17

I don't know why I keep giving myself to Alexander whenever he wants to. It's amazing that I like making love to him. After that party we went home, I'm exhausted, yes, I just want to sleep. I feel a little sorry for Alexander and what we've done, I don't know if he feels the same as I do too. On the way home he was quiet and when we got home too. I went up to the room, took off my clothes and went to sleep because tomorrow would be a heavy and difficult day. I would marry him and I would have to be by his side for a year. Alexander came to the room shortly after, went in to bathe and then went to bed. I didn't say anything else, I just slept.

•

I was nervous as they sat me in the chair to start getting ready. How could I be so eager to marry me to a man I barely knew? But I knew it was the right thing to do, at least that's what my family had decided. While I was getting my hair and makeup done, I tried to calm myself by remembering all the times we'd had sex or briefly met during the preparations for the wedding. I seemed kind and polite, but I didn't know if I could ever love him. As soon as they finished my hair and makeup, they put me in the long white dress with gold details on the edge. I looked in the mirror and I couldn't help but smile: I looked beautiful. When my father came out to walk me down the aisle, because yes, he had to be here to deliver me to Alexander, I started to feel butterflies in my stomach again.

The mansion was decorated with white and gold flowers, the atmosphere was elegant and sophisticated. I was in the room I had been assigned to prepare for my contract wedding to Alexander. I couldn't help but feel nervous, but I knew this was the right thing to do. I had entered into a contractual marriage agreement because we were in desperate need of financial help and he wanted a wife by his side at important events. I began to caress cookie while this event that is not important to me began. My bridesmaids came into the room excited and began to fix my hair while I tried to calm down. Then the moment came: I walked down the aisle where Alexander was waiting wearing his impeccably fitted black suit. The music began to play as we walked together in front of the priest. The speech was short and impersonal; there was no real love between us, just a mutual business. But still I felt tears fill my eyes as we exchanged rings in front of our wealthy and influential guests. After pronouncing ourselves husband and wife, we celebrated our union at a lavish reception inside the mansion surrounded by our blended families along with successful business close friends. Despite the emotional emptiness I felt inside of me during this entire commercially legalized process considering the bleak financial circumstances for both me and Alexander, I couldn't help but think how different things would have been if we had found genuine love instead of signing a contractual agreement.

Afternoon fell at Alexander's mansion, the guests did not stop congratulating them and wishing us a happy marriage. Inside I was screaming that I didn't want to be here, at first I didn't think my parents would come but it also has to be part of the plan because the bride cannot be without her family at a very important moment. Margarita has asked me everal times if I am okay because she always finds me with tears in my eyes. Even though Alexander and I have had sexual encounters these days, it doesn't mean that we love each other. Anyway, I'm married and now I have to fulfill my contract.

“Are you OK?” my sister asked me “What a stupid question, it's obvious that you're not. I'm sorry, Mariela, I never thought they would get to such a point of selling you like an animal.”

“It doesn't matter, if it wasn't for me they would be left with no money, no house and nothing. I guess a year of my life is nothing. I'll be free again in a few months” I answered, drinking a glass of wine. It was already night and in a while she had to dance the wedding song with Alexander.

"But it's not a nightmare, Mariela, Alexander is gorgeous," she murmured, giving Alexander a look. I looked at him too, he was talking to Gus, it seems they were having a very heated conversation, or maybe they were arguing, I don't know.

“Yes, but just because he's handsome doesn't mean he's a good person.”

“It is bad?” She wanted to know.

“He's… irritating, bossy, angry, he likes that they always do what he wants. Oh and he's very controlling," I replied.

Miranda gave me a mischievous look that I didn't understand.

“What?” I wanted to know.

"Please, Mariela, those types of men are hot," he smiled.

"Yes... surely." I looked at nothing remembering how Alexander made love to me. I couldn't help but bite my lower lip remembering all that. Could it be that we have a wedding night? Because I love having sex with Alexander.

ALEXANDER

"Friend, tell me the truth," Gus asked, "I perfectly remember your words and you said that you were marrying Mariela only by contract," he muttered.

"Shhh keep your voice down," I scolded, rolling my eyes. “Okay, I told you that Mariela had run away from me but it wasn't like that, Natasha kidnapped her out of jealousy. But nothing.”

"I know you don't want to tell me but you can trust me.”

I huffed giving up.

“Alright. It's true, her parents were going through a very bad situation and in exchange for giving them all that fortune they needed they gave me their daughter.”

Augustus was surprised.

"Her parents did that? What bad parents.”

“Anyway, she's here with me now and that's what matters.”

“As it happened, Alex, I know you and I know you don't do anything out of good will. I know that there is something more behind all this, it is not only about helping those people, but you like Mariela a lot.”

"Maybe." I looked at Mariela who was talking to her sister Miranda. I remembered a few hours ago when I saw her walking towards me at the altar, I felt a lot of dejavu at that moment and I wanted to cry but I didn't because otherwise I would look ridiculous. "I like it a lot, yes," I confessed.

“I knew it. I really wish you luck with it. You can't see that she is one of those girls who is dazzled by anything.”

“I know.”

"Where are you going on your honeymoon?"

"Hawaii," I answered, remembering the time I told Mariela that Natasha would come with us. It was a lie, I would never allow that. “For two weeks, we leave in the morning.”

"Good luck to you, friend."

“I'm sorry, I'm sorry” Margarita arrived “I'll steal my husband from you, Alexander, but I want to dance with him. You goes to look for Mariela so you can dance your wedding song, it will start.”

Margarita left with Gus.

Brilliant.

I walked towards Mariela.

“You let me?” I gave her my hand, she hesitated a bit but she took my hand. The soft song began to play, we went to the center of the track, I took her by the waist, pulling her closer to me. Mariela doesn't want to see into my eyes, I doesn't know what's wrong with her. Maybe she's just nervous. “are you OK?” I whispered in her ear.

"Yes, I am," she replied. Mariela smells so good, being around her makes me feel alive again. Despite the fact that we got married in bad circumstances in life, she is now my wife and no one can take her from me, no one. Mariela is mine, only mine.

“Tomorrow we leave early for Hawaii, my private plane is waiting for us.”

"We'll take the cat," she tells me, taking me by surprise.

“What? You're not talking seriously.”

Finally she looked at me.

“I'm very serious, I won't leave him alone for a week here.”

I sighed deeply but I didn't refuse.

“Okay, Mariela, the cat is also going to Hawaii.”

She smiled.

"You look beautiful when you smile."

We continued to dance the slow, gentle dance until it was over. The rest of the party was fun, quite dynamic, until it was time to say goodbye to people. Mariela looks tired, I took it upon myself to take her to her room to rest a bit. The cat was already in bed. Mariela fell asleep immediately, it gave me tenderness to see her so tired. I took off my clothes and took a quick bath.

MARIELA

When I woke up I felt a lump next to me, it was a cookie that slept with me.

"Good morning, baby," I said to the cat, hugging him. It's amazing how important this kitty has become to me in such a short time.

“Good morning” Alexander answered next to me “I love that you call me like that.”

"I told the cat," I muttered, getting out of bed.

"Sure, I figured so," he replied.

"I'll take a shower so we can go," I let him know. Even though it's not a real wedding I'm excited to go to Hawaii, I've never been, but it must be beautiful. See the sea, its beaches, the palm trees, everything. And the kitten comes with us.