MR CEO, I CAN'T FALL IN LOVE

The silence that eroded the dining room even as the maid served the food on the table was alarming. Each one of them seated watched the maid's action even in that silence. Although their minds were filled with different thoughts.

It took about half an hour before they dived into their meal for the night just after the maid had left.

Alexia let her eyes fly around while she took a spoonful each of her food. Just as her stares traveled from her father to her mother, so did the thoughts of what she had been told before hand. And the possibilities of it coming to pass.

Alexia couldn't help but keep praying inwardly that whatever played in her head did not turn out to be real.

Just a few days ago, her father had brought up an issue Alexia had rebuked.

"Alexia," she suddenly heard in the middle of her thoughts and raised to see who it was amongst her parents. His usual stoic expression caused her heart to beat faster this time.

She didn't provide a response to his call, rather, she just stared at him. He wiped off the invisible crumbs of food around his lips before letting the cat out of the bag.

"Your wedding with Dane Belmont has been fixed." His words caused Alexa to choke on her food. She helped herself with a glass of water immediately.

"Father, what - what wedding are you talking about? What do you mean by marriage!We never concluded on that." She finally found the courage to say.

"Don't act like you were never informed from the onset." Mr Tamas said to her.

Alexia let out a scoff as she adjusted herself properly on her chair.

I'm not acting like I was not informed. But you sound like it was a decision that was made whereas it wasn't."

"It actually is. And I hope that you understand why we did that." Mr Tamas went on, his stares fixated on her while his voice drove out an authoritative tone.

"Father," Alexia tried to talk, but the words were too heavy to spill. "Mother," she looked from her father back to her mother.

"You need to understand why we're doing this. It is one of the sacrifice we have to make for the family." Her mother said. However, her eyes were never on Alexia, but at a direction she couldn't even tell.

"You want me to understand? What on earth do I have to understand? And when did I become a sacrificial lamb?" Alexia shot out, a sting of pain and anger dancing around her voice.

"Alexia," her mother tried to speak.

"No mother, stop." She was quick to say.

"This marriage has to hold in order to save the company from going bankrupt." Her father said immediately. "Do you even know what that means?*

Alexia quickly turned towards her father, anger flashing through her eyes.

"I am your daughter father. Not your company's scapegoat. And I believe you should treat me as such." Alexia was courageous again to speak.

"Watch your tongue, young woman." Mr Tamas warned sternly, anger flashing through his eyes.

"Tamas," Alexia's mother called the attention of her husband, but he only glared back at her.

"Have you no sense of belonging?" He questioned his daughter. "Or, tell me. Are you ready to start feeding like a pauper? Like a beggar on the streets?" He went on. "Do you know how much of our reputation will be ruined once we go bankrupt? Have the you thought of that? What life then do you have to plan when you've not got a good reputation?l

"There are other solutions we can find for this. We don't necessarily have to turn it into a sacrifice. I've got my life ro live." Alexia said adamantly.

"Your life begins from this company. Everything you've got, you got them all from this company, which is why you have to do everything to revive it." Mr Tamas was just as adamant as his daughter.

The both of them stared at each other for quite some time in a reign of silence. Alexia couldn't help but question her existence. This was the time in her life where she believed and dreamt of taking charge of her future. Yet, her father had his own plans for her.

"You will do it even if it is against whatever law you have over yourself." Mr. Tamas voice came on again.

"Why can't you listen to your daughter for once in your existence father? I'm not too young to take care of myself." Alexia shot at him, trying so much to hold back the tears that threatened to spill down her cheeks.

"How many times do I have to spell it out to you that you're only doing this to save your company? Our company, our home! Can't you make a sacrifice for your family?" Mr Tamas yelled out as he stood up to his feet.

"Well, I'm sorry dad. But this kind of sacrifice requires a whole lot of my existence. And I've got my life to live, my future to plan." Alexia just couldn't give in to her father. "Don't you know I have dreams of my own? There's no way I can get married, or live with a man I've got no business with."

