AVALYNN'S POV

"Grace? It's Avalynn." I knock before entering her room.

"I'm rea..." She is sitting at the edge of the bed, putting on her shoes when she looks up at me. "Why are you wearing sunglasses inside the house?" She asks before she goes to sit in her wheelchair. "Is it really okay for you to send me to school today?

I know it's suppose to be mom's turn this week." I smile. "It's fine. Besides, I have nothing to do for today. It was surprising that Mom called me last night."

Grace smiles. "She did askNicole, but ... she's busy with her university."

I help by pushing her wheelchair out before knocking on Milan's door.

"We'll be waiting at the car." I shout before Grace and I go to the car.

I hear Grace chuckle when we are out of the house. "It's different than the one you usually use."

She means the car? "Well yeah, I don't like to use the same car every day." I open the passenger’s door and wait for her to get inside before I fold the wheelchair and put it in the boot.

Minutes later, Milan walks out from the house after locking it and apologising for being late. Once she gets inside, I go to the driver’s side and turn on the engine before driving towards their school.

"What time should I pick you guys up later?" I ask while driving.

"Three." Grace says.

I look at Milan using the rear view mirror. "What about you? Any activities today?" I ask.

"Three. I'll skip my club activity today.

I nod. I almost forgot something my mother-in-law had told me on the phone. "Mom told me about an open house at your school? Which one of you has it today?"

Milan leans forward. "Hold on, Mom told you about that? Is it okay for you to come instead of our parents?" She asks.

“I'll make it happen. Well, if you want me to."

She thinks for a second before touching my shoulder. "Will you come in disguise or as yourself?"

Thats a good question. "Why would I need to disguise my beautiful self?" I smile as I park my car inside the school's parking lot.

“Somehow, I am not ready for this." Milan says when we help Grace out.

"Lead the way, Milan."

I help Grace by pushing her wheelchair towards the school building. Coming back to school does bring back memories. Even though I didn't go to this school, the atmosphere is the same as the boarding school I attended, St. Miriam.

"I can take it from here. You should follow Milan." Grace saids before she goes away herself.

"Hey Milan, does Grace have a great time at school?"

Milan doesn’t say anything.

"Milan?" She smiles. "I don't know how to say this, but, she's constantly the topic to be made fun of because of her disability."

I figured. Hmmm. "Honestly I’ve never been to a public school before. It's fun."

Milan chuckles. "Rich girl. You probably went to a private institute huh."

"Yes. Boarding school in England since the age of eleven."

Milan gasps. "You went abroad at the age of 11?! When I was eleven, i hated school so much I wanted to quit. But you, you didn’t have the choice to do so!"

I smile. "There was a good side though. I got to leave Maestropolitan."

She sighs before we both walk in a classroom. Milan greets her friends as she walks in while I go to the back with the other parents. So far, none of them recognise me. Maybe they won't recognise me at all. I am about to relax when a group of noisy cheerleaders walk in and scream in front of my face. So much for peace and quiet. I even took the liberty to wear these sunglasses inside! Hmmm.

"That outfit. That's exactly what I found at the mall recently but couldn’t afford to buy."

Huh? My outfit? My jacket? Oh, she meant my clothes. She doesn't recognise me. Phew!

Soon the class starts and I'm wondering... what's the point of this open house exactly? Parents just stand here watching their kids in class.

When the bell rings, the homeroom teacher asks us all to go to the gymnasium for the refreshments.

"Life must be nice for you huh." I hear someone say, but it's not directed at me. It's for someone standing beside me.

She ignores the comments as she takes a cup of coffee. She looks young to be a parent. Maybe a sister perhaps?

The woman earlier goes to stand beside her and comments even more. She even mocks the woman, but the person next to me ignores every single comment and enjoys her coffee.

"I'm sorry for that. Some of the parents here thought it's a bad influence that I came today to support my step daughter."

Ahhh. Now I get it. She is a mother, step mother. "It's fine. But why were they saying those nasty things about you? You married the man legally correct?"

She nods. "Correction, I married the woman, the mother of my step daughter."

Ahhh. Now I get the full understanding of the situation. "Still, they shouldn't comment those things to you. Their ideology of marriage is as dull as ever, huh? They believed that Eve is only for Adam. Well screw them!"

She chuckles. "Your right. I feel better."

I didn't even say anything to make her feel better.

"I should keep that in mind, screw them!" She chuckles even more and excuses herself.

It's kind of fun being here after all. The open house ends with a speech from the headmaster about how they’re searching for funding to upgrade the school facilities and other ways to make the students feel more comfortable in school.

The most crucial part of the school that needs to be repaired is the multi purpose field and the gymnasium itself. I did notice a few of the mentioned issues in the gymnasium.

