Heir of Deception | (for mature audience)

Chapter 7: Alexandria

Alexandria

—

I didn’t know that a little joke would get him all steamed up like that. Maybe it was a bad thing, but I thought I should do it more often if he was going to be my husband in a year. There was something undeniably thrilling about how he pulled me closer to him earlier today. It sent a shiver down my spine, igniting a spark I hadn’t anticipated.

After rummaging through the unpacked boxes, I finally found something to wear for my meeting with Sofia, my manager. I selected a denim corset to layer over an oversized button-up shirt, paired with fitted jeans and my favorite white Louboutin heels. The outfit felt bold and confident, and I grabbed my purse, feeling ready to tackle the day.

"You look beautiful, Ms. Carter," Grace said, peeking through the door with a warm smile.

"Thank you," I grinned back, feeling a flutter of appreciation for her kind words.

"Do you want me to unpack these boxes for you?" she asked, motioning toward the mess of boxes strewn around my room.

"No, it's fine. I'll do it myself," I replied, wanting to maintain a sense of independence.

"No, no. I insist," she said, walking in with a determined look. "My daughter always says she’ll do it later, and she never does. Plus, Mr. Calloway hates clutter."

"What doesn’t he hate?" I mumbled, rolling my eyes. "I'll be back in an hour or two, okay?"

"Of course, darling. Take as much time as you want," she smiled, her kindness evident.

"Bye."

She was such a nice lady; I often wondered how she ended up working for someone like Christian Calloway.

As I left the house, I followed my new guard into the elevator and pressed the button for the basement level. The doors opened, revealing a garage filled with an array of luxury cars. It was my first time seeing it all, and I couldn’t help but marvel at the impressive collection.

Do all these cars belong to Christian?

Diaz, as I had learned to call him, opened the door of the back Rolls Royce for me to get in. I slipped inside and gave him the destination where Sofia and I would meet today. When we arrived, I spotted Sofia Monroe already seated outside, sipping a glass of wine.

"Hey," I said as I sat down across from her.

"Who's the hottie?" she asked, pointing toward Diaz, who was now sitting at a distance.

"My bodyguard," I replied, rolling my eyes, though I couldn’t help but feel a little flattered by the attention.

"Fancy," she smirked, her expression teasing.

"Ugh, don’t remind me," I groaned. "My boyfriend is a little overprotective."

"Boyfriend?" she nearly choked on her wine. "When did this happen?"

"A while ago. We kept it under wraps to see how it would work out," I explained, trying to keep my tone casual.

"Good for you!" she beamed. "Who is he?"

"Christian Calloway," I said, picking up the menu.

"Oh my fucking lord," she gasped, her jaw nearly dropping to the table. "I want to know everything."

I hesitated, wishing it were that simple. How could I tell her, "My father arranged a husband for me because I can't find one on my own"?

"We met through a mutual friend, and we just hit it off," I said, opting for the easy route.