Alina
"Aren't you excited?" Millie decided to speak after observing me for a couple of minutes. She was careful in phrasing her sentence, knowing that I don't really like people disturbing me at my little corner table situated on the balcony connected to my room. I was drafting out a chapter for my upcoming book with my feet tucked under my hips, on the comfy bean bag. The evening was quiet, yet enchanting, as I took some sips from the coffee mug resting beside me on the table. My glasses were hanging a little low on my nose as I continued pressing the keys on my laptop, earning little clicking sounds.
"Excited about what?" I didn't bother looking up from the screen. Millie and I were cousins. She was the daughter of my only uncle. She was two years younger than me and I could say we were a little close. Or maybe that's what I made her believe, because I never got close to anyone. Not even family. Mom was out of the picture when she died in an accident and I was only three. After that, I was brought up by nannies and maids. Well, dad was a businessman. And his business was all that mattered to him. So losing his wife meant nothing to him, and in his race to flourish the business and become the best, he lost me as well.
"The marriage..Alina?" Millie hesitated.
"What is so exciting about it? Care to explain?" I shut the flap of my laptop to finally face her and crossed my arms over my chest. She was the only company I had, ever since I gained a sense of my surroundings. That's because uncle would leave her off at our house often to deal with business alongside dad. Aunt Benny, Millie's mother, died due to breast cancer five years ago. Since then, she's been coming a lot to me. Well, she says I'm the only other girl she knows in the family. And it wouldn't be wrong if I said the same. Because dad and uncle never let us out too much. We had to get permission to go anywhere, and that, too, only if it was utterly important. But it still didn't stop me from having my flings here and there and losing my virginity. What can we say? I was quite the rebel in my teenage years. Having a strict father only ever elevated it more. I found a thrill in going against the rules. But not anymore, when I started finding my solace in reading and writing. A temporary escape from the harsh reality of my life.
For the rest of our things, they were delivered to the doorstep, so we didn't really go shopping either. Dad was successful in flourishing his business. Well, at least way more than an average person, and it wouldn't be wrong to say he qualified on the state millionaire's list. Until recently, it all went down the drain because of a stupid decision which crippled and drowned him in debt. And now, to fix his mistake, he was using his only daughter as a pawn in his plan.
He decided to sign off a deal with his biggest business rival to bring him out of the debt.
Theodore Maxwell
One of the youngest, most eligible business tycoons to exist. Well, not all of it was his hard work. Some credit did go to his father for stabilizing his empire, but he has to be credited for giving it a push to elevate it to a level that was out of reach for any average civilian. By making him a partner, and signing 50% shares in his name, dad was going to be successful in floating back. And to top it all, Theodore called the price so low, he agreed in a heartbeat.
Marriage with me.
Yes, I was never worth anything to my father. He made it clear many times.
"I just…why don't you say no?"
"You tell me? Can I?" Welcome to the Roosevelt family, where the ladies, or even us kids, had literally no say in front of our fathers. From a very early age, all the rules were made crystal clear to us. And Lord help us, if we dare to defy them.
She sighed, knowing there was nothing that could be done. "But you can make it work out right? Your marriage. I mean, obviously, there is no love because you guys don't know each other. But it's hard not to fall in love with you once someone gets to know you. And maybe you could even have your happily ever after with him!" She was trying to cheer me up. She gave me too much credit for my beauty. I liked to think I was a little above average, but nothing close to a Victoria Secret model. She begged to differ, saying with my burgundy hair and hazel eyes, there was hardly anyone who could match my aura. As if!
"Although I'm the writer here, it seems you like to create some fantasies even I can't manage to write. Grow up, this is real life."
****
"Do you, Alina Roosevelt, take Theodore Maxwell as your husband?"
