Page 7 of Madam Alana

On unsteady feet, I took my first steps toward a new future.One of my own making. Today was the first day of my new life. I would notenter intoit with fear but with caution. I knew absolutelynothing of this man whom I’d spend the next five years married to. That factalone would strike an insurmountable level of panic in anyone. And yet, I wasdetermined to see this through. Do whatever it took to change both my life andCeline’s for the better. We’d already been chewed up and spit out by life’strials and tribulations; this was our best chance at paving a new path to abrighter future.

Five million dollars was an enormous amount of money. AfterAngus took his forty percent commission, I would be left with three. The firstyear’s payment of six hundred thousand would be deposited into an accounttonight. I’d have to discuss it with my husband tomorrow because I had no ideawhere that account was held, nor how to access it. Still, it was life-changingmoney, and I needed every penny.

With my resolve firmly in place, I put one foot in front ofthe other and walked with my head high, my gaze never drifting from the man whowould become my husband. When I got closer to the riser, Christophe stepped offto meet me. As he held out his hand, pure adoration poured from him in waves,helping to soothe my anxiety and fear.

I placed my much smaller hand within his and lightningstruck. A powerful sensation seared through my palm, up my arm, and practicallyelectrocuted my heart. It was as though Cupid himself had struck me with hismighty arrow.

“Alana.”

Christophe whispered my name like a prayer.

I shivered at his blatant admiration, a blush flushing mycheeks with heat. He made it very clear by the worshipful way he’d said my nameand how his eyes never left mine that he liked what he saw in me. I suddenlywanted to be a different person. One who was worthy of such admiration. A womanhe’d met a year ago in a little coffee shop and then courted until we’d finallytaken that magical step. The way he looked at me, as if I hung the very moon,made it feel as though we’d known one another for eons.

He helped me keep my balance as I stepped onto the riser byhis side. Christophe kept hold of my hand, not letting go for even a moment asthe officiant started the ceremony.

I couldn’t pay attention to anything the officiant said, toofocused on Christophe. I didn’t think I’d ever seen a more attractive man in myalmost nineteen years. He was older than me, to be sure, but not by a lot. IfI’d had to guess, I’d have put him in his mid-to-late twenties. Then again, whowas that young and had an expendable five million dollars to throw at a womanhe’d never even met? What was in this for him?

I kept sneaking glances, categorizing his features. He wastall, over six feet, but everyone seemed tall compared to my small stature. Ibarely came up to his shoulders, and my heels added a couple inches to myheight. He wore a crisp, light-grey suit with a matching vest beneath. A whitedress shirt was paired with a slate-blue tie with a sheen to it that caught thelight.

Suddenly, he shifted his large frame, tugging my hand so I’dfollow until we were facing one another.

“Do you, Christophe Toussaint, vow to love, honor, andcherish Alana all the days of your life?” the officiant asked.

Christophe stared directly into my eyes; a full breathpassed as he communicated something with his gaze I didn’t know how todecipher.

“I do,” he answered with conviction.

“Do you, Alana Kim, vow to love, honor, and cherishChristophe all the days of your life?” The question was directed at me.

All the days of my life? That was not part of the deal, andI was leery to agreein the event thatit somehowlocked me into a new term or contract I hadn’t been prepared for.

“I-I, um…”

Christophe tilted his head, his expression becoming soft.“It’s okay. I know the terms of five years are clear in the contract,” henoted, easing my concern.

I licked my lips, and his nostrils flared as he took a sharpbreath.

“I do,” I said.

“Now for the rings…”

Christophe reached into his inner jacket pocket and pulledout four rings. Three of them were gold with a line of sparkly diamonds acrossthe front. The last was a white-gold band with the same line of diamonds acrossthe top, though the size of that one was much larger.

He gave the officiant the one I believed was for him whileChristophe took my hand. He spoke the next words with conviction.

“Alana Kim, this ring represents your past. Whatever camebefore matters not on this day.” He slid the first band across my left ringfinger. He held the second just past the first knuckle when he spoke again.“This ring represents the present. The gift of your presence in my life rightnow in this moment.”

I swallowed against the emotion unexpectedly coating my throat.It was impossible to not get swept away with his lovely promises. Tears filledmy eyes as his beautiful words touched me in a place none had before.

“And the last ring represents our future. May we have asmany days together as we desire. My heart belongs to you.”

I sucked in a sharp breath at hearing those words.

My heart belongs to you.

He bent, turned my hand over, and kissed the center of mypalm warmly, sending chills skittering down my spine pleasantly.

I stood there, stunned. Uncertain how to proceed. This manhad just offered me his heart when I was only marrying him for his money.

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