Chapter 71: Preparation for the Wedding Night

Meanwhile, Xavier had just gotten back to his office when Xavier learned that Joseph Lockhart was waiting for him in the lounge.

"Okay. Let him in, Rupert," Xavier said.

Rupert left and then came back with Joseph Lockhart following him.

"I never expect that you would go ahead and marry that woman behind our backs!" Joseph Lockhart roared the moment he entered.

"Who told you that?" Xavier asked as he did not recall telling the outsiders about this.

Then, the image of his beautiful wife came into his mind and a bright smile showed on his face.

"Let me guess, you came to find her and she ended up telling you this."

Joseph Lockhart was speechless after he listened to Xavier.

Xavier on the hand could imagine what happened to their conversation that caused Zarah to reveal the news to his uncle.

"Did you try to bribe her again, Uncle?"

"Yes, I did! So what?! However, I did not expect her to be so shameless to claim that you seduced her and so I should be persuading you instead of her!"

"Well, my wife is right. I did seduce her to be mine. I stole her away from her ex-boyfriend just so she would be mine."

"Are you serious?!" Joseph Lockhart asked him in disbelief.

"Since when was I not serious, Uncle Joseph?" Xavier refuted him.

Once he set his eyes on something, he would have it. Nothing could change his mind unless circumstances would force him to. However, those circumstances were scarce.

"Uncle, I know you're here to ask me why I decided to marry Zarah, am I right?"

Xavier then got up and walked to him.

"I thought you and grandfather Timothy have learned your lessons. My grandmother and mother had done it. So, why can't I?"

Xavier was trying to remind him of how his grandmother met and married his grandfather. The same as how his mother married his father back then.

They all married their husbands against the family's will.

Xavier had inherited their stubbornness when it came to love. The more they were forbidden to do so, the more they would do it.

"Now that she's my wife, I hope you will stop your prejudice against her and give her a chance."

Xavier thought that asking them to accept Zarah into the family would be rejected immediately.

"Your treatment of her would influence my decision for the Lockhart Family."

The Lockhart family was conservative. They followed their rules and traditions religiously. The words of their elders or predecessors were the law for them.

Xavier was aware that his late grandfather had declared that the new Patriarch of their clan must come from his grandmother.

His words were written in the family doctrine and should be followed no matter what.

Xavier was going to take advantage of that. He knew that his role in the family was very important and this was going to be his bargaining chip.

"Are you trying to threaten us?!" Joseph Lockhart asked in rage.

"I dare not, Uncle. I'm simply reminding you. Remember that I'm not a pure Lockhart."

After their talk, Joseph Lockhart angrily left the office. He happened to bump into Zarah as he walked toward the elevator.

"Are you happy now? You have ruined everything," Joseph Lockhart coldly said and he entered the elevator.

Rupert looked at Zarah with an apologetic look and she smiled at him.

"I apologize if Master Joseph is out of character today, Zarah. I mean Madam." Rupert corrected himself immediately.

Zarah chuckled and said, "It's fine. Just call me Zarah, Rupert. Aren't we friends?"

"I dare not to, Madam. You're now my lady boss after you married Master Xavier."

Zarah understood that Rupert was only abiding by the rules given to him.

"Rupert, I don't follow the rules. And besides, we're not in Sterlington. This is Oakridge City."

"But--"

Before Rupert could even continue, Zarah interrupted him, "If you're worried that Xavier would mind, I'll talk to him. Friendship is more important to me than the title."

After talking to Rupert, she went directly to Xavier's office.

She knocked and then pushed the door open.

"Seems like your Uncle Joseph hates me now," Zarah told her husband immediately.

Xavier who was busy reading the documents put everything down and then went to his wife to welcome her.

He wrapped his arms around her waist and then hugged her.

"Just let him be. When he finally sees things clearly, he'll realize that he misjudged you. How's school? I was about to ask Chris to pick you up yet the school guard said you have already left."

"School's fine. Wait, since when did you have the contact details of the school guard at school?"

Xavier scrunched his nose. A habit that he would do when he was guilty.

"Since you started going to school."

"Oh!"

"Well, I just want to make sure that you're safe, you know."

"I know. And I appreciate that."

Xavier then leaned down closer to her lips and kissed her.

They kissed passionately. Zarah was gasping for air after the kiss.

"You should practice some good breathing techniques, mon amour. That way, you will not be breathless right after we kiss." Xavier teased his wife.

Zarah's face turned red after Xavier said that.

Of course, she knew a handful of breathing techniques. However, her training would go down the pipeline every time they kissed.

He would suck the life out of her.

Their kiss made her breathless right after.

"Look at yourself, Mr. Lockhart. I can see the hairs inside your nose right now. Perhaps, your advice suits you better."

"...", Xavier was speechless.

Even though they were now husband and wife, Zarah would never let this man bully her.

"Okay. I'll lead by example so don't be upset. I'm only teasing you."

"I'm messing with you, too."

They then chuckled as if nothing happened.

"I love you, mon amour."

"I love you too, Tim."

They then shared a kiss until they heard a knock on the door.

The couple broke apart and then they fixed each other's clothes before Zarah went to the door to open it as if nothing happened.

Lena was at the door with a stack of documents in her hand.

"Let me help you," Zarah offered.

Lena hesitates at first but Zarah was quick on taking half of the stack from her hands.

