All Chapters of married for show : Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

RUBY'S POVUp close, Alexander Ray was even more attractive than he looked in pictures. It was almost unfair. As the music shifted to a slow, sweeping melody, he began walking toward me. It was time for our first dance.He moved with an effortless, striking grace. He seemed to act gently as he took my hand, but I wasn't fooled; it was probably just an act for the hundreds of cameras flashing around the ballroom. He slid his free hand around my waist, his long fingers pressing into the fabric of my dress, and pulled me closer.Instantly, I was hit by his scent. It was a rich, masculine musk that practically screamed old money and expensive woodsmoke. My breath hitched. I looked up, but his blue eyes were so incredibly bright and expressive that I instantly panicked. Whoa. I couldn't look him in the eye. It felt like he was looking right through me."You can relax, Ruby," he finally spoke, his deep baritone cutting through the fog in my head. "I'm your husband now.""I am relaxed," I sh

ALEX'S POVThe glass doors of Ray Enterprises parted smoothly as I stepped into the lobby. The atmosphere was exactly how I liked it—sharp, corporate, and efficient. I bypassed the elevators and headed straight up to the executive suite."Good morning, Mr. Ray. And congratulations," Liv Walker, my assistant of three years, greeted me with a polite smile the second I stepped out. She immediately handed me my dark morning coffee."Thank you, Liv," I murmured.I pushed open the heavy oak doors to my private office, only to stop in my tracks. My usually pristine leather sofa was completely buried under an avalanche of designer flower arrangements, extravagant gift baskets, and glossy congratulatory cards. The entire business world was celebrating the Wedding of New York. Before I could even set my briefcase down, my office door swung open without a knock."The newly wedded man of New York!" James announced, sauntering into the room with a massive grin on his face. Honestly, he was signifi

ALEX'S POVIt was past two in the morning, and the numbers on my laptop screen had long since blurred into an unreadable mess.I threw my glasses onto the mahogany desk in the west wing study, rubbing the bridge of my nose. It was useless. For the past three hours, I had tried to review the merger files for Ray Enterprises, but my mind was completely compromised. Every time I closed my eyes, all I could see was Ruby falling into my lap on the jet—the scent of her, the feel of her soft sweater under my palms, and the way her vibrant green eyes had looked at me with that maddening mixture of defiance and vulnerability.Frustrated with my own lack of control, I ripped off my shirt, shoved my hands into the pockets of my dark trousers, and stepped out onto the balcony to let the cool Mediterranean breeze clear my head.The estate was silent, the moonlight casting long, silver shadows across the stone terrace below. I let my gaze wander down toward the edge of the cliff where the massive i

ALEX'S POVThe aroma waking me up at eight in the morning wasn't the standard, sterile scent of the villa's professional catering. It was warm, savory, and distinctly rich—the smell of melted butter, seasoned eggs, and fresh herbs.I rolled out of bed, threw on a charcoal-grey cashmere sweater and dark jeans, and followed my nose down to the rustic French kitchen.Ruby was there. She was humming a soft, nameless tune, her vibrant ginger hair tied up in a loose, messy bun with a few stray curls framing her face. She wore an oversized white linen shirt over denim shorts, looking completely at home as she deftly flipped a classic French omelet in a copper skillet. Beside her, a stack of perfectly golden, fluffy pancakes sat warming, next to a bowl of fresh, macerated Riviera strawberries."You're up," she said, glancing over her shoulder with a bright, easy smile. "Sit. I hope you're hungry. My dad taught me how to cook, and he always said a vacation doesn't truly start until you've had

​ALEX'S POVKnowing the sheer scale of the estate, we didn't need to wait for a delivery driver to navigate the winding roads of Nice to bring us junk food. The villa's pantry was permanently stocked for every imaginable craving. The moment we crossed the threshold back into the warmth of the grand foyer, Ruby took absolute control, her inner diva effortlessly directing the household without losing a single ounce of her playful energy."Monique," Ruby called out, her voice smooth and carrying that regal authority that was becoming entirely natural to her. "Could you please have the sitting room set up with the plush blankets, the oversized pillows, and snacks? Popcorn, crisps, whatever chocolate we have. We're setting up for a long night."Monique glanced at me, a brief, surprised smile twitching at the corner of her lips before she bowed her head. "Right away, Madame Ray. I will see to it immediately."Ruby turned back to me, pointing a manicured finger at my chest with a challengin