Dedicated to @Grayy_Wolf. Love your comments!!!

Chapter 31.

Fine. Okay. Marry me right now.

~~~

"Mom I told you I am dating someone."

"Is he rich?"

I bit in upper lip in annoyance. "Yes Mom, he is rich."

"How rich?"

The kind that could buy an entire hotel and still not use it. I huffed. "Rich enough."

"Do I know him?"

I stared at the ceiling in exasperation. "How would you know him Ma?"

"I know every rich man out there."

I looked at Alex who was struggling to put the bedsheet. If he adjusted one corner, the opposite one would come out and vice versa. He had been trying to do it since the past five minutes and it was hilarious.

I chuckled as I saw him huff and pull at the bedsheet so hard that it came right off the bed and landed on his face.

"Why are you laughing?"

I stopped. "Mom, he is hot, he is rich, and he is everything you wanted."

"Bring him home."

I coughed in shock, glad that Alex didn't hear it. My voice lowered. "Mom, what are you talking about?"

"I want to meet him."

I blew a frustrated breath. "We have just started dating. You'll scare him away."

Mom gasped. "Name one time I did that."

I raised an eyebrow. Did she really want to go down that lane? I listed the names off on my finger. "Liam Pace, Kai Chen, Aaron Litman."

"I said name one."

I rolled my eyes. "I'll bring him home when he won't run away scared by you."

"If he runs away is he really worth it?"

"Mom, you know can be scary."

My mother groaned. "Fine but come by soon. And call your Aunt once a while and grandma too."

"I talked to Gran yesterday." I told her.

"Not that old hoe, call my mother."

I pressed my lips together. I guess they still didn't get along. After 30 years of marriage and my mother still hated her mother-in-law. Of course the feelings were reciprocated. "I'll call them tonight." I promised her, mentally groaning at just the thought of my Aunt ranting about how well her son was doing and how smart he was– he was an employee at a lingerie store.

"Okay good. And be nice Myra. They are your family."

I sighed pressing my forehead. "Fine but please tell Aunt Grace that I do not want to hear how all her friends had Botox while she didn't."

"But they did!"

"I don't care!"

"Fine. Eat well but most importantly earn well."

I rolled my eyes. "Bye mom. I'll call you tomorrow."

I cut the call, turning to Alex who was still struggling with the bedsheet.

"Have you never put a bedsheet?"

Alex glared at me. "I have people to do that."

I looked at my bed. "I don't."

He looked at the small room. "I can see that."

I narrowed by eyes at him. "Rich boy don't annoy me."

Alex raised his hands in defeat. "Help me with his?"

I took one end of the bedsheet while Alex took the other end. "Don't pull." I scolded him.

"I didn't pull. You pulled."

My eyes narrowed again.

"Of course I pulled."

It took us barely three minutes to get the bedsheet set properly on the bed. "See so easy."

"Yeah I have people for that." Alex boasted.

I gave me a flat smile. "You should have people to tell you what not to talk."

Alex pressed his lips together, making a zipping his lips shut motion.

I rolled my eyes, walking into the living room. "Why are you here? Don't you have meetings to attend and people to impress?"

"Nah Diana was busy today."

Although I knew he was just teasing me, I smacked my lips. "You are walking on ice."

Alex grinned cheekily, sitting on the couch and patting the empty seat beside him. "Come here."

"Don't order me." I grumbled, sitting down next to him.

He put his head on my shoulder, surprising me. I looked at the brown lock of well-set hair. I swallowed at the sudden intimacy. "Are you okay?"

He just nodded. "I am now."

I blinked. "What's wrong?"

Alex didn't answer for a while. "It's my mother's death anniversary next week."

I sucked in a quick shocked breath. After he had told the truth yesterday - his mother leaving her family behind and moving away and then suddenly dying in a car crash. Alex had barely shed a tear while I had bawled my eyes out.

"Why are you crying?"

I sniffed wiping my nose. "I don't know. It's just sad."

"It's okay it was long back."

I sniffed more. "It's still sad."

Alex hugged me, patting my head slightly. "Shouldn't you be the one consoling me?"

I slapped his arm, hiccupping more. "Don't be selfish."

Alex chuckled, kissing me lightly on the bed. "Stop crying. I am fine now. I have you. I am happy."

And leaned back looking at him. "You are?"

He nodded once. "I am. You make me happy."

I smiled. "So does that mean I am forgiven?"

Alex raised one eyebrow. "Don't push your luck."

I twisted my lips but hugged him again, resting my head on his chest. "You make me happy too." I said to him.

And he did.

"Are you going to see her?"

"She's in Italy."

"Oh."

"Come with me."

"Huh?" I leaned back in shock, making his head fall into my lap.

"Ow." Alex winced, rubbing his neck.

I stared at him. "What?"

Alex sighed. "Come with me to Italy."

