by Unknown
As they reached the cars, Parker said that he and Alice were in the front car, and his friends and Jenny were to go in the other car.
He reached for the car door and pulled it open for Alice. Suddenly, a bright light flashed into their faces, startling Parker and scaring Alice. She quickly buried her face in her hands.
“PARKER!” A guy Parker knew only as Benny, started shouting as he continued to take their photograph, getting far too close for Parker’s liking. “KISS HER, PARKER! KISS HER!”
“Get the hell away,” Parker said as he shoved the photographer away before he turned to Alice and helped her into the car.
“IS IT TRUE THAT YOU’RE FINALLY MARRIED, PARKER!” Benny continued shouting as he snapped his camera. Before Parker could reply, Jensen and Harrison hurried up and push Benny away from the cars, giving Parker a chance to get into the car, and away from the photographer.
“Are you okay?” Parker asked as he turned to Alice in the car. She didn’t reply, but Parker could see she was physically shaking. “Alice, are you okay?”
“I…I guess,” she replied still not looking at Parker. “I just wasn’t expecting it.”
“I’d like to say you get used to it,” Parker sighed as he settled back into the seat. “But you don’t, not really.”
“How can you live like this?” Alice asked, finally looking over at Parker.
“I don’t know,” Parker shrugged. “It’s just always been that way.”
Alice didn’t reply, and Parker wondered what was going through her mind at that moment. He watched her as she just stared out the window while they travelled to the Four Seasons.
When the car pulled to a stop outside the hotel, Parker made no effort to get out of the car. Instead, he turned to Alice and looked at her closely.
Finally, she turned and let her eyes meet his.
“I know this is a lot for you to deal with,” he said feeling he should try and offer her some reassurance. “This is why my father feels the way he does. He thinks I have brought all this attention on myself, and maybe I have. He thinks that getting married will settle me down and this will stop. I don’t know if that’s true, but…”
“But you have to try,” Alice said, giving him a faint smile. “Even if you’re only pretending.”
“Exactly,” Parker replied.
“Okay,” Alice said as she nodded and her smile widened.
“Are you ready to go in?” Parker asked as he found himself returning her smile.
“Sure,” Alice nodded as she reached for her now, slightly battered daisies and her smile faded a little.
“I meant to say,” Parker said suddenly feeling the need to make her smile again. “You look very pretty today.”
“Thank you,” Alice replied, giving him a genuine smile this time before he opened the door and climbed out of the car. He turned and offered Alice his hand, as she too stepped out of the car.
As they walked slowly towards the glass entrance of the hotel, the doorman pulled open the door and greeted them both, before they made their way inside.
“Mr. O’Neill,” the manager chirped brightly when he saw Parker and Alice walking across the foyer, and he hurried out from behind the reception desk. “Lovely to see you again.”
“Thank you,” Parker replied, greeting the man with a handshake.
“We have your favourite table ready, Sir,” he said as he led Parker and Alice across the lobby and towards the restaurant.
“Perfect,” Parker nodded his approval. “The rest of my party will be here momentarily.”
“Excellent,” the manager replied.
When Jenny, Harrison, and Jensen arrived. Parker didn’t waste time getting the waiter's attention and ordering some champagne.
“I would like to make a toast,” Harrison said as he stood up and laughed to himself. “To Parker and Alice, may their marriage be long, happy and everything you paid for.”
“Sit down, Harri,” Parker snapped angrily at his friend. “Nobody finds you funny.”
“Come on, Parks,” Harrison said as he took his seat. “This is kind of funny. I mean how you convinced this pretty, sweet girl to sell her soul to you, I will never know. Who said money couldn't buy you love?”
“Why don’t you shut the hell up,” Parker replied this time the tone in his voice was one that said he was not to be messed with.
“I think I need to use the restroom,” Alice said, standing up and excusing herself.
“I’ll come with you,” Jenny said as she too was on her feet.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” Parker asked once the girls were out of earshot. “Why are you behaving like such a dick?”
“I’m only having a little fun,” Harrison shrugged as he laughed again.
“No one thinks you’re funny, Harri,” Parker said, glaring at his friend. “And you’re making Alice uncomfortable, so give it a rest.”
“Why do you care how she feels?” Harrison asked, this time his tone was more serious. “You bought her and you didn’t care about what this would mean to her…”
“What is your problem?” Parker asked surprised by his friend’s comments. “This was your idea to begin with.”
“I guess I didn’t think you would pick someone like Alice,” Harrison admitted. “But then you never cared about who you destroyed.”
“Harrison, that’s enough,” Jensen said as he tried to quickly calm things down.
“It’s not me, it’s him,” Harrison huffed. “He’s had a stick up his ass since we left city hall.”
“And you’ve been acting like a dick all day,” Parker said, leaning forward in his chair. “And if you keep it up, I will knock you on your ass.”
“What is wrong with you, anyway?” Harrison asked, looking Parker in the eye. “You’ve got exactly what you wanted. You got that girl to agree to help you. What else do you want?”
Parker stared at him but didn’t reply.
