Chapter 2

"What?" Xavier said, dropping the phone from his ears to look at this girl. How could she just think to get married to him when she knew nothing about him? 

"Are you from the marriage service?" he asked. His question threw Jessica off balance. 

"No," she said, biting her lips. She was sure that her makeup was now ruined by all the crying she had done. The conversation she overheard made her decide to make sure she got married before leaving the courthouse, and since this man was in desperate need of a wife, she decided to step up to the task. 

"You need a wife, don't you?" she asked, sniffling. Her crying had left her nose running. 

"Yes, I am," Xavier answered. It just occurred to him that she might be the answer to his problem. 

"I was dumped on my wedding day. I don't want to bore you with all the details, but I see you need a wife. I could be your wife," She said. 

Xavier looked at her carefully. She looked sane after the ruined makeup on her face. He put the phone back to his ear.

"Ensure to get back the money from the agency. I would sort myself out. See you back at the office," he said, cutting the phone and putting it in his pocket. 

"Let's get married. I'm in desperate need of a wife, so I need not be picky," he said, and she nodded. 

She was dumped after all, and it sounded like Burke was not ready to get back together, seeing that he had blocked her number. She wondered where the relationship began to go south and why he cheated on her. 

"Are you going to go in like that?" Xavier asked, pointing to her face. 

"Give me a minute to fix up my face. Let's meet inside," Jessica responded, turning on her heel and going to find the nearest restroom. 

It took her less time than she thought to wipe off her makeup. She had no tools to retouch the makeup, so cleaning it off was the best option for her. 

She came back and met Xavier standing there. She looked him up and down and thought to herself that at least she wasn't going to marry an eyesore. 

He was pleasant to look at, at least. The moment he saw her, he turned and walked towards the reserved room. His wealth had allowed him to reserve a private room, so he entered. Jessica followed him in, and they both sat facing the judge. 

"No witnesses?" the judge asked, smiling at Xavier. 

Jessica immediately caught a whiff that Xavier was influential, since the judge knew him and he could reserve a private room. 

"I'll call two people to stand as witnesses, then," he added before calling two people. A male and a female. 

The male would stand as a witness for Xavier, and the female for Jessica. 

The process was shorter than she thought, and soon she was legally married to a stranger. 

"I now pronounce you husband and wife."

Jessica blinked multiple times. She could not believe she just gotten married. Under normal circumstances, she was supposed to give her husband a big kiss on his lips. 

Looking beside her at the stranger she'd just found, Xavier Delgado, she still couldn't believe she was married. 

"Would you like to take pictures?" one of the witnesses asked them. 

"Yes," Xavier answered, collecting the marriage certificate from the judge. "Thank you for today," he said, addressing the judge. 

"Let's go take our picture," he said, standing up and leaving. 

Jessica could barely comprehend what was going on, but it seemed as if Xavier had come to terms with the fact that he had married a stranger. He seemed comfortable with it. 

Jessica steps outside and sees him standing before the courthouse, holding the certificate. She approached him and stood close to him. 

"If we are taking a picture, we'd better make it believable that we just got married," Xavier said.

"You didn't ask me if I am okay with taking a picture," she murmured. 

She knew they needed the picture, but her broken heart and rash decision stared her in the face. Did she always have to jump the gun when faced with things she could barely handle on her own? 

"I need the picture," he said. His voice made sure to pass the aura that the picture-taking was not up for negotiation. 

She agreed with him and took the picture after all, she approached him to get married. She would go ahead with everything else as well. 

They both barely managed to force a smile in the picture. Jessica could barely smile properly as her broken heart got in the way, but Xavier was not used to smiling, so it was difficult for him as well. The photographer had to take a couple more shots than usual to capture one where the smiles looked genuine. 

A few copies of the other pictures were taken, and Xavier provided the email address to collect the soft copies. He was told the hard copies would be framed and ready the next week, so that they could pick them up then. 

"Hold on to this," Xavier said, giving the certificate to Jessica, who collected and read it over and over again. It bore her full name, Jessica Penelope Joshua, and she was married to Xavier John Delgado. 

"Let's go," Xavier said, walking toward the parking lot. 

"Go where?" Jessica asked, catching up to his steps. 

"To see my grandfather," Xavier answered. He hated talking a little too much. But since he had just gotten married, he knew she would have a bucketload of questions, so he did his best to answer only when she asked. 

"Why?" she asked. 

"We just got married, and I want to introduce you to my grandfather," Xavier said gently. He was already saying too many words, and he did not like it. 

"Ohh," Jessica replied. 

Xavier stopped in front of a Mercedes, a newer model. She knew little about cars, but she could tell this one was very expensive. It looked exotic and expensive. 

"Get in," Xavier said. 

She then confirmed her suspicions that her new husband was influential and rich. She should be happy that she landed a fine, rich young man, but her broken heart could not allow for her jubilation.