4.2 Friends, Rivals and Faking its

(Alexandra)

Self made man. No wonder he is so sensitive and arrogant. But she could see that now, behind the mask, his fear. He had been rejected a lot and another one from Stacy, it would have hurt. Though he refused to admit it, it would have.

But he was strong. He survived the wolves. She knew how rich people could be. She was the victim of their greed and selfishness.

She looked at him, pride filling her insides. She melted. Her heart was a gooey mess. As her eyes locked with his, he was staring at her, too. His grey eyes were like stormy skies, like rain clouds. Dark. Dangerous. And equally enthralling.

She felt like she could get lost in there happily.

Her breath stuttered. She watched with wonder as her hand moved over his, as if it had a mind of its own. The touch was all electric.

"As Daniel said, you are here, Logan. You have worked a lot for that, but sometimes you have got to relax." She said and took her hand back. Any more minute and she couldn't take back her hands or her emotions.

"I have stretched my stay here. I feel so unwelcome." Someone was saying. "Ta-ta. See you soon." Oh, Daniel. He was still here.

"Bye." But she couldn't look away from Logan's eyes. Magnetic, his eyes refused to let go.

Daniel chuckled, breaking her from this trance. "Friends... " Daniel's voice faded into a noise.

No. She shook her head. She couldn't do this. She didn't know him. Don't you dare! She warned herself. He would laugh at her if he could hear what was running through her mind.

"Okay. It is done. Phew. Good acting.

He wouldn't dare second guess us again." She lied through her teeth. His eyes shuttered and he jerked upright.

"You are a good actor." There was a bite in his voice.

"What? Why are you complaining, now? I helped you out." She looked at him with irritation. But she was confused. Why was he acting like this, as if he was hurt when she said it was all just an act?

"You did. You did. Hmm, look at that. Let us go. It is already late." He stood up. She picked her bag and walked out with him.

She watched his back as he walked in front of her, looking strong and she knew why it was so important to save his face, his pride in front of all the people who had mocked and ridiculed him and his passion. Who had refused to believe in him and thought he would fail.

If they knew, people like Collins would surely use it to beat him down and she didn't want to give any of them that chance. She wanted to protect him with everything she had and this feeling was so intense that it shook her to the core.

She wanted to stand in front of him and challenge any and everyone who wanted to chase Logan back to where he came from. It was like an instinct.

And it scared her.

This here between them, whatever this was, was transient. Fleeting. He didn't believe in love or marriage. This was all just a ruse to save his pride and it would be over soon.

So losing her head over this man was not a sane idea.

Keep your cool, Alex. Yes, he is super cute and super inspiring. You can watch him from afar and hero worship. Don't get too close. No. No.

She strengthened her resolve.

As they drove away, the car was filled with silence. Suffocating silence.

And she could smell him everywhere around her.

***

(Logan)

Logan looked at her, subtly, through his side eyes. She was leaning against the window, her face pressed to them as she watched the night passing them. There was a small smile playing peek-a-boo in her lips. She looked so content and peaceful. And relaxed.

And the silence, it was like a noose around him. He was never much in to conversations, but somehow it came easier with her.

He had easy time bantering with her and he only ever truly enjoyed talking with Daniel, who had been his friend for almost eight years now.

He opened his mouth and then snapped it shut.

"What?" He was surprised when she asked.

"What what?"

"You look like you are itching to tell me. something. And then keep deciding against it."

"Nothing. I just want to say... I mean, sorry for snapping back there."

"It took you long enough." She complained. "You didn't like it, right? Telling sorry."

"Hmm, let me think. No."

"So Logan Forte? Huh? Shouldn't you have mentioned it before?"

"Would you have agreed sooner if I told you my name?"

"What? No way. I would not have stopped to hear you out in the first place."

"Thought so. You are one strange woman."

"Stranger than you?" She gave him a sneer. "You are the one who asked a stranger to marry you."

"I could feel the goodness in you."

She put a hand to her heart and pretend to swoon.

"Haha. Very funny." He said.

"Eyes on the front, idiot. I don't want to die today, even though I want to kill myself for agreeing to your plans."

"Why do you keep moaning about that?"

"Because I love to remind you how much of a sacrifice this is on my part."

"Oh yeah, you sacrificed your seedy motel and hunger pangs. Pray tell me what else you sacrificed."

"You are an egoistical..."

"...arrogant jerk. I know, I know. I am getting bored hearing the same. Be creative next time."

"Oh, creative. I can be very creative, you..."

Bleep. Bleep. Bleep.

"God, stop. you have such a dirty mouth. Stop, please."

"Next time don't ask me to be creative." She warned him as she pointed a finger at him.

"Lessons learned. Moving on." He said as he pressed the remote to open the compound grill gate. It opened with a groan that was so familiar.

"Welcome to my home."

"Oh wow."

"Better than the motel? Right?" He gave her a cheeky grin. "Are you glad you agreed to go with my insane plans? Huh?"

"Yeah." He gave her a smug smile when she answered. "But there is one problem here. You. Creepier than the men in the motel."

"How the hell you came to that conclusion? I am not creepy. Those men in the motel who looked at you... Now, they were really scary creeps."

"Oh, yet none of them came to me and asked me to marry them." She laughed when she saw his narrowed eyes.

"God, when are you going to let it go, child?"

"When I feel like it."

"Oh God, please save me."

"Um, He already did, didn't He? I am here with you, becoming your fake wifey."

"Yeah, I am still deciding if you are my saving grace or another one of my headache."

"I have already decided. You are a headache."

"Oh God..." He groaned.

"Please save him." She finished.