Chapter 9 Every Girl's Dream Man
Dandelion.
"Shouldn't you be indoors till the scandal is sorted out?" Alexander quipped.
I froze mid-step on the staircase, my hand gripping the railing tighter than necessary.
He was standing right there in the entrance hallway, looking infuriatingly composed in his crisp black suit while I looked like a fugitive in an oversized hoodie and face mask.
His green eyes flicked over my disguise with obvious disdain before returning to the subordinate beside him, A man holding a tablet who looked like he'd rather be anywhere else but here.
"I'll handle the rest later, Jeff"
Alexander said dismissively, never breaking eye contact with me.
"It seems Little Miss Sucide Queen has plans."
That name again, it made my jaw clench.
Jeff nodded quickly and disappeared down the hall.
I descended the last few steps, lifting my chin despite wanting to crawl back to my room. "I'm going out."
"Clearly." His gaze swept over me again, lingering on the mask covering half my face. "Though I'm not sure that pathetic disguise will fool anyone. You look like you're about to rob a convenience store."
Heat crept up my neck. "I'm just visiting a friend."
"A friend." He stepped closer, and I hated how my breath caught. "I wasn't aware you had any left."
The words hit like a slap.
My hands balled into fists at my sides. "Not that it's any of your business, but yes, I have a friend. Someone who actually cares whether I'm alive or dead."
He scoffed.
"I didn't know anyone still cared if you lived, How touching." His expression didn't change, still cold and still unreadable.
I glared hard at him, he's so intolerable and annoying.
"Where exactly does this concerned friend live?"
"Why do you care?"
"I don't." He slid his hands into his pockets, with bored indifference.
"But if you get mobbed by paparazzi or recognized by some vindictive stranger, it becomes my problem. You signed a contract, Miss Williams. That makes your recklessness my liability."
Miss Williams. Not even Dandelion, but at least he didn't call me by that annoying nickname, Just a cold, formal reminder of what I was to him, a business transaction.
I swallowed the lump forming in my throat, I cant do this. Not today.
"I'm leaving," I said flatly, moving toward the door.
I heard him exhale, like he was frustrated by my stubbornness.
"Suite yourself, but you must take the driver."
"I have my car."
"Take. The damn driver."and. It wasn't not a suggestion. It was a command.
I spun around, ready to argue, but the look in his eyes stopped me cold. It wasn't anger. It was something else. Something that sent chills down my spine.
"Fine," I bit out. "Whatever."
His jaw tightened, but he said nothing as I pushed through the door and into the blinding morning sun.
...........
At Lilian's house.
The moment Lilian opened her apartment door, my walls crumbled.
"Oh my God, what happened to my pretty flower?"
She pulled me into a fierce hug, and I couldn't stop the tears that spilled over. I buried my face in her shoulder, inhaling the familiar scent of her lavender perfume, and let myself break just a little.
"I'm okay," I mumbled against her shirt.
"Liar." She pulled back, cupping my face with both hands. Her eyes widened. "Dandy, you look... God, you've lost weight. And these dark circles, when was the last time you actually slept?"
"I don't know." And I didn't, I spent nights thinking about my pathetic life.
She tugged me inside, shutting the door firmly behind us. Her apartment was medium and cozy, with fairy lights strung across the ceiling, plants everywhere, a half-finished jigsaw puzzle on the coffee table. It was Safe and normal. Everything my life wasn't anymore.
"Sit," she ordered, pointing at the couch. "I'm making tea. Or do you need something stronger?"
"Tea's fine."
She disappeared into the kitchen, and I sank into the cushions, pulling my knees to my chest.
The hoodie swallowed me whole and I looked like a child playing dress-up in someone else's clothes.
Lilian returned with two steaming mugs and plopped down beside me, tucking her legs beneath her. "Okay. Talk. Tell me everything."
So I did.
I told her about Glass Lake. About my attempt at ending my life. About Alexander's arms pulling me out when all I wanted was to let go.
Her face went pale. "Dandy..."
"I know." I stared into my tea. "I'm sorry. I wasn't thinking about you, or anyone else. I just... I couldn't breathe anymore, Lily. It hurt too much."
She grabbed my hand, squeezing hard. "Don't you ever do that again. Do you hear me? If you weren't my best friend I would have smacked you hard!" She snapped in a dramatic way, and I chuckled a bit, it's not the best laughter I've had but it's enough to relieve a bit of my stress.
She became more serious now.
"I was so scared when you ran off, "
"I'm here now. That's what matters."
She wiped her eyes roughly. "So this Alexander guy... he saved you?"
"Yeah."
"And then what? Just let you go?"
I scoffed bitterly. "Not exactly. He offered me a contract."
Lilian's eyebrows shot up. "A contract? Like... a business deal?" She asked sipping her tea.
"A marriage contract."
She choked on her tea. "What?!"
"He needs a fake wife to fool his dying grandmother. I need help getting revenge on everyone who ruined me. So we made a deal." I shrugged, trying to sound casual.
Lilian stared at me like I'd grown a second head.
"Wait a minute, what's his surname?"
I rolled my eyes, already knowing how she would react. "It's Graham, Alexander Graham"
Then suddenly she let out a strangled squeal and grabbed my shoulders.
"Ahhh!, Dandelion Williams, are you telling me you're married to Alexander Graham?! THE Alexander Graham? Billionaire CEO? The hottest eligible bachelor in Greenville?"
"It's fake!," I reminded her quickly.
"I don't care!" She was practically vibrating with excitement now.
"Do you have any idea how many women would kill to be in your position? He's gorgeous, he's rich, he's—"
"Cold," I interrupted. "Arrogant. Insufferable. And he has a son."
That stopped her. "Wait. A son?"
"His name is Willow."
Lilian blinked. "That's... actually kind of sweet. How old is he?"
"I don't know. I haven't met him yet. Alexander's very... protective." I frowned. "He made it a rule in the contract that I'm not allowed to touch Willow."
"That's weird."
"Everything about him is weird."
She leaned back, grinning like the cat who got the cream. "This is amazing. You're living every girl's dream. A frickin billionaire with—"
"Lily, It's a business arrangement. That's it."
"Uh-huh. Sure." She smirked. "We'll see how long that lasts."
"I'm serious. I'm never falling for another man. Not after Chase." Just saying his name made my stomach turn. "I'm done with love. Done with trusting people who only want to use me."
Lilian's expression softened.
"Dandy..."
"I mean it." My voice came out fiercer than I intended. "Alexander Graham is helping me because it benefits him. The second this contract ends, we're done. No feelings. No complications. Just... survival."
She studied me for a long moment, then sighed. "Okay. If that's what you need to believe right now, fine. But Dandy?" She squeezed my hand again. "Not every man is Chase. Some of them are actually capable of—"
"Don't." I pulled away. "Please. I can't think about that right now."
"Alright." She raised her hands in surrender. "But for the record? I think Alexander Graham is going to fall for you. Hard. And when he does, it's going to be spectacular."
I opened my mouth to argue, but my phone buzzed.
A text message. Unknown number.
Don't get too comfortable, sweetheart. This isn't over.
\- C
My blood turned to ice. Chase.
That bastard.
"Dandy?" Lilian leaned closer, frowning. "What's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost."
I couldn't answer. Couldn't breathe. Couldn't do anything but stare at those words as they burned into my retinas.
'This isn't over.'