Chapter 1-The Honeymoon

As Emily stared out the window of their luxurious Parisian hotel suite. "I still can't believe this is real," she said, her voice bubbling with excitement. "Who knew wedding planning could be such a rollercoaster?" Alexander, who was engrossed in his phone, barely grunted in response. "It was a disaster." He mumbled. Emily's expression tightened, her smile waning. She had been trying to brush off Alexander's distraction all day but it was starting to wear on her. "Could you put that down for a minute? You have been on it since we got here." She asked trying to keep her tone light. But his response was distant. "Mmm-hmm. It's business; I'll done soon, sunshine." He said his eyes never leaving his phone. Emily's frustration was starting to boil but she smiled. She knew he was such a workaholic. And it was their honeymoon, so she had to keep the atmosphere as cheerful as possible. "So what do you say we enjoy our first night in Paris? Forget about work for a bit uh darling?" "Yeah, sure. Whatever you say, sunshine, allow me to round this up,, ok?" He said, laughing abruptly, his eyes still fixed on his phone. Just then, a knock at the door interrupted the awkward moment. "Ah, perfect timing," Alexander said, finally putting down his phone. The hotel staff member, a friendly-looking young man with a warm smile, entered the room. "Bonjour, welcome to the Hotel Plaza Athenee! I'll be helping you with your luggage." As the staff member efficiently unloaded their suitcases and arranged them in the spacious closet, Emily couldn't help but bounce around the room, exploring every nook and cranny. "Oh my goodness, look at this view!" she exclaimed, rushing over to the floor-to-ceiling windows that offered a breathtaking panorama of the Eiffel Tower. The staff member smiled and handed Alexander a small folder containing their room keys and other essential information. "You have a wonderful room, monsieur. If you need anything at all, please don't hesitate to contact us." As the staff member departed, Emily continued to explore the luxurious suite, cooing over the plush carpets, the marble bathroom, and the lavish flower arrangements. Alexander watched her, a small smile on his face, but his eyes still seemed distant, his mind preoccupied with whatever business dealings were consuming his attention. Emily walked out of the bathroom, a look of wonder still on her face. "This bathroom is incredible," she said, wrapping her arms around Alexander's waist. Alexander smiled, but his eyes seemed distant. "I'm glad you like it," he said, gently prying Emily's arms off him. "Hey, what's wrong?" Emily asked, noticing the sudden change in Alexander's demeanor. "I have a meeting," Alexander said, his voice brisk. Emily's eyes widened in surprise and confusion. "A meeting? Here? In Paris? On our honeymoon?" she asked, her voice rising in incredulity. Alexander nodded, grabbing his thick coat from the closet. "Yes, sunshine. It's a business meeting. I'll be back soon," he promised, planting a quick kiss on Emily's cheek. Emily felt a pang of disappointment and confusion. "But...but this is our honeymoon," she protested. Alexander's expression turned serious. "I know, Emily. And I promise, this is important. It won't take long," he assured her, already heading for the door. "Who is it?" Emily asked, feeling a twinge of suspicion. Alexander hesitated for a moment before responding. "Just a business associate. Don't worry about it," he said, opening the door and stepping out into the hallway. Emily watched him go, feeling a sense of unease wash over her. What kind of business meeting could be so important that it had to happen on their honeymoon? Emily's phone rang, pulling her out of her thoughts. She smiled as she saw the names of her friends, Vivian, Selena, and Çhloe, flashing on the screen. It was a group video call. "Hey, girls!" Emily answered, trying to sound more cheerful than she felt. The three friends squealed in unison, their faces filling the screen. "Hey, Em! How's Paris?" Selena asked. "It's amazing," Emily replied, holding up her phone to show them the breathtaking view from her window. "Wow, that's gorgeous!" Vivian shouted in excitement. "Now, let's see your room!" Emily laughed and walked around the room, showing off the luxurious suite. "Woah, this is insane!" Chloe said, her eyes wide with envy. As Emily gave them a tour, the conversation turned to more girly topics. "So, how's the honeymoon sex?" Selena asked, winking at the camera. Emily blushed, laughing. "You guys are so bad!" Vivian chimed in, "Come on, Em, spill the tea! Is Alexander still as hot as ever?" Emily playfully rolled her eyes. "You guys are impossible. But, yes, he's still pretty amazing." Sarah asked, "So, what's the plan for tonight? Are you going to wear something sexy and seduce your husband?" Emily giggled. "I might just have to do that. But first, I need some advice from you guys. Alexander just left for some mysterious business meeting, and I'm feeling a little weird about it. We all know he is a work alcoholic but still..." Vivian's eyes widened in surprise. "What do you mean he left?" she asked, her voice filled with concern. Emily shrugged. "Business stuff, I suppose. He said he had a meeting." Selena frowned. "That's not how to treat a lady, though. Your honeymoon is supposed to be all about romance and relaxation." Chloe, who had been quiet until then, spoke up. "Probably he ran away because he couldn't handle all the lovey-dovey stuff." Selena playfully hit Chloe on the arm. "Chloe!! You're making things worse!" Vivian chuckled. "Ignore Chloe, Emily. He'll be back soon, okay? Just have your bath, relax, and enjoy the view." Emily smiled, feeling a bit better. "You're right, Viv. I'll just chill and wait for him to come back." Selena added, "And when he does, give him a hard time. Make him regret leaving you alone in Paris." The girls all laughed, and Emily felt her anxiety start to fade away. Chloe, still being her usual goofy self, started making funny faces and poses on camera, making everyone laugh even harder. As they continued to chat and joke around, Emily's phone suddenly beeped, indicating an incoming text message. She looked at the screen and saw Alexander's name flashing on the display. "Girls, I think he's texting me," Emily said. Vivian's voice was calm and reassuring. "Answer it, Em. See what he has to say for himself." "Alright, love y'all, bye," Emily said, ending the video call with her friends. "Bye," they said in unison. Emily then checked her phone and saw Alexander's text: "Open the door." Curious, Emily walked over to the door and opened it. To her surprise, Alexander was standing there, holding a beautiful bouquet of flowers. "You went out to get me flowers?" Emily asked, touched by the thoughtful gesture. Alexander smiled. "Yes, sunshine," he replied, handing her the flowers. He then leaned in and planted a gentle kiss on her lips. "I need a shower," he said, his eyes sparkling with mischief. Emily blushed and smiled, feeling a flutter in her chest. As Alexander walked into the bathroom, Emily couldn't help but admire her husband's handsome figure as he began to undress.