Chapter 2 Two

Chapter 2: A Marriage of Convenience

Marina was dazing while the car was racing on the asphalt towards the mansion of Aiden Wellington. She sat in the luxurious car and her thoughts seemed to be in disarray; she was relieved, anxious and perplexed all at once. Aiden did not say anything more to her, and even though he was not looking at her, the set of his jaw and his grip on the wheel told her that he was anything but relaxed. There were bitter-sweet emotions whirl in her mind – heart ache and the swirl of events that happened throughout the day.

There in the distance lay a huge mansion: it was a symbol of the fact that Aiden was a rich man. It was a large house, surrounded by a beautiful garden and high fences, which guaranteed absolute confidentiality. When the car came to a halt he looked at her and with his black eyes fully devouring her face said to her.

"Are you ready?" he asked with a low and steady voice.

Marina nodded still she was not sure whether she was or not. She alighted from the car her high heels clacking on the red cobblestone driveway. The grand doors opened and a team of neatly dressed servants looked straight at the visitors and bowed down.

"Welcome home, Mr. Wellington, Mrs. Wellington," head butler John who had served the family for a long time said cheerfully.

Marina had a certain discomfort when she heard the title. She was Mrs. Wellington now, a truth that took her by surprise even years later. Aiden took her hand and guided her inside ', touching her gently at the lower part of her spine. She only expected the interior of the mansion to be luxurious as evidenced by the tall ceilings, marble floors and exquisite paintings on the walls.

"This is your home now," Aiden said softly, his voice reverberating in the emptiness of the large room. "You can go round the house and make yourself right at home".

Marina nodded, feeling a mix of awe and trepidation. "Thank you, Aiden."

He gave her a small, reassuring smile. "We'll discuss the details of our arrangement in the morning. For now, get some rest. You've had a long day."

A maid appeared at her side, ready to escort her to her room. Marina followed, her mind still reeling. The room that was assigned to her was large and decorated in good taste with a huge king size that she could only imagine how comfortable it would be to sleep in. As soon as she got out and the door closed, she collapsed on the bed and finally concerned herself with what happened.

The following morning, the beautiful birds woke Marina up with their sweet melodies from the outside of the window. Bright sunlight was pouring inside the room making the atmosphere warm. Taking a deep breath, she constructed herself for the day that lay ahead of her. It is apparent that she required comprehension of the terms of her new life, her new marriage.

Aiden was waiting for her in the dining room, there was a large table set for breakfast with lots of food. He rose as she walked in; his face was impassive. "Good morning, Marina. Please, have a seat".

They were sitting opposite each other and she could feel that her heart was racing. Aiden offered her a cup of coffee, and when he handed the cup to her, his hands did not shake. "We need to talk about the terms of our marriage," he said in a formal manner.

Marina nodded, gripping her cup tightly. "Alright."

"This is a contract marriage," Aiden had replied, looking into her beautiful brown eyes. "In public, we have to appear as a married couple, though off the stage, we will maintain employer-employee relationship exclusively."

Marina swallowed; her throat suddenly dry. "And what are the things you expect of me?"

"I expect you to uphold the image of a devoted wife," Aiden replied, his voice firm. "You will attend social functions with me, manage household affairs, and support me in public. In return, I will provide for you financially and ensure your safety."

Marina nodded slowly, processing his words. "I understand."

Aiden's gaze softened slightly. "I know this isn't easy for you, Marina. But I want you to know that I will protect you. You won't have to face anything alone."

His words brought a surge of unexpected comfort. "Thank you, Aiden."

He gave her a brief, genuine smile. "We'll make this work, Marina. Together."

The days that followed were a whirlwind of adjustments. Marina found herself learning the intricacies of managing a household as grand as Aiden's. The staff were polite and efficient, but she sensed their curiosity about their new mistress. She did her best to adapt, her natural humility and kindness winning them over gradually.

Aiden, true to his word, was a constant presence. Aiden, being a man of his word, was always there. Most of the times, he was occupied with work, but he gave sufficient time to oversee that Marina is comfortable. Their communication was low-key, yet at many times, was almost warm, but underneath existence of tension was very inevitable. It was with this thought that Marina could never feel that Aiden had other things hidden from her.

On one of the evenings, they were studying in the library a phone call came to Aiden. He got up, increased his gravitas as he answered the call. Marina attempted to concentrate on her book, but fragments of his conversation got her attention.

"Yes, I'm aware of the situation... No, I'll handle it... Make sure everything is in place."

Aiden ended the call and returned to his seat, his demeanor composed but tense. Marina couldn't help but ask, "Is everything alright?"

He looked at her, his eyes revealing a hint of weariness. "Just some business matters. Nothing you need to worry about."