"I do," my words were emotionless as I stared at particularly nothing. My engagement ring and wedding dress were delivered by Theo's men yesterday. The dress was beautiful, I couldn't deny it. A long flowy mermaid gown with a deep floral neckline. But the weight it carried in this situation was choking me, almost making me feel breathless. This marriage of convenience, the facade of happiness I was forced to wear, made me feel sick.
"Do you, Theodore Maxwell, take Alina Roosevelt as your wife?"
"I do," I heard his stern yet velvety voice pierce my ears. There it goes, this emotionless, workaholic, intimidating, hulk of a robot was now my husband. One thing I knew about him: he was ruthless in the business world and never played fair. How to turn the opponent's life upside down was a skill that came naturally to him. As if he was born with it. How in the hell did I even end up being his wife?
"You may now kiss the bride." Here was the moment I was dreading. He abruptly turned me to face him and it was the first time I had been looking up at him this close. It was only now I took in his features and couldn't deny it, he was very easy on the eyes. Very pleasing, very appealing. Gray eyes that radiated confidence, his chiseled jaw carved to perfection, sharp features, everything about him screamed handsome.
He dipped his face and for a moment I thought he was going to kiss me, but I was thankful when his lips touched my cheeks, just next to my lips, and that was enough to give the impression that they in fact met my lips. The crowd was small since only close family and business friends were invited, but the cheers that erupted made me think if more people had joined. I saw dad from the corner of my eye meeting his business associates with a victory smile on his face, while Millie gave me a look of sympathy. Well there was nothing much that could be done now anyway. My life was signed away.
Theodore That motherfucker actually had the audacity to think he would get anything out of this deal? How fucking foolish! I'll make sure to bring him to the lowest pit of hell after giving him a taste of what it feels like to mess with me. I was Theodore Maxwell! How in the hell could he think even for a second that he could escape my wrath for trying to cheat me! Of course, he couldn't even achieve his goal to begin with. His team is just like him. Sloppy and inefficient. So one call was all it took for all the investors in his company to take their money out. That's what power is and I like to make good use of it. I like to flaunt it. I like to make sure people know what it can do to them. And that call was all it took that pussy to come running to me, begging for help. I scoffed at the fact he was trying to sell me the benefits of investing in his company. What a bloody fool he was; he did not even know I was the one who brought him to meet his fate in the first place. So I ag
Theodore "Don't fucking bullshit with me, Mark! How are you even capable of being a lawyer if you can't give correct information to your client!" I threw the papers in the face of the thirty-five-year-old-man who stood in front of me in my office. "Mr. Maxwell, first, I worked for your father, which makes him my client, not you. Secondly, I am doing exactly what he asked me to do after his death. I have to follow his instructions. Moreover, these clauses are written in the will. I gave you a copy to read. Didn't you go over them?" Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Why in the fuck did I not read the details in the will and only hear the important points from his mouth? "That's not the point! You should have told me that I had to stay married to her for at least three months before I inherited the complete business! Not just state that I need a wife!" I don't know why my father even believed a woman could make me fall in love with her in three months? Like seriously? What was that old fool on? No o
Alina "Dad?" I saw him sitting with one leg propped over his other, like he owned the house. "Mia," he stood up once I entered the living room. "Sit." I followed and joined him, taking a place opposite from his position. "Theodore isn't here if you came to meet him." "I'm not here to see him. I'm here to see you." Why would he want to see me? He never really paid any visits to my room when we lived in the same house. Now he has traveled all the way up here, to see me. What does he want now? "How are you both getting along?" Why did he care? "Um. I'm not sure. I never talked to him." Why did he think that I would get along with the man who I literally met for like a total of fifteen minutes, exclusive of the time spent at our own wedding? "Well, I have to inform you that we cannot have that." What had gotten into him all of a sudden? "You need to make sure he takes a liking to you. It would be even better if you were carrying his heir by the next month or so." Was he seriou
