The Billionaire's Unfavored Princess

CHAPTER IV: WEDDING PREPERATIONS

Jessica

What Nine said while we’re on our way here remained stuck in my mind till now.

Was I really that vulnerable in terms of emotional boundaries? I know I’ve been lacking social connections, but to think that Nine will see me failing in the future because of my inclined favoritism of the man who chose me despite this being all bunch of lies…scares me. A lot.

And I also know that everyone can see how we rush things. However, blinded by their tastes of romance, the news about our quick announcement and early wedding schedule just earned us more positive comments, saying that ‘true love’ still exists and we’re lucky to find our other halves.

But those were just…lies.

Despite their encouragements, there are still remarks saying that we are not compatible to each other, especially when I look like a mere woman trying to climb the social ladder by sticking with someone as distinguished as him. Of course, I was offended, saddened, and hurt depending on their wording approaches before.

But as time passes by, their comments were nothing but words who make me laugh. They just don’t have a life to live, don’t they?

They were swayed by our lies. Pathetic, aren’t they?

Guess I’m pathetic too. Slight.

Currently inside the boutique who specializes in customizing any gowns, it didn’t take me long to choose the gown that I will like to wear. I was actually expecting that I will pick everything from the scratch, starting from picking the designs, fabric and all, but when I got here, Alexander already got everything covered.

Just thinking that he’s already did everything beforehand makes me smile. To think that he told me that I should pick my gown yet he already saved me from the hassles of doing so.

How cute.

Surprised by what I just thought because of spacing out again, I blinked and looked back at my own reflection.

“You look lovely, young lady.” The head manager of the boutique said, causing for both of the female employees who assisted me to nod in unison as they smiled sweetly at me.

The wedding gown looks like it was straight out of a fairytale. It reaches the floor and the way that it hugs my waist before blooming like a white flower makes me love it even more. The designs embedded in every calculated area of the gown is complimenting the silver that tiara they made me wore along with the diamond necklace are also top notch.

“This gown is perfect.” I smiled as I slowly turn around to check the weight and the overall feeling of the gown. As if on cue, when I turned by the curtains, it was already moved to the sides and Alexander was sitting on the couch, his eyes were focused on me, not on the brochures for the other necessary preparations.

Now that he’s looking at me, I am getting conscious with how I look, considering that for the first time, I am not standing here just to make sure no one will question why I’m not around…I am standing here to prove that I am suitable to be his bride, the bride of none other than Alexander Morrison.

These lies are pressuring me. But the way that my heart thumps as I waited for his response doesn’t seem to be a bad idea either. It just makes me feel appreciated, being waited for, and being wished to be with.

Standing up from the couch, he left the brochure on the table before walking towards me without even breaking the eye contact. “I am in awe of your fiancée, sir. You found a very good match for you.” What the head manager said caused my blood to rush on my cheeks.

Stopping in front of me, he eyes me from head to toe before giving me a half smile, but it’s enough to make my heart beat erratically. “I have a good eye, didn’t I?” he asked with his gaze just focused on me.

“You look gorgeous.” What he said caused for all the employees squeal and gush on us, but they all quieted down when the head manager cleared her throat.

“T-thank you.” I said, finally giving up and averted my eyes which made me see that even when they all went quiet, their teasing stares are enough to make me feel more and more embarrassed with the attention I am getting at the moment. So this is what it feels like to be seen by many.

While I was being drowned in the bliss of having their eyes on me, I caught glimpse of Nine who is looking at us, standing beside the couch where Alexander sat before. Averting his gaze, I felt like I am being pulled back in the harsh reality that in this roleplay, I shouldn’t engross myself too much.

“Eyes on me, Jessica.” I felt shivers run down my spine when I heard him talk, causing for me to quickly look back at him and his gray eyes. They look like a pair of magnets who seems to hate the idea of sharing.

“Close the curtains.” Saying that, I watched how the employees got out of my cubicle and closed the curtains, suddenly giving me several worrisome possibilities. Will he stop lying and tell me how bad I look at this? Or what if he’ll get mad at me for being a few minutes late?

When we are finally left alone, I tried my best to look straight in his eyes. “What?” When I couldn’t take the silence anymore, I took the chance to ask him first to break the beginning ice.

Still, he remained silent and he just stared at me. Finding this situation uncomfortable, I took a step back, and as if it’s on his instincts, he quickly pulled my wrist to stop me from moving farther. “What’s wrong?” I asked with my brows knitted in confusion because of his actions.

Opening up his mouth, he was about to say something when he just let go of me before turning around to walk a few steps away from me with his left hand in his pocket.

Should I ask him what’s on his mind? But what if he’ll accuse me of prying in his privacy?

Before I could even sort out what should I do, he spoke. “You seemed to have developed an unusual interest with my secretary after meeting each other for the first time.” Huh? What in the world is he saying?

