Hungry for Something Else

The cabin crew was busy preparing the table hurriedly and by the time Darius and I neared, they were already done with the preparations. The utensils, the aromatic scent of lavender candles, the plates and the table napkin were all in its rightful place.

The pristine aesthetic of the cabin didn't match my messy hair and the skin-tight dress wrapped around me like a towel.

God, I haven't even brushed my teeth.

Darius stuck his hand out and our eyes met. He pulled the chair out and guided me to my seat like a true gentleman.

I sat down on an overstuffed chair and inhaled the scent of wood and freshly-cut flowers. Being alone with him in this room instead of under the watchful scrutiny of the cabin crew sent butterflies in my stomach.

"Should I change?" I pointed at the closet beside the bed. Darius didn't have the time to reply since my rumbling hungry stomach already answered the question for me. My lips tightened as another blush crept into my neck.

Darius sneakily lingered his lips on my fingers before going to the kitchen to fetch the trays of steaming food for both of us.

I sat alone as I waited for him to place the food down, staring into my water glass awkwardly. I was ravenous but I didn't make that too obvious. I still got to have some minuscule amount of dignity.

Sitting down, he grinned wolfishly at me. "Let's eat."

"So, continuing our conversation, "I didn't hesitate to munch on the food. Some of the dishes were still hot that it almost burned my tongue. "Had Giselle met some of your potential girlfriends?"

"I have brought top models and actresses at home before but she didn't approve any one of them." I rolled my eyes at Darius as I picked the bacon and shoved it in my mouth. I almost moaned at how delicious it is.

I didn't give a fuck anymore. I want to show him at this early stage of what kind of girl I am so that it would scare him and lose interest. He wouldn't dare put his seductive moves on me. If he still wanted me to be his wife, he should accept my flaws and all. My bad habits and gestures.

I chomped on the food, lick the grease off my fingers as he continued, "I don't care who I would marry and become my wife as long as she keeps up with the family's reputation. I just want the company in my name."

I was stunned, speechless. I didn't expect Darius took marriage so lightly. There is a huge difference between us.

I thought a traditional Greek Household valued marriage, but Darius is saying otherwise. Major red flag. Not husband material.

Why did I have a crush on him when I was in high school again? And why has this stupid feeling lasted until this very moment?

"Don't you think you're too young to settle down?" I asked.

"Twenty-eight is still young but I just can get divorced if it doesn't work anymore."

"It wouldn't faze you because you would make sure the pre-nuptial agreement is at your advantage," I said.

"It's the right thing to do. I'm the future heir of the company so I should keep my assets, properties, and inheritance safe from people who only wanted to take." He narrowed his eyes in suspicion. "Unless you are planning something."

This fake marriage must be a nice opportunity for me to see Darius's shadow side so that I wouldn't like him anymore. I wouldn't be affected when I see how selfish and evil he could get when we live in the same house nearby.

The more I will know him, his ugly personality and his player moves, my heart wouldn't beat so fast anymore and I would regard him with cold interest in the future.

He would just be an annoying older brother that I know so well or we could treat each other as housemates. At the same time, I would be earning huge sums of money while I was babysitting Giselle (which would be great for me because I missed her ) and dealing with a man-child (Darius).

Yep, sounds like a great plan.

"My dad wants me to inherit his wine distillery company." Darius began. "The board members needed me to be married to keep the perfect husband image. It's a must in every Greek household."

"So, you chose me without even asking about my opinion of the matter?"

I shielded my eyes away from him, hiding my hurt. Any woman would do, huh? My opinion probably wouldn't matter to a powerful man like him.

"You only have to act like my perfect little wife, hold important black-tie events or family gatherings, and taking care of my mother. My dad convinced me to get you specifically to play the part because he didn't want mom to get obsessed with the dolls."

So, Darius' dad has chosen me over the Annabelles?

Should I be happy with this?

Darius handed me a wine glass, popped a cork out of the bottle, and poured its contents. There is this nervous tension I could barely stand but at the same time, it made me clutch the armrest in anticipation.

"Let me make this clear. You wanted to marry me so that Giselle would remember me as her precious 'daughter' from England and transfer her obsession with me instead of the dolls?"

"She was acting weird and we keep her hidden in the mansion because of this. Maybe if you were with her, she will return to normalcy and learn how to interact with the real world again." Family matters could make a person vulnerable and I don't feel worthy of this kind of display especially coming from Darius. "You have to guide her and teach her."

"Didn't you hire a nanny or a caregiver for her?"

"Didn't work." He said, looking me in the eye. "They were crept out by my mom's behavior and would only last a month."

"How about therapy?"

"She refused therapy because she told us that there's nothing wrong with her."

"Then, what if someone tells the media about Giselle?"