Adrienne walked into the hotel room with purpose.
Tonight, she wasn't compromising.
Indeed, villains aren't born. They are made.
With all the day's disappointment, anger, and stress, Adrienne was ready for payback.
With her head held high, she pushed in the door and walked into the room.
As expected, Alexander was already sitting on the sofa, his sharp blue eyes immediately locking on Adrian's mesmerising green ones.
For a moment, as Adrienne's eyes fell on Alexander's unbottened white shirt, she almost let Adrian's clumsiness push through as her stomach coiled from the delicious sight.
Not tonight.
Alexander Devereux was a devil who didn't deserve any real love or companionship. Since all he wanted was business, Adrienne was just set for business tonight.
Her heels clicked on the tiles as she approached him, her eyes devoid of any smile or accommodation she had shown the last time.
"Adrienne, you're late," Alexander's deep, rich voice echoed around the luxurious room, his eyes never leaving Adrienne's figure.
Adrienne lowered herself beside him, her move unhurried and purposeful as she crossed her legs.
"Someone is in a hurry to get married, aren't we?" Adrienne's sky voice asked in a deliberately slow tone.
She faced Alexander, her skin-fit gown hugging all the right places of her body...silicone.
She narrowed her eyes at Alexander's watchful gaze and reached out her hand to touch his arm, "I'm a busy woman, handsome. Hurry up with this... marriage between us." She whispered, tracing her finger down his arm.
Alexander blinked slowly, looking away from Adrienne's alluring face. He couldn't understand the thing about her that seemed to captivate him even when he wasn't interested.
He cleared his throat and pulled out a file from the space beside him, "We don't need to go to the registry, my lawyer already drafted every legal agreement. All you just need to do is sign." He explained, placing the documents on the ysnke in front of Adrienne.
Adrienne's heart skipped a beat as she stared at the 'marriage certificate' in front of her.
'This is getting real!" Adrian screamed inside her head.
She shut her eyes for a few seconds to shut Adrian out. She needed to concentrate the most at this moment.
"Just sign? Without reading? That's fishy -"
"I don't have time," Alexander suddenly placed a hand on her shoulder, his eyes desperate as he stared at her.
"Just sing it. I have a deadline to get married before the next day which is only a few hours away. Sign it, I promise we'll talk about the rules later," even though he was desperate, his voice was still commanding, business-like.
Adrienne knew she was just stalling. After all, she needed the money. She sighed and extended her hand to him, "A pen, Alexander." She said.
Alexander gently placed his fountain pen in her hand, watching her patiently.
He knew exactly what he was doing by marrying a stranger escort. She was a better option than Chloe or any of those supermodels or heiresses.
They would never have agreed to a contract marriage, they would want love, fame, name, and money. And at the end of the day, they will divorce you just to get a split of your wealth.
Alexander did not want a real marriage. He did not want drama either. That is why a desperate escort, who will be pleased by a little amount of money was his best option.
Adrienne's only intention was for her sick mother, so Alexander would gladly offer the money she needed, as long as she obeyed all his rules.
Adrienne gently signed her signature on the paper, her hand shaking very imperceptibly.
'Shit! I married my boss!' Adrian once again tried to wreck nervousness on Adrienne but she blinked him out once more.
She straightened up, a calm look on her face, "Signed, Mr. Billionaire husband. Now, what is our next move?" She questioned, returning his pen to him.
Alexander held her gaze for a while, then he nodded. He pulled his phone from his pocket and dialled a number.
"It's done. Come in," He spoke shortly and placed his phone down.
Adrienne frowned, a little confused.
'Who was he calling in?'
"Who are you -"
The opening door interrupted her question.
A young man in a black, corporate suit and tie walked toward them with a file in his hand. His eyes glanced briefly at Adrienne as if assessing her, then he turned to Alexander.
"Sir," He called in an official tone, giving him a slight nod.
"You know what to do. Send a copy to Mrs. Devereux. Stamp the original and deliver it to my house," Alexander ordered accurately.
"Yes, sir," The young man nodded and picked the document up from the table, "Goodnight, Mr. and Mrs. Devereux." He wished and walked out of the room as briskly as he came.
"Thank you for your cooperation, Ms. Adrienne. We shall be meeting my mother tomorrow. I will send you the location and time -"
"Hold on," Adrienne sighed, shaking her head as she realised that Alexander had used his business strategy on her.
He gave her no option for negotiation, fooled her into signing a one-year contract, and now, he was ordering her to get ready to see his mother tomorrow. His mother!
Alexander sighed and sat back, "Do you have any concerns, Ms. Adrienne?" He questioned.
