C8 The Argument

'You might be a bit on edge, I'm perfectly fine. I'd like some solitude for a while, but I'll be back before you know it.'

'Finish the given task, and we'll discuss the next steps during our call.'

'Prepare yourself for the challenge ahead; it won't be a smooth ride for now.'

High above, Alice edited texts for Skylar, despite the impossibility of delivery. Aware it was futile, she engaged in redundant tasks to kill the time and, crucially, evade Andrew, who sat across with a sour expression, leaning on a pile of files.

Refusing to make eye contact, Alice confronted the consequences of her actions. She had unwittingly stirred a formidable storm, vividly remembering the moment she succumbed to irrational impulses triggered by the mere mention of the word 'honeymoon.'

"What, honeymoon?" she whispered.

"Yes..." Andrew extended his hand in front of her.

Andrew's face and open palm captivated Alice, setting her heart racing. Without hesitation, she quickly placed both hands beneath her thighs.

"With whom?" She asked in a flow, then cursed herself inwardly for allowing nerves to take over in a situation where boldness was well within her capability.

"Don't be ridiculous." Andrew crouched to unfasten her seat belt, his mumbled words near her face sent shivers down her spine.

Alice was aware that this phase would manifest in their contract marriage, but it seemed to arrive sooner than expected. Andrew, unable to wait any longer, seized her arm and led her to the cabin.

"Excuse me, you can't do this." Alice yelled in frustration, but her words faded away as she observed the elegant and luxurious cabin, adorned with exquisite decorations.

The exquisite beauty of the surroundings might have caused her heart to flatten, and the allure could have submerged her if this were an ordinary wedding.

"What's the issue with honeymooning right after the wedding?" Andrew questioned, locking the cabin door.

Shaking off her daze, Alice composed herself, ready to face this moment without harm.

"Thank you, Mr. Kingston, for the wonderful setup, but I need..."

Alice sought to decline politely without undermining his prestige, but Andrew interjected.

"Don't overestimate your importance; these trivial preparations were orchestrated long before for my ex," he stated coldly, surveying the surroundings with an indifferent face. His lack of enthusiasm was evident.

'Why bring me here if all this was meant for his ex?'

"It could have been a honeymoon trip, but I'm actually on a business trip," Andrew added as he undid his necktie, shed his coat, and placed it neatly on the hanger rack.

"Why am I being brought along?" Alice murmured to herself, audible enough for Andrew to hear.

He turned towards her, closing the distance. She involuntarily stepped back, inadvertently bumping into the door of the small cabin behind her.

Andrew rested against her, his left hand placed beside her head, effectively sandwiching her against the door. In a hushed tone, he whispered in her ear, "Honeymoon is meant to be shared."

Shivers of chill raced down Alice's spine as she tightly held the hem of her dress with a sweaty palm, swallowing nervously.

"But, I......."

"Shh....." Andrew softly touched his index finger to her pink, velvety lips. "Argumentative folks drive me crazy." Slipping his right hand behind her neck, Andrew inched nearer to her lips.

With her lips firmly sealed and eyes squinted, Alice's resistance triggered fury in Andrew, who was determined to proceed with their post-marriage honeymoon plans.

He examined her face, narrowing his eyes, tightly pursing his lips for a few minutes, and eventually lost patience. Releasing her with a jerk, he clenched his fist in a sullen manner but regained control by slipping both hands into his pants pockets, managing his anger.

Alice sighed as she opened her eyes, finding Andrew standing a safe distance away. However, the fiery intensity in his gaze reignited her fear.

"I won't share my bed with a wife who harbors someone else in her heart. Resolve your past, or you can't fault me for being ruthless," Andrew declared, his gaze piercing Alice.

"Did you instantly fall for me? Why the haste in emotions? Everyone, yourself included, requires time to heal from past relationships; it's not a process that happens overnight. It's human nature. Don't you agree?" Alice challenged, locking eyes with him.

Her words ignited Andrew's anger. Closing the distance, he grasped her shoulder and forcefully pressed her against the wall.

"I don't have time for the nonsense called love. This was a contract marriage from the start, and the bride's identity doesn't matter as long as she meets my standards."

"You took the initiative, so it was on you to sort out your past before marrying me. A clear mind should have been a prerequisite for our union."

"As a gentleman, I chose to overlook it and gave you the space to move on. Yet, you have the nerve to question me."

They locked eyes with each other's intensity before Andrew released her shoulder.

