I'd been here a week and was bored out of my mind. Alexander wouldn't let me go anywhere without him and when we did leave it was only to his office building where I'd sit around and do nothing. I missed working and going out after. I felt like a true prisoner.

Though it was nice not having to see my mother and her ugly husband. This situation is far from ideal, but at least I wouldn't have to spend time with them.

I ate dinner with him every night now and though I'd never let him know, I didn't hate him as much. He'd been nothing but nice since I came to live with him. We didn't have many conversations, but the ones we did were pleasant. I learned only a couple things about him. One being is that he is very messy eater and he also loved Motown music. He always had it playing through the penthouse. Another thing is that he was a terrible singer.

I was sat on the sofa in Alexander's office. He was busy going through paper work.

The door open and in walked a blonde woman, who was very pretty. She looked to be nervous though by the furrow in her eyebrows.

Alexander's eyes snapped up to her, jaw hard. "You're late, again."

"I'm sorry, sir-"

"You're fired," he said, looking back down at the papers.

Her eyes went wide. "No, Alexander-"

"Mr. Knight," he corrected her. "Leave."

She did as he asked, shutting the door behind her.

"That was a little dramatic." I commented.

He looked over at me and shrugged. "I don't have time for assistants that don't take their jobs seriously."

An idea popped in my head.

"I could be your assistant." I offered.

He raised an eyebrow. "You're going to be my wife," he said, causing me to cringe. "you don't need to work."

I stood and walked over to his desk. He leaned back in his chair as if to look at me better. "I want to work, Alexander. I'm bored and no offense, but you are very boring."

This made him smirk. "I am anything but boring, sweetheart."

My nose scrunched from the nickname.

"Have you ever worked as an assistant before?"

I shook my head. "No, but I've had several jobs and even a degree in public relations." I boasted, proud of my own accomplishment. I worked damn hard for that degree.

He nodded. "I didn't know you had a degree."

I rolled my eyes. "Yes because you don't know me."

He smirked. "Okay, Anastasia," my name rolled off his tongue. There's no denying that this man's voice was heaven. "you'll start... now."

I smiled in victory. "What do you need done, Mr. Knight?"

Four hours later and I had organized his filing cabinet completely, booked future appointments, and even got his damn coffee. The previous assistant he had appeared to not have done anything because everything was a mess.

"Anastasia," I looked up to see my mother approach the desk that Alexander had given me outside his office.

I furrowed my eyebrows. "What are you doing here?" I asked her.

"Alexander invited us to lunch." I looked to see Dimitri approaching, his usual facial expression. This man looked like someone had just killed his mother. "We'll bring you leftovers." She said, sending me a vindictive smile.

I narrowed my eyes at her, about to give her a piece of my mind until another voice cut me off.

"That won't be necessary since Anastasia will be joining us." Alexander said from behind me. I looked over at him and he flashed me a handsome smile. "Shall we?" He reached his hand down for me to grab but I stood up on my own and walked past him.

I was actually grateful, and surprised, that Alexander stood up for me to my mother like that. I know I wasn't able to talk to her in a rude way since she could potentially take the deal back with my father.

We exited from the parking garage below the building to avoid any paparazzi. I got into the black SUV with Alexander sliding beside me. I was glad my mother and Dimitri decided to ride in their own vehicle.

I looked out the window like usual. "Thank you," I muttered quietly to Alexander.

"For what?" He asked, clearly confused.

I turned towards him. "Saying what you did earlier. My mother... well to put it nicely, she's a bitch."

He chuckled and nodded. "For the next year, we're a team." His words made my heart skip a beat, but I dismissed the feeling.

You're a pawn in their game.

My thoughts snapped me back into reality. I nodded and turned away from him again.

Soon we pulled up to the restaurant and quickly exited the vehicle when the driver opened the door for us. We were seated on a roof top of the building, it was gorgeous. Lights were strung around and it reminded me of a greenhouse with all the different types of plants and flowers.

They all began discussing different business ideas and strategies. It caught my attention when they brought up the engagement.

"Who should we tell first? I think on the cover of Vogue would be a wonderful announcement." Mother gushed.

I groaned and Alexander looked down at me with concern in his eyes. "No," he said to her.

Mother rolled her eyes. "Well how else would you do it?" This woman is a snake.

Alexander shrugged. "People will know soon enough, Diana. We don't have to do it right away." He said, annoyance in his voice. I was yet again surprised by him.

"Knight, this was your idea." Dimitri said, looking between the two of us. I don't think there's ever been a moment where I've seen that man happy. His face held a permanent frown and narrowed eyes.

"I'm aware, Dimitri. All I'm saying is that Anastasia was thrown into all of this so suddenly and I do not think it is necessary to put her through anymore. We will take it as slow as possible." Alexander's voice was serious as he narrowed his eyes at Dimitri.

I don't know why Alexander was being so nice to me, but I wasn't complaining. It was a relief. I know it was his idea, but I truly felt like he didn't have bad intentions. Even if I was just being used, I was using them too. My father's treatment would begin in a couple days and as soon as all this was over I'd be able to go home again.

After lunch instead of going back to work we arrived back at his house. I looked over at him with furrowed eyebrows.

"I thought we could take the rest of the day off." He said, his eyes looked down at mine, almost as if he were searching for something.

I just nodded and averted my gaze elsewhere before following him out of the car and into the building. The elevator ride was quiet, but this time not awkward.

"Anastasia," He said as we walked into his home. "I still have that reservation from the auction." He said sheepishly with a smirk.

I give a pointed look with an eyebrow raised and my arms crossed. "Yes, you do and I can't even imagine your list of woman that would absolutely love to go with you." I said with a smile of my own.

His smirk didn't falter. "I don't think that'd look too good considering people will soon know we're getting married."

I narrowed my eyes at him, he knows I hate when he brings that up or uses it against me. "You're infuriating," I told him.

Alexander just shrugged cooly, clearly amused with himself. "Tonight at 7?"

I rolled my eyes. "If I go to dinner with you once will you never ask again?"

He chuckled. "Never take my wife on a date? You're a strange woman, Anastasia." Oh, he thinks he's funny.

"Infuriating!" I yelled at him before going up the stairs.

"I'll have a dress sent up to you!" He called from downstairs.