The Austin Arrangement novel Chapter 2

"Everything is fine. My wife has gone back to the room with a headache, so I must follow her up."He placed his hand on my back and we walked through the hotel.

"Oh,I hope she's okay?"

He smiled."Nothing that a dark room and a few hours of quietness won't fix. I need to find my Son before I retire for the night."

I'm guessing he's not where I left him 10 minutes previous.Tom and I walked the hallway, until he spotted Jeremy in the private lounge with some other man.

They were smoking cigars, drinking scotch from expensive glasses and hitting on cute waitresses in short skirts.

A lump formed in my throat just watching his display.The disrespectful ass was my fake husband and he wasn't playing the part.Part of me cared just because of what others were thinking and the other part of me didn't care because I simply didn't like the man.

It was quite clear that Jeremy Austin was never going to be the type of man to settle, not for any woman.He would never be the type of man I would allow myself to fall for..My parents would definitely not approve of him.

"Jeremy.."Tom called, and stood outside the partly opened door waiting for his son.

Jeremy walked out with a cigar in hand, still lighting."What's going on?"

Tom took the cigar from his hand and put it out."This is a fancy establishment,Son. I don't care if they allow you to smoke, you won't make me look a fool."

Jeremy sighed, with attitude and braced his hand against the wall. His shirt pulled, hugging the muscles on his body."We're celebrating,Dad. I'm a married man now."

"Enough of the sarcasm."Tom took a key from the inside pocket of his suit and handed it to Jeremy."A key to your Honeymoon suite?"

Jeremy scoffed."Honeymoon suite, that's not necessary.This is all fake,I'm not sleeping with this woman."

My face reddened again. Yes, I'm being paid to be married to him but all the money in the world wouldn't be enough for me to sleep with him.

I was polite on the outside and biting my tongue.

"A moment alone, Now!!"Tom snapped at his son.

He smiled at me to reassure me that everything was okay, before walking to a quite corner with his son.

I glanced over seeing the tension between the two of them, neither looked happy.

It was only Tom, Jeremy and I that know about this Arrangement and Tom wants to keep it that way.

I stood uncomfortable in my white wedding gown, that was tight and restricting. I had been up the early hours this morning getting ready for this charade, now I was ready for my bed.

ALONE!!

"Don't you think maybe you've had enough,Jeremy?"

He looked up and glared at me."I haven't had nearly enough, and it's none of your business."He emptied his glass,before removing his suit jacket and throwing it down on the chair. Jeremy walked towards me with his hands in the pockets of his trousers."You're my wife,Vanessa..But only for a short time because of this fucked up Arrangement.What kind of woman would agree to marry a man she doesn't even know?"

A desperate one. But Jeremy Austin wouldn't know the meaning of the word desperate.He wouldn't last in my world."Being nasty to me won't work, I've already been through enough in life your judgement won't bother me."

He smirked."Is that right? I'm sure I can brake you,I have a year to do so."

He looked me up and down,spending a little longer on my assets that were stuffed into my dress."At least that's something."

I covered my chest feeling a little awkward now that he was paying closer attention to me.His eyes were dark and full of misery. Just from today I could tell that he was an aggressive man, who likes to drink more than he should.

Jeremy walked back to the drinks table and filled another glass."I'm getting drunk and I'd rather do it alone.Take the room on the left, the bed is smaller and you don't need the space."

I crossed the room,the train of my dress trailed along the floor behind me.

Before closing the door to the bedroom i looked back at him as he downed another glass.Today I agreed to marry the DEVIL and now I have to live with it.

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