"Rest up; the journey is quite a haul." Andrew concluded his statement and briskly left the cabin, leaving Alice immersed in reflection.

Sleep eluded her as she tossed and turned, replaying the incident in her mind. Each time, she found Andrew's actions to be justified. While she couldn't deny that he hadn't proposed, she had. Legally married, he had every right to claim her as his wife, yet he still showed respect for her wishes, even if his approach was assertive.

A memory resurfaced for Alice, harking back to an incident years ago. In the early stages of her relationship with Mason, he, in a drunken state, expressed a desire for her to share his bed. He sulked for two days after she rejected his proposition.

While Mason's words were sweet and cringe-worthy, he consistently failed to respect Alice's wishes. In contrast, Andrew stands out as a true gentleman.

Alice gently beat her forehead in an attempt to juxtapose Andrew with Mason. However, her thoughts persisted, and she eventually drifted into a deep slumber at the end of an eventful day.

A cabin crew woke Alice as the flight neared its destination. Ever since, she's been trying to evade Andrew, but the confined space of the jet plane makes it challenging, with both still seated facing each other, yet neither initiating contact.

Amidst a heavy silence, they both exited the flight, entered the car, and headed to the international branch of Royman Hotel after a prolonged journey that lasted almost half a day. Upon entering the hotel in the middle of the night in London, they were trailed by a group of guards and subordinates who had greeted them at the airport.

Alice's eyes widened as she observed a larger crowd than expected standing at the reception, ready to welcome them at this late hour. Clearly, the boss had made a special entry, and the team couldn't wait until morning to extend their greetings.

She was taken aback when the long-indifferent Andrew wrapped his arm around her waist. "Hello, Miss Brown; allow me to introduce Alice Cooper," he introduced her to an elderly lady in her late sixties.

"Greetings, ma'am! Congratulations and a warm welcome to London," Miss Grace expressed, handing a bouquet to Alice.

"Thank you..." Alice responded with a courteous smile, taking the flowers.

Miss Cooper, meet Miss Liza Brown, the most senior staff member of the hotel and the caretaker of my penthouse."

As Alice observed Andrew and Liza, she noticed a distinct fondness between them. His demeanor seemed notably softer in her presence.

They were directed to Andrew's penthouse on the hotel's uppermost floor, and, completely knackered from the string of unforeseen events and the extended journey, Alice conked out once again.

Upon waking, Alice found Andrew absent, having already headed to work, with only a note and a credit card left behind.

'Have a splendid time; Ronny is at your service, as are the hotel staff.'

Alice left the card untouched and slid the memo back under it, just as it was. Despite being a couple under the terms of their contract marriage, she was reluctant to use Andrew's money, wanting to avoid any sense of exploitation.

Having visited London multiple times, Alice had her go-to places. She arranged for a cab, declined Ronny's services, and spent the day exploring, unaware that Ronny was discreetly keeping tabs, serving as Andrew's eyes and ears.

In the evening, Alice returned to the hotel, tossed her bag aside, and collapsed onto the couch, exhausted.

"It's fine if you choose not to use your husband's card, but declining the car when everyone in the hotel knows you're my wife is unacceptable. Do not risk tarnishing my reputation again."

Alice jumped at the force in Andrew's voice. She met his gaze in silence as he looked at her intently.

"Answer?" Andrew arched his eyebrows, prompting a response.

"I wanted some time to myself," Alice spoke the truth.

She spent the entire day wandering, attempting to overcome the traumatic events in her life and clear her mind.

"Aren't you supposed to be alone in the penthouse? Instead, you were strolling through the city's public spaces and got caught on camera five times by your fans," Andrew commented, eyes fixed on his mobile.

"Sorry?" Alice gave him a perplexed look.

Andrew shook his head and directed her attention to his mobile screen, which showcased a slideshow of pictures capturing her in various locations.

"What, how can this be?" Alice exclaimed, rising in panic. She couldn't afford for anyone to discover her trip to London.

"Take it easy; Ronny dealt with the situation," Andrew assured, tucking his phone into his pocket and placing his hands in his pants pockets.

"Thanks," Alice said, letting out a sigh of relief.

"I won't always be by your side, so don't lower your guard, understood?" Andrew asserted with pride.

Alice scowled. Did he see her as some kind of child? Like she needed constant adult supervision?

"Before you draw conclusions, Mr. Kingston, take the time to get to know me," Alice advised, checking her wristwatch and then switching on the TV.

The news channels aired a report that left Andrew both surprised and astounded.