CHAPTER 21

ALEXANDER’S POV

“So, you’re actually going to do this?” I could feel Kent’s gaze on me but I refused to look at him as I ran my fingers over the diamond ring in my hands.

We had been at the jewelry store for close to an hour, trying to find the perfect thing for Nicole. So far, nothing had struck me. Everything was too generic, too cheap looking for her.

“Do you have any better ideas?” I asked, handing the ring back to the attendant who promptly handed me another.

“I just feel like there has to be a better way. Marriage is supposed to be sacred and by forcing her like this...”

“First of all, she’s the one that forced my hand. What the hell am I supposed to do?” I snarled.

“The last thing I want to do is ruin the sanctity of marriage like this, but it’s the only way I can legally protect her from Herrera. And protect my whole family.” I snapped at him.

“She doesn’t know that much.” Kent murmured. He was vehemently me marrying Nicole this way and had been trying to convince me otherwise all morning.

“She knows enough, Kent, Herrera is her ex boyfriend.” I huffed rejecting that ring as well. “And it won’t matter to Herrera how much she knows. He’s on a witch hunt. He’ll use her to get to me and she’ll end up hurt or in jail.”

“You’re going to break her heart, you’re her step brother.”

He knew that was a low blow and completely unfair. “I thought you were here to help.”

“Okay.” He finally conceded. I knew he didn’t agree with me, but had finally realized the fight was futile. “I just hope you know what you’re doing.”

“Yeah, me too.” I mumbled, scanning the counter one last time. I felt like I had looked at every single ring they had, but I hadn’t found the one.

I got up and walked towards another case, growing restless. This wasn’t the first time I had thought about giving a ring to Nicole, I just envisioned having more time. Time to design it, and plan. This all felt so rushed and sterile.

I was so frustrated with her for putting us in this position. She was the one who had betrayed me, made a deal with the feds in order to take my family down, yet I was the one being chastised by my workmate. Even my dad won’t be phased by this but I already made up my decision.

Why was I the only one so hurt by her betrayal? I knew the answer to that question, it was because I find her sexy. Because I have feelings for her. Because her betrayal felt so personal, especially after the night we had shared together. In my heart, I would like to think that she would’ve told me what was going on that night, but I would never know for sure.

A part of me could see where she was coming from. I knew she felt like she had no other option, and who could blame her for being terrified in a position like that? Herrera had capitalized on Nicole’s weaknesses and used her as a pawn in whatever game he was playing.

She felt so ashamed and guilty, but the worst part of all this was that it was avoidable. If she had just come to me. Still, her pain killed me. How was it possible to feel so angry with the person, yet still want to fix this and make it all go away for her?

My eyes fell on a case in the corner with several pieces of antique jewellery. Some of it was costume jewellery, big and gaudy, but right in the centre was a beautiful, rose gold oval diamond. The band was braided with smaller diamonds speckled all around it.

“It’s breath-taking, isn’t it?” The attendant smiled, following where my eye was wandering. She opened the case and took it out. “These are old heirlooms that belong to the owner. Rumour has it that this stone came from Egypt. Part of a larger diamond stolen from Cleopatra’s tomb.”

I let out a small laugh. There was probably no validity to the story, but it certainly had character, and I knew Nicole would be enthralled with even the possibility. It was unique and beautiful and I could already envision it on her hand.

Maybe this was a small way I could make this better for her. It wasn’t the wedding we had planned on, but it didn’t have to be all gloom and doom.

“I’ll take it.” I said abruptly, not caring the price. That the was the least of my worries right now.

“Oh, I’m sorry, these aren’t for sale. They’re just display pieces.” She said.

Display? Was she serious? “Look, I need this ring. Can’t you call the owner and see if there’s a price he’ll sell it for?”

“I don’t think he’ll sell it for anything. It’s been in his family for years.” She gave me a placating smile. “We have a lot of other nice...”

“Everybody has a price.” I chuckled. “Call him and tell him I’ll pay him double whatever it’s worth.”

Her eyes widened, not sure whether or not to believe me. “I’ll see what I can do.” She disappeared into the back.

“So that’s the one, huh?” Kent said, walking up next to me and looking at the ring in my hands.

“It’s perfect. She’ll love it.” I stared at the brilliance of the diamond. It was beautiful.

“You know, for this being a business deal, you’re sure putting a lot of thought into it.” He snickered.

I rolled my eyes. “Of course I am. It’s not like I’m trying to completely ruin this whole experience for her. I want it to be special.”

“You could have fooled me.” He scoffed. I knew he was just looking out for her, but he was getting on my last nerve right now. It wasn’t like I would’ve chosen this, but the circumstances made it hard to avoid.

“I don’t know why you’re all acting like this is such a terrible thing. Its just a contract marriage.”

Kent chuckled to himself. “Yeah, but did that plan involve a quickie marriage at the courthouse?”

“I’m done talking about this.” I hissed.

A few minutes later, Kent and I walked out of the jewelry store and I had the ring securely stashed in a box in my pocket. I had to pay an arm and a leg for it, but he eventually agreed.

Kent’s words kept ringing in my ears. I couldn’t change what I had to do, but I didn’t have to treat it so coldly either. Maybe I could spin this in some way so she didn’t hate me. Maybe take her somewhere special tonight.

After dropping Kent off, I went back to home. As I made my way upstairs, I felt inwardly bad. My heart was completely torn apart and what I was about to do was only making it worse. All I could think about was how it wasn’t supposed to be this way.

I knocked on the door to her bedroom and waited for her reply.

“Come in.” She said gently, and I opened the door. She was seated on the bed, doing nothing.

“Are you ready?” I asked, staying at the entrance of the room. I knew if I went in there, I wouldn’t be able to control myself, and I was doing everything in my power to control those feelings right now.

She let out of heavy sigh, as if she was giving herself up for what was to come. “Yes.”

“Before you sign the contract, I wanted to give you something.” I fished into my pocket for the ring.

The look on her face was anxious, as if she didn’t know what to expect from me anymore. She had accepted what was happening, but I could still see the pain in her eyes.

I opened the box, gently pulling out the diamond sparkler and taking her hand. “I’m sorry that things have to be this way.” I said, sliding it into her finger.

“I am too. You didn’t need to do this. This is the last thing I deserve from you.” She whispered, staring down at the ring. “But it’s incredible. Exactly what I would have picked out.”

“Well, if you’re going to be my wife, you need to look the part and I will have to give you money.” Her eyes widened at my words.