The Dreaded Proposal

Alyssa Algernon clenched her fist, her breath bursting in and out as the footsteps outside her dressing room drew closer. She wasn't prepared for who was about to visit her pink coloured room but there was nothing she could do than sit still and let the people performing wonders on her face and body finish what they already started.

The door burst open and to Alyssa's semi relief, it was just the head maid and two little maids that entered the room.

Head maid Linda cast a look of disdain over Alyssa's body and then she nodded in satisfaction. Judging from her rigid seating posture and her serene face, the three months extensive training wasn't a fluke

“ Get up and turnaround ” Linda ordered impatiently in a stern voice.

Alyssa pursed her lips. She had no choice but to oblige so she stood up slowly trying to cover the upper part of her body that was revealed by the low cut V neck gown that she wore. She turned around gently then adjusted her glasses that already slid down her face.

“Remove that glasses this instant! We don't need you looking like a nerd and causing embarrassment to Master ” Linda ordered again. Have Alyssa have not any fashion sense with all of the training?

Alyssa nodded slowly. Although she hesitated, she still removed her glasses knowing it won't be a nice thing to anger the middle aged woman. She bit her lower lip softly, awaiting the next instruction.

Another maid quickly ran inside the dressing room and whispered something into Linda's ear. Linda nodded at the maid then glanced at Alyssa before whispering into the maid's ear and dismissing her.

“It's time to go. Follow me ” Linda said as she turned to go.

“Umm...excuse me? ” Alyssa called out in a small voice. The head maid turned to her with irritation marred over her face. Alyssa pursed her lips before speaking up. “ Can I ask where I will be going to?’’

She deserved to know where she was heading to and the reason she was made to dress like some sort of socialite. She wasn't a bit comfortable in the dress but there was nothing she could do.

“ Miss Tina's birthday celebration. You will be attending it with your husband”

Her response caused Alyssa to involuntarily step backwards. She would be attending her husband's girlfriend party. Although her marriage with Quinn Winters was a contractual one and she hasn't set her eyes on him since three months ago when they got married, it still felt wrong attending it along with him. She had once had a chat with Tina and she couldn't help but feel bad for the sweet lady. She even advised her like an elder sister would do on the wedding ceremony.

“Do you have a problem with that?” Linda asked suspiciously scanning Alyssa's face for the answer to her question.

“Huh? No....no” Alyssa said confidently as she had been thought. She lowered her lashes and licked her red lips nervously.

Linda sneered. “Of course you won't mind it since you were the one who destroyed their relationship in the first place. If you hadn't climbed your way up through his bed they would still be together by now” She spat, hatefully glaring at Alyssa.

Alyssa clenched her fist to keep herself from breaking down. Nobody wanted to hear her own side of explanation. They just concluded she climbed his bed but never bothered to hear what she has to say. Yes, she also played a role in the little mistake but it takes two hands to clap. Even if she truly climbed his bed intentionally, she didn't just lay there and perform the act all by herself. She was the victim but no one believed her and she was already tired of trying to prove her innocence.

An ordinary girl like her couldn't stand against the Winters, the backbone of the country. They were the laws of the country. Highly respected and worshiped. A small fry like her standing against them would lead to her downfall and she would be wiped off the surface of the earth, existing only in history as a lesson to other generations as the eighteen year old girl that dared to challenge the Winters.

Followed by about five maids, she walked down the stairs behind Linda. She sighted a familiar figure at the far end of the stairs. It was blurry since she was without her glasses. After trying to decipher who the person was, she relented and decided to get close. As they got closer, she sure the person was a male and very tall with the height of about 190cm. She couldn't help but feel queasy at the thought of the person being *Quinn Winters*her legal husband.

“ Sir...” Linda called out in a calm voice making Alyssa release a low snort . If only she knew horrible her voice sounded, she wouldn't bother to call him at all. Little wonder she always spoke in a loud voice. A low calm voice definitely wasn't her thing.

Quinn Winters nodded at her and shifted his gaze to the young girl beside her. He stared at her causing Alyssa press her lips together and shift her gaze to the piano at the far end of the living room. It seemed like he was peering at her soul with his sharp eyes. All of the training she had received already flew out of her head. Ranging from how she was supposed to greet him. She found herself tongue tied.

“ Hello, you must be Alyssa” He blurted out and almost slapped himself at his foolish statement. He aimed to make Alyssa comfortable but it did the opposite. Her face was marred with uneasiness. His eyes moved to her hands that were balled into a fist.

*He doesn't even remember me at all and here I am hoping to hear something else from him*

He sighed and walked away towards the car waiting outside.

Linda nudged Alyssa to move closer to the car which she did. Quinn opened the door for her and she slipped inside.

The car drove slowly in the stiff silence before Quinn decided to speak up.

“ How have you been ?”

“Good. Thanks. ” Alyssa answered politely and looked out of the window. It was already bad that she was in the same car with him. Talking to him would do her no good