It peaks my interest when they mention a plan to open the school’s door to more disabled students like Grace to enter school. Maybe I could donate some dough to help the cause. After all, I have 2 years to be Grace's sister-in-law. I should help her to have the best school experience.

***

"Have you decided yet?" I ask my so call wife.

She was not happy when I suddenly showed up and pick her up to have lunch together. She's been sulking because I learned that she was suppose to have lunch with Christopher today. So what I took her away? She's legally mine. "No." Is all she says.

I sigh. "Come on. Don't be a child. You will have plenty of time to be with that boy after I send you back to your dorm. Hell, you could even have sex all night long. Just pick something already." I say while placing the menu on the table and calling the waiter from earlier. I order my food while she’s still looking. I am surprised when she orders more than two dishes and desserts. “You're quite an eater." I ask for the best wine while she asks for a jug of fresh apple juice.

"You said I can have anything that I want." She says when the waiter excuses himself.

"Yes I remember."

She takes her phone out and texts whoever she's texting while I stare at her from top to bottom. "Take a picture it'll last longer." She says with her eyes still on her phone.

I reach for my own phone and I do take a picture complete with a flash. I chuckle when she's about to grab my phone but I am too quick for her.

"I didn't mean it literally!" She puffs her cheek.

I take another picture and keep my phone away.

"Avalynn!" She's completely mad.

"Yes that's my name."

She's scowling at me, but I find it humorous.

The waiter comes with our food, and I'm sure this will ease the tension a bit. I mean, she's practically in love with food.

I am watching her eat when I notice the damn man walking in the restaurant. So’, she was texting him to come here, huh? He notices us and I watch him make his way towards us.

"Hey." Nicole looks up and invites him to join us.

I don’t say anything, but I watch them both. It is when he calls for the waiter I open my mouth. "What are you doing?" I ask calmly.

"What? He's ordering food obviously." Nicole answers.

"But we're having lunch together. Just the two of us. Why tell him to come?” I ask as if he's not there.

"Because I want him to come. It's weird for us to have lunch together. It's lovely to have him with us."

My wine comes, and I offer my glass to the waiter to pour in. “All right. It shall be." I smile when the waiter places the wine bottle and bucket of ice in front of me. "Say Christopher, let me say this."

They both look at me.

"I despise you."

He smiles. "I know. But, I got the girl."

I pour the wine in my empty glass. “Sure, you have her. But, my name is on a piece of paper stating she's my WIFE. Who's winning right now, Christopher?" I ask while placing the bottle in the ice bucket. "Domaine de la Romanee, the after taste is amazing. Well for an $11,000 Maestros, it should have that kind of after taste. Thank you for paying for the food, Christopher." I smile when Nicole coughs up the food inside her mouth.

"Are you insane?! We don't have that kind of money."

I act as if I'm shocked. "Oh ... really? Is it my fault you invited an uninvited pest to join us? Oh no… it's you." I turn to Christopher. "Good luck finding a way to pay for it." I enjoy my food with a smile on my face. "Where Are you going? Bailing on us? That's quite a gentleman's move you have there, Christopher."

"Shut up old hag." He leaves us with Nicole calling for him.

"What is wrong with you embarrassing him like that again!"

She's blaming me?

“No, the real question here is what is wrong with you. I picked you up from the university and asked if we could have a decent lunch for a change because I have something to discuss."

She doesn’t say anything.

"But no! You took out your phone, and called that mongrel here to join us. Is that how you want to act with me for two years? Tell me now, Nicole GRIMALDI." I emphasise her last name, so she would understand the situation she's in. "Yes, I admit we agreed that we can do whatever we want for our personal life. But, do you remember in one of those lists I made, there's a part where we have to be a married couple if it benefit us both. Right now is one of those times that it would benefit us." I end our argument with her looking down at her plate. "What's the point of looking down at your plate? Just eat your food, so we can discuss the things regarding Milan and Grace's school."

She finally nods and actually listens to me.

I begin to explain to her the headmaster's plan and how I want to fully sponsor it all for her sisters. At first, she is surprised by my idea, but in the end, she agrees. Why I have to ask for her permission to use my own money is beyond me. It's not even a joined account. I sigh.

She seems reluctant to eat her food after I scolded her earlier.

"Just eat your food. Forget what just happened."

She doesn’t say anything but nods her head.

"Come on. Eat up. We're going shopping after this."

She finally looks up. "Why would I need to go shopping with you?" She asks.

"Because I said so. Besides, you need a new set of clothes for a party you and I have to attend. Veronica's birthday party."

She sighs but doesn’t protest like always. If only she's this submissive every single time we spent time together, that would be golden.

