It was finally evening… and he was still there, waiting at the foot of the stairs. I have been in the dressing room for hours now, and there was no sign of complaints on his face nor a sigh of impatience.
He had come to me at exactly five, holding up the gown like a sacred offering.
"You will need time," he had said with that calm confidence only he wore so well, "to make the world pause when you walk in."
The dress he had gotten for me was exquisite, Silk-like, stitched with threads that shimmered when you moved.
A creation so rare, the designer herself had admitted only two existed in the world… and the other was locked in her vault.
He even knew my measurements without asking. Every curve, every line of me had been sculpted into the gown like it was always meant to be mine.
Oh, I am beginning to be interested in this man, we haven't even been together for 48 hours and he already did this.
'Hey, he is your husband who has a reputation to keep in the high-class society… he would do anything to get that." the little voice echoed in my head reminding me of my reason for being here.
Now, as I descended the staircase, I caught him at the bottom. Leaning casually against the banister, his fingers typing something swift into his phone.
He wore his tuxedo like it was his second skin black velvet, classic cut, tailored so perfectly it looked like it had been sewn onto him. His tie hung just slightly loose.
He looked up when he heard my steps and stopped mid-sentence on his screen. His gaze locked on me, and I saw the moment his breath caught. Mine nearly did too but I pushed it away.
"You want me as a wife, so deal with it," I teased, brushing past the banister slowly, but the smile that broke across his face made my knees wobble a bit in my heels.
The stylists trailed behind me, bows exchanged like silent goodbyes as they slipped away, their task complete. My hands were no longer in theirs but in his.
"You look… stunning," he murmured.
I blushed at this. Summer's voice buzzed through my earpiece, which is hidden carefully behind the fall of my hair.
"Boss… I wish I could see you now. For that cold-hearted beast to compliment someone?"
I bit my tongue to stop a laugh. But I didn't respond. Well I couldn't, not with him this close.
He stepped forward, his eyes trailing over every detail. "Were you tired of me making you wait?" I asked softly, as he reached out and took my hand in his.
I shrugged, lifting my chin. "After all, I look good in it, right?"
Without answering, he brought my fingers to his lips, pressing a kiss to my knuckles. Heat rushed to my cheeks again. I hated how easily he could undo me like this.
Then my eyes trailed to his loosened tie. "Your tie is crooked," I muttered, stepping into him, and narrowing the space between us. "Other women might think you are available."
His smirk returned. "Then maybe my wife should do something about that."
I smiled back, fingers moving to straighten the knot at his collar. I focused on the fabric, but then I felt it… the brush of his lips against my cheek. A soft, lingering kiss that stole the air from my lungs.
I turned my face away quickly, trying to hide the wildfire blooming beneath my skin. But he saw it. He always did.
"Come on, wife," he said, "Let's make an entrance."
I nodded mutely, and we stepped outside into the cooling air. A sleek, midnight-black Rolls-Royce Phantom waited at the foot of the mansion's steps, polished to a mirror finish.
The chauffeur bowed as he opened the door, his movements sharp and reverent.
Calvin helped me inside, fingers brushing over my back as he helped inside the car.
The drive felt timeless. Smooth streets, city lights flickering like stars close enough to touch. And finally… we arrived.
It was a private estate deep in the hills, where the real elite gathered. The kind of place where no cameras were allowed and reputations were cemented or destroyed in whispered conversations over crystal glasses.
"Thinking about that… Why did your parents live far away from you?" he turned to me, giving me the look of" Are you serious right now? "
"It's a question," I argued even though he didn't say a word.
"To get away from them, who would love being in constant argument with their parents." I nodded my head in agreement and he just scoffed.
He helped me out like I was royalty, his palm warm around mine. As we stepped into the grand foyer.
"Calvin! My boy!" a deep voice boomed, we turned to see it was Mr Carter with pride in his voice.
Then his mother followed fast behind, her heels clicking rapidly against the marble floor. Her eyes found me and widened.
"My little fairy," she whispered, reaching out and taking my hands in hers. "You look… ethereal."
"Thank you," I replied softly, smiling back, how could she just like me already that way?
Before I could blink, she was tugging me gently into the crowd, leaving Calvin behind.
It was like she was ready to parade me like a jewel she had just discovered. I was about to stop her but something caught my eye.
'No… someone, who I have always wished to see for the past three years.'
"Axel Carter," I murmured under my breath, and the earbud beep.
'Task three… done.' Came in Summer's voice.
Just then our eyes locked, and his confusion spiraled into disbelief.
I let a smile curl on my lips. One slow, knowing, taunting smirk.
Let the game begin.