Reminiscing about her past would not help her situation. Yeah! They had become good friends. Even bestfriend. But that did not change the fact that he broke her heart.
However, he had presented her with an impossible decision. She could either take it or leave it. But did she truly have any other choice?
"Jill, I appreciate you taking Ty for the week." She dropped off her brother at her best friend's apartment since she could not leave him alone in their house.
Besides, Jill's place was closer to her brother's school. She would feel relaxed, knowing that Ty would be in good hands.
"Why won't you tell me where you are going? What is going on, Saige?" Her bestfriend asked, looking concerned with her sudden trip out of town.
Of course, she wanted to tell her, but she did not know how. Moreover, she was in a hurry. She knew a few minutes would not be enough to tell her friend everything.
Truthfully, she could already see how her friend would react to the news. She could already hear their conversation.
What? You got married.
When?
To who?
Have you gone insane?
How could you do this?
What? You are going on a honeymoon.
Now, you had gone bonkers.
So forth and so forth.
It would be one question after another. Even an entire day would not be enough. At that moment, she was just not up for it.
"I promise I will explain everything once I get back." Her friend would have to wait until then. Besides, she still had to figure out what she had agreed to do in this marriage.
As far as she could tell, it was still very vague. She was not a lawyer, an expert in legal matters, or well-versed in business jargon. But she could tell there was something she was missing.
"Ty, try to be good. Don't give Jill any trouble." She called out to his brother, who went straight to the living room.
She knew it had been tough for both of them since their mother died. Her brother had not been the same. It was more like he had changed.
Her brother had become more distant and aloof. It was as if he had retreated to another world where she could not reach him.
"Don't worry about Ty. I have him covered." Thankfully, Jill had a background in Psychology. Therefore, she would know how to handle her brother.
She tried to say goodbye to him, but he only nodded before he shut her out again. She wanted to think he was only being a typical teenager, but she knew it might be more than that.
"Thanks, Jill. I don't know what I will do without you." Her best friend had always been there for her through thick and thin. If not for her, she might have broken down by now.
"But call me if there is an emergency." She added as an afterthought.
"You should call me if you are in trouble." Her friend reminded her. "But anyway, I hope you know what you are doing." Her friend hugged her, but the look her friend gave her still told her that she was concerned.
"I promise you. I am not in any trouble. Just give me a week to sort this out. Then, I will tell you the whole thing." She promised again before finally walking out the door.
She knew if she did not. She might not leave at all.
But Xavier was right.
Her husband.
As much as she hated the idea, she could not deny he was her best hope. She still had the chills when she recalled what almost happened to her at the hands of Mr. Osborne.
Luckily, Xavier was there to save her. Yeah! He was her knight in shining armor that night. But she doubted he was doing it because he wanted to be her savior.
No!
She believed he had shady motives for doing this. But it had nothing to do with helping her, saving her company, or protecting her honor.
What was it? That was what she wanted to find out.
"Welcome aboard, Mrs. Lockwood. Let me show you to your seat." The stewardess politely greeted her when she arrived at the airplane.
"Where is Mr. Lockwood?" She asked, seeing that she was the only one on the plane, before settling on one of the most comfortable chairs she had ever sat on.
Talking about having only the best money could buy. Everything on the plane spoke of luxury and extravagance.
"Sir Xavier will be joining us shortly." The stunning woman answered her with a bit of familiarity in her tone. It was as if she was not just working for the man but something else.
But what did she expect from one of the wealthiest men in the city, or maybe the world? He was known to like the best, even his taste in women.
"Missing me already, my darling wife." But the woman had barely finished her sentence when the man of the hour finally showed up, entering the cabin of his spacious and luxurious plane.
The stewardess quickly stepped aside, but not before she batted her eyelashes at her husband. Notably, this woman had the nerve to flirt with her husband before her.
However, she did not want to make a scene and pretend to stake a claim on her husband. Nevertheless, she watched how he would react to the other woman's amorous signals.
"In your dreams, my darling husband." She sarcastically answered when he sat himself beside her.
Surprisingly, he seemed to ignore the gorgeous woman who practically threw herself desperately at him. Eventually, she heard the woman excuse herself, but not without a last-ditch effort. But again, it was unfruitful as her husband disregarded her presence.
"Aren't you going to bite her head off for openly flirting with me?" He asked with his brows frowned into a question. "Aren't you even a bit jealous?"
She could not help but chuckle at his growing curiosity. Besides, it felt like he was testing her more than anything else. For what? She had no idea.
Was she still applying for the job as his wife? She thought she already had it. She had his ring on her finger to prove it.
"Why would I be jealous? First of all, I don't love you." She used to, but she buried those feelings long ago. "And I only married you for your money. Remember?"
She thought she should know the rules if she would play his game. But so far, she believed she was doing alright. Still, she should never let her guard down.
Look at what she had gotten herself into in just one night. He took advantage of her and married her while she was drunk.
"You just know how to weave your way into a man's heart." He pretended to be hurt as he put his hands on his chest.
"But seriously, I promise you, as your husband, I will only have eyes on you." He quickly changed the topic as he picked up her hand and placed it on his chest.
"I am yours." He suddenly declared. "And you are mine."
Her heart started racing with his gesture and his words. But somehow, she did not find any of them comforting.
What did he mean by that?