Author's Note: Don't close your eyes, we are now going up and down the roller coaster ride.

Why does she have to play with your heart?

It's a little blurry how the whole thing started
I don't even really know what you intended

And now I don't understand it
You don't mess with love, you mess with the truth…

(On My Mind)

Chapter twenty: Sealing the contract

The party last night was a big blur to me. Thanks to my years of hiding my emotions and Alex hand on mine, I didn't get lost in the roller coaster of emotions I'm in. Trust my father in throwing me in a big surprise and he can do it. I didn't really sleep well last night because of the event happen. Many questions are still swirling in my mind.

Why is Alex my fiancé now?

How did this happen?

Why her smile does seems so odd?

I tried to find the answers in my mind but it's too confused. I opened my eyes and lazily tied a robe to my body and went to the washroom inside my room in the house. I opted to open water in the tub to have my body relax from all the tense things happened to me. I poured a relaxing aromatic scent. Before I submerged myself in the water, I called downstairs for a cup of coffee. I don't have any appointments right now so I can take a bath as long as I want. I grabbed a book to go with my coffee and musing.

I heard a knock on my door the same time I closed my eyes to contemplate the things I need to do to clarify things. I just loudly said my thanks, thinking that it was the same maid I talk in the intercom.

"Here is your coffee, madam." I heard a familiar, husky voice said to me after few minutes. My eyes shoot up immediately when I realized Alex is the one who brought my coffee and I'm naked under the bubbles.

"Alex?! Why are you here?" I asked trying to submerge myself in the water and gathering all the bubbles to my body. Alex right brow went up and an amused smiled is plastered in her face but said nothing about her observation.

"I'm bringing you the coffee. I am worried about you because you didn't have breakfast with us." Alex said then gave me the cup of coffee. I grabbed it slowly trying to hide my naked body. I heard her chuckle but still not saying anything.

"I overslept, I guess. By the way what time is it?" I asked after sipping the hot coffee and let it flow in my system.

"It is already 11 a.m. in the morning." Alex said then sipped coffee.

I looked at her intently. I wanted to ask so many things but I don't know where to begin with.

I tried not to flinch when Piper is looking at me intently. She is looking at me as if she wants to read what is on my mind. I could see confusion in her eyes and it is making me more uncomfortable under her gaze.

"Oh, Piper, if you will know what is happening, you will surely hate me."

But it won't be too long, Alex. You have hidden enough information to her.

"What are you thinking right now?" I asked her after a few minutes of silence between us.

"Things." She answered briefly then closed her eyes.

"Like? Could you please open your eyes when talking to me? I want to see their beauty." I said pleadingly.

"Why are you my fiancé right now? What is really happening to my life? Where does this leave Larry?" she said then make a circling motion in her head. I want to ease her headache but I know if I answer it right away, it may cause more pain in her head.

"Do you want aspirin?" I asked, assuming that her headache would subside with the aspirin.

"Nope. I'm fine. I just need to clear my head." She said then looked at me intently. "What I want right now is answers." She added with a low voice.

"You will have the answers for your questions later in the evening. I have set an appointment with your father and my lawyer." I said trying to have a professional tone in my voice.

"Lawyer?" she asked.

"Yes, he will stand as my witness." I answered not really elaborating more. As much as I want to make this work, it can't be because she is a Chapman.

"Witness? Why would you need a witness?" Piper asked full of curiosity.

"I'll explain everything you need to know later this evening." I said then stand abruptly to stop whatever questions Piper has.

"So you are leaving me here with more questions than ever?" Piper asked with exasperation.

"I'm sorry but this is not the proper venue for this kind of talk. Later I will answer all of your question." I said then kissed her forehead before leaving her in the tub. I heard a frustrated groaned before I fully leave her room.

I asked a maid to prepare food for me in my room. I'm not really in the mood right now to see other people. My father asked me if I wanted to join them in a restaurant they have reserved for lunch but I refused because I don't want anyone to see me breakdown one more time. Polly called and asked me if I want to join her in strolling in the neighborhood but I also refused it because I'm not in the mood to do anything right now. After having my lunch in a blank mood, I walked to my library and decided to read something to ease my mind. It works a bit but my mind is still drifting back to the unanswered questions I have. I also dreaded the time that I have to talk to Alex and my father. I sighed and asked the maid near me for a margarita.

"Isn't it too early for a margarita?" I heard someone asked me from the back.

"No, Polly. I don't intend to get drunk." I answered blankly.