"You have no excuse Alexia. The wedding has been fixed for tomorrow, and the arrangements have been made. Prepare yourself." And with that, he walked out, leaving Alexia dumbfounded.

"What!" Alexia stood up quickly. "That can't be. I haven't decided yet." She went on saying, but her father was already out of the living room to pay much attention to her.

She furiously turned to her mother.

"You have no other choice here, Alexia. And we can't go back on our words. It has been arranged." Her mother said, and left just like her father did.

It was beyond Alexia's power when the tears began to trickle down her cheeks. Then, she realized she was about to start the journey of an unknown destination.

"Where the hell is your daughter?" Mr Tamas squeezed the arm of his wife the moment he got to the spot she was standing, outside the church. And she flinched immediately.

Thankfully, they were both not in the middle of a lot of perring eyes. Thanks to Dane Belmont who had specifically requested for a private wedding. Just a few relatives business partners and other dignitaries were invited.

Mrs Tamas on the other hand still had her eyes out, searching for her daughter who was supposed to be there already.

"Why did you leave her all by herself? You know better than anyone that your daughter is up to no good especially in this situation which she was forced into." Mr Tamas went on saying.

"She asked me to leave her for a bit. She needed some time alone for herself. What do you expect me to do? It's not as if she's going to run anywhere." Mrs Tamas responded.

"Well, what if she does? What on earth are you going to do about it?" He questioned, gripping her harder.

"Mr. Tamas." They both heard immediately, and turned to see who it was.

It was the first time dear Tamas was seeing a priest with a frown on his face. Dressed in his all white priestly garment, the young priest walked hurriedly towards them right after they turned to face him.

"We're running out of time. I need to know what is going on." He finally said.

"Uhm - I - we're sorry priest. The bride is on her way. There was just a little delay. You know how these brides can get." Mr Tamas said and let out a nervous chuckle at his last statement.

However, not even a smile nor scoff escaped the lips of the priest who just walked back into the church.

"I really do not understand what the hell was going on in your head when you left her all by herself to come down here. Do you want to turn us into a family of mockery?" Mr Tamas huffed, and paced up and about.

"Mum, dad." They heard.

"You -" Mr Tamas took a quick walk to his daughter, passing her a stern look.

"Mr Tamas." Alexia's soon to be mother in law called their attention, causing a quick stop in the heavy words he was about to lash out on his daughter.

Without informing her, he fixed his hands into Alexia's, prepared to walk her into the church, down the aisle. Then he made a turn to face Mrs. Belmont. However, she also wore a frown on her face.

Without saying a word further, she walked back into the church. And they followed suit.

Then, the solemn music began, informing the guests of the arrival of the bride..

Each step they took into the church, brought a pang of pain into dear Alexia's heart. Questions on if she had made the right decision kept running through her head.

Dane, on the other hand found himself deeply lost in thought too, with the similar question running through his head.

Although he found it weird that his eyes couldn't leave Alexia as her father walked her down the aisle to hand her over to him. Her white flowery gown caught his attention quite fast. He observed how simple it was despite expecting something elaborate and more classy like he guessed other ladies would have chosen. Especially since they were getting married to a billionaire. Her hair was packed in a ponytail while she wore a simple make up.

Again, Alexia was building up an unwanted curiosity from Dane.

What on earth was it about this woman that irked him so much? He wondered.

"Here you go Dane." Mr Tamas said with a smile curved on his face as he handed his daughter over.

Dane was humble enough to return the smile back while he held onto his wife to be.

Both of them didn't spare each other a glance. After all, they understood perfectly well that it was arranged.

In over a few minutes, the wedding was done and the newly wedded were off to their new home for their honeymoon.

Unlike other women leaving their parents house, the place they've lived all their life, Alexia didn't shed a tear. Rather she took a last look at her parents before she walked into the car that drove off to her new house. And they knew. They understood the message she was trying to pass.

"Drop the keys on the table and leave." Dane said to the driver the moment they arrived at the Mansion.

The young driver did as he was told immediately and closed shut the door immediately he walked out.

