Chapter 6 The Cleaning Lady

She was disappointed. He only liked her for her looks then. She forced a smile, but it didn't reach her eyes. She thought that Alexander was handsome, of course, but she didn't want a relationship with him that was only about physical appearances. She had hoped that he had chosen her for her personality or for something more meaningful than her summer tan and her sun-bleached hair.

But she wasn't sure what she had been expecting. Of course, he wouldn't love her for who she was. They were planning a loveless marriage based upon a first meeting. She sighed quietly enough that she doubted he even noticed.

"I would like to make a request then." She said softly. "I would like to have a physical encounter just once on the day of our wedding."

Alexander rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "I do not have any intentions of taking advantage of you in any way." He said and shook his head. "I will not allow you to subject yourself to such needlessly, unless it is something you truly want."

"I would also like to request the opportunity to try to make this more than just a loveless contracted marriage. -"

"I am opposed to this." He said, cutting her off. "I wanted a marriage and child with no strings attached in exchange for paying off your debts."

"You do realize that you are asking me to take on a life without love." She told him with a frown.

"Don't be ridiculous." Alexander said dismissively. "Our child will love you unconditionally."

Gabriella scowled. "I do not ask that you love me unconditionally. I simply ask that if I happen to fall in love with someone else organically over the course of the contract, that you allow me to act upon it and treat me accordingly."

Alexander seemed puzzled by her words. "I am not opposed so long as it does not come across as a scandal. In the eyes of the public, we are lovers and I expect you to act accordingly." He then finally said quite shortly.

He seemed to be holding something back, but Gabriella didn't care. It wasn't that she feared falling in love with the man during the validity of the contract, but what she did fear was that she would grow to find the arrangement comfortable and at the time of the contract's expiration, she feared it would be difficult to move on. She would not give up, therefore, or hesitate on finding love outside of this paper marriage.

"Good." Gabriella said with a self-satisfied expression, giving a curt nod. She wasn't sure she would find love at all anyway, but she wanted to be sure that she had covered her bases before entering this agreement.

"Within the new contract. I will add a physical encounter on the night of the wedding and a clause that does not limit you from having outside relationships provided they remain casual and out of the public eye."

"I find this agreeable." Gabriella said as she rubbed her bandaged hand gently.

Alexander then stood from his seat and packed up the medical kit slowly, not looking at her as he did so. "I will be in my office," He stated in a matter-of-fact tone. "I will have the maid stop by to clean your room; I suggest you find somewhere else to spend your afternoon while you wait for the glass to be cleared away."

Gabriella nodded absently as she stared down at her hands. Alexander put away the kit in his hands under the kitchen sink and then headed to his office, closing the door behind him with a click. She stared at her swollen wrist for a long time before deciding to get up from her seat. She found an ice pack in the freezer and put it on her wrist before heading to the living area. She seated herself on one of the grey and black couches before allowing herself to fully relax.

It was difficult to rest in such an unfamiliar place. She wanted nothing more than to go home to her mess of an apartment and be among the familiar items, but she knew that this was no longer possible. There was nothing there for her anymore. This was her home now and in five days she would be wedded to the man in the other room.

After a short while, the elevator dinged, and someone stepped into the suite. Gabriella turned to see that it was an unfamiliar woman. She was dressed well and had short black hair. She entered the place and immediately went to Gabriella's room. She seemed to know the place well and Gabriella assumed she must be the maid that Alexander had mentioned.

Gabriella followed the woman into her room and sat on the bed as the woman put the broken shards of glass into a bucket carefully.

"Are you the new mistress?" The woman asked flatly, her tone cold.

Gabriella frowned. "I'm Alexander's soon to be wife." She said feeling offended.

"I see." The woman said as she used a dustpan and small broom to clear away the dust and tiny shards of glass, seeming thoughtful. "Well, I wish you the best of luck keeping him satisfied."

"I'm not sure I follow what you mean." Gabriella said softly, although she had a bad feeling about where this conversation was headed.

"Your husband-to-be is a playboy." She said with a laugh. "Good luck with that."

"And this is your business how?" Gabriella asked, giving the woman a pointed look.

"Alexander loves nobody but himself." The woman said and laughed again. "I thought he loved me once, but it was all a lie to get into my skirt."

Gabriella could feel herself pale slightly, but she said nothing for a long time. "My apologies." She finally stated with an indignant sniffle.

"I just hope you know what you're getting yourself into with marrying him." The woman said as she dumped the last of the glass into the pail and tossed the broom and dustpan into the bucket as well. She then turned to face Gabriella and gave her a weary smile. "Don't say that no one warned you." She then shrugged and moved to leave the room, closing the door behind her.

Gabriella followed shortly after her and sat on the couch once more. The woman then knocked on Alexander's office door.

"Come in." Alexander's curt voice called out.