Marina nodded, though her curiosity was piqued. Aiden was a complex man, and she was beginning to see glimpses of the burdens he carried. She wanted to know more, but she respected his privacy.

Their routine continued, a delicate dance of getting to know each other while maintaining the boundaries of their arrangement. Marina found solace in the gardens, where she would spend hours tending to the flowers and reflecting on her new life. It was in these quiet moments that she began to feel a sense of peace.

One afternoon, as Marina was pruning roses, she heard footsteps behind her. She turned to see Aiden approaching, his expression thoughtful. "May I join you?"

"Of course," Marina replied, smiling.

Aiden took a seat on the bench beside her, watching as she worked. "You have a talent for this," he remarked.

Marina blushed slightly. "My grandmother taught me. Gardening was always our way of finding peace."

Aiden nodded, a hint of sadness in his eyes. "I envy that. Finding peace."

Marina looked at him, sensing the weight of his words. "Everyone has their burdens, Aiden. But you don't have to carry them alone."

He met her gaze, and for a moment, the walls he had built around himself seemed to lower. "Thank you, Marina."

Days are turning into weeks, and Marina and Aiden got used to the fact that they work together and depend on each other in some ways. They mingled at functions and parties, giving the appearance of an intact couple, thereby ensuring that any rumors that were whispered behind their backs were gagged. In the eyes of the public, they were a couple that had it all, love and happiness.

Nevertheless, when alone they continued to have a business-like relationship. Marina couldn't help but develop feelings for Aiden but she would not show it because she is unsure if the feeling from him is mutual. For his part, Aiden was always an element of mystery. He was gentle and thoughtful towards her but did not come closer to her, which made Marina crave for more affection.

A few days after, when they were getting ready for a gala, one evening, Marina saw her reflection in the mirror. Her attire and posture was that of a refined society princess, yet the eyes, the eyes told a story of a tortured soul. To be precise, Aiden walked into the room, fine-tuning his cufflinks, and blinked when he first set his eyes on her.

"You look stunning, Marina," he said, his voice warm.

"Thank you," she said and then she smiled a sad smile.

Aiden moved in further and stared deeply into her eyes. "Marina, I know this is not the kind of life you would have wanted to live." And I know I haven't made it any easier. But I want you to know that I respect you. You're more than just a part of this arrangement to me."

Marina's heart skipped a beat. "What do you mean, Aiden?"

He reached out and gently encircled her hand with his large warm palms. "But what I meant is that I respect you, Marina; I respect your strength, your kind heart, your endurance, and I am thankful for you every single day."

Marina's eyes shined with tears, which she hastily wiped away, her heart warmed by his compliment. "Thank you too Aiden."

Their moment was interrupted by knock in the door. The chauffeur had come to pick them up to attend the gala event. Before leaving, Aiden held her hand and gently squeezed it before walking her to the car. As they drove through the city, Marina's emotions were aroused. His words have awakened a desire in her, a desire to see her marriage become more than it is now.

It was a very formal gala, with invited guests consisting of VIPs of the city, who were invited to a stunning ballroom. Aiden and Marina were good at navigating around the crowd, their friendly smiles didn't show any strain of their relationship. They were the focus, and Marina got lost into the crowd, though she felt a wave of pride thinking about herself and all the changes she had made.

He stepped out to take a call after dinner and Marina was left to entertain the guests of the party into the wee hours of the night. She saw a woman she had met several times before – one of Aiden's colleagues that she had been introduced to during his business trips.

Upon her words, the lady in front of me shook my hand, 'You must be Mrs. Wellington.' "Everyone has been talking about you."

Marina smiled, shaking her hand. "Yes, I'm Marina. It's a pleasure to meet you."

The woman's eyes sparkled with interest. "Tell me, how did you and Aiden meet?"

Marina hesitated, her mind racing for an answer that wouldn't reveal the truth of their contract marriage. "We met through mutual friends," she said, hoping her smile would mask the lie.

The woman nodded, seemingly satisfied. "Well, you make a lovely couple. Aiden is very fortunate to have you."

"Thank you," Marina said finally, feeling guilty at the lie.

As daylight faded, Aiden came back to her side, and his face was a mystery behind the mask.

They bade each other farewell then walked back to the mansion in heavy silence. Once inside, Marina turned to him, her heart pounding.

"Aiden, what you said earlier... did you mean it?"

He looked at her, his eyes softening. "Yes, Marina. I meant every word."

Her breath caught in her throat. "Then maybe... maybe we can make this work. Not just as a contract, but as something real."

Aiden stepped closer, his hand cupping her cheek. "I would like that, Marina. I would like that very much."

At that moment, there were no more kilometers separating them. They were tied not by a contract, but by vision of things to come, which are not sewn by any piece of paper. So, as these two stood side by side they forged the start of a new future for the both of them.