As I walked out of the comfort room, I noticed Miss Evelyn was waiting for me. When the courthouse door opened and Aleksei was ready to go, she put her hand on my back to console me and assist me to my car. I averted my attention from him.
My driver drove back to my house when we got in the car. It's only the first day, yet that's how I started my morning, and it's already draining me. I don't even have the energy to respond to Miss Evelyn's query about whether I'll cancel my plans for today because there are crucial things I shouldn't have missed but decided to overlook.
I enter my room—our former shared chamber. I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling for a few moments while my tears flowed once again.
How did we realise we were in love with each other again?
Isn't this a bed as well?
Aleksei and I have separate rooms. This is the master bedroom, which is where we should be staying. but because we didn't mind each other in the beginning of our marriage. As a result, he remained in a separate room, two rooms away from me.
I recall it's been 6 months since we got married, and both of us started to become close since we have to act like a lovey-dovey couple outside of this house and whenever my father comes to see us. We both work for the same firm; Aleksei works for me as I am the CEO, and he assists me with money.
"The Brunei stock market appeared to be dropping; should we withdraw our investment?" I wondered as I reviewed the news. It's been over a month and nothing has changed or improved.
"Hey, I need your opinion," I said, repeating myself. I knew he wasn't sleeping since he snores at least twice every 4 minutes while he sleeps. How did I find out? He once fell asleep on a work trip to Vegas, which was lovely.
I asked him again and didn't get an answer, and I'm starting to feel annoyed because if it's about business, I want to conclude everything right away, but he's acting like a brat today, which is charming of him.
"Alek, what's your-woah!" While I stood by the bed, he drew me in, moving me to where I was now lying, and he was on top of me, trapping both of my wrists as he frowned at me. "What are you up to?"
"Who is that guy?"
"Huh...?" I was confused by his coldly phrased query.
"That man who brought you those filthy tulips," he said, referring to the flowers in the vase that had been placed in the drawer opposite my bed from a bouquet earlier.
"Oh, he's a friend of mine."
"How long have you been friends?" His face was so close to mine that I gulped.
"Since high school."
"And why did he feel the need to bring you flowers?"
"I don't know." I really don't know, and he simply showed up earlier to talk to me. Because his family is a family friend, I entertain him. "Perhaps he knows that I adore tulips, and they're blooming now; he's a good buddy, right?"
He didn't say anything and simply gazed at me. As I began to feel heated, I averted his looks. Was the thermostat set too high? I recall it being properly set. I began to assume it was because we were so close, and I attempted to run, but Aleksei refused.
"What... What is he to you?" he said this time, his face solemn.
I didn't respond to him. I'm not sure how to respond, but that question causes my heart to skip a beat, till it beats so quickly that I think Aleksei feels it from my wrist, and it causes his cheeks to flush before he lets go of me and gets off the bed.
I sit up and stare at him, breathing heavily. I see how red his ears are when he turns his back on me. I don't think it's because my room suddenly became warm. He's acting as though he's not getting himself together right now.
"You will not take half of it if you pull it out; you will simply squander the company's money if its stock market rises in the following several days," he said firmly, his back to me. In my opinion, this is not the appropriate approach to respond to your boss.
"All right then," I answered, and was ready to walk to my laptop to revoke the withdrawal from the investment when Aleksei spoke out again.
"Do you want us to have dinner outside?" I know he wanted to look at me when he asked, but he didn't.
"It's not a flawed idea."
"Then I'll see you later."
I merely hummed, and he headed to my office table. When I saw him take the vase out, I was prepared to protest, but he quickly left my room. I don't mind and will just finish my job before getting ready for our meal.
Aleksei and I don't normally eat or spend time outside like a husband and wife would. We do things together when it comes to work, but tonight we'll enjoy supper outside for no particular reason.
I exited my room, and he was already waiting for me outside the home entrance, where he looked so nice in his selected clothes. Before getting into the driver's seat, Aleksei opened the door for me. Before he started driving, he looked at me to see if my seatbelt was already fastened.
It wasn't as easy as I expected to get inside the restaurant. a classy meal, but it's simple and plain, but the food is delicious, so I didn't mind, and I was ready to go since we didn't converse. He's not talking to me, and I'm not going to start one either. Not until Aleksei excuses himself and returns after a minute.
"For you," he said, and handed me a bouquet of red tulips, which astonished me. "You mentioned you loved tulips, and it's fresher than the one in your room earlier," he added, and he didn't have to do that, but I took it. "Do you like them?"
"Of course, thank you," I replied as I gazed at the flowers.
"And what about me?"
