The Arranged Marriage

When the song ended and Alexander let Julia go, she took the champagne bottle and went outside to sit by the garden bench. She needed some fresh air.

A girl plopped down on the bench next to Julia. “I guess I’m not the only one fed up.”

Julia turned to look at the girl, who held out her hand. “I’m Blake,” she said. “Are you also tired of the bullshit?”

“Very much so. I’m Julia.” Julia took a swig of the champagne and handed it to Blake, who tipped the bottle back and drank deeply.

“I know who you are. Isn’t Alexander going to miss you?”

“If he even notices.” Julia stopped herself before she said any more.

“Don’t stop on my account,” Blake urged. “I also hate it here, and I have to be here because I have to find a worthy suitor.”

“Well, I’m glad to have met you,” Julia said truthfully.

They continued to drink and chat. Julia liked Blake immediately. She seemed confident and fun.

They exchanged numbers, and then Blake said, “I think we should head back.”

Julia checked the time and saw that they had been gone for a little over half an hour. “You’re right.”

They headed back inside, and before she could search for Alexander, he was walking toward her.

“Oh shit, he seems pissed,” Blake murmured.

“I thought it was the alcohol making me see things. Don’t leave me, Blake.”

Alexander got to her and took her wrist. He didn’t acknowledge Blake as he led Julia outside. When she turned back to Blake, her new friend was looking at her with pity.

As soon as they were outside, Alexander stopped and turned around. He was blazing with anger, but as she was about to speak, he shocked her by pulling her into his arms.

“What are—”

Before she could finish her sentence, Alexander lowered his lips and met hers forcefully.

He pulled her fully into his arms, and his hands spread over her body like wildfire. Her heart raced.

Her mouth opened wider so that he could have more access to her as his tongue went in and the kiss gained heat.

Even though she could feel that his kiss was more driven by rage and passion, her hands went to his chest, to his neck, and to his hair.

They were flush against each other, and there was no way that she could be closer to him, no matter how much she tried.

“Excuse me?”

They broke apart, and there stood two older men.

“I see that you two lovebirds are still in the honeymoon phase.”

“How could we not be?” Alexander replied, smiling at Julia.

“This is what we love to see. A man devoted to his wife says a lot about his character. I like you, Alexander. We’ll discuss this further—with the proposal.”

Julia could see that Alexander was relieved. “It would be an honor. I’ll see you then,” he said.

When both the men were gone, Alexander turned to her. The loving smile was gone, and he shook his head in disbelief and anger.

He strode away, and when she turned to watch him, she saw that Ava was standing, waiting for him.

Julia watched as Alexander led his real lover away.

She didn’t know where they were going, but her heart sank.

She stood there as the breeze was blowing her hair. She wanted to go home, but she couldn’t without Alexander.

After what seemed to be an eternity, he and Ava finally emerged. Ava had Alexander’s jacket wrapped around her.

She looked triumphantly at Julia, and Julia knew that the other woman was showing her that she was the only one that mattered to Alexander.

The breeze had become chilly, and Julia was glad that they were done. The car came forward, and she climbed in.

Julia watched as Alexander embraced Ava and placed a kiss on her cheek; then he was in the car.

They didn’t say a word to each other on the way home. She stared out the window, her mind spinning.

She was tired, and getting home was the one thing on her mind. The night had been a lot to take in.

When the car pulled into the driveway, Julia climbed out and made her way to the house and straight to their room.

A few seconds later, Alexander joined her in the bedroom.

He slammed the door shut, and she was startled.

“What bullshit was that, Julia?”

Julia took a deep breath and faced Alexander. “What bullshit did I do, Alexander?”

“You know we have to act like a married couple, but you disappear for half an hour and do who knows what?”

“I didn’t do it on purpose. I met a new friend,” she replied, calmly trying to reason with him.

“That’s hard to believe,” he spat out.

Suddenly, Julia was angry. “What about you?” she demanded.

“What about me?”

“Ava and you?”

“That is different.”

“How is it different, Alexander? You can’t keep your hands off her.”

“So that is your way of punishing me?”

“I’m not punishing you.”

“I think you are.”

“What makes you think that?”

“Why did you kiss me when we were dancing?” he asked.

Julia froze. “I think it was the alcohol and the fact that I wanted everyone to believe that we were a couple.”