While Alexia found her way around the mansion, searching for her supposed room, she got more confused when she realized that since she got in, no servant had walked in.

Where had they suddenly gone to? There was no way it could be possible for a billionaire like Dane not to have servants.

"And where do you think you're going to?" Dane's voice stopped Alexia in her track.

She hesitated before turning to face him. His face held the same stoic expression she recognized on her father.

"I'm finding the way to my room of course." She managed to respond. The last thing she wanted was having a conversation with the one person she presumed to be the cause of her problems.

"Do you think your room is different from mine?" He smirked.

"I don't get. Are we supposed to stay in the same room when all of this is fake?" Alexia questioned back. Again, she was giving Dane multiple reasons to wanting to hate her even more.

"I think you might be forgetting. But then, it's not too late for me to bring back your memory." Dane said as he took his steps closer towards her. He stopped the moment he was satisfactorily close enough to her.

Alexia held herself back from taking a step backward. Even if she wanted to get so far away from him, she found herself deeply rooted to that spot.

"I gave your father a condition before getting married to you. And now, I have to make a thorough check of that condition." Dane said, a mischievous grin suddenly formed on his face.

"And what condition is that?" Curiosity got the best of Alexia.

"Are you a virgin?" Dane asked. Disbelief quickly curved up on Alexia's face. However, before she could make a response, Dane pressed his lips against hers, kissing her harshly. Alexia found herself struggling to set herself free. Sadly, Dane's grip over her was stronger.

He carried her in his arms the moment he stopped kissing her, while he found his way to the bedroom.

"Fucking put me down!" she kept struggling.

"Well, not until I'm done with my thorough check." Dane said adamantly.

At that moment, Alexia found the hatred for her father grow the more.

The moment he got into the room, he threw her harshly on the bed, and began to hurriedly pull off his clothes.

Alexia tried to get up, but he was quick enough to push her back to the bed.

"Don't tell me the famous billionaire is suddenly going to turn into a rapist." Alexia said immediately, and he stopped in his action.

What was he doing? He found himself suddenly asking.

Without saying anything else, he began to put on back his clothes. He turned back to leave the moment he was done. He couldn't tell what might have gotten over him to suddenly think of having sex with a woman he didn't give two fucks about as a way of confirmation.

"Hold on. Are you suddenly leaving? That's it?" Alexia's voice caused a pause in his steps.

"What the hell so you want? Do you expect me to touch you?" He questioned, his voice washed down in disdain.

"How do you confirm your condition then?" Alexia found herself asking.

"I have other ways." Dane responded and turned to leave. "Get ready, we would be leaving for the hospital tomorrow morning." he said on a final note.

"No. That's not happening." Alexia said, and jumped off from the bed, towards him. Unexpectedly, she wrapped her hands around his neck, and pressed her lips against his.

At the time the servant had come to knock on her door, Alexia was still fast asleep. The knock on the door was not as loud and disturbing as she would have presumed it to be. But despite being a soft knock, it still made her head hurt so much.

"I'll be there in a minute." She yelled out to the servant who had come to inform her about breakfast.

She struggled to sit on her bed for a few minutes after speaking. Alexia couldn't do anything but stare lost for a few minutes. Now, it was evident to her that she had not been dreaming. She had truly married a billionaire, just like her father had wanted.

Suddenly, she took a sharp turn to her left hand side of the bed.

"He is not here." she said inwardly. Again, she turned to her right hand side. It was still the same thing.

Did he just leave without saying anything? She wondered.

Just the thought of that brought about a pang of pain in her chest. She was still in disbelief at how she had made a fool out of herself with him.

Slowly, the memories of their moment last night began to creep into her head.

"You shouldn't have been so stupid, Alexia." She slapped herself continuously as she said the words. How she had pushed herself into kissing him, and causing them both to give in to their sexual arousal baffled her. This was a man she was just getting to know about. And definitely, her marriage with him was not the kind of dream marriage she wished for herself. Yet, she gave in so easily.