Theodore I was fucking exhausted. My blood boiled thinking I was still not the sole owner of the company I had invested my blood and sweat in. Just thinking that it would take three more fucking months was enough to send me over the edge all over again. I took deep breaths after firing a few orders to the gate staff. I really need to calm myself down before I kill someone. "Mr, Maxwell," one of the guards bowed down before me as I slumped on the couch in the living room. "I just wanted to inform you that Mr. Roosevelt visited earlier." What the fucking was that lousy rat doing here? Did I not make it clear that I didn't want his presence in my place? Was it not enough that I already had one of his offspring strolling in my house like she is the fucking queen here? "Why?" My mood was already sour, I didn't need that fucker to make it worse. But curious is what my mind is. And the urge to keep my eyes open and know everything happening in my vicinity was hard to ignore. "He came t
Alina The next day, I was surprised to see Millie in my room, shaking me brutally out of my sleep. "Wake up Alina! It's 2pm!" I heard her piercing voice as I rolled on my bed. "What the heck?" I groaned quietly, before clamping a pillow on top of my ears to cover them and block her shrilling voice. "Come on, Alina! It's the first time I came to meet you after your wedding, and this is how you welcome me?" "Well you should have called and given me a warning then," I mumbled to myself in my groggy voice, before sitting up on the bed. "What did you say?" She asked, holding her waist. "Nothing," I moved the comforter to get out of my bed before heading to the bathroom to freshen up. After quickly brushing my teeth and washing my face, I headed out to see her sprawled on the couch in my room, like she owned it. "I've got to say, this is one freaking comfortable couch. I could spend the rest of my life lying on it." I rolled my eyes at her comment. "But Alina?" God, when wil
TheodoreDamn! This coffee. Why the fuck does she make it so good? It was so hard for me to contain my expression in front of her. Of course, I don't want to give her the idea that I like it. I can never give her satisfaction.I heard a knock on the door and Anders came into my office.“Why is Martha slacking off?” I fired immediately and he looked confused at me. Eyeing the coffee in my hand and then my face, he finally decided to say something.“Did she not make the coffee well?” He asked, scratching his head.“No. Actually she didn't make it at all. She is not present here in the first place.”“Oh,” oh? That's all he has to say?“Why wasn't I informed?”“I'm not sure, Mr. Maxwell. I didn't kn
Alina “How's your mother?” I started the conversation as Martha and I were having lunch. “She is doing better, Miss Alina. Thank you for asking.” I nodded. I was about to continue the conversation when I heard footsteps in the house. Who was here at this time? My question was answered when Theodore appeared in the kitchen’s doorway, followed by Anders holding a bag. What was he doing here so early? Like always, he had his hands tucked in his dresspants and the same hard, stoic expression plastered on his face. He looked at me before his eyes fell on Martha. “Why wasn't I informed of you leaving before work hours?” I heard Theodore's hard voice, making Martha tremble and look down. “I did inform before leaving, Mr Maxwell,” she said timidly, looking at her feet. This obnoxious man was scaring her for no reason when I clearly told him that it was a family emergency. “Yeah? Who exactly?” He took a step forth to intimidate her further. Was he seriously doing this? For what reaso
Alina Silence enveloped us as I got into the luxurious Limousine. I swear, this guy was just so extra. We would have reached just fine in any small car to our venue. But now that I think about it, he wouldn't have a normal Toyota standing in his garage anyway. I had an idea it would be full of BMWs, Audis, Ferraris and Lambos. Is there any brand I'm missing? If yes, then add it to the list. I heaved a sigh, looking out of the window as the driver drove in silence. I felt Theodore’s gaze pinning me at intervals, since he was sitting beside me on the same seat, just with a little gap. But did I look back at him to let him know I was aware? No. I don't want to make things more awkward than they already are. Which still reminds me of my unanswered question. Why the heck did I have to go with him anyway? Guess I'll never know. The drive ended and I had no clue of my surroundings, of where we were currently. I was about to open the door, when I felt a hand grabbing my wrist and stoppi