CHAPTER 2

ALEXANDER 

I've never seen a woman with a pair of green eyes so intense it felt like she was piercing deep into my soul.

"Will you marry me?" She repeated with an edge of desperation as she grabbed my two hands.

I forced my mouth shut, glanced away briefly before looking back at her.

Should I blame myself for saving her? Is this what I get instead of a thank you? A marriage proposal?

She let go of my hands and I feel the absence immediately. I watched her try to stand up and I rose to help her. If I was told two hours ago that I would be here, helping a woman get off a hospital bed and not at my supposed meeting, I wouldn't believe it.

"First, let's get out of here. We need to talk…"

"You need to be on bed rest," I cut her short as she unclipped the strip attached to her veins. She dropped the pants of water, grabbed my hand and her phone before walking to the exit.

I couldn't believe I was letting her drag me out.

My intention when I saw her unconscious body in the car was to bring her to the hospital and leave but the moment Carlo, my Assistant told me the brakes were tampered with, I couldn't leave.

I knew someone was behind it and I wanted to unravel that.

She looked so innocent and small, she could pass for a baby. But in my line of business, I know there was more to the face.

We took the elevator down and our eyes met. She flashed me a smile and stretched her hand. "I'm Annalyn Lorenzo. What about you?"

I stared at her for a moment, unsure of telling her my name or accepting her silly proposal.

Marriage was the last thing on my mind.

I didn't take her hand and the elevator dinged open. When I stepped out of the elevator, I saw Carlo in the reception and I signaled to him not to come closer.

I knew he'll handle the bills and whatever was needed for her discharge. All I needed to do was to drop her off wherever she wanted, perhaps the police station and leave.

When we got out, I pointed to my car. A small peugeot car I usually ride to work every morning.

She stared at the car for a moment, probably contemplating entering or not. Without question, she jumped into it and I did the same.

"Where to?" I asked, sparing her a glance.

She didn't answer. Instead she folded her arms around her bosom and asked. "Won't you marry me?"

Sheer irritation darted through me.

"Do you go around asking people to marry you?" I found myself questioning and her eyes stiffened. 

She turned away, her gaze finally leaving mine. Without a word, I kicked the car engine into action and drove away from the hospital.

The silence was awkward and uncomfortable so I asked again. "Where can I drop you?"

"Your house," she replied sharply and the car stopped abruptly.

"What?!" I exclaimed with utter disbelief.

Her gaze burned over me and I started to frown when she revealed. "My fiance tried to kill me."

With a mix of confusion and curiosity, my brows furrowed. 

"And my step-sister. If my step-sister is involved like I assume she is, then it means my step-mother is also aware so going back home right now is not a good idea. Don't you think so?"

I scoffed, my stomach churning with irritation. "Is that why you want me to marry you?"

"Technically," she rereplied nonchalantly.

A vein began to throb in my temple and I sucked my lower lip, frustration gnawing at my heart.

"Warren and I were supposed to be married in two weeks so I can get my inheritance but I caught him cheating on me with my step-sister this morning before the accident."

My eyes darted back to her. "Is that why you think he is responsible for the car and the drug?"

"Yes," she replied firmly. I was about to tell her we needed substantial evidence to back up our claim when she added. "Warren whispered something into Sophie's ears before she left his apartment this morning and when I went back home, I drank the coffee in the living room. It's either Warren had Sophie tamper with my car brakes or the brakes were tampered with back at home. And the coffee I drank was always made by either Sophie or Kathryn."

I furrowed my brows. "Who is Kathryn?"

"My step-mother," she answered, rather quickly.

"But we don't have any evidence to provide to the police…"

"I'm not going to the police…" she cut me short which is something I detest.

"And why?"

"Because going to the police will give me away. I don't need any evidence because I don't intend to have them locked away. All I need is to get my inheritance. If I don't get married in two weeks, whether to Warren, which I definitely will not do, or to anyone else, I will lose the company to Sophie and Kathryn."

There was a genuine reason behind her sudden proposal afterall.

Still, it sounded silly. Proposing to just anyone was absurd. 

She didn't even know me. 

"Warren and I have been together for two years. He needs to get married too to get his father's company and since he has made his choice, I guess I need to make mine too."

I was watching in silence, wondering what it would be to be married to a vulnerable green-eyed woman like her. 

"It's going to be a marriage of convenience and I don't mind paying you if that's what you want. Just name your price!" She flashed me another smile, making me wonder how she could go from been on a death bed to a sad woman who just got her heartbroken and now to a woman who was carefree.

She tapped me. "You don't need to be shy. I can pay you really. Just name it!"

I almost laughed.

There was no denying she was loaded. And she was willing to pay for my services. 

"So?"

Amusement filled my expression as I asked. "Are you sure you can pay me my price?"

With confidence, she nodded her head intermittently. "Sure, I will. I'll do anything to get back at that jerk and get the company so I definitely can pay you."

I nodded in understanding and uttered firmly. "I want your sister's head on a plate in two hours. Can you do that?"

Horror filled her expression instantly and I let out a chuckle.

I couldn't remember the last time I laughed like I just did. Apparently, I was greatly amused by this woman and sticking around with her for a few months didn't seemed like a bad idea. 

"What the hell was that? What the hell did you just do?" She slapped my shoulder playfully and I laughed again. "Who the hell are you anyways?"

That was it.

She didn't know me and I was damn sure she didn't want to know who I really was. Telling her I was Alexander Klein might give my identity away. 

But I wanted to pretend to be someone else. A man with nothing to offer.

"You don't want to know," I said, trying to keep up with the light atmosphere.

"I want to. We are getting married anyway…"

"I haven't accepted yet." I reminded her.

She nodded in agreement. "So what's your name?"

I watched her with a smile as curiosity filled her expression. "I'm Adrian."

"Adrian?" She asked to be sure and I nodded. "Adrian. So?"

To stop her from going ahead with digging deep into what she wasn't ready to know about me, I decided to change the topic.

"For how long do you need to be married?" I inquired, starting the car again, my head swirling with an idea.

"12-24 months at least so it doesn't look like I got married for the inheritance," she answered, a touch of bitterness in her voice.

12 months was equivalent to a year and that was a lot already. And 24 months was definitely impossible.

Still I didn't oppose her. "I accept."

A surprised gasp left her plump lips. "Really? You'll marry me?"

"Yes, I will."

"Wow. I…"

"But on one condition," I suddenly interrupted her. "And it's a condition I'll tell you after we're married."

Her jaws dropped.