As she walked closer to Xavier's table, Zarah spoke, "I've heard that you were up all night last night as you helped in decorating that set-up this morning. It was beautiful, Miss James. Thank you for making my wedding more meaningful."

Zarah then placed the documents on the table and then continued, "CEO Lockhart, would you mind if I ask Miss James to go home early so she could take a rest? Also, I want to give her a bonus which is equal to the amount of her month-worth of salary."

Lena's eyes widened in surprise. However, she thought that it was too much and wanted to decline this suggestion.

However, she did not expect that Xavier would agree with his wife.

Xavier raised his brows while looking at his wife. If she was playing a game right now, then he would play along.

"Of course, Assistant Jansen. Miss James indeed helped a lot. Having someone who is dedicated to her job is rare. She deserved everything that you've mentioned."

"But--" Lena wanted to refuse since their parents had already received a handsome payment after the reception was over. A bonus was even added.

Zarah knew what was running through Lena's mind. She used to be like Lena. Therefore, she knew that Lena found it hard to accept their offer just like that.

"Please don't refuse it, Miss James. Or can I call you Lena?"

"Yes, Ma'am."

Zarah smiled in relief, "Now, leave the documents then go home early and have a good rest. Okay, Lena?"

Since Zarah insisted, Lena knew that Xavier would not do anything to stop her.

"Thank you, Mrs. Lockhart. I mean, Miss Jansen."

Zarah giggled and sent Lena away.

"Seems like my wife's in a good mood."

"Yes. Because you did not stop me from doing it for Lena."

"Well, I do agree that she deserves it." Xavier got up from his seat and walked to her.

"Next time, just do what you think is proper," Xavier was confident that Zarah would not abuse this.

"How about we go home early and have fun?" Xavier teased her and Zarah subconsciously bit her lower lip as she thought of something.

"This is our wedding day. I suggest that we should start our wedding night early," Xavier added while looking into her eyes.

"Shall we, my wife?"

"We shall, my husband."

Everyone was shocked to hear the announcement that there was no mandatory overtime for the day.

They found this behavior weird as for a month, they were used to going home late.

When they saw Lena exiting the elevator with her bag, the employees rushed to ask her about this abnormal phenomenon.

"Just be thankful. The Boss is in a good mood," Lena didn't explain further and walked out of the company building with a smile.

After everything that she received from the couple, she felt valued for her hard work. And so, she was even more motivated to work harder for the company and her two bosses.

The next thing the employees saw was Xavier and Zarah leaving together. Although they kept a safe distance and avoided physical contact, they could tell that something was happening between them.

Later on, rumors would start to circulate between Xavier and Zarah inside the company.

The couple then entered the car and Rupert drove them back to the villa.

As soon as the car pulled over, Xavier got out of the car and opened the door for her.

As soon as Zarah was finally out, Xavier placed his hands around her back and things. Then, he lifted her and carried her bridal style.

Julie opened the door for them and Zarah was surprised to see red rose petals making a path from the main door to the staircase.

Xavier carried her until they reached the door to her room.

He carefully put her down and whispered, "Go and get changed. Let's have dinner first."

Zarah subconsciously nodded her head and opened the door after Xavier planted a kiss on her forehead.

"I'll wait for you downstairs, mon amour," Xavier said huskily said with a hint of seduction in his voice.

Zarah went inside her room and shut the door behind her back.

Her heart pounded like a base drum as she anticipated what would happen later.

"Take a chill pill, Zarah! You'll be fine, later."

The feeling of both excitement and anticipation overwhelmed her and she almost lose focus during dinner.

"Eat more, mon amour. You'll need a ton of energy later." He reminded his wife.

Zarah who was eating her food choked after she heard his shameless words.

Julie and the two other servants with her chuckled after they saw their Madam's cute reaction.

Xavier gave his wife a glass of water as he guiltily rubbed her back.

"I'm sorry. I'll be more careful next time. I'll be mindful and say it when you're not eating," Xavier teased his wife which caused Zarah to call him by his full name.

"Xavier Alexander Lockhart, do you still want to have a wedding night or not?"

"Hehehe! Of course, I do! Okay! Okay! I'll stop now."

Zarah finally had a peaceful dinner as Xavier focused his attention on his food rather than attempting to tease his wife."

After dinner, they went back to their rooms to freshen up.

Zarah entered the bathroom and looked at her naked self in front of the mirror.

She thoroughly checked herself to make sure that she didn't have any unwanted hair on her body.

She scrubbed her body thoroughly when she showered and made sure that she would smell good.

She brushed her teeth and gargled the mouthwash after flossing her teeth.

And then, she didn't forget her night skincare routine.

She walked out of the bathroom with her white bathrobe.

She was surprised to see Xavier who was sitting on the right side of the bed watching television.

Zarah had just realized that her room had a fifty-inch OLED television installed.

He was also wearing a white bathrobe which was tied loosely around his body as his upper chest was exposed flexing his toned chest muscles.

"Join me, mon amour." Xavier invited and tapped the vacant space next to him.

Xavier knew that Zarah was nervous. This was her first night with a man. He was nervous, too. After all, this was also his first night with a woman.

He sought some advice from romance books that he read and online forums on how to set the right mood to not scare his partner.

As much as he wanted to devour her, he did not want to scare the little kitten.

***