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I smile at him through my outrage and place my palm on his chest, feeling his muscles tense underneath my touch. “I’m not yours yet, Alexander.”
He grits his teeth, clearly disliking my answer. “But you will be. Soon, you will be, Elena.” He smiles as he traces his index finger over my lips. “Resist all you want, fight me, deny it… but in the end, it’ll be my name on your lips when I make you come—again.”
He takes a step away, his body still radiating with anger. “I’ll warn you now. I won’t tolerate rumors about you. You’d better stay the fuck away from my brother. Betray me, Elena, and it’ll be your mother’s life you’re risking.”
I look at him with barely contained resentment. He’s just like every other man in my life—revelling in my helplessness. I hate that I’ve been reduced to this, yet I have no other choice. If I want to save my mother’s life and provide her with the care she needs, I’ll have to be whatever Alexander asks me to be.
My shoulders sag and he smiles at me, no doubt enjoying his silent victory. Everything is a game to men like him.
“We’ll get married tomorrow,” he says, his eyes dark.
“What?Tomorrow?”
“No point in delaying. Let’s get the paperwork out of the way, so I can formally start providing for both you and your mother. I want you out of that waitressing job you’re doing, and I definitely want you out of the sketchy apartment you live in. If you’re going to be my wife, we need to start fixing your image immediately.”
I look away, resentment and embarrassment melting together, adding to my indignation. It seems like his background check was quite thorough. He even knows I was unable to find a corporate job.
“A guest room has been prepared for you, but I expect you to move your stuff into my bedroom tomorrow.”
He looks at me, his eyes dropping to my lips. “Tonight is all you have to change your mind, Elena. Tomorrow afternoon, I’m making you my wife. Instead of selling your body at Vaughn’s, you’ll be selling it to me. Think it through carefully, because from tomorrow onward, you’ll be mine.”
His gaze lingers on my lips, and for a second I think he’s going to bridge the distance between us to kiss me, but then his expression hardens and he takes a step away.
He walks towards the stairs, pausing midway. “Oh, and Elena?” he says, turning back to look at me. “I’m taking you bare. Get on the pill if you don’t want children yet. The first time I fuck you, I want to feel all of you.”
He smiles and walks away, leaving me standing here in shock.
I can’t believe I’m marrying him…tomorrow.
Chapter 14
Elena
The whole ceremony was a blur. Alexander took me to City Hall, and we walked out a few minutes later with our marriage certificate in hand. He’s nothing if not efficient. The entire process was mechanical and impersonal. I don’t know what I was expecting, but this isn’t really it.
I look down at my outfit. I didn’t have time or money to buy anything special, and I don’t even own a white dress. Instead, I’m wearing black formal pants and a white blouse—my job interview outfit. It’s the nicest thing I own. Besides, I guess it’s only fitting that I wore black to start this soulless marriage with. Alexander doesn’t say a word to me as he walks back to his limousine, he’s lost in thought as much as I am.
“I’m going to be busy for at least the next couple of days. Keep to our agreement: don’t interfere with my private life unnecessarily, and I won’t interfere with yours.”
I nod and swallow down the lump in my throat. This feels so wrong. What have I done? What was I thinking?
I shake away my thoughts as Alexander opens the door for me. I sit down and nod at the driver, surprised to find that there’s a woman I don’t recognize sitting next to him. Alexander joins me, ignoring both of them. He reaches for the bag in the seat opposite me. It wasn’t there when we left the car earlier.
The woman turns to look at us and nods at me. “Good afternoon, Mrs. Kennedy. Congratulations. My name is Alice Porter. I’m Alexander’s secretary.”
I’m startled, and it takes me a good ten seconds to realize that it’s me she’s talking to.I’mMrs. Kennedy now, and the sound of it sends a thrill down my spine. I nod at her and paste my most polite smile onto my face.
“Nice to meet you, Ms. Porter.”
She shakes her head and smiles at me. “Please, call me Alice.” Alice is a beautiful, sophisticated lady. Short, perfectly straight blonde hair falls just above her shoulder, and her makeup is flawless. I think she’s probably around Alexander’s age, maybe a little older. I listen as she walks Alexander through his schedule for the upcoming week. When he said he’ll be busy, that was clearly an understatement.
He opens the bag in his lap while she talks and takes out a new mobile phone. He unboxes it and starts playing around with it. I watch as he uses the phone to ring himself with, and then hangs up. He hands it to me and grabs his own.
He starts typing on his phone, and a few seconds later the phone in my hand vibrates. I see an incoming message fromHusband. Why didn’t he just program himself in as Alexander?
Husband:This is your new phone. It’s fully encrypted using our company’s latest technology. You’ll find a new laptop and tablet in the bag too. They’re similarly encrypted. It’s important that you use only technology provided by me. Corporate espionage is a serious issue that we’ve been battling, and you’ll become a target soon.
I type a reply and hit send.