"Um no." I shook my head.

"Why not?"

I tried to think of a good excuse, I couldn't come up with any. "Because-"

"There are hot chicks over there. I might fall for one of them."

I gave him a blank expression, showing the very slight gap between the tips of my thumb and forefinger. "Wafer thin ice."

Alex grinned. "Just for one day. You always wanted to travel."

I rubbed the back of my neck. Wondering how to break this to him. I swallowed. "I have a job interview."

Alex flinched as if physically burned. "What?"

I took a deep breath gathering the last shreds of courage before they disappeared. "I have a job interview." I repeated.

"When?"

"Um." The rubbing on my neck worsened. "Well next Monday, Wednesday and Friday."

Alex blinked in shock. "You have three interviews?"

I looked at the corner of the table, feeling a little guilty. "I couldn't stay at home all day."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

Because I was afraid you would forbid me. "It was impulsive."

"You don't apply for a job in impulse Myra."

"I do." I lied.

Alex tiled his head, looking at me with a scrutinizing gaze. I felt a little uncomfortable. "You are nervous." He pointed at the hand that was rubbing my neck. I instantly dropped it in my lap. "You are lying."

I sighed. "Why are you not giving me a job?" I counter-attacked.

"I would have."

I raised one eyebrow at him. "Really Alex?"

"Fine maybe not. I just-" Alex sighed, looking around.

"I don't want to be jobless. I am not used to it. From the start I have always worked hard, for everything. I don't know how not to."

Alex glanced at me. "I understand."

I shook my head. "I don't think you do." I gulped. "What does Sofia do?"

He blinked not saying a word.

"Sandra?" I prompted.

He still kept quiet.

I licked my lips hoping he understood what I meant. "I am not used to doing nothing. I am not used to being rich Alex. I don't know how to. I live in this flat which drips water when it rains and is one-fourth of just your entire living room. But I still pay the excessive rent every month. I clean the whole house by myself. I put the bedsheets by myself. And I like it."

"Are you saying I don't work hard?"

I closed my eyes, feeling a little frustrated that he was taking this the wrong way. "No. I am not saying that. I am saying I am a career minded woman. I want to work. I want to earn. And I want to spend my own money."

"What if we get married?"

I chocked on my saliva. "Huh?"

Alex pointed at us. "What if we get married?" he repeated.

I looked down at my fingers wondering what to reply to that. After a few seconds I looked back at Alex. "I will still work."

Alex blinked as if the idea of his wife working was something unimaginable. "As a hacker?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Do you like your job?"

Alex scoffed. "I am the boss."

I smiled at him. "To be a boss you worked hard. You overcame obstacles. You didn't get it on a silver platter."

Alex blinked at me innocently. "I don't want you to suffer."

I mentally groaned. "I won't suffer. I'll work. I like hacking. It makes me feel alive."

"But I earn enough."

And we were back to the same topic. I closed my eyes. "Alex I will continue to work even if I marry you. And with the way you are acting foolish right now, I don't think I want to marry you."

"I am acting foolish?" his tone rose a notch.

"Yes." I raised my voice.

"I own three flats. I own a billion dollar company. I could buy this entire building in a blink. What more can you want?"

"Money isn't everything." I shouted. "So what you just want me to stay at home and do nothing. See you off when you go to work and wait for you to come back every evening?"

"Attend fundraisers, join those women kitty parties, come with on business trips." Alex listed off, all the duties of a wannabe housewife.

"I don't want to be a housewife." I gritted my teeth. Just the thought making me shudder.

"What if I have to go away for months?"

"You are 28. I am sure you can survive."

"I am 27." Alex corrected. "And that's not the point. Will you live here alone if I go away."

I raised an eyebrow. "I am 23. I am sure I can survive."

Alex scoffed as if the whole idea of a wife living away from her billionaire husband was insane. "You can't be serious."

"What is so unbelievable about this?"

"Everything."

"How did you ever become a successful billionaire, I'll never understand."

Alex Bianchi smirked. "It's mostly my good looks and sex appeal. And of course the ability to make people fall in love with me."

I pressed my lips. A cloud of fury on top of me. "Alex Bianchi. The ice is so thin that if you so much take another step, you will drown."

"I know to swim."

I fisted my hands, glaring at him. "I am going to give the interviews."

"They won't take you."

I gasped and pointed a warning forefinger at him. "You wouldn't dare."

Alex smirked. "I will call the companies and make sure you are not hired."

I screamed in frustration. "What is wrong with you?"

"What is wrong with you?" he retorted back.

"It's just a job."

"So don't do it."

"Fine. Okay. Marry me right now."

"What?"

I raised my eyebrows at him, my hands on waist, challenging him. "Marry me now. Tomorrow at the courthouse."

"That is insane."

I scoffed in disbelief. "That is insane." I pointed a finger at him. "You not allowing me to get a job isn't insane but marrying me is insane."

