CHAPTER TWENTY SIX - MAKING PLANS

Cole's POV

"How do I answer this question without admitting the truth, that I was the intended target.

"Hmm, I guess I should be thanking you instead?" I retorted

"Yep" she chuckles.

I kept glancing at her as she opens a book, "are you sorry that you agreed to marry me now?" I had to ask.

She looks up from reading the preface to the book in her hand, to look at me, with a worried expression, "did we marry each other because of the arrangement my father and stepmother made or did we do it because we really loved each other and wanted to?" she asks me nervously.

Chuckling I pull her and took the book from her hand, "I meant it Arie, I love you and I married you because that was my intention since you were eighteen" I told her, hoping it casts away all of her doubts.

She adjusts herself to lean on my chest, taking my hand in hers and started drawing circles in my palm with a tickling sensation.

"Now there's only one thing left to do" she said, tilting her head back to look at me.

Sensing that she is waiting for me to ask her, "and what is that?" I wondered aloud.

"Prepare for the wedding that will last more than one lifetime." she said giggling, focusing on my hands again.

"Okay?" I questioned her.

"You and I will save face at the wedding venue" she said sitting up to stare at me, with excitement dancing in her beautiful eyes.

"I'm listening" I said hoping I understand what she is trying to say.

"We use that opportunity to shock everyone with our marriage announcement. Cole this marriage saved me from having to sign my inheritance over to them." she explained and all that she is saying makes perfect sense, but do I need to do all of this drama. I would prefer to send a photo or a video from our elopement in Vegas.

"Do you need to have a large elaborate wedding?" I asked.

Shaking her head with a frown "no I don't, I just want to make a statement, where everyone will see and know at the same time." she told me, apparently still thinking about it. "I'm not popular in the social circles of our families, so elaborate means absolutely nothing to me." she added with a hurt look.

As I contemplated giving her my suggestion. "I'm sorry! I just want you to experience everything in life and a wedding ceremony is a good way to start" I apologized.

"What about releasing our Vegas wedding video to the media" I suggested.

Shaking her head, "but it will put you as a prominent business man in a sticky situation, where your reputation could be at stake and I refuse to do that to you or even put you in that position." She glances up at me, willing me to understand.

"Huh, I was only thinking about you and about us that I didn't given any thought to our social standing in this situation." I retorted. "So there is only one thing left to do" I finally realize.

Looking at me confuse, "and what is that?" she asks with a skeptical expression.

"Kyle!" was all I said.

With a confused look, she laid back on my chest, "Kyle is the only one who walks away with nothing in this arrangement" She acknowledged, closing her eyes.

I look at this wise girl asleep in my arms, the Cinderella of the Lawrence household, whose definitely wise beyond her years, I thought as I closed my eyes, joining Arie in dreamland.

The pounding on the door, woke me and I looked around Arie wasn't there. I panicked for a moment, before I saw her walking out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel.

She was walking towards the door, when she saw me sitting on the bed. Smiling, "good you're up, can you get that" she points to the door that was knocking again, as she goes back into the shower. Did she plan on opening the door dressed or undress like that? I frowned as I walked to the door.

I open the door to see a young girl in her late teens early twenties standing outside the door with an irritated look that quickly changed into a satisfied smirk as she saw me.

"Hi I'm Sandy, I came to collect the lunch trays" she says as she tries to take a peek past me.

I think that I felt the uncomfortable that Arie spoke of earlier.

"One second" I told her as I walked back into the room to get the trays for her.

I heard the door shut and immediately looked back to see Sandy inside the room with a seductive smile.

"You're all alone in the bad weather, maybe you would like some company" she suggests.

Is this a ******* joke?

"I have all the company I need to last more than one lifetime" I said, taking up the trays and handing it to her.

Instead of taking the tray, she goes to sit on the bed, short of literally kicking her out, I walked to the door and opened it putting the tray outside the door and left the door open, indicating that she should leave.

"My wife will be here soon" I informed her.

Chuckling, she walk towards me, "she's out with my brother Joshua, so I doubt that" she said walking to the open doorway where I was standing.

Where the hell is my wife whose always evarsdropping.

"Sweetheart?" Arie comes out of the bathroom still clad in the towel only.

Sandy was definitely shock to see my wife. I indicated the open door and the tray that I placed on the floor. With an angry glare at both Arie and I she picked up the trays causing the dishes to fall. I didn't look at what the damages were, I slammed the door shut, turning the latch.