Clayton was mindlessly shaking his leg as they approached the mansion. He could see Elise was peeking at him again and again. Somehow, she could sense his nervousness, and he didn't like it.
He liked her, but he was baffled when he saw their wedding pictures. Maybe he would have married her eventually, but after she knew all his secrets. His family secrets. He was worried, for her.
"We are almost here!", Ben announced. They had brief eye contact but spoke a thousand words. Ben nodded; he knew the drill better than anyone.
"Woah! Is this where you live?", Elise looked at the mansion surrounded by orchards. Her neck was almost cramped while she attempted to see the whole mansion all at once. It was huge!
"I don't, my family lives here.", Clayton answered taking Elise by surprise. She nodded and stared back at the palace in front of her eyes.
The car took a swift turn around the fountain and finally stopped right in front of the huge gates. Elise peeked a little and saw three men standing at the gate, all dressed exactly the same as Ben.
"Sir, shall we?", the driver opened the gate for Clayton. He sighed, but what can a lamb do once he has already entered the lion's den, by his own will?
He looked at Elise and slowly slid out of the car. He ran to the other side and opened the door for her.
"Why are you doing this? I can open doors for myself!", Elise said but stepped out of the car, nonetheless.
"Yeah! We all saw how you opened your door at the Gucci showroom a while back.", Clayton muttered while he mustered up the courage to walk through the doors.
"Why are you always picking fights with me!", Elise said annoyed.
Clayton didn't answer. He slowly took a step closer to her and she could sense the distance between them diminishing. Clayton's hand moved towards her face and she backed out a little.
"What?", she asked. She almost whispered.
"Tuck this loose strand behind your ear. It's distracting.", he whispered back. She slowly tucked the strand behind her ear, and he watched her do that.
"Now you listen to me. We are here to announce that we are newlywed and so in love. Don't utter a word about a divorce.", Clayton finally warned her.
"What? No no, we are here for a divorce.", Elise was adamant. And why shouldn't she be? Marriage was no game. Yet they played it, drunk.
"Do you know who my dad is?", Clayton asked.
"Mr Cameron," Elise replied meekly.
"My dad has been announced as the new mafia king. He rules the underworld.", Clayton told her the most embarrassing truth about his family.
"What in the name of God!", Elise panicked.
"I am not staying here! I want to leave.", she was sweating profusely and without a second thought, she opened the car's door.
"Stop.", Clayton closed the door but she was trying to open it again.
"I said stop!", he finally held her by the shoulders and pulled her towards him.
"Stop.", he said softly.
"How am I supposed to not run? Why didn't you tell me before?", she asked. She was almost yelling. But Ben had already cleared the place for them to talk.
"Because I knew you would run away. And I couldn't have let you make that mistake.", he answered.
"But tell me, how can one not run?", she asked with tears rolling down her cheeks.
"Some people can't. I am sorry you got dragged into this, but I promise I will protect you. And you will soon be free, but if you want to live and want your family to live, just do as I say.", he tried to convince her.
"Who are you going to protect me from? If your father is mafia king, it makes you what- a mafia prince?", she asked looking at him with questioning eyes.
"No! My younger brother is the mafia prince. I am the useless son, the one who never wanted that tainted throne.", his answer was honest but forced.
Elise was still not convinced. It is not easy to convince overthinkers. She was still looking at the car's door which was blocked by Clayton perfectly. She wanted to run.
"Look, I give you my word, I will not let anything happen to you or your family and friends. But you need to trust me.", he slowly took her hands in his. She wanted to jerk them away, but she didn't.
"You promise?", she asked finally looking at him.
"I do!", he nodded. His eyes were soft, and she had no other option but to trust them.
"What do I have to do?", Elise asked with a soft sigh.
"Just act like my wife. Just act like this marriage was something we both wanted.", he replied and held her hands tightly. He was going to protect her, no matter what.
"Don't ever tell anyone, about what really happened. No one in this house can be trusted. Okay?", he gave her the final warning.
"Okay!", she nodded. Elise was pretty good at this game. She seldom trusted people. Because when she trusts people, there are chances she might get married to the mafia king's elder son!
"Let's go.", Clayton said and held her hand tightly.
"Do we need to hold hands?", she whispered.
"Act like my wife!", he whispered back.
"But nothing more. We are so making some rules after this. Wait for how long do I have to act?", Elise's head was full of questions now.
"Shh! We can talk about all that once we go back to my place. Also, don't answer any questions. Let me handle everything.", he said.
"Oh! So, I am a mute trophy wife! Got it!", she said, and Clayton chuckled. She watched his mouth twitch upwards into a smile. A rare view!
"Now let's just hope we make it out alive.", Clayton said with a sigh, and finally walked inside the door, holding hands with his fake wife.