Page 62 of Bid For Me

Seb grins, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “No, you weren’t. But I like to think I’ve improved since then.”

I laugh softly, the sound light and genuine – too genuine, considering the weight of the moment.

Alexander watches us closely, his expression unreadable. “Well, it’s clear you’ve had an...impact on him, Elle.”

The meal progresses, each course more elaborate than the last, but I barely taste any of it. My focus is on maintaining the façade, on playing the part of the devoted fiancée without giving away how deeply unsettled I feel.

Alexander watches me closely, his questions growing more pointed, more invasive.

“And what about your family, Elle?” he asks, leaning back in his chair with an air of casual authority. “Are they supportive of this...arrangement? I expected your mother to have married you off by now.”

I hesitate, caught off guard by the question. “My family...” I trail off, glancing at Seb for a split second before straightening. “They trust me to make my own decisions. Yes, my mother in particular, would like to have seen me settle down sooner, but my father respected my wish to wait and marry for love.”

Alexander’s smile doesn’t reach his eyes. “That’s…good. Independence is important. Though I imagine this—” he gestures vaguely between Seb and me “requires more...collaboration.”

“Elle and I work well together,” Seb cuts in, his voice cool but firm.

Alexander’s gaze shifts to his son, the air between them crackling with unspoken tension. “Do you?” he asks, his tone pointed.

Seb doesn’t waver. “Yes.”

The moment stretches taut before Alexander finally inclines his head, his expression giving nothing away.

By the time dessert arrives, I feel like I’ve run a marathon, my nerves frayed but my mask firmly in place. I force myselfto smile and nod politely, taking small sips of my wine as the conversation flows around me. The tension in the room is thick, the weight of Alexander’s approval hanging over us like a cloud. I can feel his gaze on me more than I’d like, scrutinizing my every word, every movement.

Alexander finally rises from the table, the faint clink of his silverware signaling the end of the meal. He’s a man of power and precision, and his every gesture is deliberate. He extends his hand to me once more, his grip firm, and I feel the weight of it. His smile is as calculated as ever, the kind of smile you’d give to a business associate – polite, but with an edge.

“I approve of the match, Sebastian,” Alexander continues, his gaze shifting to Seb for the first time in what feels like hours. “I’ll make all the necessary arrangements with the press, but I think it’s best you both move into the manor until the media attention dies down after the wedding.”

The words hit me like a punch to the gut, but I don’t let it show. Seb, sitting beside me, stiffens slightly but doesn’t object. This was always part of the plan, after all – public appearances, appearances of a perfect couple, no matter the cost. But living together under his roof, under his father’s watchful eye? The thought sends a shiver through me, but I swallow it down.

“Of course,” Seb says, his voice steady. “We’ll do whatever is necessary. Elle’s safety will always be my main priority, Father.”

Alexander nods, clearly satisfied with the response, but then his sharp eyes shift back to Seb. “So when do you plan to have the wedding? Have you set a date yet?”

I freeze, the question hanging in the air like a challenge. Seb hesitates for a moment, glancing at me, his gaze unreadable.

“We were thinking six to eight weeks,” Seb answers slowly, his voice measured, clearly not wanting to rush things but also fully aware of the pressure from his father.

Alexander’s smile falters for just a moment before his expression hardens, and I can feel the weight of his displeasure. “No,” he says, his voice low and commanding. “Two weeks. There’s no reason to wait.”

I blink, feeling the tension in the room spike. Two weeks? That’s...impossible.

Seb’s face tightens, but he doesn’t argue. “Understood, Father,” he says, his tone respectful, though I can hear the strain behind it.

“No reason to delay,” Alexander continues, his tone final. “The sooner it’s done, the sooner you can take your place, both in this family and in the company. We’ll make the announcement to the press tomorrow, and then start the preparations.” He looks directly at me then, his eyes cold. “I trust you’ll be ready in time, Elle.”

I feel my heart race, the weight of the expectations crashing down on me. A wedding in two weeks? There’s no way I can pull this off.

“Of course, Sir,” I manage to say, keeping my voice steady even as my stomach twists.

“Good,” Alexander says, his approval hanging in the air like a command. He turns to Seb, and with a look that carries years of unspoken authority, he adds, “We’ll handle the details. Make sure everything is ready. This is what’s best for everyone.”

I nod, my jaw clenched tight, and desperately try to control the rising panic.

As Alexander rises to leave, shaking Seb’s hand firmly, I sit there in a daze, trying to breathe. This wasn’t part of the plan. I wasn’t prepared for this, not at all. The room seems to spin, and I can hear Seb’s voice cutting through the haze, but it feels distant now, as though I’m hearing it through water.

“Welcome to the family,” Alexander says to me one last time before leaving, his voice laced with just enough sincerity to make me wonder if he means it.

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