Mountain house

"What are you looking for?" Henry asked Lina when she kept looking back, trying to see who's inside the car following them.

"Where's John? Or Sam? Are they on the car behind us?"

"When you're with me, I'll take care of everything so don't worry."

"I will not worry if I know where they are." She pushed.

"If we're together, we don't need them, my security can take care of us."

"But that's not for you to decide. They are my staff not yours."

"Says who?"

"Say's me!" Lina challenged Henry's decisions

"Lina, let's talk about this when we get to the house." Henry said calmly, but he's gripping the stirring wheel too hard. His knuckles are turning white from the pressure.

"Okay, let's do that. I'm sure we have a lot to discuss anyway." Lina agreed as she rubs her head to tame the pain in her head.

"Here, drink this." Henry pulled out a water bottle from the center console and handed it to her.

"Thank you." As she twist the bottle cap and took a drink, she didn't notice how parched she felt, she almost finished the whole bottle.

As Lina capped off the bottle, she sneakily observed Henry. He's dressed casually today, dark wash blue jeans, dark navy sneakers and light gray sweater that perfectly fits him showing his fit figure subtly. His side profile is also very good looking. You can see his defined jaw line, freshly shaved this morning, and his sharp straight nose. He didn't brush his hair up today and just let it dry naturally, so his semi long bangs are brushing on his forehead. He smells like fall, full of warmth and also sweetness to it.

Lina leaned back in her seat, inhaling the comforting scent in the car, she closed her eyes and got comfortable.

Despite sleeping for a long time the night before, she fell asleep the whole drive. She woke up just when they were entering a large dark green colored gate leading to a house surrounded by trees. From her seat in the car she can only see the bungalow house that looks like it's made entirely of logs and wood. And all over it are towering trees, almost hiding it from sight. She felt so tiny being surrounded by such tall trees.

Its only about 4PM in the afternoon when they reached their mountain house destination. When Henry came around to open the door for her. As she stepped out, she felt the chill that is the case for being up high in the mountains and surrounded by dense nature. She shivered in her pink sweater dress and slip-on shoes that is more fitting for the city than the mountain. She wore it for convenience since it's easier to try on the dresses this morning with it. Not really appropriate mountain clothes, especially during the fall season.

Henry placed his arm around her shoulder and led her into the front door of the homely log cabin. "Come on, we only have just about an hour here before we have to leave again. You need to change to something warmer."

"I didn't bring any clothes with me." Lina said, realizing too late that she didn't bring anything with her, packing clothes completely slipped her mind.

"I already arranged for it." Henry said, lifting the carry-on bag he was carrying with his other hand a little bit to show her.

'Of course, he did', she thinks to herself, not even that surprised anymore.

She was led into a warm and bright bedroom where he placed the bag in the bed.

"Get changed and come into the dining when you're done. We'll eat first before we head out."

Just then, her stomach gurgled noisily. "Uh yeah, I am hungry. I'll be right there."

As she opened the bag, she noticed a few things.

First, his clothes are also in there so she neatly pulled it out and kept his clothes in the bed.

Second, the thick, warm looking leggings and thick sweater are in a smaller size than she prefers, it will fit but she just prefers her clothes to be more comfortable than restricting.

Third, there is a swimsuit she assumes is for her and swim trunks for him bundled together. She placed the trunks on his pile of clothes.

Lastly, none of them are her clothes. She was expecting the clothes in there to be from her clothes that was now neatly organized in his house but these are all new, with tags still attached.

She took the leggings, sweater and got changed. Hanging her dress in the dresser in the bedroom to be used again tomorrow.

She stepped out of the bedroom and followed the hallway where they came from earlier and eventually reached the sunken dining room.

It's a small floor seating table that looks out into the back of the house which is absolutely breath-taking. Separated by a glass window to keep the chill at bay, she is looking deep into the forest.

Connected to the house is a small hot spring area, a small natural pool with steaming water. It's a man-made hot spring but it was designed with the forest around it in mind so it looks like a fairy tale scene. Only thing missing are little fairies flying above and it will be completely from a book.

She looked at Henry, who is seated opposite her and he is staring at her. Feeling awkward again all of a sudden, she clears her throat. "Let's eat."

They had a few small dishes laid out in front of them. She happily started eating.

'Have you prepared your vow? Henry asked all of a sudden.

"I'm just going to make up something tomorrow, it's not that important." Lina replied with a shrug.

"But it is, that vow will be your promise towards me and our relationship." Henry said, placing down his chopsticks and looking at her seriously. Lina felt the pressure from his stare, she stopped eating too.

"This is not a real relationship though!" She exclaims, tired of people around her treating the wedding so seriously. Lina feels like they're ignoring the fact that she initially didn't want to do it. She did agree to do it however she still feels forced by the circumstance.

"It might not be a conventional relationship but it is very real to me."

Feeling like she's being fooled by Henry's words, "Look, we don't have to do this to each other. Lets be honest with each other at least. Let's sign the contract and that's it, that's the marriage we will have. We don't really have to get involved in each other's lives. Are you that scared of losing your company? Is that why you're doing this and pretending to like it, to like me?"

For the first time, Lina saw Henry's face turn cold as he looked at her, his gaze scaring her. He hit the table just hard enough that it startled her.

"I'll let you off this time because you don't know me yet but you need to remember this in the future, future Mrs Wu. I cannot and will not be forced to do anything I don't want to do and I have never had to pretend about anything. Me, marrying you will not be a marriage on paper. You are going to be my wife in every sense of the word, so you better get used to it from now."

"That doesn't mean you own me." Lina softly said, standing her ground.

Henry smiled, with wicked glints in his eyes, "But that's exactly what it is, baby, you will be mine and I am yours."