CHAPTER 7•WHAT DO I DO?
~Chiara
Two months into being Alexander Carrington's fiancée and I'm discovering it isn't the gilded cage every woman on the continent imagined it to be .
And this was just an engagement.
What would I do should we actually actually get married and live under one roof.
The thought was scary so I abandoned that particular train of thought.
"Chin up , shoulders erect. You do not want to have them watch you slouch as you eat your croissant."
Jessica corrected sharply as she tutored me seriously via Facetime.
What would I do with this girl?
I was currently preparing for yet another outing with Mr. Charm and Expensive.
I ran the fabric through my fingers and mused, slowly encompassing the rack of designer dresses and shoes and minks and furs that each cost more than my annual salary.
I hate undeserved favours. It always made me uneasy .
"This isn't me , Jessica. I and Chiara DeLuca, a marketing manager in a middle class company and born of poor parents who couldn't even manage three square meals while I was growing up ." I threw my hands in the air and let them fall to my sides in a helpless gesture "-i don't have the least idea how to act so his royalty family would accept me."
" Your acting is paramount to his company so you have to do it to the nines or else-"she paused for dramatic results" -You know what would happen. You might just find yourself at hell's gate for the rest of your life if Alexander so desires."
I didn't say anything and she finally stopped carrying on to look at me .
" Hey ... Look here girl. You need this and you know it isn't as bad as you are making out to be . Just imagine yourself as Mrs. Carrington and the rest would follow through."
That was the problem. I couldn't imagine myself as Mrs. Carrington. The thought was scary.
Tonight I will be meeting Margaux Carrington and Olivia Carrington,his mum and stepmum for a family get-together dinner where I knew I would be picked apart with great detail.
I wasn't scared of Olivia Carrington, she was a darling from all the publications tapes I have spent months watching but Margaux?
She was a different kettle of fish all together.
"I heard his mum is old money rich and just as arrogant at least we know where Alex got it from. Not that it helps us much with the way she would observe you sternly from the crown of your head to the tips of your toes. That is if she hasn't already dug up your family history all the way to the Egyptians."
Jessica said as if reading my mind which only made my heartbeat faster.
"So I'm to perform for both his mum's"? "
I began chewing my nails nervously, a habit I've developed recently.
"You are expected to be the Cinderella to his prince charming and the beauty of his beast . The pure innocent virgin who tamed the playboy CEO. "
" Oh God Jessica, how do I do this? "
" Christ! -" She exclaimed so heatedly that I jumped" For the love of God, pull yourself together and stop whining. Go there , smile,be yourself and please don't give her an earful about work unless she demands it. "
I resented her sharp tone. Does she think I'm enjoying this?
" Fine. "
" Good now I'll leave you to get yourself ready . Ciao. "
She waved and exited the Facetime app . Left to my thoughts, I couldn't help but flog myself mentally for allowing Yvette's infuriating announcement to corner me into a marriage to Alexander Carrington just to prove to her I wasn't the sorry case she took me for.
What exactly have I gotten myself into with this ?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have nearly paced my 6 inch heels off their soles by the time Alex's convoy of Rolls Royce pulled into my apartment's parking lot.
Alexander stepped out, resplendent in a customised navy blue evening tuxedo that seemed to draw the eyes of every woman within miles to his killer face card and body.
With 6'7 to his height, he dominated every male within miles and exuded the aura that told of his awareness of it :of his raw male energy, his wealth, his sexual appeal.
Everything rolled into one .
I shivered , watching this incredible male specimen walk towards me .
This man was my husband.
"You sure you're up for this ? "
He drawled ,slid a gaze to his Cartier wristwatch then up to calmly access my appearance as I managed my way down the porch to meet him halfway.
"Yeah right. Like I had a say in anything."
I retorted, my voice clipped. The glint in his tricolour gaze when they came back to my face told me he approved of my appearance.
"You look nice."
Nice. He called five hours of makeup and changed dresses NICE!!!!.
"I'll like it if we just got this over with."
I snapped, meeting his gaze .
His eyes hardened .
