I could hear noises downstairs. Adrian was probably up, too. It was a regular thing the past two days, waking up to see him cooking in the kitchen.
I walked down to see him look up from rummaging through the fridge.
"Good you're up. You sleep more than my cousin, you know?"
"A girl needs her beauty sleep, okay," I replied. I was starving and whatever he was making smelled amazing.
"You don't need any," he muttered as he pulled out eggs. Just because he and his cousin were more than good looking doesn't mean they have to brag.
"I still can't believe you can cook," I said, leaning against the bench.
"And I can't believe you can't." He winked, making me turn a lovely shade of red. It wasn't my fault. I tried cooking but mother would always tell me off because of it, and then when I tried, mishaps would happen.
"I take it you didn't sleep well?"
"Huh?" I was looking at all the ingredients he took out.
He poked my skin just below my eyes. "You have dark circles," he said.
"I do?" I asked. He grabbed some pots and pans, nodding.
"That makes two of you."
"What?"
"I know someone else who would have slept badly." Adrian winked again.
"I am so confused," I said, shaking my head.
"Just cut this up for me.” He chucked a cucumber, which I barely caught. I walked around to the other side of the bench and grabbed the knife.
“You know how to chop, right?” he asked.
I could feel an intense blush coming to my face and turned around to keep him from seeing it. “Of course I do,” I snapped, a bit too defensively, might I add. He nodded and turned around and I stared at the vegetable in front of me.
Of course, I knew how to chop, not that I did it very often, considering my lack of participation in the kitchen. But then again, how hard could chopping be?
I chopped the ends of the cucumber off. It was slippery. Why couldn’t they be more flat? I sliced it down in half, so at least the bottom was flat which made it easier to cut. I wasn’t exactly sure what I was doing but the pieces came in various shapes and slices and I stifled a grin.
“You done?”
“Yep,” I said, turning around to face him. Adrian took a look at my masterpiece and his face contorted into different emotions. Alright, it wasn’t that bad.
“That’s creative.”
“Shut up,” I muttered, putting the knife down.
“I’m joking, thanks,” but then he grabbed the chop board from me. I watched as he mixed the cucumber with other vegetables. It was quite embarrassing, really. A guy knew how to cook and I didn’t. Maybe I could ask him to teach me. My thoughts were disturbed as the phone rang.
“I’ll get it.” He was already racing away from the pan to the other room. I shrugged and jumped onto the kitchen bench. I never thought I would be here one day, becoming a wife but feeling so bored. Scratch that. I wasn’t even a housewife. I was basically a house statue, not even doing anything.
Adrian came back with a smile on his face and I raised an eyebrow.
"What?" I asked, feeling hungry. I could practically feel my stomach growling. I watched as he turned off the stove and smiled at me. I raised an eyebrow again. Wasn't he going to finish cooking that?
"Come on," he said, grabbing my hand none too gently and pulling me up the stairs.
"Eh, Adrian?" I asked in confusion. I nearly tripped over my feet as I went up. I could see clothes littered everywhere, courtesy of Adrian. And since Ma was apparently visiting her grandchildren, there was no one to clean it up. I tried but gave up after picking up his tenth shirt and not knowing what to do with it.
Living with Adrian was like living with a child.
"Pack," ordered Adrian, shoving me into the master bedroom.
"Why?"
"We're going to France."
"What?"
"Oh, and bring Darius's phone as well, will you?"
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
"What are you doing?"
I ignored the voice and took a deep breath, muttering into the pillow. Why did the pillow have to smell so bad? Why couldn't it have a musky aftershave smell or a –? Wait, no, I mean like a sunflower smell or something. Do sunflowers even have a smell?
"Ivory," the call of my name was followed by a jab on my waist. It was annoying, because it only made the belt in the plane dig into my waist. Damn it, why couldn't we just take a normal plane?
I had nearly freaked when Adrian dragged me to the outside of the airport and passed the runway. I honestly thought for a moment I was going to die by getting run over by some humongous plane and no one would know because I would look like an ant from the window.
And sure, I was expecting Darius to own a private jet. Hell, my father owned one, too, but that didn't mean I had been on one since my fourteenth birthday. No. In fact, I like to keep myself very far away from these aircrafts.
"Ivory." Another jab followed and I lifted my hand and waved it to say I would get to him later. But I think I imagined the movement rather than do it. I could finally feel the plane reach a steady altitude, which made me open my eyes to stare at the dark navy blue pillow that had one streak of gold across it, creating a decent look.
"Aluminium!"
"Ow!" I rubbed my waist as I sat up straight, glaring into the eyes that were staring at me. "What?" I snapped.
"Oh, now you reply. I have been trying to talk to you for the last half an hour and you kept trying to sleep!"
