you like breakfast in your room or the garden?”

Rosa blinked. Breakfast in the garden. 

The phrase felt foreign on her tongue. Like… it had some royal allure to it.

“Um… the garden, please.”

“Very good, ma’am.”

The word ma’am made her cringe a little.

“Uh, Mrs. Dill?” She called out.

“Yes?”

“Could you maybe… not call me that? Just Rosa is fine.”

It made her feel too…. entitled.

A faint smile spread across her face.

“As you wish, Rosa.”

The garden was impossibly beautiful that morning. Rosa was enthralled at the view of lush flowers and shrubs. She would never get tired of gazing at this view.

A small round table had been set beneath a white canopy. Set for two.

Rosa frowned slightly. “Two?”

“Mr. Wade always takes breakfast outside when he’s not at the office,” Mrs. Dill explained, placing a tray down.

“I assumed you’d join him.”

Rosa’s heart gave a traitorous flutter as she forced a smile. “Oh. Right.”

As if summoned, Alexander appeared a moment later, walking down the stone steps with his usual quiet precision. It was as if he calculated every single action he took. He was in a white shirt, sleeves rolled up, no tie this time. A few buttons undone at the top revealed a hint of collarbone. Casual, but still immaculate. And then the thought of him being shirtless flashed in her mind.

A sudden choked cough from her startled the woman standing by her side.

“Are you okay, Rosa?“

Rosa smiled slightly with a nod as she cleared her throat.

Dear Lord.

“Good morning,” he greeted simply.

“Morning,” Rosa replied, trying to sound casual as she lifted her cup of coffee.

“You’re up early.” She took a sip and her brows lifted at its warm refreshing taste.

“I always am,” he said, taking the seat across from her. “Discipline doesn’t wait for sunrise.”

Rosa bit back a smile. “Of course it doesn’t.”

He raised a brow. “Was that sarcasm, Mrs. Wade?”

“Only a little, Mr. Wade,” she admitted shyly.

A pause. Then unbelievably, his lips curved upwards. “Noted.”

Rosa blinked. Was that… a smile? From him?

They ate mostly in silence after that . The breakfast consisted of eggs, toast, and coffee that tasted far too rich to be normal. But the silence between them wasn’t as sharp as before. It felt almost comfortable - almost.

After a few minutes, he said, “You’ll meet the members officially tomorrow evening. I’ve instructed Mrs. Dill to prepare your schedule.”

“Schedule?” Rosa repeated, nearly choking on her coffee.

“You’re my wife now,” he said plainly.

Rosa's heart twirled. Wife.

“At least in the public eye”, he continued, “You’ll be expected to accompany me to certain events, host small luncheons, attend charity galas.”

Rosa stared. “Charity galas? I’m still trying to figure out how to use the cutlery”.

“Then you’ll learn.” His said matter-of-factly. Not in an unkind way.

She set her cup down. “You really think I can pull this off?”

Doubt had started to creep into her mind.

He met her eyes steadily. “You wouldn’t be here if I didn’t.”

Her eyes went to him immediately as he stared. The words shouldn’t have meant much, but they landed softly in her chest.

A compliment. From Alexander Wade.

Maybe she really was in another world.

After breakfast, Alexander rose from the table. “I’ll be in my study until noon,” he said, checking his watch. “You’re free until then. Explore the grounds if you’d like. Within reason.”

“Within reason?” she teased. “Am I a guest or a trespasser?” She chuckled slightly.

He glanced back with a faint smirk. “That depends on which rooms you decide to wander into.”

And just like that, he was gone, his tall figure retreating into the sunlight.

Rosa found herself smiling before she realized it.

She spent the next hour exploring. The house felt like a maze of perfection; polished floors, gleaming portraits, and hallways that whispered wealth. Her eyes caught a mysterious looking door. It was the only one painted white. She looked around, checking if anyone was watching, and when she thought the coast was free, she hopped in.

A gasp escaped her lips as she stared at the room full of Victorian paintings. Her eyes raked in the sight and she squealed as she ran to admire each and every one of them after closing the door shut.

Around noon, she decided to return to her room after feeding her eyes enough. As she passed the staircase, a voice called from below suddenly, making her flinch.

“Rosa.”

She turned. Alexander stood at the base of the stairs, one hand in his pocket, watching her intently like she was a prey in the den of a predator.

“Yes?” she asked, pulse quickening.

“I was told you’ve been wandering,” he said, though his tone was more amused than stern.

“I was exploring,” she corrected, raising an index finger in the air.

He walked up a few steps, closing the distance between them.

“Exploring implies curiosity. That can be dangerous in this house.”

“Dangerous?” she repeated, half smiling. “What’s dangerous here? The polished floors, the paintings or the antique vases?”

He stopped a step below her, so they were nearly eye level. His voice dropped slightly, barely above a whisper.

“You’d be surprised how fragile things can be when they look perfect.”

The words lingered in the air, heavier than they should’ve been. Rosa swallowed. “You’re not talking about furniture…are you?” Her voice came out stifffened.

His gaze held hers for a beat too long.

Then he smiled faintly. “Maybe not.”

Before she could respond, he stepped past her, the faint scent of his cologne brushing her skin. Her heart betrayed her by beating just a little faster. And immediately, her hands flew to her mouth as she stood rooted, feeling giddy.