That was it! Alethea forcefully pulled away from him, her eyes wide with shock and anger as she gazed into his ocean-blue eyes.
"You lied about being her father behind my back!?" she spat, her heart pounding hard against her chest.
"I'm sorry it was behind your back. But it's the only way to avoid suspicion," Axel stated calmly, his gaze never leaving hers.
"Your child is the easiest way to reveal this is all fake, and I wouldn't risk that. I know she stays with your aunt. We'll go get her tomorrow," he added.
Alethea's heart couldn't stop throbbing in fear as she listened to him. "Why can't she just leave my daughter out of this?" she trembled.
Axel sighed, before replying, "Just know your child will be safe with me," he murmured.
His words were meant to be reassuring, but Alethea's still expression remained skeptical.
"Why can't you just give her what she wants like you did with Gabrielle in Paris?" she spoke, her voice tinged with frustration. "I'm sure if you give her what she wants, she'll leave us alone."
Axel chuckled at the absurdity of her suggestion, even though she was spot on about what Maxi really wanted. Closing the distance between them, he again wrapped his arm around her waist and drew her closer against his body.
Still frustrated, Alethea struggled to push him off as her chest pressed to his. But his hold on her was too strong, and her breast only rubbed harder against his chest as she wriggled. Helpless, she stayed still.
Axel's eyes dropping to her chest, flickered for a brief moment, before focusing back on her face with a furrowed brow. "So you really want me to give Maxi what she wants, when I didn't give Gabrielle what she wanted, and still got the contract?" he muttered calmly, gazing into her brown eyes.
His revelation catching her off guard, Alethea's eyes bulged in shock. "How?" she abruptly mumbled in confusion.
Axel gulped before responding. "It's my principle not to be in bed with any woman twice. So I can't give Maxi what she wants."
His response, shocking Alethea to the core, she couldn't help but wonder if the principle also applies to her.
"Just know that you and your child will be safe here, with me. You can sleep in my bed tonight if you want. But starting tomorrow, you have to," he concluded, and with this, he released his grasp on her and approached his bathroom.
Left alone in his room, Alethea stood frozen in place, trying to process all he had just revealed. The more she thought about his principle and her daughter getting involved in the whole mess, the more she hated herself for ever saying yes to be his contract wife.
But she knew she couldn't call off the deal-not when her career is at stake.
After so much thinking, she stepped out, shaking off the thought of sharing the room with him starting that night.
The moment she stepped into her room, she pulled out her phone to inform her aunt about coming to her place the following day.
Her aunt couldn't be less curious about her motives. But she told her she would explain everything better in person.
~
The following morning, after freshening up, she got dressed in a yellow flare gown and then packed her red hair into a ponytail.
Putting on flat coral shoes and a matching bag, she took one last glance at her appearance in the mirror before stepping out of her room.
Upon getting to the sitting room, she found the space empty. Just then, her phone suddenly buzzed in her hand.
She glanced at the screen and saw a text message from her boss stating: "I need a helping hand here."
Her brows furrowed in confusion as she wondered what he suddenly needed her for, before heading to his room.
Stopping by his doorstep, he asked her to get in before she could even knock.
The moment she stepped in, her eyes widened in surprise at what she saw-he was standing in front of her, half-naked again, with just his trousers on.
Again, she felt a flutter in her chest as she took in the sight of his chiseled body, noticing the way his muscles rippled beneath his skin as he moved.
"I need you to help me with this shirt," Axel murmured, stopping in front of her and stretching out a black shirt. "The buttons are at the back," he added.
Alethea felt a shiver as she met his piercing gaze. Most times he stared at her, there was something in his eyes that made her feel like he could see right through her, and that always made her feel really awkward.
"Uhmm, alright," she managed to say, her arm reaching out to take the shirt.
But the moment her hand landed on the shirt, Axel dragged the fabric, and she went flying toward him, with her palms landing on his bare chest in the process.
Seizing the opportunity, Axel immediately wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer against his body.
Caught off guard, Alethea abruptly gazed at him in awe.
But Axel only smirked at her.
With such a reaction, she realized he was clearly enjoying her discomfort. So she instantly tried to pull away from him.
But before she could succeed, Axel suddenly grabbed her by her hips and made her legs wrap around his torso as he swept her off her feet. At the twinkle of an eye, he was pinning her against the door, with his hands caging hers above her head.
The moment Alethea felt her back hit the wooden door, panic washed over her. With their lips just an inch apart, Axel could feel how restless she was, as her body heated up under his touch.
Gazing intently into her sparkling brown eyes, his eyes suddenly dropped to her lips.
"Your lips are sexy," he complimented in a husky voice, and then slowly leaned forward to kiss her.
But then, Alethea found her voice. "I...I thought you can't sleep with any woman twice," she stuttered, her words making him pause mid-action.
Axel's brows furrowed in surprise, taken aback by her reminder. He never thought she'd go as far as declining just a kiss using his principle.
"I'll go for a front-button shirt instead," he said, swiftly pulling back while still holding her.
"And you're right," he murmured coldly, finally dropping her. "I wouldn't fuck any woman twice... and that doesn't exclude you."
