Chapter 4 - Lucias

The next morning, I awoke around half four, the usual time for me. I've been waking up at this time since childhood, but what surprised me was that Seth was already up, sitting at the breakfast table.

Seth looked lost in thought as we ate. Although I liked being silent during meal times, even this seemed unnerving to me.

"Seth?"

He jumped at the sound of his name and blushed. That made me curious. What he was thinking about?

"Yes?" he stammered.

"Have you finished?" I looked down at his untouched plate.

He followed my gaze and blushed as he nodded. We went back out to the balcony and took a seat on the small chairs. Seth sighed as he stared out at the morning skyline.

"Seth, is something wrong?" I asked.

"No, I'm fine. Well as fine as I can be," he sighed and I raised an eyebrow.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, I guess I don't know what will happen now. After all, you were tricked and must be angry at my family for making you marry a man."

I nodded.

"So, what happens now? I mean everyone saw you marry a woman."

"I've already figured that out. My assistant sent an email this morning to all the guests, who signed a confidentiality agreement before attending, that the woman I married was actually a stand-in as many of the people I do business with may have had an issue with attending a gay wedding."

Seth nodded, he was probably thinking of his parents.

"Why did they have to sign a …" he trailed off.

"Because of who I am, I have to be careful about anything that I do or anywhere I go. I'd been burned before, many years ago, a friend had leaked personal information to the press about me. Luckily, my father managed to squash the reports. So now I don't take any chances."

"Okay, so, are we getting a divorce now or …"

"Divorce? Do you want to divorce me?" I asked.

"Don't you?" he looked so surprised at my reaction.

Honestly, when I discovered the deceit I thought about terminating the contract. I was angry when Henry, my assistant, noticed the terms meant I couldn't cancel. When he arrived dressed as a woman, it angered me for a different reason.

He looked uncomfortable and out of place. I had thought about confronting him before and allowing him to marry me as a man but then Henry told me of a conversation he had overheard. It was between his parents.

He'd said that they had been quite angry and vulgar about him. They had spoken about him messing things up by trying to seduce me. Henry said they even wondered if Seth had planned for his sister to escape.

It made me realise that Seth was alone within his family, unlike me. I had always known I was different from my friends growing up. When I came out to my parents as bi, they said they always knew and they loved me no matter what.

I had been scared to tell them but they had accepted me and welcomed any girlfriend or boyfriend I brought home. It seems Seth has never had that.

"Lucias?" he asked after I'd been silent too long.

"We will not be terminating our marriage. The contract is still valid."

"Are you sure? You're ok being married to a man?" he asked weakly.

"This is the 21st century Seth, plus this is a contracted marriage. The only time we will need to act like a couple is when you attend functions with me. I don't expect you to be all over me but you would be by my side."

Seth nodded and didn't look as relieved as I expected him to.

"I still plan on investing in your father's business," I told him.

He gave me a small smile and a nod.

"We are here for a week, I have a few meetings to attend whilst I am here. Is there anywhere you want to visit?"

He shrugged an action he did a lot. This was no surprise, considering the way his parents and sister treated him. I bet he was never allowed the choice of his own free will.

"I'll get Henry to take you around. He is from here," I told him as I stood up.

Seth reached out and stopped me.

"No! It's ok you don't have to do that," he started. "I mean he's your assistant so he should be with you. I don't mind just staying here. I can order room service and watch TV or something. If you need my help with anything I can do that too."

"Seth," I growled. "You are here on your honeymoon, you won't be working or staying cooped up in this room."

"But you're working, and it's your honeymoon too. I know you don't want to be seen with me or most likely don't think I could help you. So, I really don't mind staying inside."

Seth stood up and walked inside just as Henry came out. I watched Seth through the window for a moment as he settled onto the couch and turned on the TV.

"Henry, cancel all my plans for the week. Apologise and tell them I am on my honeymoon and will be showing my new husband around New York."

"Yes sir," he answered as he followed my gaze.

I walked inside and turned off the TV, he looked at me with a raised eyebrow.

"Come on, get dressed," I told him.

"Why? Where am I going?"

"We are going sightseeing," I told him.

"We?" he asked in surprise.

"Yes, we. Now go get dressed."

"I can't," he started. "I don't have any other clothes."

I looked down and nodded, I called Henry and told him to collect some clothes for Seth. Within an hour, Henry was back, Seth was dressed and we were heading out the door.