Contract marriage: My billionaire’s cure

“Damn” Ally gasped as we both dragged my suitcases to the reception. I handed my luggage to a bell boy as we walked to the elevator. My penthouse was on the 15th floor and I could see the city lights through the huge glass windows. It was beautiful but not as comfy as Marcus’s house.

The glass wall suddenly reminded me of Marcus but I shoved it aside. This is a new beginning and I don’t want to hang on to my past.

Ally sprinted to the balcony, opening a door in the glass wall. She jumped up and down in happiness earning a chuckle from me. We both unpacked my things and kept them in the cupboards neatly

“You know about the party right? ”

“Which one?” I remembered that Sarah talked of some party but I don’t usually pay attention to that stuff.

“Mr. Holland is holding a party for his daughter’s engagement and all the business tycoons and politicians are invited. ”

“Oh yeah Sarah talked to me about it a while ago”

“You know that you have to show up with Marcus right? ”

My body went rigid as she said that. I knew that I had to meet him for business matters but I didn’t think it would be this soon. I had hoped to avoid him a little longer but now it doesn’t seem to be working out.

“When is the party?”

“In three days.” I inhaled loudly in frustration. I didn’t know if I could handle my emotions if I see him this soon.

…

“Ma’am here’s your dress ” Sarah came running towards me holding the dress my company designed recently.

It was an off shoulder floor length dark blue dress with a slit all the way up my thigh. It was elegant, yet simple

I changed into my gorgeous dress and wore some light makeup. I let my hair fan around me in soft waves as I loosened it from the bun on the top of my head.

“Beautiful” Sarah clapped her hands in joy as soon as she saw me. She was already dressed in a dark purple floor length dress to accompany me. This was not just an engagement party, it was an opportunity for business, so everyone dragged their secretaries with them.

As I went down, I saw a black limousine parked at the front of the building, ready to escort us. I already knew Marcus and his secretary would be there. Sarah told me beforehand that we would need to go with them and therefore he would be picking me up.

I opened the door and saw Marcus wearing a black suit with a dark blue tie matching my dress. Next to him sat Steve with messy hair, giving me a huge grin.

“You look very beautiful Mrs. Anderson”

“Please call me Camilla” I gave him a small smile, hiding the discomfort I felt as he called me Mrs. Anderson.

I sat down avoiding Marcus’s eyes but yet, I felt his gaze lingering on me longer than it should. As we drove, I caught Marcus stealing glances at me several times.

The location was huge, as expected. As we stepped off the limo, cameras started flashing blindingly. I had always been confident in front of cameras, but today my insecurities overtook my confidence. I felt afraid that I would be questioned about my personal life , I felt afraid that they would find the fault in me which Marcus found out. I was raised to be the perfect version of myself and a slight difference in it made me scared. Made me feel useless and weak.

My body started trembling involuntarily. The blinding lights made me want to tear up and cry until warm hands tugged me closer and dragged me inside the hall. I looked up to see who had saved me only to meet his mesmerizing green eyes staring down at me.

I bit my lower lip , regretting it seconds later as Marcus stared at my lips with his arms around me. He had me crushed against his comfortable hard chest in possessiveness, screaming that I was his. To my surprise, he leaned down and pressed his forehead to mine, his eyes fluttered closed as his thumb traced down my arm. I closed my eyes enjoying his warmth around me with thoughts of wrapping my arms and snuggling closer to him whirling around my head.

But before any of that could happen, as if God had knocked some sense into me, I jolted away quickly. Leaving his arms made me feel empty, lonely. I looked at him to see him looking at me with regret, hurt and longing.

But before he could turn back to the cold hearted man he was, I quickly turned around and walked to greet the couple. I sensed footsteps following me but decided to ignore them, keeping my head straight.

“Good evening Mr. And Mrs. Anderson. It’s a pleasure to have you here” Mr. Holland shook our hands and lead us to the couple.

My parents, Jake and Mr. Anderson were already talking with them as we came. The bride to be was very pretty with blond hair and blue eyes.

She was smiling but under her smile I saw the pain she was trying to hide. She bit her lower lip from time to time to stop her trembling. She was not happy with this marriage. Mr. Holland had forced her into this.

His daughter had no business as she was a dancer following her own passion unlike us. She had no gain from this marriage as I had by joining hands with the Empires. Her trembling figure made me realize that she had had no say in this marriage.

“Can I talk to you for a second?” I looked at her blue eyes pleadingly. I just wanted to talk to her and make sure she was alright. I knew her pain and I wanted to make sure that another person doesn’t repeat the same mistake as I did.

“Sure ” she followed me to the balcony which was decorated with beautiful flowers, moonlight dancing on the wall.

“Are you happy with this marriage? ” Her eyes flew up to mine in shock.

“What? ” She asked in disbelief.

“I had a feeling that you didn’t like this marriage because you were all scared back there ”

“No there’s nothing like that. I love him” she fidgeted her fingers nervously.

“Look, I know I just met you but all I wanted to say was I have been in the same position as you” She gasped in shock hearing my words.

“So you are not in love with Marcus Anderson?” I chuckled at her naivety.

“Do you think any of these business marriages are real?” I shook my head in despair.

“I just want to say that please don’t make the mistake I made. Don’t sell your life so that your parents can be happy. Give them happiness but not by destroying your life”

I looked at her to see her eyes well with tears. She patted her face with the back of her hand, wiping away the tears that were falling down on her cheeks.

“I have someone that I love ” I turned to her in shock.

“And you’re still continuing with this marriage? ”

“I have to. I was afraid to come clean to my dad. He loves me but sometimes he just doesn’t understand me”

I walked to her and held her by the shoulders.

“I wish I had someone I love . Someone that I can go home to. I wish I had someone holding me back so that I won’t make the mistakes that I have already made. But you- you have the chance to change it. It’s not too late”

Her eyes shone brightly with hope as she hugged me and cried on my shoulder. I slowly wrapped my arms around her and patted her back while whispering some encouraging words in her ear.

I looked back at the hall only to meet those green eyes as deep as the ocean itself staring back at me. Marcus was standing near the door leading to the balcony. I didn’t know when he came but his eyes said that he had been listening to the entire conversation.

It was no joke that he was a piece of wood. He held so many emotions in his face but yet all those emotions were unreadable. It changed from pain to sorrow to anger in an endless cycle.

My gaze fell to his hands which were holding two red wine glasses. But now his fingers were tightening around them in anger as if he was ready to break them.

His behavior today had shocked me in many ways. It was just days ago he told me to stay way from him but now he is trying to act as if nothing happened. His demeanor has completely changed within these past few days. Some might say that he even misses me. But I know better. He is a cold hearted man incapable of friendship and love.

With that Marcus turned his back on me and left the balcony. I waited for a few seconds before untangling my arms from the girl and edging closer to the balustrade.

Looking down, I saw my so-called husband leaving the hall in fury.