"It's too soon."

"Exactly!" I exclaimed. "It's too soon for you to decide what I can do and what I can't. It's not even your decision to make. It is my life you can't tell me what to do. If I want to work. I will. And you don't have a say in it."

Alex physically flinched. He stared at me with hurt and pain in his eyes and I wanted to take back my words but I stood my ground. I was right, it was my life. He had every right to give me suggestions and opinions but the final decision was mine to make.

He stood up not saying a word. "Okay. Your life."

I followed him, standing in front of him. "Alex I-"

"No Myra its fine. It is your life. I can't tell you what to do." He didn't even glance at me.

I reached for his arm and he pulled away. I felt guilt and sadness wash over me. "Alex, don't do this."

He looked at me, a little peeved now. "Don't do what Myra?"

I pointed at his taut stature. "This. Don't be a stranger. You need to understand me."

"Or else what, you'll leave me?"

"I never said that."

"Fine! Leave me, everyone leaves eventually."

Oh my god, when did I start to climb this road? I thought to myself. "I am not going to leave you." I hissed at me.

"Why not? You won't listen to me anyways." Alex mocked.

"Do you realize that this conversation is going nowhere?"

"Just like our relationship."

I gasped, struggling to not punch him. "Are you serious right now?"

Alex glowered into my eyes with a defensive look. "Do I look like I am kidding?"

"No you look like you are just hitting puberty." I replied in anger.

"So leave me."

I threw my hands in the air in exasperation. "Will you stop saying that again and again?"

"Why? Will it come true?"

"Do you want it to?" I chastised.

"Of course not."

"Then stop saying that." I shouted.

"Don't raise your voice at me." he screamed back.

"You don't scream at me." I pointed at him. "Else I will seriously leave you."

Alex smirked in victory. "See I knew you would leave me."

I stomped a feet wanting to throw a fit at his immature actions. "Gosh how are annoying are you! I do not want leave you." I shrieked.

"Why not?"

"Because I love you."

Everything was silent, I don't think we were even breathing.

Alex was looking at me with wide shocked eyes. His jaw was hanging low and his eyebrows touching his hair. He wasn't even blinking.

I was standing opposite him, my eyes just as wide and my lips stuck to each other afraid that they might separate and spurt out something like that again. I couldn't even swallow the left over pride in me.

Finally after ten long seconds, his lips moved to form a whisper. "What?"

I finally swallowed. "I said because I am stupid."

Alex blinked. "No you said you love me."

I shook my head feverously. I could really use a time-machine now. "No, I said I love-" I glanced around. "-Nutella."

Alex didn't even seem to register my words. His brain was still processing my words from before.

I mentally slapped myself for blurting them out so suddenly. As true as they were, this was not how I had imagined confessing my feelings.

"You said you love me." he repeated.

My shoulders slouched. I closed my eyes knowing I had lost this battle. With a deep sigh, I said. "I do."

Alex looked even more taken aback. "What?"

I opened my eyes looking at him. "I said I love you."

He gulped, pointing at himself. "You love me?"

I rolled my eyes. "Yes. Now let's forget this conversation ever happened and go back to you being an immature ass."

A very slow smile formed on Alex's face. "You love me."

I pressed my lips in displeasure. "How many times will you repeat that?"

Alex didn't deter. "You love me." he repeated.

"Shut up!"

His smiled widened. "Hacker Girl loves Rich Boy."

I let out a small breathy laugh at that. "What?"

Alex stepped towards me, putting his hands on my shoulder. "Look at me."

I slowly glanced up, staring into those dark blue eyes. I could look into them forever. I could look at him forever.

"I love you too."

I blinked, not quite believing the words I just heard. "Huh?" I hiccupped, wanting to make sure that there was no defect in my ears.

Alex smiled as he repeated. "I love you too."

"Really?" I breathed out, a giddy smile forming.

Alex nodded. "Yes. I love you Hacker Girl."

I grinned at him, the delight in me was floating over an ocean of satisfaction. "I love you too Rich Boy."

And in that moment, I didn't regret saying those words to him first. I didn't regret the situation I said those words in. I didn't regret that it wasn't romantic or pre-planned. All that mattered was he loved me back.

I stood on my toes, dropping a quick kiss on his lips.

He smiled, returning the kiss back.

And I had no idea what the future held for us, no idea if we would ever have a happily ever after. But here I was, in his arms as he kissed me, making me feel alive. Taking me to a world I had only read about.

I could feel the love as his lips moved against mine softly. I could hear the promises in his steadily beating heart. I could see the dreams we could achieve as I closed my eyes, feeling myself disappear into a story that only the ended in a happily ever after.

And in this world of broken hearts, I had chosen his, to make it mine.

And I had no intention of returning it ever.

~~~

If you like my quotes and want to read more. Follow my Instagram - Poojaamritkar