"Make it two please." Polly said to the maid whom I requested my margarita.

"Why are you here, Polly? I thought you are strolling in the neighborhood." I asked.

"Well I cannot enjoy the party if my best friend is on a limbo." Polly said then patted her lap for me to rest my head. I instantly lay my head in her lap and she stroke my hair like coaxing me to sleep.

"Piper, babe, I will be here for you, remember that please." Polly said after a few minutes of silence. I nodded my head although I don't know if she saw me doing it.

"Polly, I want to have a bridal shower. At least on that part, I can say that I have a normal wedding." I said trying to put some joke on my tone.

"Oh, don't worry, babe, I plan to have the most memorable bridal shower for you." Polly answered mischievously.

"Polly, I was just joking you know." I said then chuckled a little.

"Oh no! No! No! I want you to experience a bridal shower whether you like it or not." Polly said in a more teasing way. We chuckled and laugh all through the afternoon, trying to avoid the impending talk I will face in the evening.

"Alex! Piper has every right to know your feelings to her." Nicky shouted in my face after I told her I won't tell Piper about my feelings.

"What for, Nicky?! What for?" I shouted with the same intensity Nicky's voice have.

"To at least make everything right!" Nicky said not backing down.

"How, Nicky? How could it possibly make everything right when everything is wrong for us?!" I said trying to stop the tears flowing in my eyes.

"But, Alex, I know that your feelings for Piper is genuine. Whatever it is or whatever you have is the greatest thing you are going to feel." Nicky said trying to make a point.

"How are you sure about it?! Whatever this is, whatever I have, it is wrong and I have to stop it." I said with the same conviction Nicky has.

"Fuck you, Alex!" Nicky said then storm out of the room we are in.

After making sure that I'm alone, I let my tears fall and hope that this will be the last time I will cry.

One of the maid knock on my door and told me that my father is requesting for my presence in his study. Despite the situation I opted to dress properly because I have a feeling that it will be formal meeting. I took a deep breath and knock on the door when I walked to the study room. Alex, my father and a man in his early 50's is already having a coffee in the room when I arrived. I could sense some tension in the air but no one is addressing it. I politely greeted everyone and sit in the empty one setter couch. I saw an opening in Alex's side but I want to clear my mind while listening to their explanation.

"Good evening, everyone. I want to introduce to you my lawyer, Mr. Smith" Alex said.

"It's a pleasure to meet you." He said politely then offered his hand.

"Me too." I answered politely.

"So now that the pleasantries are given, I would like to get down with the real business here." Alex said with blank expression. Mr. Smith produced some papers then he gave it to us. I tried to read but I really can't concentrate because I feel Alex eyes on me.

"What is the meaning of this, Alex?!" My father said after a few minutes of reading what is on the paper.

"Well to make it simple for you and Piper, it is stating that I will support the Chapman Company financially and you other companies. You, as the patriarch of the Chapman will stay as the CEO but you will not make decisions without my consultation and my signature. Another thing, Piper will never have any hold with my wealth. It serves a prenuptial agreement and contract with our marriage." Alex explaining seriously.

"You cannot do that, Alex. It is not part of our agreement." My father said a bit shaking with anger.

"Yes, she can because you don't have any contract when you have the agreement." Mr. Smith explained.

"You dirty, little…" Father said angrily.

"Careful, Mr. Chapman, your daughter is still here. Unless you want to know what kind of man you are." Alex said with a dark smirk. My father storm out of the office leaving me confuse as to what happen in here.

"Contract? Agreement?" I asked when I find my voice.

"Just like what I have said before this is a prenuptial contract in case we have a divorce but this only concerning about my properties and money. Regarding your father's businesses, I will be the one supervising it although he will still hold the position." Alex explained.

"How about the agreement?" I asked confused.

"Well as an exchange for my help, you will be my wife." Alex said shortly.

"Why?" I asked curiously.

"You will be my collateral in case your father didn't honor any part of our agreement." Alex explained. My eyes went wide not believing what I have heard from her.

"So you help my family out of this mess and bought me to be a collateral? Why are you doing this Alex?" I asked with a shake in my voice.

"Because I want to destroy your father, Piper." Alex said. I felt my breather stop when I heard it. my head is pounding with her answer.

"Why, Alex, what has he done with you?" I asked.

"He destroyed my life and I'm here to have my revenge and what is the best way to have it other than take away his company using his precious daughter." Alex said then smirked evilly to me.