Gabriella never imagined that she would marry a rich and handsome man. All her life, she only knew the piano and sheet music. Not for a second the girl thought about love. That’s why she was pensively staring at the diamond ring on her ring finger.
“I really got married?” She couldn’t believe it. A second later, the woman swallowed hard, moistening her parched throat.
“Gabriella?”
The woman slowly raised her head, facing the handsome face that called out to her.
“And this man is my husband?” The bride took a deep breath, freeing her chest from tightness. “Is my decision right?”
“Gabriella,” Max called one more time, giving a small tug to the fingers he was holding. The woman finally blinked.
“Yes?”
The man gave a signal with a glance. Gabriella followed the direction of his gaze which ended at a ring in the small box.
“Ah, sorry,” the woman sighed as she took the shiny object. A second later, her trembling fingers began trying to put the ring on.
Noticing the furrow of his bride’s brows, Max whispered, “Do you need help?”
“I can do it,” Gabriella mumbled before flashing a small smile.
After a few seconds, the ring was attached to the man’s ring finger. Max now smiled and took his wife’s hands.
“Can I kiss you?” His whisper didn’t sound like someone pretending.
“Yes,” Gabriella answered stiffly. She had to suppress the strange turmoil that pressed against her vocal cords.
Knowing Max start to close the distance, the woman’s heart suddenly beat faster.
“This is strange. I don’t love him, but why am I reacting like this?”
As the man shared the warmth, Gabriella’s eyes automatically closed. She held her breath and clenched her fists.
“This kiss is just a mere formality,” the woman reminded herself. “This has absolutely no meaning.”
For the first time, Gabriella greeted a man’s lips. While putting aside her suspicions and worries, she began to deepen her role as a bride.
***
“If you invite your servants and chauffeurs only, why did you buy me such an expensive wedding dress?” Gabriella asked as she was driving home with her husband. The man beside her turned around and raised an eyebrow.
“Are you disappointed that our marriage’s so simple?”
“One who doesn’t expect will not be disappointed,” the woman objected, shaking her head faintly. “After all, this dress is far from simple. You should have bought the cheap one.”
“I can’t put up a mediocre wedding photo, Mrs. Evans.” Max successfully silenced his wife. “And, even though there were few guests, you must show your best as my companion.”
Gabriella’s blink suddenly implied confusion. “I really don’t understand. Do you mean to hide my status or not? When I saw the guests arriving, I thought you wanted to keep it a secret. But, you just mentioned our wedding photo.”
Unexpectedly, Max let out a laugh.
“Do you remember the threatening message I showed you? The mastermind wants to clash our interests and expects your presence to bring down my reputation.”
The man tapped his index finger until the woman next to him to nod.
“I want to turn his hopes around. I’ll make you the one who confirms my reputation,” the CEO continued without any hesitation.
“How to?”
“By having you as the originator of my secret project. When people begin to acknowledge the prospect of the building, only then will we reveal your status as my wife. Won’t that be a big surprise to the mastermind?”
Gabriella’s mouth was gaping at the words.
“You’re making up lies to raise my name? Are you crazy? I don’t understand anything about development projects,” Gabriella shook her head with furrowed brows full of concern.
“That’s not a lie. I did get the idea from you. I mentioned that the new building is our marriage, right?”
Spontaneous faint exhalations were accompanied by bland laughter. The woman didn’t know the man she married anymore. “You’re crazy,” she blurted out.
“And you’re the wife of a crazy man,” Max replied, raising the corner of his mouth.
Moments later, the man’s gaze turned out the window. The faint smile on his face slowly faded.
“You wouldn’t understand, Gabriella. When your work has been taken by someone else and can’t be retaken, the only way to survive is to create a new work that’s far superior. That way, people will keep their eyes on you. I just added a little surprise to my new work.”
***
Gabriella put the marker down roughly. Her eyes were round and filled with annoyance.
“You’re telling me to interrupt a board meeting and present your new project? You really are out of your mind!”
The man beside her scratched his temples before furrowing his brows. “Why? You’re already familiar with this hybrid building? What else are you afraid of?”
“I’m a nobody, Max. How could I make such an important presentation? No one will listen to me.”
