Chapter 5 Dinner

Adeline Pov

Dinner

I glanced at Alex as he drove, and then I closed my eyes and tried to breathe. Okay, Adeline...you can do this. You're going to meet his dad, and you'll have to...I thought about acting all lovey-dovey, pretending to be the perfect girlfriend, Gosh I hate this.

Why does this feel like I'm walking into a battlefield? I muttered. He caught my face in the rearview mirror, and he raised an eyebrow. He knows I'm over thinking, doesn't he?

I bit my lips slowly, Adeline you've done crazier things before... haven't you?

"My dad won't bite you," he said, without even glancing at me.

"What do you mean?" I shrugged, trying to sound nonchalant, though my heart was pounding so fast.

He didn't reply, his eyes stayed on the road.

I tried to focus on my breathing. In all honesty, I really don't understand why I am this nervous.

He drove quietly for a few more minutes until a black car pulled over in front of us. Alex slowed down and parked behind it.

I gulped down nothing, glancing at him.

He got down from the car, "Get the fuck away from the road."

A lady stepped out from the black vehicle and walked toward us.

The moment Alex saw her, his expression changed instantly, and his eyes narrowed, leaning slightly against the car.

"Vivian, what's this about?" he questioned.

Vivian smiled, "What's this about?" she repeated, glancing at me. "So it's true...you really have a girlfriend."

Alex's expression didn't change, "Is that a problem?"

She grinned...and then suddenly snapped, "Yes, it's a problem! You can't just bring a random, cheap whore and say you want to marry her after everything I did for you!"

My eyes widened, staring at them both. My heart stirs in my chest, I knew Alex was a psycho, but I didn't want to be the villain in anyone's love story. And right now, that's exactly how it looked.

Instantly, Alex pinned her against the car, his eyes darkened, "Say any other word about her, and you will know that I don't joke with what is mine! If you weren't a lady...if you weren't my friend...I know where you would be right now."

He released her, "Take that fucking vehicle out of the way before I lose it."

Vivian moved back, and then she glared at me, then turned and walked away, her heels made some kind of noise.

I wanted to ask questions, but I brushed them off. I wasn't ready to start any conversation with the man sitting next to me, so I turned my face towards the window.

Some minutes later, we finally arrived. My eyes widened, though I forced myself to hide my surprise. The mansion before me was breathtaking-elegantly designed, with sprawling gardens and different employees.

I stepped out of the car, my gaze lingered on the exterior, trying to process the scenarios playing on my head.

Alex's voice snapped me out of my thoughts, "Are you okay?"

I turned toward him, "Yes....I'm fine," I managed to say.

He didn't reply, but tilting his lips suggested he knew I wasn't being completely honest.

‡

The dining room was massive, elegantly decorated, with a long table set for at least a dozen guests. At the head was his father I glanced at him and smiled, "Hello...I'm Adeline, I have heard so much about you."

If that's the right thing to say...I mean, I haven't even heard a thing about him. Taking a deep breath.

Alex's father raised an eyebrow, I felt a tiny bead of sweat form at my temple, wishing I'd said something smarter, maybe more impressive.

He glanced at me, "Sebastian Moretti. Nice to meet you," he said suddenly, and I was relieved that he had responded.

God, this is insane, I thought, sipping my water. I'm literally playing the role of a girlfriend in front of his family...and the man I'm with makes everything ten times more intense.

He glanced at me, "Is this some kind of game you two are playing?"

I hesitated, his dad knows what exactly his son his capable of.

Sebastian raised an eyebrow, "Pardon?"

I shook my head quietly, placing my hand gently over Alex's, "It's not a game. We...love each other so much."

Alex gaze met mine, I could tell he hadn't expected me to say that, but after a moment, he shook it off with a smile.

"Dad, I told you before... it's real this time," Alex said.

His father set down his cutlery and wiped his mouth with his napkin, "I don't know much about you," he said. "But the little I do know...I don't know what's in my son's head. Before any engagement can happen, you'll have to prove to me once that you truly love him."

I raised an eyebrow, "What?"

He nodded, "Yes, you heard me right."

Alex nudged me lightly with his leg under the table, then he cleared his throat, giving me some kind of look.

I forced a smile, "It's fine by me," I said, immediately dropping my gaze, feeling my heart pound.

Of course...this is exactly what life with rich people looks like, everything here screams control, power.. and rules I don't even know existed.

"Excuse me," his dad said and walked away.

I let out a breath that I didn't even know that I was holding, and yanked my hand out of Alex's grip, "You could at least told me that your father was this hard," I said.

"He is not always like this, I will talk to him," he said looking directly at his phone.

I made my lips twitch, "I hate this. You know I don't even like you, can you just stop making me do this."

"And yet you are, sitting beside me and holding my hand," he replies and goosebumps scatter across my flesh.

I shot him a glare, "Don't flatter yourself. This is a contract, Alex. I'm only here because of my Mom."

He tilted his head, "Good girl. You remember the rules, wifey."

I pushed my chair back, and pulse quickened.

Don't say it, Adeline. Don't say what's on your tongue. I knew exactly what I was about to do, blow up this fucking arrangement with one angry sentence, and I bit my lips trying to hold back my words, gripping the edge of the table until my knuckles whitened.

"Don't call me that, I am not your wife yet," I snapped.

"Sooner or later, you will be my wife," he replied.

"I am leaving," I fixated my gaze towards the door, trying to avoid his gaze, and then I walked away immediately.

‡

It wasn't long after Alex dropped me at home that a knock echoed on the door. Mom was in her room, so I groggily stood up and went to open it.

My eyes widened, "Vivian?"

She wrinkled her nose, "Gosh, I can't believe you live in this filty place."

I smirked, "I didn't know you were so obsessed with me that you'd stalk me to my house. Now tell me, who's filty?"

Her jaw clenched and she pushed me aside, "Do you even know who I am? How dare you talk to Vivian like that?" she jabbed a finger toward me.

"I won't accept disrespect either," I snapped back.

"I don't care who you are, you might think you're above me, but we're still breathing the same air, got it?"

Her eyes darkened, and she glanced at me with fury, "Mark my words-read my lips, bitch...I will make you regret ever coming near Alex."

I rolled my eyes and gripped the door, "Watch this same bitch marry him right in your face. You know what? Alex wants me, not you. That's another reason to remind you that you're nothing to him and your money means nothing. Got it? I'll send my wedding invitation."

I slammed the door in her face and leaned back against it, breathing hard, I'll let her know that even a snake can choke on it's own venom.