Chapter 3
Regina's chest heaved heavily as she struggled to keep calm. The freaking nerve of him. That ridiculous excuse for a kiss—if it could even be called one—and now this charade of a so called "honeymoon." Honeymoon, her foot!
She had dreamed of a solo trip to Maldives: she could almost smell the private beaches, luxurious villas and sparkling waters.
After the reporters were done asking questions that she waved off by pretending to be tired from the wedding, she went over to her mother, the great Katherine Green who was pretty occupied with greeting the guests while holding a tall glass of champagne.
"What honeymoon? I am not going anywhere with that idiot of a man." Regina whispered.
She felt a dread coming as her mother's green eyes turned to face her. She felt her mother's sharp nails dig themselves into her arms.
"You mean, your husband, Regina. A husband who covered your shame while you were screaming your tongue off. You had better go on that honeymoon unless you want everyone here to know that there's something odd about your marriage so you had better be on your way to him right now. Do not think of tattling off to your father. He won't listen to your childish quirms, anyways.
With a soft grunt, Regina watched as her mother's green eyes unloosened her grip and then revealing a smile that made Regina want to puke.
She let out another sigh as she turned around, casting fake smiles as she struggled not to burst into tears. She noticed her father at another corner, near the parking lot discussing with his future business father and her new father-in law. Her eyes then caught the sight of a limousine that stopped right in front of her as she was struggling to gather herself. She sighted Daniel as the limo tinted windows were drawn down and so this was her escape as she joined in and immediately, she was hit with the scent of leather and a strong manly cologne.
Regina folded her arms tightly, her nails digging into her skin as the limo started moving. The man beside her had the audacity to look calm, like he wasn't the reason her day, and possibly her life, had taken a complete nosedive.
Daniel lounged in the seat, scrolling through his phone, completely unbothered by her icy silence.
The nerve of him.
And that music that the driver just flipped on, just completely ticked her off.
She glared out the window, but the anger bubbling in her chest refused to be contained. "Turn off that phone," she finally snapped
Daniel didn't even look up. "Why? Am I breaking some newlywed rule that I'm not aware of?"
"You're being rude," Regina said through gritted teeth. "We're supposed to be—ugh, I don't know—talking? Something normal people who just got hitched do?"
"Talking?" he asked, finally glancing up. "To you? I think we've covered enough for one day."
She scoffed and tore her glance away, her hands fidgeting in frustration. The continued silence in the car pressed on her until she couldn't take it anymore.
"Can we change the freaking music? It's making my head hurt."
"Don't blame the music," Daniel said lazily, still scrolling. "It's definitely your personality"
"Excuse me?" She whipped her head around to face him.
He finally set his phone down, looking at her with a calm expression that only annoyed her more. "I said the music isn't the problem, Regina. Maybe it's just you."
"Oh, that's rich coming from you. What did I even expect from a man like you."
"You're welcome, wifey."
"Stop calling me that."
Regina then let out a frustrated groan, leaning forward to knock on the partition separating them from the driver. "Change the music!"
"Yes, ma'am," the driver said nervously, switching to a classical playlist that seemed to calm her nenes.
Regina then slumped back into her seat and turned towards him again . "You're unbelievable. I can't believe I have to deal with you for an entire honeymoon. What kind of 'honeymoon' is this anyway? Where on earth are we even going?"
"To a hotel," Daniel replied promptly
"A H-Hotel?" she repeated, her tone dripping with disbelief. "The least you could do is tell me where we're going exactly. Give me a name!"
"I just told you," he answered simply, leaning his head back against the seat. "A hotel. Pretty straightforward."
Her fists clenched in her lap. "If you don't start giving me real answers, I swear—"
"You'll what?" he interrupted, raising an eyebrow.
"I'll—" She paused, her mind racing. "I'll ruin your precious suit!"
Daniel glanced at the jacket draped over her arm and smirked. "You already did. The paint's a nice touch, though."
She wanted to scream. "Well, maybe it's an improvement on your fashion. I mean, you've got, what, a hundred more of these white suits stuffed in your closet, don't you?"
He chuckled lightly. "Flattered you think I'm that rich, wifey."
"I told you to stop calling me that." she snapped.
Regina then turned, facing her gaze towards the tinted window with her right hand, cradling her face. The limo finally pulled up to the hotel and the driver rolled down the window revealing a grand and a tall building draped in white and golden paint with three statutes of horses flanked at the extreme end of the hotel and the name of the the hotel was plated in gold.
Zeus's hotel.
"Not bad." Regina muttered under her breath throwing open the car door before Daniel could even move," It looks good as a five stars. Let's hope it looks like it."
She didn't wait for him as she marched into the lobby, her heels clicking loudly against the marble floor.
Daniel caught up easily, strolling in with his hands in his pockets while tugging on his tie. "Don't tire yourself out," he said casually. "We've still got a long night ahead."
She spun around to face him, her voice low. "I don't know what game you're playing, but I am not in the mood."
He shrugged. "No game. Just trying to survive this circus."
As they approached the reception desk, Daniel leaned closer and said, "Oh, by the way, there's only one room booked. VIP suite. Lucky for us, it has two beds."