“Don’t lie to me. I could tell from the kiss that you wanted more.”

“What do you want from me?”

“More like what do you want, Julia?”

“What do you mean?”

“Regardless of what you want, I’m not going to give you the relationship that you want. I don’t want you.”

“Then why kiss me outside?”

“The men that I spoke to are big on marriages and business. I played that role so that they could believe we were a passionate couple after the stunt you pulled.”

“So that was all for show?”

“Yes, Ava is the only woman that I want to touch or to be with.”

Julia nodded. “I’ll remember that so that there will be no inconvenience to you in the future. If that’s it, I’ll go change.”

She made her way to the bathroom and stared at herself in the mirror for several minutes before she wiped off her makeup.

When she tried to unzip her dress, she couldn’t get it to budge. She struggled with it and then sighed, knowing what she had to do.

Julia walked back into the bedroom. Alexander had changed into his briefs and was sitting on the edge of the bed reading.

Julia approached him, and he stared at her weirdly.

“Can you unzip my dress?”

“Don’t tell me that you’ve resorted to this. How desperate can you be?”

“I really need help, Alexander.”

He turned her around and unzipped her dress.

She held it tightly against her as she returned to the bathroom to finish getting ready for bed.

She came back into the room and could see that Alexander was texting with Ava by the smile on his face.

“So that kiss meant nothing to you?” she asked softly.

“I told you not to get greedy, Julia.”

“I was just wondering, okay?”

“Fine.” Alexander set his phone down. “It didn’t. All that time we were kissing, I was thinking about Ava.”

Julia swallowed a lump. “So you can use me physically when you want, but I can’t?”

“That’s the whole point of this sham marriage.”

“I get it.”

“I hope you don’t confuse this with any real feelings.”

“How can I, when you remind me every time about Ava?”

“You sound like a jealous wife.”

“At least I got the wife part right.”

“You’re not my wife, Julia.”

“Well, the marriage certificate says I am.”

“And why were you drinking so much tonight?”

“What do you mean?”

“Don’t act fucking dumb with me; you were drinking like there is no tomorrow.”

“Why does that matter?”

“Because you could slip up.”

“But I didn’t, did I?”

“Yes, you did—kissing me out of the blue.”

“Well, we’re even. You also kissed me way more out there.”

“Yes, because I had to make up for your blunder of leaving for that half an hour.”

“Oh, so let’s forget about you eye-fucking Ava the whole night. I think you were the bigger bullshitter out of the two of us.”

“What did you say to me, Julia?”

“I think you heard what I said.”

She turned to her side, letting him know that she was done arguing with him and was not interested in what he had to say.

Julia was shocked when Alexander turned her over and was on top of her in a flash.

“What. Did. You. Say. To me?”

“Get off me, Ale—”

She couldn’t finish her sentence with the look that was on his face. He was dominating and angry.

“Let’s talk about this calmly,” she said shakily.

His hand went to her neck, and she knew that he was feeling the pulse that was throbbing in her throat.

“So you’re upset because I called you out,” she whispered.

“I forget you’re young.”

“I’m not that young.” Julia stood her ground. She wouldn’t allow him to walk all over her—not if she could help it.

His hand went to the top of her breast, and she swallowed a lump. He leaned down, and his face was inches from hers. She closed her eyes.

Alexander was the first man that she had ever wanted like this. His attractiveness, authority, and mysteriousness pulled her in so much. The way he had kissed her outside had given her butterflies.

When she realized nothing was happening, she opened her eyes.

Alexander had a grin that told her he was laughing at her for being naïve.

Julia wouldn’t let him win. She grabbed him around the neck and pulled his head down, and her lips met his.

He tried to push her away, but she used all her might to keep him there.

Alexander was finally successful and pulled back, staring at her in disbelief. “Are you an animal or what?”

“You started it, Alexander. I was going to sleep, but you’re the one that teased me. I want you.”

“You want me?”

“Yes, well, I mean, you know.”

“When I kissed you at the gala outside, even though you tried to match me, I could tell you were very inexperienced. What could you do for me in bed?”

Julia knew he was right. She didn’t say anything.

Alexander climbed off her. “Don’t try me, Julia. Ava is the only girl who I want to see without her clothes.”

With that, he rolled over and went to bed—leaving Julia flustered and confused in the dark.