Married At First Glance: I Am Not Ugly

“I know that this is just a business arrangement, but I’m glad we’ve been able to connect on a personal level. You’re a good man.”Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

He smiled, his heart swelling with warmth.

“I’m glad you think so,” he said. “And I appreciate your honesty. I know this must be a strange situation for you, and I want you to know that I value your comfort and your well-being. I’ll never ask you to do anything you’re not comfortable with. You can always be honest with me, and I’ll respect your boundaries. I hope you know that.”

She was touched by his sincerity. “I do know that, and I appreciate it more than you know,” she said. “I know that this is a business arrangement, but I feel like I can trust you.”

“I want you to be able to trust me,” he said. “We’re in this together, and I want to make sure we’re both comfortable with the situation. I don’t want you to feel like you’re just a prop or a pawn in this game. You’re a real person, and I respect that.”

She let out a breath, feeling a weight lift from her shoulders. “That’s really refreshing to hear,” she said. “I feel like so many people in my life have treated me like a means to an end, but you don’t. You did at first, but you started appreciating my help and honestly, it felt good.”

He nodded. “I wasn’t trying to take advantage of you or anything,” he said. “When we started this arrangement, I just saw it as a way to get what I wanted. But as we’ve gotten to know each other, I’ve come to value your insights and advice. You’ve given me a lot of great ideas and helped me see things in a new light. I really appreciate that.”

“I’m glad to hear that,” she said. “I enjoy helping you and I like seeing the progress you’ve made. It’s like we’re a team, and I’m invested in your success.”

“Thank you, Marissa.” He said as he stared into her eyes.

There was silence between them as they looked into each other’s eyes.

Marissa’s mind was in shambles as she thought maybe something was already growing between them.

Just then, Alexander broke the unusual silence.

“C’mon let’s go back to the hotel and prepare to sign the contract with our client tomorrow.” He said.

Marissa snapped back to reality, and her heart was racing. She knew they had to focus on the business at hand, but she couldn’t help but wonder if there was something more than just friendship developing between them.

“Yes, let’s go back to the hotel,” she said. “We need to be prepared and well-rested for tomorrow.”

They started to walk back to the hotel, the comfortable silence between them broken only by the sound of their footsteps on the pavement.

As they entered the hotel, they both knew that this moment had been special, and that something had shifted between them.

As they rode the elevator up to their floor, Marissa turned to Alexander.

“Thank you for being such a good friend and business partner,” she said. “You’ve been so supportive and helpful, and I really appreciate it.”

Alexander looked at her and smiled. “You’re very welcome,” he said. “I feel the same way about you. I’m glad we’ve been able to work together and get to know each other.”

They reached their floor, and Marissa realized that they had reached a turning point in their relationship.

“Well, goodnight,” she said.

“Goodnight.” He replied as she entered her room and closed the door.

Marissa sat on her bed, her mind still racing from the conversation they had just had. She knew that there was something special between them, but she wasn’t sure what it was.

Did she have feelings for Alexander? Or was it just the excitement of the trip and the success of the business deal?

She wasn’t sure, but she knew that she needed to clear her head before she could sleep.

She took a long, hot shower and changed into her pajamas. As she laid down in bed, she tried to calm her mind and focus on her breathing.

After a few minutes of deep breathing, Marissa felt her body start to relax. She closed her eyes and thought about the day she had just had.

Despite the stress of the business deal, she felt a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. She had done a good job, and she knew that she had made a difference.

She also thought about Alexander. He was a good man, and she appreciated his honesty and support. She wondered if there could be something more between them, but she didn’t want to get ahead of herself.

Marissa knew that she needed to take things slowly and not rush into anything. She didn’t want to ruin the friendship that they had built. But she also couldn’t deny that there was a spark between them.

As she drifted off to sleep, she thought about Alexander and the future that lay ahead. She didn’t know what would happen, but she knew that she was excited to find out.

And with that thought, Marissa finally fell asleep, dreaming of the possibilities that lay ahead.

~~

While Alexander slumped on the couch, he thought about the night he had with Marissa.

He knew that he was in love with Jessie, but what was this funny feeling he was feeling towards Marissa.

She was his fake wife, but why was he feeling he wanted it to be real?

Alexander felt a sense of guilt wash over him. He knew that he should be focusing on his relationship with Jessie, but he couldn’t deny the connection he felt with Marissa.

He thought about their conversations and the way they laughed together. He felt a warmth in his heart that he hadn’t felt before.

But he also knew that he had to be careful. He didn’t want to ruin his relationship with Jessie, and he didn’t want to hurt Marissa either.