The Billionaire's Unfavored Princess

CHAPTER VI: DRUNK CONFESSIONS

Jessica

After all the deals we made in just a span of a few days, we finally arrived with the main start if our contract: acting like a couple.

Media flocked us every day and several articles were released almost every hour as a preparation for one of the biggest wedding ceremonies in the country. Aside from their meddlesome tactics, none of my lovely family members seemed to be enthusiastic about my big day. Funny, isn’t it?

The wedding ended as quick as how it was prepared. And now that we have our time for ourselves inside his house, I couldn’t help but feel conscious and reality overwhelmed me, especially when I finally sealed the agreement of the devil incarnate in return of having my own time to shine.

Sitting in the living room, I uncomfortably tap my finger on my knees, still wearing my wedding gown. It is tiring to interact with all the invited business partners. But according to Alexander, I need them to make sure no one will step on me.

And I know that taking their influence is a negative blow to my family who cares for nothing but money.

“Do you drink?” I turned and look at him who is still on his wedding suit, but the coat is gone and his sleeves are folded up to his elbows. In his right hand is a wine, and in his left are two wine glasses.

“No.” I nervously chuckled and watched him nod before walking towards me, still not giving up the other glass. “I think you need to return it.” I said, pertaining to the glass that’ll be left unused.

Playing deaf, he walked towards me and sat on the other couch, just right in front of me before putting the wine in the center of the table, followed by placing the glasses in front of us.

His gray eyes looked at me. “You need to practice drinking, especially when you’ll be going in night events.” He turned to the wine and picked it up, effortlessly opening it as if it’s just a cork of expensive water.

Silence accompanied us when he’s pouring on his glass. But when he proceeded to pour into mine, he spoke. “You will practice only with me.” He remained staring at the glass as the red liquid pours down. “And you can only drink with me.”

He finished after filling half of my glass and putting the wine bottle down before placing the cork back. Feeling hot with the attention I am getting, I quickly took the glass and drank the wine in one go, causing for the alcohol to sting my throat and spread warmth starting from my tongue down to my stomach.

Unsatisfied with how it tasted, I put the glass down and looked at him. But as I saw how he looked at me intently with a smirk playing on his lips, my expression softened as I stared at his lips giving me something aside from a blank expression and words related to our contract.

“For a first timer, drinking the wine that quick and then drink again after will make you drunk within a few minutes.” He then picked up his glass and raised it just good enough for my eye level. “No cheers.” He mocked before drinking it.

“Look at you doing it basically like what I did.” I mocked back. Maybe because of the wine, my guard slightly went down and I have the guts to talk back like that.

To be honest, I like it.

Smiling with the sole chance of opening up, I picked up the wine and poured my glass, filling it completely. “Wine tastes sweet, but still a little bitter.” I picked up the glass and looked at the liquid as I slowly shake it.

“Are you already drunk with just a damn shot?’ Alexander asked, feeling as if he’s treating me like a friend. Friend? Fool.

Chuckling, I drank the wine in one go again. Because I moved my head backwards to make sure the wine will go straight down, I groaned when I felt a little dizzy when my body suddenly felt heavier before the wine even settle in my stomach.

“Damn. Hurts.” I chuckled again. Shaking my head, I slowly sat back properly. But instead of clearing my head, I felt dizzier. “Damn. Ache.”

Third person

Alexander watched the formerly sober Jessica turn into a mess of a drunk person. “Two glasses knocked you down.” As he observed how her cheeks turned red and her movements became hazy, a smile of entertainment made way on his lips.

“Lightweight.” He shook his head and stood up to pick her up and put her in her room. But before he could leave his spot, Jessica suddenly shouted while pointing at him. “Don’t come closer!” her glaring eyes failed to look fierce due to her expression being obviously drunk.

Oh? Wanting to see what she can do, Alexander crossed his arms and looked down at the woman who’s trying hard to not close her eyes or lose her balance in sitting alone. “Prick!”

“Prick?” he repeated. Instead of feeling offended that someone insulted him, he found her more interesting to talk with. “Yeah, prick!” Jessica said, still slightly sober but still chose to talk honestly with the excuse of the ‘alcohol’ talking for her.

“Selfish prick!” she shouted again, and as she continue speaking informally to him, her heartbeat continuously increases despite her trying to remain calm and act fool even when the alcohol is starting to actually kick in her system. “How dare you!”

Alexander stared down at the reddish bride in front of him. “How dare I what?” again, he turned her expressions to questions. Looking at his wasted wife, thoughts of their past and future that he connected with a single deal made in the present began flooding back to him.

“How dare you…” her voice softened when she looked down at her gown, fidgeting with her slightly shaky fingers. “Give me mixed signals…”

The truth that comes out of her mouth appears to be a random question for the man who failed to see what she’s trying to say. “Without having anything to say back, he sat back and waited for her to speak again, not feeling annoyed nor angered by her actions.