The truth was, Harrison had hit a nerve. What did he want? He had no clue. He thought that marrying Alice was the answer to all his problems, but instead of feeling relieved, he was angry.
“It’s the girl,” Harrison said as he looked at his friend. “You like her.”
“Yes, Harrison,” Parker sighed and rolled his eyes. “That’s it. I’m in love with the waitress.”
“Maybe not in love,” Harrison said. “But you are developing feelings for her.”
“Let me make one thing clear, this is business,” Parker said plain and simple. “I don’t feel anything for her. I never will. Normally I wouldn’t even give a girl like her a second glance, but she is what my parents would want, so she is who I married. I do not now, nor will I ever love the waitress.”
“Parker,” Jensen said as he looked at his friend before he motioned his eyes behind Parker.
Parker turned around and saw Alice and her friend standing there.
FUCK! He thought to himself. He quickly stood up as Alice forced a smile on her face and took her seat. Before anyone could say another word, the waiters arrived back with their entrees and the conversation ended there.
“You were very quiet all through dinner,” Parker said as he led Alice into his apartment. “Is everything okay?”
“Yes,” she replied as she stood nervously in the hallway. She kept her eyes fixed on the floor, avoiding any eye contact with Parker.
He released an impatient sigh but didn’t push the subject.
“Your belongings have been taken to your room,” Parker said, still watching Alice, trying to figure out what to say to thaw the icy atmosphere between them, “There is a set of keys for you there on the hall table. Make yourself at home.”
“Thank you,” she replied but still didn’t look at him.
“Would you like to tell me why you’re upset?” Parker asked, but he was sure he already knew the answer.
“I’m not upset,” she said as she finally looked up at him.
“I don’t believe you,” he replied. This was ver
y new for Parker. His knowledge of women was limited to the bedroom, so he had no idea how to handle Alice.
Alice didn’t reply. Instead, she just stood there and continued to stare at him, much to Parker’s frustration.
“FINE!” He snapped, finally unable to take any more. “You can suit yourself, Sweetheart. I am going for a drink.”
“You’re going out?” Alice asked, looking at him in disbelief.
“Yes,” Parker barked back. “I don’t know when I’ll be home, so don’t wait up.”
Without saying another word, he turned and walked out of the apartment, slamming the door behind him.
As he stepped into the elevator, he blew out a long, calming breath but it was no use.
He closed his eyes and pushed his hands through his hair.
“FUCK!” He yelled as he swung out and smashed a glass panel on the elevator wall with his fist. This wasn’t supposed to be so hard.
Chapter 8
Alice
Alice woke with a start. For a moment she was confused about her dark surroundings, but as she sat up, where she was came rushing back to her, as did what had happened earlier that evening.
When Parker stormed out of the apartment, Alice stood in the hallway and stared at the door.
What the hell just happened? She had thought to herself as a sinking feeling took hold in the pit of her stomach. She wanted to cry; no more than that, she wanted to get her things and get the hell out of there, but that wasn’t an option.
She swallowed the lump of grief that was almost strangling her. Crying was not going to help. This was how things were now. Parker might legally be her husband, but he was not the love of her life, and if he wanted to go out and drink, and then fuck another leggy redhead, that was nothing to do with her.
With that realisation settling in her mind, she decided she would go and get to know her new home better.
After she settled into her room, which Alice had to admit was bigger than the entire space of her old apartment, she walked from room to room in this huge penthouse that took up the entire top floor of the apartment building.
Finally, bored with wandering around the apartment aimlessly. She found herself on a large, comfy armchair, in front of the biggest TV, Alice had ever seen.
It took her a moment to figure out how to get it to work, but when she did, she curled up on the chair and watched an old black and white movie, until her eyes grew heavy and she dozed off.
Now, as she was sitting there in the darkness, she had no idea what had woken her so abruptly. She held her breath as she listened. Suddenly there was a crash from the hallway, followed by a woman giggling.
“Shhh,” Parker whispered. “I told you not to wake my wife.”
Alice could feel her heart racing in her chest as she tried her best to remain as quiet as possible.
He had brought someone home. Alice wasn’t sure why she was surprised, but she was. She was completely stunned.
“You don’t have a wife,” the giggling bimbo replied, then giggled again. “You’re so bad.”
“I do have a wife,” Parker slurred. “I got married today. This is my wedding night, and I plan on enjoying it.”
His words felt like a kick to Alice’s guts. Of course, she hadn’t believed that their wedding night would have been anything more than just the night they got married, but to hear him say what he did, made her feel like a complete and utter fool for agreeing to this.
She listened as she heard Parker crash into the kitchen. The chimes of the bottles in the wine cooler echoed around the silent apartment, followed by the clinking of glasses.
“Let’s take this party to my room,” his voice echoed down the hallway as he emerged from the kitchen, followed by yet another giggle. Moments later, Parker's bedroom door opened, then slammed closed once more.
Alice sat there for a moment, wondering what the hell she should do.
Finally, she climbed from the chair in front of the TV and quietly made her way back to her room, trying her hardest to ignore the noises that were coming from Parker’s room.