Adrienne uncrossed her legs, shifting closer to Alexander to stare him directly in the eyes, "Yes, Mr. Husband. A lot of concerns." She whispered.
Alexander gulped, leaning away from Adrienne, he didn't like it when she tried to use her Escort skills on him. He couldn't help imagining how many men she's used it on.
"Then, allow me to lay out my rules first, Ms. Adrienne," He cleared his throat, his icy eyes sharpening as he quickly reverted to business mode.
Adrienne slowly nodded, not speaking.
"You will receive $20,000 monthly, and $1,000,000 upon our successful divorce... that is, if you behave and comply with our contract," Alexander said, voice steady.
The joke was on Adrienne, she was momentarily frozen. Twenty thousand dollars a month? One million dollars after divorce? She would be an idiot to compromise this precious marriage.
The sum was a billion times higher than what she planned to extort from him. She felt cheap, stupid. Here she was, planning to extort a billionaire, but she ended up mocking herself. Her billionaire husband wasn't fazed by money!
Twenty thousand dollars was just enough for her mother's chemo the next day, and she was overjoyed.
Alexander saw the shocked look in Adrienne's eyes but ignored it. He knew that the money would sound too good to be true to Adrienne, and that was exactly his plan.
Keep her hooked to the money so she would be obedient and abiding. That was how he needed her, docile and controllable. He didn't need a woman, who would cause drama and risk exposing his sham of a marriage to his family and the public.
Adrienne came to when she felt Alexander's hand under her chin, tilting her face up to his. Her mind immediately returned to the present.
Panick sized Adrian before it even got to Adrienne when they saw Alexander's face leaning his face close as if he wanted to kiss Adrienne's lips.
"A-Alexander... what are you doing?" Adrienne stammered for the first time, lifting her quivering hands to place on Alexander's lips, "Don't." She whispered shakily.
Adrienne's heart was drumming, pulse racing like wild horses. Alexander was so close, she could feel his breath on her lips. Shit, Adrian was going crazy.
This was a dream come true for Adrian, yet, a nightmare for Adrienne.
What if Alexander wanted more than a kiss? How would he feel when he realised that the boobs were fake? And the butty?
No, she can't let this happen.
"Alexander, I-I thought this was a fake marriage? Then, why... what are you doing?" She asked softly as she stared right into those blue eyes that had Adrian's core clenching.
This was sinful, Adrian shouldn't be feeling this for his married boss, but he couldn't help it, not when he was offering his delicious self right in front of him.
Just when Adrienne was about to be overshadowed by Adrian's desire, Alexander pulled away, his face stoic and unreadable.
"Good. I just wanted to make sure that you have no interest in me. Keep it that way and never try to bridge the professionalism between us. It will lead to the immediate termination of our contract and you will pay back any sum that has been rendered to you. Am I understood, wife?" He narrowed his eyes at her, a stern look masking his face.
'Bastard!' Adrian cursed.
How could he forget how ruthless Alexander was?
Why did he think for a second that Alexander would want to kiss him? He was just a businessman at the end of the day, making sure there were no loopholes in his plans.
Adrienne sighed, relieved, "Of course, Mr. Husband. You can rest assured that I don't, and will never want your body. All I'm here for is the money, and all you need is a public wife. We all get what we want. After all, you're not my type." She couldn't finish without a jab at his ego.
Alexander chuckled and stood, adjusting his collar, "I hope it stays that way, Ms. Adrianne." He said, taking something out of his pocket.
"Here's your twenty-thousand-dollar check for the month. I'm a man of my word, and I hope you uphold your end of the deal," he placed it on the table and turned, walking toward the door.
Adrienne was once again made speechless, her eyes couldn't believe it, she was really staring at the twenty thousand dollar check!
'Karma's a bitch, boss. You dock my pay, you pay double,' Adrian snickered.
"Also," Alexander's untrusted voice spoke from the door, drawing Adrienne's attention back to him.
Adrienne stared at the handsome man whose broad shoulders were facing her and his long fingers were clutching the handle of the door.
"Yes, Mr. Husband?" She asked patiently.
"You will be a proper wife to me in the public's eye and in front of my family, besides that, we do not pry into each other's business," he glanced at Adrienne, his eyes taking in her seductive dressing, "You will also resign from this job, I can't have my wife escorting men." With that final note, he strode out of the room, leaving Adrienne alone, just like the last time.
Adrienne stayed still for a while, then she stood, picking up her check and carefully putting it in her purse.
"Don't worry, dear husband, Adrienne will stop the job... but Adrian won't," She murmured and smirked.
The dangerous game had just started, and Adrienne wasn't about to lose to a cocky, devilish billionaire.