I'm a smart woman.
Ariana said to herself over and over again in the bathroom, before she stopped to realize that she had nothing to fear or lose. It's not like she knew who Alexander is on a personal level, so, why would she choose him over money?
She has made the first mistake with Andrew, and that has opened her eyes. There's no way on earth that she's going to allow a man to ruin her life anymore. Ten billion dollars is enough for her to live in luxury, even in the next thirty years to come, Grace won't be embarrassed or locked up in jail if she has that money.
Money is power and power is all she needs right now.
She hums a song as she wipes the forge away from the mirror to look at herself.
You can do this, Ariana.
The young girl said to herself, trying to level up her courage because the last thing she needed right now, was to start having second thoughts about what she's about to do. Although it's not too late to back out, this offer was her only savior right now.
She came out of the bathroom and didn't see Grace on the bed anymore. The young lady had been sleeping when she went to take her bath, rather her eyes landed on the form of the young lady who was perched on the seat, by the table holding the contract between her and Harry.
Ariana's eyes widened when she realized how stupid it was for her, to not hide the document properly before going to bed. But she was really tired yesterday and had it in her mind to do it today.
"Grace, I can explain.." Ariana said coming closer to take the document from her hand but Grace stood up instantly and moved away from her, before looking up at her.
"So, that was it. This was the reason why we were released?" She asked Ariana, trying hard not to break down in front of her. It was embarrassing for the young lady knowing that her friend had signed her soul over to the devil just to save her. It made the guilt eat her up more because all this is because of her.
"Grace, listen to me,"Ariana said, taking her hand into her own. This time she didn't flinch away from her, rather, she looked up at her. "It's not your fault, I did what i did because i wanted to. If it turns out well, we will be fucking rich at the end of it all." She said with a smile on her face, hoping that Grace doesn't get to see the fear in her eyes.
All Grace did was snort at her comment, Ariana has always been a little bit naive. It sounds outrageous that she gets ten billion dollars at the end of the contract, when nobody knows how things will turn out between her and Alexander Knights.
Ofcourse, she doesn't know who Alexander is, yet, she signed a contract to be married to him?
"Don't lie to me. We were living just fine when it was just the two of us. We were struggling, but that doesn't mean that at the end of the day that we won't be fine. It seems like you don't know the kind of family you are involving yourself with, you are getting married, Ariana to…"
"I don't think it will reach that extent, the real fiancée will be back before the wedding. I don't have to do anything but hold out until then." Ariana stated, trying to remember everything that Harry had told her. However, hearing Grace's opinion about this made her scared since she had gone through the contract, unlike her who was only dependent on what Harry said and the money at stake.
"Is that what he told you? The Harry of a guy?" Grace asked, looking at Ariana upclose she could see how it was easy to manipulate her. Why would she be paid five billion, billion dollars just to impersonate someone?
Ariana doesn't think things through, but there was more to this than just what was written down on the contract and seeing as Ariana was acting, she didn't have any idea what it was all about.
"Did he say anything about why the real fiancée went missing?" She asked further.
That's right, Harry didn't tell her anything about Selina.
Ariana thought.
"That's because he has his reasons…" Ariana said, laughing nervously but she wasn't done with her words before Grace jerked her hand out of her own.
"Are we beggars?" Grace asked.
"W..what? No, Grace, you are seeing all these in the wrong way, I know exactly what I'm doing.." Ariana said. She didn't want to give her the impression, that saving her from going to jail was also one of the reasons she accepted Harry's proposal, knowing how sensitive Grace is, she will try to get the money to pay back Harry to make sure that she doesn't go ahead with his offer.
But where the hell would she get that kind of money from?
"Then what exactly,Ariana! You should have just left me there, rather than doing this. It's all my fault!" Grace cried, throwing the documents to the floor before running out of the room in tears.
"Grace." Ariana called after her, her fears had come alive. She knew that it was going to be hard convincing Grace to accept this new adjustment, but if there's anyone that knew how much she valued marriage and love, it was Grace.
Now, she's selling off what she held precious to her.
"Grace, stop. Let's talk." She said, going after the young lady who slammed the door hard after she left their house, but when Ariana opened the door to leave, she moved back when two hefty scary looking men dressed in a well iron black suit, and expensive polish black shoe walked into her apartment.
The door opened and a woman formally dressed in the same attire as the two other men, walked up to her with a smile. "Hello, I'm Gina. I will be your tutor on training you to be the perfect wife for Mr.Alexander. You are to go inside and dress up, we leave in ten minutes for your training."
Ariana didn't listen to what the woman said, nor was she bothered by the scary looking men that were with her. All that mattered to her right now was meeting Grace to make things right with her.
"I..I just need to step out for some minutes, my friend.." Ariaha saying, trying to move for the door but the woman signaled to the guards, who held her down as she thrashed against their hold.
"Let me go, I need to see Grace." Ariana cried.
"Miss, I have been given strict orders by Mr. Smith to use force if necessary, so, I won't mind hurting you to get you to do as i said." Gina explained.
All Ariana did after hearing what Harry asked her to do was to scoff at her words. Her and Harry can go to hell for all she cares. Grace is more important.
"Fuck you!" She yelled at her, before thrashing against the guards.
"Drag her out." She heard Gina ordered, before she was pulled outside and pushed inside the car without any care. She looked around the neighborhood for any sign of Grace, but all she could see was her nosy ass neighbors trying to find out new gossip to entertain their day with.
Grace was nowhere to be found, she's angry at her, looking at Gina, the woman doesn't smile at all. She changed her mind, about begging her to give her some minutes to find Grace to set things right with her before she leaves.
But it was too late.
In the end, the choice she made ruined her relationship between her and her best friend, and it was all her fault. She was nothing but a princess and a pauper who had no power.