Chapter 4 The Face Off

~~~Just smile for me and let the day begin, you are the sunshine that lights my heart within. And I'm sure that you're an angel in disguise come take my hand and together we will rise. On the wings of love, only the two of us together flying high is on the wings of love...~~~

-On the wings of love (Regine Velasquez)-

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"Haist! There he is! I wonder what he would say after leaving me on the day of our wedding!" I muttered under my breath as I turned around and looked at him.

His hands were on his pockets and has a blank expression as he slowly but elegantly approached my direction. Hmm... the expression he always has every time he sees me. What's new?

"Where are your things?" But that's the first question he asked the moment he stopped in front of me.

"Here are my things," I answered pointing to the two luggage behind me.

He looked at them and slowly a frown started to form on his forehead.

"Are you kidding me? I'm asking you about your things! Where are your things?"

"But these are all my things!" I said with a shrug but he's still frowning. Well, maybe he thought I was just kidding but I wasn't and maybe he was expecting that a lady like me would bring my entire apartment to his house. Huh! I'm not that kind of girl --- I mean --- woman.

"So you are telling me that all your clothes, including your bags, shoes, and other accessories fit into those small bags?"

"Ahh... you're expecting that I would bring a truckload of things, huh?" I raised an eyebrow and smiled at his confusion. "Well, I don't have many clothes. I only have two pairs of shoes, 3 bags, and some accessories, that's all. I don't have many things to bring."

I bit my lower lip as soon as I noticed his reaction. I'm not sure if the frown on his forehead means confusion as he couldn't believe what I said or pity as those are the only things I have.

"Whatever!" He huffed turning around and strutted towards the couch direction while I was left gritting my teeth and throwing daggers to his back. "Jenny, bring her things to her room!"

I looked at Jenny who immediately responded to his order.

"Yes, Sir,"

"I'm going with you, so I can see my room too---"

"She can do it!" He interrupted me. He's now sitting like a king on the couch. "Jenny, you can call Liza if you need help and you..." He looked at me. "We have something to talk about."

"Oh... okay..." I reluctantly nodded and before I could speak to Jenny again...

"I'll be the one to tour you around and even show you your room if that's what bothers you, but for now, we have to discuss some important matters in this house."

"I-I didn't say that," I rolled my eyes.

"Tss!" He hissed but I decided to ignore him and sat down on the couch across his seat so we could end the 'discussion' that he was saying as early as possible.

Without saying a word, he placed a white folder on the small table. I followed the movement of his hand and gazed up at him puzzled as to what that folder was for.

"Open it," he ordered and I leaned forward to take the folder.

-'Hmm... if his grandfather gave me an envelope the day I signed the contract, now he's giving me a white folder. What's in this family as they love to give me such things?'-

Taking a deep breath, I slowly opened it only to be surprised when a black PVC card fell into my lap.

"What is this?" I asked more to myself but he answered it.

"American Express black card," he said and I looked at him getting more puzzled.

"I know this is an Amex black card, but what I mean is that what is this for?"

"Tss!" He smirked. "That's yours,"

My mouth dropped in surprise.

"You said you don't have many things to bring, so you can use that card to buy anything you want, shoes, clothes, dresses, bags, accessories, makeup, and whatever you want to buy---"

"Wait--- Wait---" I raised my hand to stop him from speaking. "Why are you giving me this? I mean, don't get me wrong... I appreciate your point but, I can buy stuff and the things I want without asking you anything, especially this card. After all, this is just an arranged marriage, so you don't have to give me this." I placed the card on the table and pushed it in front of him.

And his expression changed from serious to being mad.

"Take it! Whether you like it or not, you have no choice but to take it! And even though this marriage was just forced, arranged, or whatever you may call it, you are still my wife and you are now using my name!"

I just bit my lower lip when he started raising his voice. Haist! How can someone so handsome like him switch moods in just a split second?

"And so, if I am using your name?"

He was silent for a few seconds.

"Let me just clarify this thing, Rafi, I'm not doing this for you, I'm doing this for my

sake. I don't want to hear any news about me saying I'm an irresponsible husband who couldn't give you even just a simple thing!"

"Ohh... irresponsible husband--- big word!" I exclaimed, pretending to be surprised as I covered my mouth as well. "So how about--- I mean, what do you call when you left me at the reception earlier on our wedding day? Does that make you a 'responsible' husband?" I asked with a smirk.

"I'm not kidding here, am I?" He asked, a mix of serious and mad expressions clearly written on his face.