When she reached the sanctity of her room, she locked the door and pressed her head against it as the tears she had fought so hard to hold back all day, finally broke free. She slid down to the floor and buried her face in her hands and her hands into her knees, as she sobbed.
Alice knew she had agreed to do this, to help her grandmother, but deep in the pit of her stomach, she knew she made the biggest mistake of her life.
She tried to tell herself that it was fine. It was a year, and it would fly by, but her heart told her something else.
When she had no tears left inside her to cry, she pushed up from the floor and made her way to the bed. She felt tired and broken. She knew she needed to figure out what she should do about this nightmare that had become her life, but that could wait. Right now, she just wanted to sleep and forget about Parker, even for a little while.
When Alice woke the next morning, her head felt like it was full of lead. She pushed up on the bed and looked at her clock on the night stand. It was almost 8 a.m.
She pushed back the bedding before she slipped her feet to the floor and climbed out of bed.
When she reached the bathroom, Alice looked in the mirror and sighed. Her eyes were red and puffy from crying, but she was determined that she would never cry over Parker O’Neill again. She turned to the shower and switched it on, leaving it to heat up as she stripped off her pajamas.
When she was stripped, she stepped beneath the water and closed her eyes, letting the water soak away her troubles for just a few minutes.
Once she was showered, dried and dressed, she wrapped her hair up in a knot on the back of her head. She sat on the end of the bed and considered what she should do now. She didn’t really fancy being there when Parker showed his latest conquest the door. In fact, she didn’t really want to see Parker at all.
She was humiliated enough without having to make it any worse. She stood up and picked up her bag, before she walked to the door, and opened it carefully.
The apartment was in complete silence. Alice knew as it was Saturday morning, Parker wouldn’t be up for work, but she didn’t know if he was a late sleeper.
Deciding the coast was clear, Alice hurried along the corridor until she reached the front door. Opening it slowly, her heart was racing, but she had no idea what she was so afraid of.
As she stepped out the door, she was about to close it when she remembered the keys that where on the hall table. She reached back in and grabbed them before she once more stepped out through the door, and closed it carefully behind her. As Alice stepped into the elevator, she noticed that one of the mirrored panels was smashed. She wondered what might have happened to it but was quickly distracted when her phone began to ring in her bag.
She reached in and pulled it out, sighing when she saw Jenny’s name flashing on the screen.
“Hey,” Alice said brightly as she brought her phone to her ear.
“How’s the newlywed?” Jenny asked, and Alice resisted the urge she had to sigh at her friend's comment.
“Are you done?” Alice asked as the elevator came to a stop, and the doors opened. Alice walked across the foyer towards the main doors of the building. As she passed the front desk, she glanced at the doorman who had been on the night she came to see Parker and gave him a cautious smile.
Parker had ensured all the doormen knew that Alice lived there now also.
The middle-aged man, whose name was Patrick, gave Alice a strange smile and Alice wondered if he was on duty when Parker arrived home with his giggling friend.
Alice sighed at that thought. She hated to think that this man was looking at her with pity.
“Alice!” Jenny called out, and Alice realised her friend had been talking to her and she hadn’t heard a single word.
“I’m sorry,” Alice said as she pushed opened the door and stepped out into the bright morning sun, and started walking in the direction of the coffee
shop. “I was distracted a little. What were you saying?”
“I was asking how did last night go?” Jenny repeated her question. “Did he mention the conversation in the restaurant?”
“He asked me if I was okay,” Alice replied honestly. “But I wasn’t really in the mood for a deep and meaningful. I also wasn’t in the mood of listening to his bullshit. He said what he said.”
“But he seemed upset,” Jenny tried to reason with her friend. “Maybe he was saying that to get Harrison off his back. That guy is a complete asshole.”
“What does it matter whether he meant it or not?” Alice asked. “This is a business deal. I don’t care what he thinks about me. I’m not there for a happy ever after.”
“I know, and if I am honest, I still don’t get why you agreed to do this,” Jenny said, and Alice knew Jenny thought she had made a huge mistake. “But you’re living with him. He is very hands on when you are out in public. Feelings can change.”
“Believe me,” Alice said as she recalled his words from the night before. “I have no feelings for my darling husband other than that he is a spoiled, arrogant asshole.”
“Fair enough,” Jenny laughed. “So what's the plan for today?”
“What do you mean, what’s the plan for today?” Alice asked as she stopped at a pedestrian crossing. “I’m on my way to the coffee shop.”
“You’re what?” Jenny asked. “I thought you had to give up your job.
“Well, things change,” Alice sighed as her mind once again returned to the events of the night before and a fresh wave of anger washed over her.
She also knew Jenny was right. While she and Parker were working out the finer details of their business arrangement, Parker insisted, much to Alice’s horror that she had to give up her job. He reasoned that no one would believe that the wife of a billionaire would work in a coffee shop and that, in order for them to be believed she needed to give up her job.
Alice refused at first, but in her heart, she knew what he said was right. Still, it didn’t make it any easier for her to walk away from a job she loved. Eventually, she agreed that she would give up her job and her apartment.