The CEO spontaneously gave a quick snort and tilted his head. “Did you forget? You are Mrs. Evans. Don’t embarrass my family name!”
“But, they don’t know about it. Don’t you want to reveal my status yet?” Gabriella said, shaking her head.
“Are other’s opinions more important than your own? You’re not confident at all, apparently. No wonder you haven’t won the piano competition yet,” Max quipped, successfully changing the meaning of his wife’s furrowed brow. The sparks in the woman’s heart had started to burn.
“Why do you underestimate me? The presentation had nothing to do with my piano playing.”
“Of course there is. Both of them need a strong mentality. Do you have it?”
Gabriella bit her lower lip and thought for a moment. She wanted to argue, but what her husband said was true.
“Still, it’s not my responsibility,” she grumbled before lowering head. Her guess was right. Max would still act arbitrarily even though they were married.
“You agree to help me, so it’s your responsibility. Come on, Gabriella. Do your job!”
The woman dared to shake her head firmly. “That’s your job as CEO.”
Suddenly a tired sigh was heard from the man. “It hasn’t been 24 hours since you became my wife, and you dare to argue.”
“Even though you are my husband, you have no right to pressure me to comply with all your commands. After all, it has nothing to do with the role of a wife.”
In an instant, Max’s eyes narrowed at the woman. “So you turned down the presentation because it’s not a wife’s job?”
“Of course,” Gabriella snapped without thinking. She even raised her eyebrows to look more fierce.
Listening to that spontaneous answer, the corners of Max’s lips automatically lifted. “So, you are ready to serve your husband, hm? You can’t deny the duty of a wife, can you?”
The arch of Gabriella’s eyebrows suddenly tightened, just like a stifled blink of her eyes. It was only then that she realized, she had made a mistake.
“Then, can we start now? Even though you’re not my taste, your body is still a woman’s body. You have a function that can satisfy a man.”
Gabriella’s lips began to tremble for an excuse. However, as soon as Max pulled her chair closer, her brain was already frozen and unable to process anymore. Moreover, when the man’s hand began to stroke her hair, all of Gabriella’s attention had been seized by the CEO’s charm.
“Where do you want me to start?” Max teased although he had trouble holding back his laughter. How could his wife’s cheeks turn red from just one touch?
“Should I start kissing your cheek?” the man asked while stroking the blush on Gabriella’s face. The woman’s hands clenched into fists.
“Or, these thick lips?” Max’s thumb was moving across the soft texture he had just enjoyed this morning.
The woman could no longer look at her husband. She already looked down to hide the nervousness that almost exploded her heart.
Excited by his wife’s behavior, Max brought his palm down Gabriella’s neck. “Perhaps, I can start with the men’s favourites.”
Just before her husband arrived at the restricted area, the woman stood with hands tightly clenched.
“Please, don’t play with me! You’re clearly not interested in me. So, there’s no point in intimidating like this,” Gabriella said in a trembling voice. She didn’t know that her face looked strange because it was colored by various flavors.
“Do you think your husband isn’t normal? Of course I’m attracted to women.”
“Enough! I’m going to the bedroom! There’s no point in serving your jokes.”
Gabriella turned around to leave. However, as soon as her feet took a step, the man grabbed her waist. In an instant, the woman was sitting on her husband’s lap.
“What are you doing?” she screamed with perfectly round eyes.
“I can’t let my wife shirk her duties.”
“The presentation isn’t my job,” Gabriella stated as she tried to lower her legs. However, Max’s hands had been holding her knees from going anywhere.
“We’re not talking about presentations anymore, Mrs. Evans,” the man spoke in a low, thrilling voice.
Unknowingly, the woman gulped and began to quicken her breathing.
“Stop joking! Let me go!” Gabriella asked in a choked voice. The tension had suppressed her courage.
“Come on, my wife! Do your job! I am curious. How’s your performance when you’re not drunk.”
The woman’s heartbeat was out of control. The ups and downs of the chest deepened the nervousness, while her trembling lips could no longer speak.
Gabriella’s attention was now focused on the touch that moved from the waist to the nape of the neck. When Max targeted her lips, there was nothing she could do but close her eyes and hold the breath.