Julienne’s POV

Julienne’s POV

His eyes widened briefly with sudden interest then shuttered just as quickly,

"And just why would I need your help?" he asked, stalking towards me, his bulky form towering over me, I shifted back, swallowing rapidly and suddenly worried. My back touched the wall and I was trapped with nowhere else to go steeling myself

" You need the construction bid, you can refuse my help but I'm sure it will sting when Corey Montgomery gets it" I muttered injecting as much derision as I could to my voice, he smiled leaning into me

" And just how can you help me with this. Who are you" he asked. I shrugged

" I'm the Campry girl" he frowned pulling away from me with a suspicious glare. I stood taller aiming at him my most pleasing smile

" I am Julienne Campry a pleasure to meet you" he remained quiet for a long time just watching me then he sighed

" I'm Alexsander Cross," this time I was the one with the surprised look, it seemed fate was working in my favor.

" I see you know who I am, which means two things"

" You are aware of your father's arrangements with my family, and since you're not actively rejecting it the rumors about your relationship with the Montgomery brat are false"

I sighed how had our relationship gotten around so much,

"" Yes,and no" I replied

" Yes I am aware of my family's plans, and yes I had a brief and regrettable relationship with Corey, but no I'm not with and I don't plan on it any time soon" he laughed

" Women" he muttered beneath his breath and I froze

" What do you mean by that" I asked annoyed

" Well I can't believe you just left your sworn lover for no reason, so which one is it, he wasn't proposing fast enough or he was fucking someone on the side"

" You don't have to be crude" I gritted

" If my language is a problem I don't think we'll work well together princess" he replied a mocking edge on the endearment, I had to stop myself from reacting

" Marry me" I muttered instead,

" And why would I do that princess" he asked, by now molars were probably becoming dust

" Because you need the construction bid, , because my family's name can afford you that bid." I huffed

" We all know the government likes to say there's equality but we both know that if the project had the stamp of someone from a noble house it's approved" I said snapping my fingers. He laughed after a long bout of silence

" I can admit that this is a nice offer princess but I'll have to decline"

" Why" I asked hurriedly as he made to move past me, he paused cornering me into the wall again, I could hear the soft strings of music behind us as he took his fingers and ran them across my face

" You're pretty and all but I don't fuck, leftovers. And definitely not the leftovers of the Montgomery brat" I didn't think just reacted, my palm landing on his face in a loud slap that echoes in the quiet space.

He pulled back laughing even as I heaved my breath leaving me in harsh pulls, he shrugged

" And besides if you know about the arrangements you should know that my uncle has his son in mind as your husband"

I swallowed

" And I know that your uncle's son is a sickler, it's funny your uncle thinks he can pawn off his inferior son for my family name" I muttered and he growled

" Don't fucking talk about my cousin that way" he growled in warning

" Then don't call me leftovers ever again. I'm no one's fucking leftovers as you so eloquently put it"

" How did you know about Ian's illness" he asked and I sighed

" You think you're the only one with access to news. You're wrong" I replied

" Why me" he asked and I shrugged

" I need someone who wants revenge as much as I do and I doubt that's a trait Ian has " I offered, quite frankly I didn't care if Ian Cross was a sickler, all I wanted was a man who could give me revenge and Alex was him, no matter how coarse he was.

" Then Ian will do just as well" he replied

" Not if I don't say he won't. We both know your father is offering a knock off. I don't mean to be rude but practically I bring more value than Ian ever will, if he dies I'll be his widow, you get to keep my name but I may not have my revenge" Alex brows were furrowed like he was about to argue

" Why do you need me to marry you so bad" he asked and I grinned

" Because that will be taking away the one thing that Corey wants"

" You see you were right about why I was leaving him. He screwed another woman on the side, that I could have forgiven but what I can't forgive, is his ploy to use my name to get what he wants" I replied and Alex huffed a laugh

" Remind me not to screw you over "

" I will" I replied saucily, he sighed

" Will your father accept this "

" He'll be glad I'm not marrying a Montgomery" I replied

" While I like this idea I'm not sure if I want to be married to screw the Montgomerys over" I rushed to assure him

" It's going to be a marriage in name only, you can do what you want and I can do what I want. We'll both get our needs met elsewhere." He frowned at that leaning into me

" I'll say this only once. If we're doing this, they'll be no others"

" Fine I get it stop crowding me" I muttered he just grinned looking over her shoulder,I looked as well and found what he was looking at. Corey had arrived and he was hurrying towards the balcony

" Let's see how much he wants you , princess" Alex muttered, I looked to him ready to ask what he meant when his mouth covered mine, pushing me into the wall his tongue parting my lips and delving inside, Alex Cross was kissing me.