***

“You've never been to a beach party?" I ask to make sure.

She shakes her head. "Wearing a swimsuit to a party. This is going to be weird."

Weird? Which part will be weird? It's normal. "It's this Saturday. Jackson and the maids shall accompany you."

It seems like she remembered something crucial. "Why did you send them to where I am? And, why so many?" She asked.

We're currently going back to her dorm and this traffic seems like it's going to be this way forever. "I figured, your the kind of person who’d needs help for the rest of your life. I mean, what kind of nineteen-year-old doesn't clean their room? The maids will help with the cleaning and cooking while Jackson will be in charge of security. It's their job." Finally the traffic begins to move but barely.

"I am not that incapable." She puffs her cheek.

"Oh please. You don't even know how to cook yourself anything except for instant ramen. Besides, I saw the room you were in when we lived at my apartment. It was in such a horrendous state I didn't even know if there was a rat moving around."

"Now that's just mean."

I shrug. "I'm only saying the facts here, Nicole. You need to change that attitude of yours before you have to live on your own."

She chuckles. "I think I can manage. With the compensation money I receive from you when we divorce, I am rich."

She's looking forward to that day, huh? "Too bad you have two years to wait. Two years for you to change, Two years for you to know how it is to live with money and fame." I stop in front of her dorm building and wait for her to get out. "Remember, this Saturday." I say before she closes the door. I wave at Mary before driving home to my apartment. Since I'm alone, I should go back to my bachelorette pad. It's smaller that the house I bought for Nicole and me. I sigh. Why am I doing all of this for a person who doesn’t even see my intentions? Hold on, what is my intention? Do I feel something for that rude girl? What is this foreign feeling I have whenever I'm with her?

"Yes?" I say when Kelly calls me through the car phone.

"Where are you going?" Her voice fills my car.

"Home. To the apartment. Why?" I ask.

"Oh. I'll be there shortly. We will meet at the apartment since I'm close to it." She says. Before I get to ask why, she hangs up. She's probably driving.

I wonder why she's meeting me. She only meets me when there's a problem or for some job request. I drive home with a lot of thoughts in mind. I smile at the usual valet and doorman.

“Fancy seeing you here, Lady Grimaldi. Where's the Mrs?" Asks the doorman.

"Usual place, the university. Anyway, did my personal assistant walk through here?"

He nods. "She's on her way to your apartment. I'll sent your keys to you after the valet parks your car."

I thank him and make my way towards my apartment.

Once I'm in, I see Kelly sitting in the living room drinking my best wine.

"Who gave you permission to drink my wine?" I ask as I go to the couch and take a seat. I lean back and try to relax my stiff shoulders. I need a massage, like right now. "What's your reason meeting me? You usually show yourself when I called for you or you have some news for me." I open my eyes when she shoves an envelope to my cheek.

"Seems like your cover is blown."

Huh? I take the envelope and look at the content with a troubled heart.

“You're lucky Jackson managed to capture this in disguised paparazzi. If not, the whole city would know this scandalous act."

These pictures .. were taken earlier today at the restaurant. I didn't even know they were holding hands. "What happened to the paparazzi?" I ask.

"Taken care of. He's probably on the first plane to Siberia for all I care. Anyway, regarding this beach party for Veronica's birthday, you approve?"

That question bugs me. "Why would I have to approve or not? It's my sister's party, not mine."

Kelly sighs. "I'm pretty sure your sister will be inviting every single one of the models you've work with. That includes your exes. Do I need to remind you that not everyone in the industry knows about your marriage? This party will surely be the beacon of jealousy. You'll be introducing Nicole as your wife." She's having fun telling me this.

"So what? I need to be aware of my situation?"

She nods. "Ava, those girls will do anything to have you. Nicole could be in danger if that happens." Ugh, she's right. Why does she always have to be right?!

Problems with Christopher are bad enough. Now I have to think about those girls from my past!

"I have a few suggestions if you would like to hear them out."

I look up to my PA/childhood friend. "Go on. Enlighten me."

She smirks.

"We officially announce your marriage with Nicole Bonavich. We have the photos from the Santorini shoot. We can use them and publicly announce it. I'm sure your parents and her parents approve."

They do but not Nicole. She doesn't like the attention at all.

"That way those pesky girls will stop harassing you and Nicole."

She does have a point. "If we announce it, Nicole's quiet life will suffer. Even now, there's questions about how she managed to have all the things she has now because of this marriage. Maybe it's my own fault for agreeing to this marriage."

"Don't say that Ava. You were just following your parents wishes. Besides, the contract only last for 2 years correct? If you wish to keep it quiet until it's over, so be it."

But, deep inside, I know I want it to last a little longer.

I kind have ... fallen for her. A bit.