“You’re selfish…” she muttered. “You’re selfish and it’s unfair!” she shouted; her vision became more blur as she felt herself close to crying anytime.

“Have you considered how you changed my life? The life of a woman who never received anything aside from insults and minimum attention?” she asked, feeling more and more emotional as she continues speaking up for herself. “I know I agreed in this but still,” she gulped.

“One time you’re cold…then one time you’re concerned…” as she speaks, she recalls of the first time they met, followed by the times where he showed her subtle care. “One time you’re distant…then one time you’re close…” she then recalled of how he speaks less with her, and how he held her hand on their wedding day.

“What am I to you?” asking that, she can feel her eyes getting warmer with all the threatening tears. Sensing how emotional she has become, he felt like it is time for him to speak and put her to bed. But before he could do so, she spoke again.

“What are you to me?” The question she asked made him stop from standing up. Instead, he found himself waiting for the answer she’ll provide for her own question.

Their short-lived silence ended when she finally spoke again. “Benefactor? Sent angel? Friend?” enumerating, she looked up to him, causing for him to see her eyes that are welling up with tears that began falling after she raised her head.

“Savior? Hero? My pawn who uses me back?” wiping her tears, she chuckled. I should stop this. “Am I weird?” she asked, still wiping her cheeks even when tears just replace the spot she just wiped with her fingers with. I should never wait for any—

“Why are you asking that?” If I would’ve known that this woman is very emotional, I would’ve-

“Because I know that your role in my life…is still unclear.” She answered, her words that slowly rolled out of her mouth made her feel embarrassed. “I just…want to know what you are to me.”

For a few seconds, he stared at her. “Your benefactor who uses you back.” Out of the blue, he responded to her question, combining two of the choices she said. Surprised that he actually responded, she looked at him bewilderedly, causing for her tears to temporarily stop.

“What about you?” With the tension being at the peak of their emotional talk, Alexander asked her in return of answering her. “What are you to me?” Copying her question, it is now Jessica’s turn to keep quiet and wait for him to answer his own question.

Me? Having to think about it herself, Jessica’s pessimism begins to take a toll on her. “You’re a gem who will use me back.” Hearing that, Jessica’ heart fluttered.

“You’re better than your sister, don’t you know that?” the next set of words he said just made butterflies roam around her stomach, along with the alcohol that make her keep on feeling hotter and hotter as time pass by.

Seeing how flustered she is, Alexander stood up and walked towards her. Without saying anything, he scooped her up in his arms, making her gasp and quickly look down at the couch, surprised with the sudden lifting.

Groaning with her head shaking due to her sudden movement, she held her head on her right hand and closed her eyes. “No wines.” She said, genuinely feeling her headache getting worse. “No more.” She said, followed by a long, regretting sigh.

“You can’t stand even little things because they deprived you of everything.” Even when Alexander knew that he picked her because of how little his choices are, he knew well that the woman he’s currently with is a swam trapped in a small cage hanging on a high ceiling.

Saying nothing, Jessica never looked at him in the eye and just lifted her hands to hold on his neck. Her warm fingers that hugged his colder nape caused their skin contact to burn them. “Do you trust me?”

Asking a broad question like that sounded like a consent being handed to her. And as helpless and sensitive Jessica is as of the moment, she closed her eyes and leaned on his chest, giving him a small, agreeing nod after.

Looking down at her, Alexander felt like he is carrying a helpless princess. Quietly, he gently walked towards his room, thinking that bringing her in a room he’s more used of will make it easier for him to take care of his drunk wife. “A handful gem.”

Saying that, his lips curved in a small smile as he walked towards his room. Bringing her in, he gently put her on his bed and watched as she laid down peacefully, already asleep just after two shots taken a few minutes ago.

Staring at her who’s still on her wedding gown, her messy hair complimented his pillow sheets, and her reddish face made her look like a kid, his jaw clenched. “F*ck.” Muttering that to himself, he walked back to the kitchen and began preparing for a bowl of warm water to at least help her feel comfortable by removing her makeup.

While doing so, he couldn’t help but think. “The f*ck was I thinking when I chose a damn marriage just because the damn USB got ruined?” Sighing, he paused. “Did I help her, or did I make her life worse?”

Alexander knew that all he prioritized was to make his plan of making his father and his new family regret the decision they made when they treated his mother like an outcast. He knew that he used Jessica Burberry- a woman he met by chance who happened to be needing something he can provide back.

But now that he had the chance to talk to a side he had never encountered, foreign feelings stirred within him. As he recalled how she behaved and remembered the words she told him, he stared at the bowl in front of him. “I really am a selfish prick.”

But I have no choice but to be one.