“Nine is a good person, I admit.” Even when I don’t have a clue on what he’s trying to say, I just responded to not make myself appear to be very intimidated by him. “No wonder you chose him to be your secretary.”

Suddenly, I heard him lowly chuckle. And for some reason, it sounds like he’s offended or something. “If you will choose between me or him,” he turned to look at me with his taunting eyes and smirking lips. “You will choose the good guy, won’t you, little princess?”

Irritated by the way he asked me, I raised my brow. “You do know that they can hear us, don’t you?” I asked.

“Rafaela and her subordinates will not speak anything about this.”

Again, my brows furrowed as I process things to pinpoint what caused him to suddenly question me as if I am betraying him over some—oh.

If we are not entrapped with lies bounded by a win-win contract, I will assume that his pride was crushed because I was looking at Nine. If he is my real fiancé, I will think he’s jealous.

“Choosing the good guy over the bad guy is not the issue, Alexander.” Playing my role, I smiled before taking several steps towards him till he’s only a few feet away. “Women choose who they think will treat them better. And for me, the best option is right in front of me.”

“Oh?” Cockily, he tilted his head slightly before closing the gap between us and lifted my chin with his right hand. “Then…you think I can give you a better life? That’s how it sounds to me.”

I may have started the game to prevent myself from getting speechless because of him, but with how he responded, my heart who can’t sit still is starting to get a toll on me. But to continue the show, I maintained my composure and held his hand.

“You gambled by choosing me. You know that right?” I slowly pulled his hand down. “Doubting me right now is futile, Alexander. You and I…will be wedded a few days from now.”

Chuckling from my remarks, he loosened his tie as his gray eyes were looking down at mine. “Perfect.” Saying that single word of praise, he turned around and exited by moving the curtains away.

Once the curtains moved back on the way it was, I heaved a sigh of relief. Finally, I can breathe again.

{}{}{}

Mrs. Rafaela Persimmon, the head manager, has been working in the boutique since she was 23. And now that she’s 54, she’s been the most trusted employee of this boutique who’s like the personal shop of the wealthy Cross family. This must be the reason why Alexander’s confident that she’ll stay mute.

“Thank you for helping me change back, Mrs. Persimmon.”

“Just call me Rafaela, Miss Jessica.” Hearing that, I nodded and pursed my lips as I watched her do her job from the mirror. She looks like a very professional woman so I guess, telling her to call me Jessica will just give me a big no as an answer.

“I don’t wish to partake in any of your reckless plans, both you and our young master.” She said as she fixes the gown back on the mannequin while I fix my clothes before going out the cubicle.

Surprised by her sudden opening of the topic, I turned to look at her but her eyes were fixated on the gown. Luckily for us, both Alexander and Nine were on the 1st floor, saying that they will discuss more about the wedding so there’s no one here in the 3rd floor aside from her and I.

“But…this was the first time that the young master came back in the boutique. Especially when he cursed our shop because we are the ones who dressed Mistress Camila for her wedding with Sir Oden.” She said with a soft, motherly smile.

“He hated us back then, but what can we do? We are only following the master’s orders.” She said, then she fixed the gown one more time before standing properly to look at me gratefully. “That’s why I want to thank you for making him a groom that we can formally assist.”

What she said just made me proud. Smiling back, I stood up and picked up my bag. “I should be the one thanking you because you are respecting our decisions.” I honestly said, knowing that she heard everything from our conversation, and the words we just said to each other is enough to say that love is yet to be formed.

“Before he left abroad at 14 to follow his mother, I watched him make this boutique as a playground because Lady Amethyst was the one handling our shop.” She began. “Lady Amethyst is a fashion pillar, you see.”

Fascinated by how she is telling me a little bit of his life, I eagerly listened. “Now that he’s 28, I feel proud to see him finally return here, not as a child who hates us…but as a man who trusts us to create the best gown for his bride, and the best suit for him.”

Rafaela then walked towards me and held my hand, making me feel her slightly rough palm because of her manual labors. “He may appear like he appreciates you less, or he isn’t confident of you, but did you know? He contacted us last night and asked us to show him the best wedding gown we have in our stocks.”

“Oh? He did that?”

“Yes. Then after I sent him a mail of the top three gowns, he chose the one you wore. Then he gave us orders on how to refine it. He even came here as early as 7 to check the gown and supervise us while doing another set of customizing to fit you.”

“He did all of it? For me?”

“Yes Miss Jessica. And even as a mere child, young master Alexander is indeed gifted with both his father’s business logics and his mother’s fashion eyes. That why when I saw how he does things out of his normal character, I feel like you may not just be a simple someone for him. This play may bear something much more than what you two were anticipating.”

Surprised by the effort, I can feel the soft feeling of warmth spreading within me, starting from my chest.

“Be more emotionally connected to him and it’ll be game over for you.”



Suddenly, Nine’s words echoed in my head. And with just that, the budding butterflies quickly died down.