Married At First Glance: I Am Not Ugly

“I couldn’t have done it without you.” he said

Marissa smiled.

“Is this the same Alexander who was a jerk before? You must be his doppelganger.” she teased.

“Hahaha very funny Marissa.” he rolled his eyes.

“I’m serious, Alexander….. you’ve changed a little. I always thought you were arrogant and self seeking and don’t care about anyone around you and you don’t say thank you and sorry.

But for the past few weeks, you have changed and honestly….. it’s a good change.” she said.

Alexander smiled, and there was a genuine warmth in his eyes as he looked at Marissa. “Well, Marissa, I guess you bring out the best in me,” he admitted.

She chuckled. “Maybe it’s all an act, just to secure this contract.”

He shook his head. “No, I promise you, it’s not an act. You’ve shown me a different perspective, and I’m starting to see things in a new light.”

“Oh really?” she asked.

“Hmm-mmm… really,” he replied.

“How so?” she asked.

Alexander paused, thinking for a moment, and then he said, “I’ve been so focused on work, on success, that I lost sight of the human aspect of it all.

You’ve reminded me that people matter, their feelings matter. It’s not just about making money or winning deals.

It’s about connecting with others and making a positive impact on their lives.”

Marissa smiled, touched by his words.

“I’m glad to hear that, Alexander. It’s important to find a balance between ambition and empathy. I hope this change isn’t just temporary.”

He nodded earnestly. “It won’t be. You have my word.”

“Alright, Alexander. I’ll take your word for it.” she said.

Just then, Alexander’s phone began to ring and he checked the caller and saw that it was Jessie.

There was a silence between himself and Marissa.

“I think you should pick that up.” she said, as she smiled and then turned her gaze towards the window in the car.

Alexander paused for a second and then took a deep breath and then picked the call.

“Hello, Jessie.” he answered.

“Alexander, where are you? You’re not home,” Jessie’s voice sounded concerned on the other end of the line.

“And the maid informed me that you haven’t been at your apartment for a while now. What’s going on?”

“Sorry, I didn’t inform you earlier. I’m currently in Switzerland,” Alexander replied.

“Switzerland? Why are you there?”

“It’s a business trip. We have an important project here.”

There was a pause on the other end. “You left without telling me? And who went with you?”

“I know, and I apologize for that. It was a sudden decision, and I wanted to discuss it with you, but I didn’t get the chance.”

“Who went with you?” she asked again.

“Um… just me and some of my team.” he said, as he looked at Marissa who was looking away from him and staring outside the window.

Jessie sighed. “Alright, but next time, please keep me in the loop. I worry when I don’t know where you are.”

“I promise, I will.”

Marissa listened to Alexander’s side of the conversation, feeling like an intruder in their personal matters, yet unable to completely ignore the conversation. She stared out the window, giving them privacy.

“Thank you for understanding, Jessie,” Alexander said.

“Are you alone there, or is someone with you?”This belongs © NôvelDra/ma.Org.

Marissa turned her gaze back to the conversation, wondering how Alexander would answer this question.

Alexander hesitated for a moment, glancing at Marissa. He didn’t want to lie to Jessie, but he also didn’t want to reveal the true nature of their trip.

“Actually, I’m here with a colleague. We’re working on this project together,” he explained, choosing his words carefully.

“Oh, I see. Well, don’t work too hard. And let me know when you’re coming back.”

“I will, Jessie. I miss you.”

“I miss you too, Alexander. Take care.”

They exchanged a few more words before ending the call.

Alexander put his phone away and turned to Marissa. “I’m sorry about that.”

“It’s okay, Alexander. Your personal life is your business,” Marissa replied with a reassuring smile.

He appreciated her understanding and nodded. The rest of the car ride was relatively quiet, and they both seemed lost in their thoughts as they headed back to the hotel.

On one hand, Marissa wasn’t happy to be referred to as a colleague from work, but she realized that she was actually his business partner and nothing more.

Marissa thought to herself,

“So I’m just his colleague in front of Jessie, not his fake wife.”

She sighed inwardly, recognizing the need for professionalism,

“Guess that’s how it should be, to avoid more complications.”

As Marissa looked out of the car window, her thoughts continued to race.

“I’ve done my part in securing the contract. It’s all business, just like we agreed.

But what about the personal side of this charade? Where does that leave us? What’s next for Alexander and me?”

As Marissa looked out of the car window, her thoughts continued to race.

I’ve done my part in securing the contract. It’s all business, just like we agreed. But what about the personal side of this charade? Where does that leave us? What’s next for Alexander and me?

She remembered the lingering emotions from their staged kiss during the photoshoot and how their interactions had become more intimate.

“It’s too early for any of this.” she reasoned with herself, unsure about how to handle the unexpected feelings she had been developing for Alexander.

“Jessie” she thought

“… what role does she play in his life? And what about my brother? He’s the reason I got into this faux-marital escapade, to begin with.”

Marissa was left pondering the fine line between their fabricated marriage and the genuine connection that was forming.

As they returned to the hotel, she realized that her journey alongside Alexander was far more complex than a simple business deal and that feelings were growing from her end and she was beginning to think about how bad this idea was becoming…..