Jessica’s point of view.
“Let’s go home, Jessica.”
The words kept ringing in my head. He was already calling his place my home and somehow I felt elated by the thought.
I had so many things to ask him about himself but I knew that now was not the time for such conversations.
The drive back home was silent as we were both immersed in our thoughts.
I looked at the ring on my finger. It was a simple ring but classy.
I did not know how long I was asleep but I woke up feeling a light brush on my cheek.
It was Xavier and he was giving me that intense look again.
“We are home.” He said calmly.
“Oh, alright,” I said and came down from the car.
My breath seized for a moment as I took in the opulent mansion before me.
“This is your house?” I asked incredulously.
“Yes.” He answered sounding slightly amused.
“You stay in a mansion?” I asked again.
“Yes, I do.” He answered giving me a more amused facial expression.
“Wow, so this is where I will be staying with you?” I asked him.
“Yes, but once my grandfather comes back, we will go and visit him.” He answered.
I was about to ask him another question when a man dressed like a butler walked up to us.
“Welcome sir.” He greeted as he bowed down at Xavier.
“Thank you, Jude, you can raise your head,” Xavier said.
“Thank you, sir,” Jude replied as he raised his head.
“Welcome ma,” Jude said but it sounded more like a question.
I could guess from the confused look on Jude’s face that they were not used to seeing Xavier bring a woman to the house not to talk of one with a wedding dress.
“Hello, my name is Jessica, Miss Jessica Blackwell.” I introduced myself.
“Her name is Mrs Jessica McCartney and she is my wife.” Xavier corrected.
“What?” Jude asked shocked.
Both Jude and I looked up at Xavier with shock on our faces but it was for different reasons.
I knew that Jude was shocked because he was not expecting his boss to leave home in the morning and return with his wife.
I on the other hand was shocked because I was not expecting Xavier to quickly acknowledge and address me as his wife.
“You heard me right, so instruct the other staff on the new development and my wife must be well taken care of, understood?” Xavier instructed.
“Yes sir,” Jude responded.
“Good, now tell Evelyn to get a good change of clothes for her,” Xavier instructed.
“Yes sir!” Jude saluted as he followed us from behind into the house.
I could not help but admire Xavier’s proactive attitude because even I had not thought about a change of clothes.
I laughed at my forgetfulness as I wondered if I would have been walking around in a wedding dress.
Xavier led me into the house and it was screaming elegance.
He held my hand and led me to the bedroom.
“This is our room.” He said.
I turned to him in shock, did he just say ours? I thought since it was a contract marriage we would be staying in different rooms.
“We are staying together?” I asked him.
“Yes, my grandfather would give me an earful if he gets to discover that we stay in different rooms,” Xavier explained.
I nodded my head in understanding though something told me that it was more of him than his grandfather.
“Make yourself relaxed, you will get a change of clothes and I will be back in the evening,” Xavier explained as he made to take his leave.
“Where are you going?” I blurted out.
I was scared that he was going to leave me stranded again just the way Collins did to me.
It was like he understood what was going through my mind because he stopped right in his tracks.
He suddenly moved to me and drew me into an embrace.
“I will be back, I promise.” He said and gave me a light peck on my forehead.
***
Xavier true to his work came back that night. Though we slept together on the same bed, he did not touch me or do anything intimate with me and I was too shy to ask him.
The next day which was Sunday came and left in a rush but not without its problem.
My boss called me and told me that if I was going to become a permanent staff, I needed to have an exclusive interview with the CEO of Metro Empire.
Metro Empire was the biggest company in the world and they recently got a new CEO who nobody knew about.
We only knew about the chairman but not his Grandson who became the new CEO.
The news got me so depressed that I could not eat that night.
“What is bothering you?” Xavier asked me as he noticed my mood.
I started to explain my career life to him while he listened intently.
“And now, My boss wants me to have an exclusive interview with the new CEO of Metro Empire and nobody has seen him, and the worst, nobody has been able to get an interview with him not even Forbes,” I explained frustrated.
“Alright, if that’s what you want, then you will get it,” Xavier said.
“But how? Do you know him?” I asked.
Xavier looked at me and smiled.
“Don’t worry, I will call you tomorrow when it’s time to see him,” Xavier said.
***
The next morning, I called my boss and told him I would come to work after after interview and he agreed.
By 9 am, Xavier who had already left for work earlier before I woke up called me and told me to go to Metro Empire and I will be granted the interview.
I thanked him and got ready to leave.
***
As I was ushered into the interview room for the meeting with the Metro Empire CEO, I began to wonder what kind of influence Xavier could have to pull this off for me.
“The CEO is waiting for you inside.” The secretary told me as she opened the door.
I entered the office and the CEO’s back was facing me.
“Good morning sir, I’m Miss Jessica Blackwell from Global Media.” I introduced myself.
“I believe that I have made that correction before that you are Mrs Jessica McCartney.” The CEO said and turned his chair to face me.
My eyes widened in shock as I saw the person in front of me.
“Xavier? You are the CEO?” I asked shocked.