let's get a bigger house

Xavier yawns and stretches his legs. There's drool all over his face. "How long have I been out?"

"over thirty minutes sir." The driver replies. His eyes undaunted. He had been paid $4000 to drive the couple to their home in Texas.

"Stupid tradition. We could have taken a flight. But Monroe Levue just had to travel 1000 miles with his bride in their old Mercedes C300 and now I have to as well" Xavier grunts. "You should sleep too, I'd drive."

"There's no need Sir. I spent the whole day sleeping, I can take a few hours without sleep." The driver replies. A smile of pride sweeps across his face.

"I'm not asking, I'm telling. Stop the car and get down" He's already taking off his seat belt. "Stop the car."

The driver pulls up by the road and leaves the car "Thank you Sir. I also need to take a leak."

Xavier turns back to check on Eleanor. He is worried about her, she has spent hours in that gown and said nothing after the phone conversation. He stares at her for a while sitting with her hands placed before her, there was no drop of sweat anywhere. Head straight, eyes wide open.

When she notices him staring, she simply moves her eyes to his direction, her head still fixated. This sends shivers down his spine. Speak of a Barbie doll. He can't believe he almost thought she was pretty.

When the driver gets back, he takes the passenger's seat while Xavier drives them. He looks back at Eleanor and catches her staring outside the window. "she's pretty." He remembers John saying few weeks ago. " and she's also fluent in 8 languages, not to talk about how many instruments she can play, the cello, the piano, the violin, and…"

Xavier is looking at what seems to be a portfolio for Eleanor John had arranged during his research " and she doesn't talk?" his brows arch.

John moved closer to Xavier's table as though it shouldn't be heard by anyone " according to her maid who I did the research with…"

Xavier took his eyes off the portfolio and stared at him "you slept with her." It's more of a statement than a question.

"For the research, yes" John is quick to defend himself " is that really necessary?"

Xavier rolled his eyes and shrugged " I guess not"

"Well she said she has been working for the Vinci family for more than 15 years and she has only heard Eleanor talk once. And that was during the introduction with your parents. Her hand maids said she only speaks when spoken to, by certain people only" John moved even closer "she doesn't have friends, female or male, she spends most of her days practicing her painting and instruments. She also mentioned that sometimes Eleanor would disappear for weeks. They would not see her and her hand maids would be off duty."

"She said she got curious one day and asked the older maids, and they said she'd always disappear mostly after she didn't do well in her practice or when mother was angry." John does not say anything else for minutes. "But she's very pretty and respectful…"

Xavier is disgusted at everything for some reason "is that all you could get?" he asked and dropped the portfolio on the table.

John turned to him equally pissed. "ungrateful brat. Did you hire a private investigator?"

Xavier looked from him to the pile of paper work in front of him "like you didn't enjoy your 'research'"

John smiled and fell into the chair "she wasn't even that good" he's twirling in the chair when something suddenly hits him "how are you going to tell Vanessa, or you don't plan on telling her?"

"What she doesn't know won't hurt her" Xavier replied. He was just as confused as John. He did not want to hurt his woman but at the same time, he did not want to lose his multi million company he had worked so hard for.

John is stunned. "You plan to get married without letting her know. Boy!!! You're getting bolder by the day." Just then he remembered he had work to do "well I really hope in two weeks time it's your wedding and not your funeral. My sincerest opinion, talk to Vanessa. She might be a crazy witch but she loves you, hopefully she'd understand."

"Also, I really can't lose my job, so please get married to Eleanor. Else your even crazier minister dad will think I told you not to." He turned back to Xavier when he got to the door "how are you surrounded by crazy people and still manage to keep your sanity? That's goals." The speed bump on the road brings him back to the present.

He turns back again to check on her and this time, their eyes meet. Eleanor raises the corners of her lips into a smile. Xavier can see she's weak, her smile is not convincing at all. "we're almost there." He manages to say.

And just like he says, they arrive at the house in the next few minutes after dropping the driver at the bus stop to find his way home. Xavier helps her out of the car ensuring her gown does not get stuck after which he picks his tuxedo and shoes from the boot of the car.

Eleanor does not move though. She stares at the house, unsure of how to feel. "Disappointed?" Xavier asks from behind her. He has been watching her for some time now. Although her face shows no emotions as usual, it is clear she's not impressed.

She turns to him about to say something but he does not want to hear it as he walks away from her and makes his way into the house.

The soft spot that had been created out of pity for her in his heart is nowhere to be found. Now, as he looks at her, he's reminded of his mother, the woman he ran from all his life.