Chapter 10

Xavier got into his car and shut the door.

"Sorry for keeping you waiting, I was on the phone with my PA, being away from work for a week is a big deal," he explained, but saw her nod weakly.

He stared at her face. She looked pale and her features seem restless.

Amanda held her stomach and rested her head on the dashboard.

"Are you okay?" Xavier asked, concerned.

She sighed deeply.

He placed a hand on her back, and she tried not to react to his touch else it would ruin her pretense.

"What's wrong?"

"I'm on my... you know, I'm in that time of the month," She choked out.

Xavier's teeth clenched. Why now? He had already pictured her on his bed tonight. But then he certainly couldn't bed a woman who was in pains.

"Your cramps seem really bad; I know of a hospital nearby."

Abruptly, Amanda's head snapped up.

"I don't need to go to a hospital," She retorted.

He glanced at her, she placed her hand on her stomach again wincing from time to time, her eyes watered.

"You look really pale. Do you have drugs for cramps and enough sanitary..."

"I have everything," She muttered, what was wrong with him? She didn't expect he would suggest going to a hospital. No! How could she explain this to a doctor when she had seen her menstrual cycle two weeks ago?

"I hate going to hospitals, Xavier. I just need to rest, I'll be fine," She said resting her head on the closed glass window.

Xavier sighed. He couldn't help but feel concerned about her. He didn't want to be, but he couldn't help it and he wished he could lessen her pain somehow.

Amanda slowly lay down to sleep feeling so relieved that Xavier fell for her act so easily. She should really be an actress; she couldn't believe she could really make herself look pale. Recalling the look of concern on his face made her feel slightly guilty for lying to him.

She quickly shook her head; he was just faking it. But she couldn't keep up this lie for long.

"Alisha, just show up already," She groaned, burying her head in her pillow.

Just then, the door opened and Xavier sauntered in.

Amanda stared at him surprised and secretly prayed that he didn't hear what she had just said.

She stared at the mug and bag he was holding. His facial expression looked stony as usual so she was slightly relieved that he heard nothing.

He placed the bag on the bed.

"I got more drugs and other things you might need."

"Thank you."

He placed the mug on the bedside table.

"That's Chinese herbal tea, I heard it lessens cramps"

Amanda stared at it. What kind of tea is this?

"Drink up," He ordered.

She swallowed, maybe it won't be as bad as it looked.

She took a sip and still herself not to throw up.

"I'm really..."

"Finish everything on that mug, Alisha. It's for your own good. I'll have the maid bring that up to your room for three days” He announced.

Amanda froze. She would be drinking this poison for three days?

She stared at the mug ruefully, she was more certain now that this act of concern was fake... annoyingly fake.

She started drinking the god forsaken tea again and he stood with her till she finished it.

"You can rest now" With that, he took the mug and walked away.

Amanda ran into the bathroom to brush her teeth.

"One of my assistants will be coming over this morning with some credit cards and bank details” Xavier was draining a cup of coffee, clearly getting ready to go to work. They were having breakfast in the informal dining room.

"He won't take too much of your time, I already told him you aren’t feeling too well"

Xavier was a million miles from the man who had taught her how to ride a horse. He was dressed in a pristine suit, shirt and tie. Clean-shaven, hair slicked back. The industrial dragon in his element... back to business and sorting out the undesirables.

"But I have a bank account already” Amanda pointed out, she knew Alisha did too and she didn't want to have anything to do with his money at the moment.

Xavier shook his head. “I’ve set up new ones for you"

"Oh” She looked at him. “What am I supposed to do now?"

He put his cup down. “I told you already, Alisha. I'm not some jailer. You can do what you want. Go shopping...meet friends...set up charity for unwanted designer clothes...the world's your oyster now." He stood up and loomed large over her. "Why don't you take a few days to figure out how to spend your money, go on a shopping spree. I can't imagine any woman turning that opportunity down"

After a long week of disturbing and far too ambiguous emotions where this man was concerned, Amanda welcomed the rush of anger at this evidence of his sheer arrogance and his dismissive tone.

He headed for the door and suddenly stopped, bending before her.

Her breath hitched at how close they were, she felt his breath feathered on her neck.

"Don't assume anything about yesterday, there's nothing wrong if I try to make my wife okay again. You're looking better already, and I'd want you to move into my room very soon." With that, he walked away.

She released the breath she had been holding and stared at a maid who walked in with a mug.

"Sir Xavier said I should make sure you drink this."

Amanda stared at the mug sadly. This was torture.

A couple of hours later found her extremely bored, she never knew being a billionaire's wife would be this dull. She could see many reasons why Alisha ran away but she still prayed earnestly for her to return soon. She had to take her place. This was Alisha's fate not hers.

A knock sounded from the door.

"Come in"

A maid walked into her room.

"You have a visitor," she announced.

Amanda frowned. "Who?"

"Miguel Cortex, he's waiting in the garden—"

"Miguel!" Amanda squealed and descending the stairs in seconds.

Miguel nearly had a God damn heart attack seeing her running up to him quickly, he was afraid that she might fall.

She ran up to him and hugged him tightly.

"I missed you," she confessed.

Miguel's heart leapt, he was happy he still had a special place in her life and he knew Xavier couldn't compete with that.

"Me too"

She disengaged from him and smacked his arm.

"What was that for?" He asked, rubbing his arm.

"You haven't been picking up my calls."

"I'm sorry, my phone broke, but I've got a new one now. I was too sad to talk to you. I'm sorry I broke my promise, Amanda. I still can't find your sister."

"What's my mother saying about this?"

"She said you shouldn't screw this up. You have to keep on being Xavier's wife till Alisha returns. She's scared of what the Da Silvas will do to her if they ever find out that they were deceived."

"I don't want to stay with him, I don't like it here," She muttered.

The sadness in her voice tore at him.

"I'm sorry I can't do anything for you, Amanda... I wish I can... I really wish... "

"It's okay, Miguel, don't be too hard on yourself," She cut in softly. She didn't like it when he blames himself for anything that happens to her, it wasn't his fault that Alisha disappeared.

"Does he say hurtful words to you? Does he yell at you? Does he make you cry?" Miguel asked almost at the same time.

Amanda shook her head.

Miguel sighed. He couldn't ask her what he really wanted to know.

He slowly held her hand.

"I'm going to do everything I can, I'll increase my men, I can't give you a definite date though because that pesky sister of yours seem to hide very well, just hang in there a little, huh."

Amanda bit her bottom lip. So she was staying with Xavier till Heaven knows when. Hang in there? How? He was going to touch her again and she knew she wouldn't be able to stop him. Could she possibly be able to cope with being intimate with Xavier?

As Xavier headed back home, he thought about last night, he had come into her room twice to see how she was doing and the relief he felt seeing her peacefully asleep was indescribable.

He had tried to act cold this morning so she wouldn't think he was starting to fall for her which he couldn't let happen.

'Isn't it happening already?' His subconscious mind asked.

"No," He argued.

As the car drove passed his garden. He saw a man holding his wife's hand at the garden...a man he had never seen before and in his very own house.

"Stop the car!" Xavier ordered.

He flung the door open barely waiting for the car to come to a halt.

He headed towards them.

"Who the hell are you?" He asked, angrily.

Miguel let go of Amanda's hand.

"I'm Mi—"

Xavier cut him off with a wave of his hand and turned to face his wife.

"You brought a man into my house, and I thought you had some dignity in you!" He yelled.

"Don't raise your voice at her!" Miguel thundered.

Xavier backtracked. "How dare you?"