I rolled my eyes as Adrian huffed. He crossed his arms across his chest from the seat opposite mine and leaned back.
"If you couldn't see, I was waiting till the plane came to a steady stop, thank you very much."
"Steady stop, thank you very much," mocked Adrian in a high pitched voice, making faces at me which only made me sigh and lean back, closing my eyes. Why on earth is he so childish? I thought he had his own business or something, how can someone like that run something?
Which only reminded me not to judge. Look where I was. Graduated with flying colours, wanted to get a degree in Medicine to only help people, and then shattered the dream. I shuddered, just thinking about it. And I let other things blame the reason I dropped out. Now that was childish of me.
Screw that, it was already done. What about cooking? I tried taking that up in Uni as a part time course, learned how to make pasta, and then dropped out, not liking being bossed around by some pretentious chef. And I remember every week I would learn a new dish and try to prepare it only for James to say it lacked this or that or whatever when I made some for him
Oh, don't even think about that. Alright, let's say I wasn't made for cooking. What about sport? Oh god, Ivory, how long has it been since you picked up a hockey stick or kicked a footy? Too long that the walk across the runway made me sweat. Pathetic.
Staying at home. Is this what I had become? Some spoiled girl who would whine? So I don't care what Adrian thinks Darius would say. I am getting a job. I cannot just stay home all my life. I swear my IQ level had dropped the past few months and spending more time with Adrian would only make it drop some more.
"Million for your thoughts?"
My eyes shot open as I stared at Adrian, who was staring at me curiously.
"Isn't it ‘a penny for your thoughts’?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Inflation prices," he retorted haughtily, taking a sip of his glass which looked like it probably had alcohol in it. Where did he get that? I could use a glass right now to calm the elephants in there. I hated flying. But then again I got drunk faster than a fifteen-year-old. Not that they should be drinking in the first place.
"Only you, rich people," I muttered, shaking my head.
"You're rich, too," he reminded me, something I usually always forgot. Of course, I was rich, too. What was that, a saying that rich people stick together? If that was the case, I wouldn't have to marry Darius in the first place. It was the fact that rich people claw at each ot
her to become better that we had to get married so that our companies, the biggest, won't run each other down. Some healthy competition that would always keep us at the top and let the other businesses stay below. Evil, but still worked.
Ignoring him and his requests for packeted peanuts, I looked out the window, noticing the dark sky. I thought it was just morning. And then I realised I probably fell asleep sometime because looking at Adrian now, he was sprawled in his seat with a basket on the ground that had packets of empty peanuts and I stifled a laugh.
He should have just ordered a decent meal. All those peanuts surely couldn’t be good for anyone. Taking off the belt, I stood up to use the bathroom and stood in the aisle looking both ways.
This wasn't a commercial plane, so where on earth are the toilets? I walked down the left end. They have to be somewhere. I walked by various closed doors, too afraid to peek in. After another few minutes, I reached the end and paused. Well, this was awkward. I decided I might as well wake Adrian up, feeling the urgent need to pee.
I turned around, only to nearly crash into someone bringing plates, and froze.
"Oh crap, I'm so sorry!"
I bent over, grabbing the cloth they dropped and carefully placed it on the top of the plates. I raised my eyes to see a young man smiling.
"That's fine! Did you need any help?" he asked and I blinked. Was that his voice? Trying not to snicker, I bit my lip and nodded and then realised I didn't say anything.
"Eh, stupid questions. Where are the toilets?"
He looked over his shoulder. "Third door through the bedroom."
I nodded my thanks and walked back to the door. Damn it, why do I need to pee so bad?
"I'm Simone, by the way," he yelled.
I looked back and nodded before entering in. I froze. Whoa, okay, I was expecting a bed of some sort. This was a private jet and dad had one on his flight after he complained too much that the seats gave him back pain. But this room looked straight out of a hotel. Shaking my head, I hurried to the bathroom, sighing as I looked at the cleanliness.
Why can't all planes be like this?
"Hey!"
"Go away."
"Ivory, we landed."
"Ivory."
"Ivor-eh."
"Ivor-ay."
"Ivor-aye, all mighty."
"Ivory."
"Ivory."
"Aluminium."
"Good, now go," I muttered, leaning my head against the surprisingly cold window. I was shivering. Who turned the air conditioner on?
"Ow!" I jumped, sitting up and glaring at Adrian whose face was way too close to mine. He had a cheeky smile on and stood up, placing the glass back. I stood up angrily, only to be pulled back down by the belt. I grumbled and tried to tug it free but gave up when it got stuck.
"Did you have to do that?" I said as he laughed. My hair was now wet thanks to this idiot and I was seriously hoping it wasn't beer or something strange that he poured on me. I had just washed it this morning.