"Defiance does suit your eyes but I'll warn you to shove it in the closet with my mum, it'll get you nowhere but as for Olivia? I don't care what you do- "
I won't have caught it for the fact that he towered over me but a sudden flash caught my eye and I knew.
Without thinking, I fell into his arms , making sure I didn't actually touch him.
"What -?"
" -shhh..a camera.. Your ten O' clock "
He immediately caught on and placed a hand lightly on the small of my back .
I shivered from the intimate contact as he guided me towards his car, pretending to stare lovingly at the top of my head .
It was the same delicious toe-curling feeling I had when he first kissed me at the club.
"Just stick close and follow my lead."
He leaned in too closely and murmured into my ear.
He let go of me to converse privately with his driver.When he came back,I resisted looking into those alluring orbs of eyes he had and asked hesitantly:
"Wouldn't it be easier if they think you're very possessive of me."
His brow rose in a surprised gesture just before his arm shot out and pulled me into his arms.I swear I could feel his muscled chest through his tight fitting clothes .
"Like this?"
He asked just before clashing his lips on mine.His hot tongue invaded my mouth almost immediately.I gasped , giving his tongue more room to wreck havoc on my mouth.I moaned into his mouth,leaned into him for dear life not knowing where to clasp so I settled for running my hands on his chest.
His breathing grew raspy .I didn't know what was happening until I felt his hand clasp around my neck like contarcti iron fibers.
His hold on me was not strong enough to kill me but enough to hold me still as if stopping me from escaping his avid lips.
I was his prisoner at this moment.
His sexual prisoner.
I tore his mouth off me with more force than I had ever used in my life. I looked into his eyes and saw the confusion there
His eyes had turned smoky from desire and I watched them roam down to my lips again.
My feminine juices began to bubble .I shook him a bit too much ,my insides quaking.
"Alex .. We're in public."
I managed tremulously.He broke away from me and looked around.
I stared at him when he turned around to face me. The change in him was unbelievable. His eyes had gone chill with a sort of cool detachment.
"That should be enough for the press, I think."
He tossed at me and got into the car.
Was that kiss really for the press?
I bit my lip .
What else could it be ?
Stupid naive Chiara .
I got into the car with my limb all shaky
As the car pulled away from the front of my apartment,I glanced through the side window.I couldn't bear to look at him.
"So that stuff in the contract about me not touching you without permission,do you develop some sort of allergy?"
I watched his reflection pause on his laptop as if ruminating on the best answer .
"If it's stipulated in the contract on the lists of "do not" ,then don't or else you'll spend a few years in jail for attempted murder."
He drawled out with finality.
My mouth fell open.Just for touching him, someone would got to jail.
What sort of arrogant prick did I marry?
" You touch me plenty of times without my consent"
I pointed out tersely.He stared at me for a long time like I had gone stupid on him.
" Are those breasts of yours natural or implants?"
I blushed to the roots of my hair .He smirked.
" I thought as much."
The prick!!
I said nothing else until we pulled up to the enormous, intimidating, gothic architected Carrington estate.
It was freezing and demeaning in it's imposing beauty.I had a sudden feeling of dèjà vu.
As we stepped out , Alex paused to give me a look I tried to decipher .
"You might want to ditch that necklace."
I instinctively clasped my hands around the delicate gold necklace.
"Why? Because your almighty family might not approve? "
My voice rose shrilly in panic.
" If you insist then we might as well end this charade right now because I'll sooner die than take this off. "
His jaw tightened.
" Fine . Have it your way. "
He bit out tightly, his voice cold.
I finally released the air in my lungs and freed my necklace.
Struggling to keep up with his long strides pace on my high heels, we finally made it to the mansion's front door.
"Don't mess this up." He commanded , pulling me into his side , his eyes locked on mine.
I nodded and he rang the door.
Someone I took to be the butler opened the door and led us into the foyer where two starkly different women seemed to be catching some fresh air.
Noticing our presence, they both turned simultaneously to face us and for a moment, both gazes chillingly rested on the gold necklace around my neck.