Betrothed To My Sister's Husband

Chapter- [ 13 ]

[ Nicholas ]

I glance at my wrist watch impatiently. Rain has been taking too much of my precious time to come out of her room and it's growing my anger with passing seconds. I should have made an excellent excuse to Mr. Xi Giang and leave her here to take as much as time she needs to doll herself up but I can't take a chance with them. The deal is important for me after the personal turbulence in my life, it may effect my business.

"Elle, where is Rain? Tell her to come out in next two minutes or she'll be escorting herself to the venue all by herself." I yell on Elle who just walked out of her room's direction.

She's startled by my sudden outburst but nods her head, turning back on her heel to deliver my order but stops as we hear soft clicking of heels coming closer.

My anger is reaching on an exploding point but air knocks out of my lungs when I see her walking in the living room. Her appearance renders me speechless. My eyes glue themselves on her beauty.

Yes, she's looking stunning in her peacock green gown with quarter sleeves, it doesn't show her body but did opposite effect, she looks more ravishing in covered clothes. She deserves a much better term in dictionary to do justice to her beauty. Her face has the faintest make up I've ever seen a woman wearing yet she looks flawlessly beautiful.

The feature on her face that turned my entire existence upside down in this moment are her eyes, the color of tropical ocean green, filled with utter innocence as they blink at me.

This is my first time observing her features from this closely and I admit, her beauty is parallal to her elder sister who used to take extra care to enhance her features with the most expensive and latest cosmetic treatments.

How come I never observed her when I used to visit her house and she hides herself whenever we came across accidentally. The way her eyes with thick black lashes lowered in shyness.

Surviving with her in the same house for an uncertain time would give me the hardest time of my life as her beauty is lethal and have a magnetic pull that can easily attract any man towards her without any effort from her side.

She's beautiful in her own terms, very rare, precious and unique but I wish I could say the same about her heart or her intentions in this marriage.

Looks are deceptive.

My grandmother's words for Roselie are embedded on my memory. Roselie proved my Grandmother's point right, looks are really deceptive sometimes and Rain happens to share the same blood as her sister.

Treachery runs in their genes.

"I...am..sorry. I didn't intend to be late but the dress was impossible to wear on my own." She stutters with her apology thus snapping me out of my insane thoughts.

What am I even thinking? I just admired the woman who ruined my life. I shouldn't get hopes in this forced arrangement. One day, sooner or later, I must exclude her from my life. Trying to get closer to her would complicate my life even more and it would be the last thing I want in my life.

"We're getting late." I clear my throat and turn on my feet to leave not even bothering to give her a helping hand on the stairs as she's struggling with her heels.

The guards open the car doors for us. She slides beside me but on a safe distance. Her mild perfume is intoxicating and with each passing moment, I feel hard down there. This woman is a danger sign. I shouldn't cross the territories but I'm willing to explore my peagent wife.

After all she's given to me as the compensation price.

What am I thinking? Just focus, Nicholas. She wants you to break your barriers and run to her. Stop before you loose this game.' My logical brain warns me.

"How do I look? I mean..your clients..they will like me." She asks me after an uncomfortable silence.

"I am not going to sell you to them so it doesn't matter how you look, Rain." I don't want to sound rude but I couldn't help it. I need to maintain this rift between us.

I see hurt and disappointment flash through her face but she quickly hides it. This woman has started giving me confused vibes. Why am I not able to avenge my plans on her? Why it always feels wrong to punish her for someone else's deeds?

"You're looking good." I hear her sweet voice but I think she could be louder with her thoughts. A simple short compliment swelled my heart with pride for an unknown reason.

I don't response and hear her sigh in defeat again. I can notice her little efforts to make us work but she doesn't know that I do not want it with her. I don't think I'll ever be able to mend my heart for another woman to crush it with more brutality.

Fifteen minutes later, the car stops in front of the restaurant. The valets opens the doors for us and I am quick to climb out and move to her side to help her in getting down the car like a loving husband. I know, we're under the watch of paparazzi and it's my chance to slap on their faces by acting all love sick businessman for hid wife.

I stretch my palm for her before she take efforts to step out, surprise flashes on her face but as soon as she notices our surroundings, she places her trembling hand over mine. The huge diamond sitting on her finger dazzles in the lights.

"Just smile on my touches, remember we been watched." I whispers in her ear, it was an angle from where it can be assumed as I'm hushing sweet talks to her.

She nods her head in obligation while we make our way inside the restaurant. We're welcomed by the Chinese manager of the hotel as I promise to endorse for their next chain of hotels across the state.

"Mr. and Mrs. Blackwood, please this way, your guests have already arrived." The manager informs me and it makes me slightly worried.

Xo Giang is a man of punctuality and I'm late on our first meeting.

Great Nicholas!

"I swear, Rain if I loose this deal tonight, I'm going to make your family's life living hell. Your father won't be getting any more deals and soon your company will shut down. We're late because you took fucking time to doll your ugly self." I blurt out in the fit of my anger and immediately regret my last sentence but it was too late to redo my mistake.

A wave of pain hits her face as she lowers her head down in shame. All the excitement and the sparkle shining in her eyes vanished, now replaced by melancholy.

I was an asshole to call her ugly because her beauty is far beyond this world but my ego doesn't allow me to offer a simple apology.

The manager escorts us to a private area, only reserves for ultra rich customers, suitable for business meetings over meals. I spot Mr. Xo Giang with his family and his secretary on the round table laughing and talking among themselves. They're looking genuinely happy.

Our footsteps catches his attention and he along with his wife rise from their seat.

"Sorry for the inconvenience, Mr. Giang. Actually my wife is fond of taking extra efforts to get ready. You know the young women." I forward my hand for a shake with an easily digestible excuse.

"No problem, young man. You can't say this when women are around us. Don't worry, I have no issues with newly weds stealing their moments. After all, we all pass through this adventurous phase of our lives at some point." Xi Giang shakes my hand warmly.

"Mr. Nicholas, we have just arrived and expecting you to introduce us this beautiful woman with you. I assume as Mrs. Blackwood." His wife's tiny eyes wrinkle while smiling widely at Rain.

"Ni hao."

Rain bows slightly and says something in Chinese which brings another smile on the old couple's face.

"Such a rare beauty. Nicholas, you're a lucky man to have this girl as your wife. Do not ever let her slip away from you." Mrs. Giang glances in my direction still admiring Rain.

"I won't, Mrs. Giang. She's mine forever." I pull her to my side and kiss her temple that brings a faint blush on her face. She looks really adorable with flushed face and it made me even prouder that I cause this natural hue.

"Please take your seats so we can continue with the rest of the introduction and the business, of coarse." Mr. Giang gestures us to sit opposite to them.

I first drag her chair and then occupy mine.

A relief settles in my uneasy mind. They look impressed by Rain and I really wonder how this woman wins everyone's heart by doing nothing.

Am I misjudging her from the beginning?