"Here, I'll help."
I looked up to see Simone bend down to help me with my belt and I smiled. "Thank you. At least one of you is nice." I stood up and grabbed my bag.
"You deserve that,” Adrian was saying. “Come on. The driver already picked up our luggage for us."
I rolled my eyes, hurrying after him before I got lost in the dark. I reached the doorway.
"Thank you for f –" I shivered, feeling the cold bitter air outside. I looked down at the stairs and groaned. Can someone just transport me to the bottom?
"Hurry up," yelled Adrian over the sound of the engine as well as the wind and I trudged after him to the limousine that was waiting at the bottom of the stairs. For some reason, the stairs seemed to go on forever before I reached the bottom and I hurried in the car, enjoying the warmth inside.
"Where are we going?" I asked, realizing it was night in France right now. I did not a clue where we are or where we are going.
"To sleep. I don't know about you but I am sleepy," he muttered, leaning back and closing his eyes.
Well, me? Well, I wanted to eat, thanks, but clearly no one wants to feed me these days. I would make something for myself if there was food. Wait, we were going to sleep, which meant hotel, which meant I can raid their bar fridge.
Or I can also call up room service. But by the time they got here with food, that can be either cold or hot. I can't wait that long. Not to mention my bad luck and the food might end up being a platter of seafood since rich people like that. Perfect.
I watched mesmerised by the lights of the city as the limousine drove by. Even at this hour, people were everywhere huddled together in trench-coats or smoking to keep themselves warm. It didn't stop the women from wearing short dresses either.
I watched as we finally arrived at a grand hotel and the inside definitely impressed me. With huge chandeliers and red carpet, pristine gold handles and rails, it looked elegant. Usually not my thing but something about it was good.
The elevator sent us right up to the top and I hopped out. Where were the bags? Did the driver send them up?
I placed my hands into my pockets as I followed Adrian walk to the far suite. He opened the door and stepped inside.
"Wait, where is my room?" I asked as he was about to shut the door. He raised an eyebrow, nodding his head.
"You're sharing with me. Come on."
"What?"
"It's a surprise! Come inside!" he muttered, pulling me in. He couldn't be for real, could he? He took out his phone, typing away and muttering like a school kid.
"Yay, we can sleep together. We should paint our nails and do a slumber party."
"Eh," I said. Sometimes I got confused. Screw that. I constantly got confused between child Adrian and adult Adrian who grew up a few years.
"Are you serious?" I asked, realising that he was, in fact, serious by the way he was looking at me.
"Well, yes. I wanted to eat marshmallows and watch romance movies all night," he said, narrowing his eyes at me. For some reason, in that business suit, I couldn't take him seriously at all. A business man wanting to do that, hell, even I don't want to watch romance films.
"Um," I said, really not knowing what to say.
"Change into something comfortable. I'll go get the marshies and hot cakes!"
"Eh, Adr –" I winced as the door slammed as he walked out. I sighed, looking around the room. It was a posh room. Not a grand suit or something but still spacious and big.
Well, I guess I can eat Marshmallows. I was hungry. I kicked off my shoes, dropping my bag and placing my jacket on top of it. Me? Change? Yea, right. Who does that?
I walked over to the bar bridge. Finally. Please tell me there is food in there. I opened it and looked in. Are you serious?
This was perfect. I grabbed a handful of chocolate bars, a packet of chips, a yogurt tub and a banana, just to be healthy, and closed it the door. I changed my mind and grabbed a soft drink as well. All the alcohol looked a bit too much for me.
Rushing back to the bed, which technically meant I broke all my mother’s rules of no food in bed, I jumped in, kicked my socks off and ripped a packet of chips open. Salt and vinegar never tasted so good. Damn, I was really starving.
Half way through the packet and half way through some stupid movie, I got bored. Really bored. Where were the bloody marshmallows? Not to mention I was experiencing sugar rush. I kicked the wrapper to the ground and switched the lamp on. I snuggled under the covers to be comfortable as I watch the movie. It was near the end and I might as well finish it.
Warmth. And I would have welcomed it if I wasn't trying to sleep. But then realising it was probably Adrian, I was pissed. Did he bring my marshmallows? Hang on, why was he in my bed?
"If you don't take your hand away, I'll cut your balls off," I muttered against the pillow when I felt him move closer. He better have my marshmallows or else.
I heard a chuckle. What was so funny?
"I wouldn't do that if you want kids."
<
br /> The voice. Did he get a cold? Serves him right for wetting my hair.
I opened my eyes, then blinked. I was still in the same room. My right eye twitched as I turned my head around, placing it again on the pillow. I found myself staring into the eyes that shone in the dark. Only one person I knew had those eyes.
"What are you doing here?"
Marriage by Law Page 20