Emilia walked into a garage with a few cars in a neat line. She watched Christopher walk up to his car, the one she saw him pick up the keys for a few times already, but the car itself was not quite what she envisioned.
"That's unexpected." Emilia said with a smile. Christopher looked over his shoulder and at her with something inexplicable in his eye, a worry that maybe she didn't consider his choice up to her standard.
"I do apologise. It's not the most luxurious car. I'll get the keys for Bentley." He turned around ready to walk back towards the manor.
"Absolutely not. This is great." Emilia waved her hand and walked up to the most ordinary car. Christopher hesitated before he unlocked the door. Emilia sat down in the passenger seat feeling quite alien in this situation. "It's just unexpected."
"Why?" Christopher asked as he sat in the driver's seat. Emilia's heart was pounding as she realised the proximity to Christopher. His arm was mere millimetres from her thigh as he placed it on the gear stick.
"Your watch costs more than this car. I am curious about your financial priorities, that's all." Emilia explained trying to hide her feelings and bury them deep within. She turned her burning face away as she buckled up.
"My financial decisions lie within practicality and function. And yes, I have one dress watch that is about quadruple the price of this car. And then I have a fancy car which is used for the public image. But for myself, I do not care." He explained as he started settling into the seat and buckling up himself.
"Do you care about the public image then?"
"I wouldn't say that I care in a way that most people do. Part of the business is to move around in the circles where people care about these things. I care about my business, which perpetuates a cycle. I buy things depending on the benefit it brings me." Christopher looked to the side as Emilia looked out of the window. She noticed his glance in a reflection and looked at him with her stunning smile. "I feel like you judge me."
"I do." Emilia admitted.
"Oh."
"I've never said that it was a negative judgment."
Christopher turned on the engine and a loud music blasted through the speakers. It was the very same song that she heard when Patrick picked her up months earlier from her apartment.
"Sorry." Christopher mumbled as he quickly tried to turn the music off. As expected, his panic made it difficult for him to turn it off in the timely manner.
"Leave it on." Emilia instructed him, but she lowered the volume slightly. "Has Mr Cosby driven this car?"
"No." Christopher furrowed his brows as he started to drive. "Why the question?"
"I've heard this song in the car he drove before."
"No, he is not a huge fan of MCR. It would've been me listening to it."
"Still in your emo kid phase?"
"Again, I feel severely judged by you."
"I did say that I was judging you." Emilia smiled at him again. "I am still in MCR phase myself."
"Then yes. I am still in my emo kid phase."
"And suddenly you became that bit more attractive." Emilia shook her head. Christopher looked briefly side ways in disbelief.
"Do you think me attractive?"
"Wow, coming on strong!" Emilia gasped at which Christopher laughed. He felt all fuzzy inside with Emilia joking and teasing and being right next to him.
"You're my wife. I don't think it'll change it, would it?"
"With the amount of money you have, you could look like an ogre and I'd still marry you."
"You know what's funny? You say things like this and that you're doing it for money, but you are yet to use it. Your actions don't match up to your words."
"I've used some already, thank you."
"You used £10'000 out of over £30 million. That's hardly anything."
"Are you monitoring my spendings?"
"Somewhat. I do not care what it is you spend it on. I just check it occasionally to make sure that your account has sufficient funds."
"And me saying that it is aplenty isn't sufficient?"
"I feel like you wouldn't ask even if you wanted something."
"And what shall I spend that money on?"
"You're into business now, start your own company, or a charity, or invest in assets. Buy a yacht or a mansion." Christopher suggested as his gaze was fixed on the road. Emilia smiled as she watched him. Her insides felt warm, comfortable, in his presence. He made her feel like everything was going to be alright forever more, aside of the fact that it wasn't going to be forever more.
"Shall I have my own mansion then? Is that a hint that you'd like me to move out?"
"No. I was thinking of a vacation home."
"And where should that be?"
"Near the coast, or in the Alps? Morning coffee with that kind of view must taste much better than with the English countryside."
"I like the English countryside. Especially if it has a statue on display."
"You've said that you liked it."
"I did." Emilia nodded. "Hang on, is that why you bought it?"
"Mostly, yes."
"Unbelievable." She shook her head. Her phone vibrated which reminded her of another matter that she was postponing. She took it out and messaged Grace apologising for going AWOL.
"You're frowning. What's the matter?"
"I think I've upset my friend, Grace."
"Grace?"
"Grace Bleam."
"Ah, yes."
"I was meant to go to the fundraiser with her and that's when… when I was abducted. I haven't had a chance to explain yet."
"I'm sure that she'll understand."
"It'll be harder to explain this." Emilia waved at Christopher clearly meaning him.
"Yeah. I'm not sure how to explain the whole fake-wife and husband thing either." Christopher smiled.
"Somewhat fake. It's not like it's fake-fake." Emilia tilted her head in thought. "Like, beside the paper, there's nothing between us."
"We have a dog." Christopher poured his lower lip as he shrugged. Emilia looked at him truly amused by that statement. She opened her mouth to say a counter argument but she couldn't. They've had a dog.
"I suppose that we do." She agreed, the realisation dawning at once. "We live together."
"That's true."
"Those are like big relationship milestones."
"And so is marriage."
"Yeah."
Emilia went silent.
"What's the matter?"
"What is your favourite colour?"
"What?" Christopher glanced over in confusion.
"What is your favourite colour?"
"Black."
"That checks out."
"Yours?"
"Blue."
"I see." Christopher nodded. "Does the knowledge of my favourite colour satisfy you?"
"I feel this is one of those things a pretend wife should know."
"I thought birthday or a place of birth would be more important."
"18th November 1994 in Newcastle." Emilia recited. Christopher furrowed his brows.
"How do you know this?"
"I had to go through multi stage selection process to be your wife." Emilia smiled in self satisfaction. "But your favourite colour wasn't in any of the documents I've got my hands on."
"I suppose I ought to know those things too."
"My birthday is…."
"15th May 1996. You were born in a small town near Southampton."
"You did your research."
"I have seen your application."
"And you remembered it from that?"
"Uh-huh." Christopher would never admit the sheer amount of times he read through her file. Emilia didn't enquire further as they've arrived in the city. She watched the skyscrapers with admiration and wonder up until Christopher drove into an underground car park.