HIS PRETENSE BRIDE

CHAPTER 4

Alexa's POV

Dusting out my old sequin white dress, I put it on in front of the small mirror, applying a little makeup on my face before grabbing my bag and phone to go out.

I want to sneak out. 

It's still early but I am sure my landlady will be here anytime soon.

She is the reason why I have decided to go for this anniversary, coupled with my determined efforts to plead with my boss to take me back.

I am willing to do all it takes today to convince him that I will be punctual and he will never find any more reason to fire me.

I need this job. This is my only means of survival and without a quick solution, I will soon be out on the streets.

Carefully locking the door with my eyes scanning the entire vicinity for the sight of the landlady, I take to my heels when I don't see anyone.

Just before I get to the bus stop where I intend to take a bus to the anniversary location, my mind drifts back to what happened last night.

That fake man. 

Xander or whatever he calls himself.

How could he be so carefree?

Here I am struggling to survive and keep my job, yet he has everything but one thing. He wants his trust fund to get back at his mother and for that to happen, he needs a pretense bride.

Only a dumb woman would agree to such an agreement and I am not dumb. He can go to hell for all I care.

Even though the offer of a job as an executive chef is tempting, I can't be a part of someone's unhappiness. He wants to make that woman unhappy and she seems really nice.

Waving the thought away, I get to the bus stop and enter to find a suitable seat with my thoughts all over the place.

Thirty minutes later, I get to the venue filled to the brim with guests trooping in and out and making me feel odd with my old dress.

Looking down at my dress, I feel so out of place but a reminder that this isn't just a party but an opportunity for me to get my job back, I summon up the courage as I begin to trot towards the entrance.

The moment I enter, I almost collapse out of fear, my courage disappearing into thin air. The whole place is filled with a lot of dignitaries both from the company and even outside. When my gaze finds my boss, a mixture of hope and caution swirls in my eyes.

Without any more hesitation, I begin to find my way towards him, without thinking of what exactly I need to say to him.

To convince him.

With urgency the same as my steps, I begin to think of what to say to him as I maneuver my way towards him.

From nowhere, Richards appears with a wide grin on his face. "Alexa", he calls out, making me halt in my tracks.

"Hey", I wave at him, looking over his head at our boss. Richard is my colleague at work.

"Where have you been? You were not at work yesterday and the day before. Your number wasn't reachable as well…"

I walk past him quickly as soon as I see my boss going away. I don't want to lose him. Not this opportunity. Even if things do not work out today, I will be assured that I did all I could to get back my job.

Even though I still don't know how to convince him, I hurry after him, leaving Richard calling to me.

Suddenly, my boss stops walking and turns back, perhaps he heard the shout of my name or it is something else.