"I am so scared, Harper", I said in a frightful tone.

Harper rubbed my back gently. "Nothing will happen. He is not going to eat you up."

After I told Everette Wilbrose to apologise to me in a better way or else I won't be accepting his offer, I am freaking out.

It was so easy to say all that over a call but what if he actually show up?!

Wait a minute.

Why am I scared of him?

He should be the one to be scared by me.

I even know some tricks of martial arts. It won't be difficult to take him down.

Let him come tonight.

.

.

.

Once again it was late and everyone has went home for my restaurant closes at 9:30 pm everyday.

And once again I was cleaning the kitchen counter when the doorbell chimed and as expected, Everette Wilbrose walked in.

I washed my hands and walked outside and I almost chuckled to see a bouquet of white roses in his hand and his jaw was clenched. He wore a black shirt and a pair of jeans and I had to stop myself from drooling at him.

When our eyes met, I smiled cheekily and walked closer. And he shoved the bouquet in my hands.

"Quite rude but I will let it pass", I remarked.

"Anything you would like to have, Mr Wilbrose?", I asked.

"No", he gritted.

"Okay. Take a seat, Mr Wilbrose."

He rolled his eyes and walking past me, sat in a booth and I took a seat opposite to him after keeping away the bouquet.

Neither of us spoke at first and I drummed my fingers against the table.

"Stop drumming your fingers", he snapped.

"Is it irritating you?", I questioned in a saccharine tone.

"Yes."

I stopped drumming my fingers and gave him a toothy grin after which I once again started drumming them, a bit louder and faster this time.

"Fucking stop it!", he seethed.

I stopped drumming them. "Well, you are not saying anything so I was getting bored."

"Are you going to marry me or not?", he spoke immediately.

"Mmm...nice question..."

He slammed his fist on the table making me flinch. "I don't have that much time. Just answer the damn question!"

"Okay, okay. If you are that desperate then I'll marry you."

His jaw clenched even more but he didn't say anything.

"You know your brother is nicer than you", I stated.

His eyes narrowed at me. "Then why don't you go marry him."

"Oh, I would love to but too sad he is not available. He said he doesn't want to get married so soon", I drawled.

His hand that was resting on the table slowly clenched into a fist.

"You seem bothered, Mr Wilbrose. Are you alright?", I drawled again.

"Don't call me that", he gritted.

"Why? You have a problem with being called by your last name, Mr Wilbrose?"

"You are my fiance; call me by my first name."

"Fiance?" I then lifted my left hand. "I don't see an engagement ring."

When I said that, he dig his hands in his pocket and took out a velvet, black box.

And he slid that box to me. "Help yourself."

"Very funny. Unless and until you make me wear it, I am not wearing it."

He mumbled something underneath his breath and then taking the box opened it, revealing a diamond ring.

Before I knew it, he roughly grabbed my left hand and slid that ring down my ring finger within a second.

"It wasn't that difficult, was it?", I said much to his annoyance.

"Don't expect this marriage to ever work between us", he stated.

"I never said I am expecting this to work. I am agreeing to marry you just for my restaurant and my daughter. Nothing else."

"Judgemental Jerk", I muttered underneath my breath but he heard it.

"What do you think of yourself?", he said.

"What do you think of yourself?", I mocked referring to him and his eyes narrowed even more and his lips pressed into a thin line.

"I am making such a huge mistake by marrying you", he mumbled to himself and thankfully I heard it.

"That you are", I told him much to his surprise.

He got up immediately and made his way towards the door when I said, "Leaving so soon? I thought you will stay a little longer and we would enjoy."

I moved closer to him and he turned towards me.

And then standing on tip toes I pulled both his cheeks in a puerile way. "Aww...bye-bye, Everette. I'll miss you."

He took a deep breath trying to control his rage and I was quite impressed by his self-control.

He didn't say anything and just removed my hands from his cheeks and turned to leave.

As his figure moved out the door I shouted, "Goodnight!"

And of course, I didn't get a reply.

.

.

.

"Oh My God! Oh My God! I am so nervous!"

"For the hundreth time, Harper, this is my wedding day not yours", I told her. I have no idea why she is freaking out.

"I know, I know! But I still can't believe you are marrying Everette Wilbrose! He is so handsome! And I just saw him standing there today and damn! He is wearing a tuxedo and hotness is oozing out of him. You are so lucky!"

"That's enough! Stop praising him and tell me how am I looking?"

"Oh, my dear friend. You are looking absolutely gorgeous. Gracefulness is oozing out of you and it sure will make everyone's jaws drop", she said dramatically.

I grinned. "Thank you, thank you."

"Yes, mama; you are looking beautiful. Everette is going to be spellbound", Carmel said making us acknowledge her presence.

"And I am so happy you are marrying him", she said dreamily, twirling around. "He is perfect for you."

"Yeah... yeah..."

Later my parents came and complimented me saying how happy they are and all that. I didn't tell them the real reason behind the marriage; I made up a fake story and told them that. Thankfully, they believed it.

.

.

.

I hooked my arm with my dad before we took our position before the church gate.

This is it. I am getting married.

The music started playing and the door opened and dad and I started walking down aisle.

It was small ceremony that included only the family members and close relatives.

Everette was standing there in a black tuxedo as Harper told me and besides him was Gareth standing as the best man. I never knew they were so close to each other.

Everette had a poker face and even when our eyes met, I couldn't make out a single emotion on his face.

Reaching Everette, dad gave my hand to him as his cold fingers wrapped around my hand and he made me stand opposite to him.

The ceremony started and the priest started speaking to which I didn't pay any attention to. I completely zoned out.

I was lost in my thoughts when I heard someone clear his throat and I felt a squeeze on my hand.

I lifted my gaze and saw that the priest had asked me something.

"Sorry", I mumbled and the priest repeated his words.

"Do you, Aeryn Reynolds, take Everette Wilbrose to be your lawfully wedded husband?"

I took a deep breath. "I do."

"I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride."

And the colour drained from my face. I am not going to kiss him; he can go kiss his ass.

Everette took a step closer and lifted my veil and stared into my eyes intensely.

He cupped both my cheeks and leaned closer and then I felt his soft pair of lips at the corner of my mouth. And he immediately stepped back as the crowd cheered.

That was close.

Later when the ceremony got over and everything was done, I said goodbye to everyone.

At last I said to Carmel, "Are you sure you will be fine?"

"Yes, mama. I will be enjoying with grandma and grandpa while you enjoy your honeymoon in Australia." She winked at the last part of sentence.

I glared at her but she only chuckled and I then kissed her forehead before she pushed me towards Everette.

I said goodbye to everyone one last time before sitting inside the car with Everette.

"This is not a honeymoon", I heard him speak as the car moved.

I rolled my eyes. "I know."

"This is a business trip, I hope you know that", he said again.

"Yes, yes! I know that. You don't need to keep rubbing that in my face", I said exasperatedly.

He looked at me for a moment before looking out of the window.

"What about my restuarant's rent?", I asked.

"Taken care of. I bought that place. You don't need to worry about the rent anymore", he spoke.

"Oh...thank you", I whispered and he hummed in response.

I sighed deeply; I have no idea how I am going to spend a week with him in Australia.