"Hmm?" I look at him, and he's back in his chair. "How about you? What do you mean by that?"
His cheeks suddenly turned very crimson. Ever since, he's been perplexing me with his queries. Was he ill? I don't believe he is. Aleksei didn't answer, so we simply carried on with our dinner, which was so silent that it made me uneasy. If this is a date, it's the most boring date I've ever had.
As I gaze at the red tulips that have been put in the vase, I sigh. I look at them and can't help but feel happy simply gazing at them. My pal also brought me red roses, but I didn't feel the same way. My attention was drawn to a knock. I had to look up who it was, and it was Aleksei.
"Do you need anything?" He didn't respond, but he entered my room and sat in my bed. "Excuse me, but that is my bed."
"I recall it's also my bed; isn't this the master's bedroom?" I frown as he turns his head to me. "This is where we should be staying together."
"You have your own damn room. Get out." I grabbed his hand and attempted to drag him out. It was my bed. This was my room. I have the right to determine whether or not I want him here. I don't want him here—at least not right now because it's time for me to sleep.
"Come here," he urged, but then drew me back, and I landed on his chest. I was going to leave because I was embarrassed when he put his arms around me and wouldn't let me go.
My heart began to beat quicker than it had previously. I'm not sure if I was panicking at any point. I can feel Aleksei's chest beating in time with mine. He's breathing heavily, yet his arms are wrapped around me. They're powerful while also being soft.
The notion of striving vanished. I rested against Aleksei's chest, listening to his heartbeat as if it were music to my ears. It's not until he abruptly kisses my forehead that I realise how surprised I feel.
"Shouldn't we be sleeping in the same room now?" he questioned.
"You stated that it isn't vital."
"I retract my statement; please allow me to remain here." I had nothing to say, so Aleksei forced me to face him. "What is your response?"
"Why did you want to sleep here?" I inquired. It's not that I don't like his idea—in fact, I do—but it's so abrupt.
"Because husband and wife should sleep in the same bed," he said, which made me feel sick. Is that what they refer to as butterflies? It's strange and wonderful all at the same time.
Aleksei then cups my cheeks with his other hand. Part of me wanted to go, but another part of me was curious about what might happen next. He's odd. When I feel his kiss on my lips, I feel strange and agitated. The second kiss we share follows our wedding kiss.
"What do you think about taking things seriously now?" He said, I was puzzled. "Let's stop acting and simply be husband and wife for real." My cheeks heated up as he spoke those words, and I attempted to hide my grin, but he saw. "Let's adore each other for real this time."
"Who said I loved you?" I clicked my tongue as I leaned back into his chest, but I have a crush on him. If my firm has a high school campus set-up, he's a heartthrob and an eye-catcher. He's beautiful, clever, has class, is wealthy, and is ideal. "You don't even care about me."
"Who said I didn't?" His heartbeat quickens once again. When he giggled, I burst out laughing and buried my face in his chest. I believe he senses how quickly my heart beats. "It feels good..."
It was…
I'm about to fall asleep, but I can stop myself. Aleksei positioned me in bed sideways, facing him with his arms still wrapped around me, and he put my arm on him as if he wanted me to hug him as well, which I did.
"We should start writing our love story right away."
"You're talking gibberish."
"Why? Because if we write our tale, it will be a best-seller."
"Alek, stop."
"Alek? Let's call each other "hon or honey." I looked up at him, and he smiled warmly. "Goodnight, hon," he said, kissing my brow, which made me cover my face again, and he smiled. "That's new; my honey is fussy."
He began taunting me. Aleksei is correct; this is unexpected. I know myself well enough to realise that this is not how I behave. I always have something to say, but I can't say anything right now. Instead, I endure all of his taunting until he finally gives up and just holds me as the two of us fall asleep.
That's when he moved his belongings into my room as well, and we began sharing the room we were intended to share from the start. Aleksei becomes clingy as well, loving and watching any man who comes near me unless they are my family. He acts like a protective spouse and is covered with jealousy.
Aleksei is the mate I never imagined having.
I can't expect anything more from him.
He forced me to consider alternative viewpoints, and I forced Aleksei to talk more honestly to me. Our communication was never a problem, and it brought us closer together, which I believe is what makes a relationship stronger.
We adored each other back then, and I'm thinking about them as if they were yesterday. I've felt the love we share every day since that day.
I simply knew he'd fallen in love first, but that made me feel harder.
We need to get off to a solid start. If the book is a fairytale love story, it will be full of love and happiness, yet every book has an ending. All of our chapters are on fire.
Our love story ended fast, and it wasn't really a love story at all.