"Ahhh." She shoke her head vigorously, in an attempt to get rid of the thoughts of that night that plagued her. And with that, she marched down sharply from her bed, and prepared herself for breakfast.

"The Belmont ladies are never known to be late for whatever occasion." Mrs. Belmont's voice was the first she heard the moment she arrived at the living room. "That is the first rule to being a Belmont. In whatever you do, never be late." She went on until Alexia finally joined them on the dinning table.

"A pleasant morning to you mother-in-law." Alexia greeted when she sat.

Mrs. Belmont took a sharp look at her with disapproval and displeasure wrapped around her face.

Alexia of course had seen that. But she believed it was best she ignored her. After all, she didn't understand why or what was the meaning for whatever she said.

"Did you get what I just said?" Mrs

Belmont questioned, her eyes on Alexia.

"Pardon?" Alexia questioned immediately.

"You're late." Mrs Belmont answered sharply, her stares giving all form of seriousness and unhappiness..

"Uh - I'm sorry. I was just -"

"Hmph!" Mrs Belmont was quick enough to stop him with a quick raise of her hand in the air. "Another rule to being a Belmont lady is that you don't give excuses. Own up to your mistakes. And never repeat them ever." She said again.

Alexia had always heard about a certain Belmont lady from the news. And truth be told, none of the news she heard about her was pleasant. There was even a time Alexia began to feel like the people were only spreading false rumors about this Belmont lady because they hates the rich. But right now, if she was not mistaken, the certain talked about Belmont lady was Mrs. Belmont. And the news were right. There was no way it could be Lily who was just seated, watching her mother.

"Uh, I'm sorry mother in law." Alexia said, almost quietly. While she bowed her head in apologies.

"Another thing Alexia," Mrs Belmont said, and Alexia paused to look back at her. "We don't bow our heads. We're not servants. We stand and speak with so much grace and poise, like queens and princesses." She quickly added.

"Sorry. But is this a part of the breakfast?" Alexia couldn't help but ask.

"What?" Mrs. Belmont shot at her in disbelief.

The snorting sound that escaped Lily's lips quickly brought about a huge embarrassment on Mrs. Belmont. She took one last look at her daughter, who suddenly realized that she had been loud enough, before she stood up to her feet and left.

Alexia didn't bother turning behind to watch her leave. As it stood, the only thing on her head was food. After such an adventurous night, all she needed was food.

"Oh lord, I'm famished." Alexia finally said out loud as she began to eat, satisfying her taste buds.

"I think this should serve as a proof that you both had a wonderous night." Lily voiced out, a smirked spread out on her face. Alexia stopped immediately and gave her a long and hard stare.

"Aren't you going to ask where my brother is?" Lily asked immediately.

"I don't think I need to do that. I'm pretty sure I know where he is." Alexia answered and continued eating.

"From all the women I've seen my brother with, you're the only one who is tough. The others would have simply let the fear of her get the best of them. And for that, I like you." Lily giggled.

Alexia scoffed afterwards. If only she was truly as tough as Lily just said.

"I have never envisioned myself as a tough lady. But thank you either way, Lily." Alexia forced herself to pass a smile at her.

Lily acknowledged her thanks and they dived right into breakfast in silence.

Along the line, Alexia found herself thinking back about Dane again. This time, she couldn't stop wondering about his whereabouts. Had he truly gone to the office just as she was thinking, or was there somewhere else he must have gone to? She wondered.

"Huh, Lily." She called, and the young lady looked back at her. "Is there perhaps anything I'm to know about your brother?" She finally asked.

For just a few seconds, Lily stared at her in silence. Alexia's whose eyes were fixed on hers, wondered if she had perhaps asked the wrong question.

"Dane -" Lily sighed, and rested her back comfortable on the chair. "Dane is sweet, kind, and everything a woman would ask for."

"He sure as hell doesn't look like that to me." Alexia said immediately.

"You met the wrong side of him. Or, probably you met him in a wrong circumstance." Lily answered back.

"Yeah, I guessed so."

"A quick advice sister in law..." Lily said. "Don't get high hopes of him loving you back."