Chapter 4: Alonzo

　　“I'll go buy a new morning pill. Take them to make sure that you're not going to have a child with me, and I'm Irina Hayes. My family is pretty influential. I can help you with anything only if you'll help me first. 　　I angled my head and my eyes pierced from her head down to her toes. 　　“If you want, we could draft a formal contract about this proposal of mine, uhm. I swear, you'll benefit from this agreement too.” 　　“I'll think about this, and I'll let you know.” 　　Irina was firm about getting what she wanted. 　　“I'd love to give you that time, but that's the thing. I don't have a time. I need to be married to you ASAP!” 　　“Why does it have to be me?” 　　“First and foremost, Damian hates you the most. He has always been insecure to you. If I brought you in as my husband, it'd be a big blow to his ego.” 　　“Damian?” 　　Why does this woman sound like she is implying that I knew this Damian? 　　Irina's phone rang. She had to answer it, which is why she excused herself, but she commanded me to stay. 　　“Well, if aren't you an interesting thing?” I hummed. 　　Kaius answered his phone right away. 　　“You, fucker, put me in a difficult position.” 　　“Ha? What are you talking about? Hey, when you said not to bother you with my gift because you'd appreciate a peaceful night, I gave it to you.” 　　I nipped my throat in frustration. 　　“That's the damn thing! I thought you still sent me one when she showed up here.” 　　“Pardon? I'm not catching up with what you're telling me.” I looked at the sliding door leading to the balcony where the woman was. 　　“Do you know someone named Irina Hayes?” 　　“Everybody in L.A. knows who Irina Hayes is. She is the firstborn daughter of the business tycoon Warren and Hera Hayes, kind of his heir even when there's no announcement about it.” 　　“An heir to a business empire here in L.A.?” 　　“Why are you asking about Irina?” 　　“Could you email me any information about Irina and her family?” 　　“Why do you need such?” 　　“It's only right for me to know a thing or two about my gorgeous wife. I want it in an hour.” 　　“Your what? Irina Hayes? Your wife? It's your first day in L.A. today. How come you're marrying that socialite? And as far as I know. She has a boyfriend!” 　　“It's an ex now. The bastard cheated on her.” I shut my mouth and smoothly ended the call. 　　I got up and caught the woman in my arms. She lost her strength and droplets of tears ripples on her cheeks. 　　“You must marry me,” she said. 　　I stopped her, but she found a way to kneel. 　　“My father made my sister his heir. Esmeray doesn't even know anything about the company, and yet, she'll be the next CEO of Hayes Resorts and Hotel.” Irina reined in my hand. Her desperation was overflowing. 　　“If I have you as my husband, then I might stand a chance. I could still claim the company from my sister. Alonzo, help me.” Irina pleaded. 　　“Ok.” 　　Her tears stopped from falling, and she gaped at me as I made another call. 　　“I need a judge that could wed me and my fiancée before this day ends.” 　　Irina rises from kneeling. “Fianceé? And a wedding? Today?” 　　I put my phone down after talking to my secretary in New York. 　　“I thought we don't have much time on our hands? I'll make sure that you're bearing my name before this day ends.” 　　Irina jolted to my arm, and our distance made me stiff. 　　“S-Sorry. I was overjoyed. I appreciate this. I'll make sure to repay you.” 　　“What do you want in return?” 　　I scanned through her body and it made Irina conscious. 　　“You want to consummate this m-marriage?” 　　“That's just one of the benefits of being in marriage to each other, I believe. I want something else, but I'll tell you about it some other time.” 　　“I'm up with anything as long as they're legal.” 　　I caged her cheeks with my hands and playfully pinched her reddish nose. 　　“It's legal, Irina. I'd never ask you to do something that could possibly put you in danger. What kind of husband does that to their wife?” She staved her eyes off me. 　　“Do you want to stop by at a boutique? We could grab you a dress. It's the least that I could do.” 　　Irina looked through herself. “My long sleeve is white, and my jeans don't look so bad with it. I'm fine with this.” 　　“Are you sure? This is still your first wedding, a big event for any woman.” 　　“Yeah, but it's a contract marriage anyway. We don't need to make a fuss about it.” Irina smiled. 　　“That's him.” I got up from the bench and asked for the wedding ring from Kaius. 　　“So it's true.” Kaius blurted out. Irina shook hands with him. 　　“Hi, you're Kaius? His best friend?” 　　“You're indeed marrying the famous Irina Hayes, Lean—Alonzo. I thought you were tripping.” Irina's eyes were loaded with confusion as my real name almost slipped out of Kaius. 　　Irina grabbed the small box from my hand. “We already had the ring and the judge was waiting for us inside. You're not allowed to change your mind,” she said, in an attempt to lighten up the mood. 　　I intertwined my hand with hers, and she seemed more relaxed now. 　　“Do you, Alonzo, take Irina to be your lawfully wedded wife?” 　　“I do,” I said to the judge, while my gaze stayed with Irina. 　　How can someone cheat on a woman like her? She is the prettiest that I've ever laid my eyes on. 　　“Do you, Irina, take Alonzo to be your lawfully wedded husband?” 　　“I do,” she uttered. 　　Once the formal ceremony of the wedding ended, we were handed a marriage contract that Irina filled out first. 　　“One sec, what's your name?” she asked, panicking was visible in her voice. 　　She glanced at the judge, who was stunned by her question after she saw my full name and signature on the contract. 　　“Alonzo Waldorf.” I gave the contract to Kaius to file and made it official when I noticed the grim look on her face. 　　“Why?” I started to ask. Irina suddenly bolted out of the room, leaving everyone confused. 　　“What happened to her?” Kaius whispered, but I wondered the same thing.