"Fine! But it was just an intimate wedding and only our families and close friends witnessed the ceremony, so who would know if you're married or not?" I asked with a shrug not even bothered by the annoyance that now completely showing in his eyes.

"You can't trust anyone in my world, Rafi! In the business world, there is no room for even a single mistake. Anyone from our competitors will make a move to destroy me and bring the company down, so please don't be stubborn and take that card!" And don't forget to read and sign the papers in front of you!"

"What are these papers for?"

"You have your eyes right? Read it!"

"Tss!"

I let out an annoyed breath before opening the white folder as he leaned back in his seat and it's the second surprise I received for that night... Uhm... of course, except for the surprise kiss.

"A contract?" I gazed up at him with an open mouth.

"Yes, read it." He said with a poker face.

-'A freaking contract again? How many contracts do I have to sign in order to live peacefully as his wife?'-

I was about to start reading the document silently, but he already mentioned what's written on it, so all I had to do was smile in annoyance.

"That contract stipulated that while you are still married to me, you are not allowed to have any relationship with the opposite sex, and neither am I."

I put down the documents and stared at him, still smiling. And even though I like the idea, I still couldn't feel the excitement.

"Both parties should not be engaged in any relationship, courtship, romance while we are in this marriage and until you have paid in full the 30 million dollars without interest owed by your grandfather."

"You should have told me that you have already memorized everything written here, so I wouldn't have opened the folder." I snarled.

"It doesn't matter," was the only response I got and he continued stating what's written on the contract.

"Failing to do so will have to face some consequences. For you, if you fail to do what is stated in the contract, you will have to pay double the 30 million dollars plus interest and deal with some cases that my lawyer can file against you..."

"Oh, wow! How can I---"

"I'm not finished yet!"

I covered my mouth upon hearing what he said. It really shocked me to the bone.

"And if I were the one to break the contract, you would no longer have to pay that amount, and your grandfather's indebtedness would be gone and considered to have never happened. And instead, I will pay you twice the said amount."

-'Huh? Whoa!'- I held my breath as I stared at him. -'Wow! I am no longer at a loss when he's the one to break the contract... hmm...'- I smiled at myself without realizing that I was actually smiling at him.

"Rafi!"

"Huh?"

"Are you listening?"

"Uhm... yeah, of course, I'm listening to you!" I suddenly straightened my seat.

"Then just listen and stop staring at me, for God's sake!"

"Whoa! I'm not staring at you! You're just assuming things, Mr. Clarkson!" I said rolling my eyes but he smirked.

"Do you want me to show you that the CCTV on that corner works?"

"Huh!"

I gasped as my eyes followed the movement of his finger pointing to the CCTV camera installed at the nearest corner. Why didn't I notice it earlier?

"There's no need for that!" I told him in a serious tone and he sneered.

"Let's get back to the topic..."

So yeah, as if I have another choice. We continued discussing what's on the said contract which If I didn't know, he was just the one who made it together with his lawyer. I highly doubted it was from his grandfather because of the little time I knew the old Clarkson, I knew how he really wanted Liam to marry me. (I'll tell you the reason in the next chapter)

Back to the contract --- well, he added that I can also file him a case if he failed to do what we had discussed about.

"Sign here,"

I raised an eyebrow when he pointed my name on the lower-left corner of the bond paper and wrote it as 'Rafaela Gonzalez Clarkson'.

"I have already put my signature---"

"Yes, I can see it," I interrupted him. I'm not blind, you know... I wanted to tell him, but I swallowed it back.

"I have already discussed to you everything in the contract and I hope you understand them all."

"Of course," I said, forcing a smile.

"Then you can sign it now."

I was about to put my signature over my printed name, but a silly idea came to my head, so I straightened my seat again and looked at him with a smile playing on the corner of my lips.

"You said that while we are still married, I'm not allowed to have any relationship with the opposite sex and same as you, right?"

He frowned, but then eventually nodded. "Yes,"

"So does this mean I can have an affair with the same sex?" And I gave him the widest smile I can give him throughout the night.

"Don't test my patience, Rafaela!" He said through gritted teeth. I also noticed how he formed his fists and that made me laugh at him.

"Hahaha... I was just kidding, sweetheart," I shrugged as I continued to laugh. "Tss! you're such a mood killer, come on!" And I rolled my eyes.

I didn't hear anything from him so I signed the contract right away.

"Closed it!" He commanded and even though I still wanted to throw a joke, I swallowed that urge as I don't want to be killed by my own husband at that very moment. There was not even a trace of a smile on his face and I started getting a little scared.