Regina froze, her eyes widening. "One room? Are you kidding me?"
"Relax," he said, his tone nonchalant . "It's not like I'm going to share your bed. I'd rather sleep on the floor if I have to."
She opened her mouth to retort, but the receptionist came over handed Daniel the key card with a bright smile, cutting her off. Daniel thanked her and motioned for Regina to follow him to the elevator.
The ride up was filled with silence, the tension visible between them. Regina was fuming, her arms crossed tightly as the elevator hummed steadily upward. Every time she glanced at Daniel, she was met with that annoyingly calm expression of his, as though everything was perfectly fine.
When they reached the VIP suite floor, Daniel stepped out first, holding the door open for Regina, who stormed out behind him.
"One room?" she repeated, her voice sharp. "What kind of honeymoon is this, Daniel?"
"Family plans, not mine. I was told after the wedding too. Don't shoot the messenger."
She gritted her teeth. "Well, next time, maybe you should—"
"Talk to them?" Daniel cut in, his voice mockingly sweet. "Yeah, good idea. I'll be sure to make a mental note."
Regina scoffed as they both entered the room, and then she was able to take in the lavish space with a mix of awe and irritation. The suite was clearly luxurious, with three high-end furniture, white large sized wardrobes, a two queen sized beds that looked as if it could comfortably fit four people and also the view from the window revealed a small ocean. There were also oval mirrors around the room and a small piano at another corner of the room. But none of that mattered. She wasn't here for the luxury.
She was here with him instead and that was concerning.
She dropped her frame onto the nearest chair, glaring at one of the beds that was facing the wall "I'm not sleeping in that one. You take it."
Daniel smirked. "It's still a queen-size bed. I think we could share too. Your call."
Regina's eyes narrowed. "I'm not sharing anything with you, Daniel."
He laughed lightly, his eyes glinting with amusement. "You're the one who got stuck with me, remember? I'm not the one who made this mess possible."
Regina stood on her feet in an instant, hands on her hips. "You know what? I'm done with this conversation."
"Good," he answered, rolling his sleeves. "Because if you're planning on being as difficult as you've been all day, I'm going to need my suit jacket back."
Regina raised an eyebrow. "What, you're giving orders now?"
"Not giving orders. Asking for my jacket back," he muttered. "You've ruined it anyway, so I might as well have it back before it gets any worse."
"Oh, I'm so sorry," she said sarcastically, "maybe I should get you a new one with my own money."
Daniel chuckled. "Please, save your charity. I have enough jackets to last me a lifetime."
"Good for you," she muttered and then hurriedly removed the suit jacket, tossing the jacket back toward him with a force that was unnecessary.
"Thanks," he said, catching it mid-air with a smirk. "I appreciate the kind gesture."
Regina rolled her eyes and strolled around the room, her fingers brushing against the polished wood of the furniture. Stopping at a door, she flipped it open and peeked inside, only to pause mid-step. The bathroom was a stunning display of luxury that screamed extravagance. A single, oversized tub sat elevated on a marble platform but what truly caught her attention—and sent an uneasy knot forming in her throat—were the transparent glass walls that enclosed the shower and tub area.
The design left nothing to the imagination, offering an unobstructed view of anyone inside. The plush white towels and bathing robes folded on the rack smelled of roses and warmth. But all she could focus on was how utterly exposed it would feel to bathe without the security of privacy.
The last thing she wanted was Daniel peeking at her.
"Really?" she said as she turned around, frowning. "This is how it's going to be?"
"What?" Daniel asked, lifting his neck toward the bathroom. "Don't you like the idea of open concepts?"
"I didn't want an open concept bathroom!" she snapped, her voice rising. "Who even designed this place? What is it, some kind of pervert's dream?"
"Don't worry," Daniel said, holding his hands up in mock surrender. "I have zero desire to peek at you. You can go ahead and wash up first. I'll wait for our bags to arrive and ensure it's brought up."
"You're such a—" Regina stopped herself, taking a deep breath. "Fine. I'll go."
She walked toward the bathroom door, her fingers twitching with frustration. Before she could step inside, though, she turned back to him. "By the way, who exactly is supposed to be the one washing up first anyways?"
Daniel raised an eyebrow. "I think it's pretty obvious who needs to go first."
"You have no manners," she said through gritted teeth.
"And you have no tact," Daniel replied, sitting back down on the bed. "But that's what makes this so much fun."
Regina let out a long, frustrated sigh. "This is ridiculous. Absolutely ridiculous."
"This is going to be one hell of a ride." Daniel responded.
As Regina was about to step into the bathroom, eager to get rid of her wedding gown, she muttered under her breath. "This is insane. I didn't marry a man, I married a—"
Daniel's voice cut through the air. "A what? A genius? You're welcome."
She clenched her fists and walked into the bathroom, closing the door behind her with a soft click. "At least I didn't marry a pervert," she muttered, not sure if she meant it or not.
But then she heard Daniel's voice before she started to unzip her gown. "It's going to be one hell of a honeymoon, wifey."