"Have some" Alana's mother smile as she stuffs some food on Richie's plate who politely smile.

"I am here too" Alana voices as she taps on her almost empty plate with her spoon and her mother gives her a warning look as she has been misbehaving whole evening.

"Behave" her mother comments as she passes the bowl of curry to her.

"Should have just invited him alone if you wanted to be his mother-in-law" she jabs back and Richie clears his throat.

"So, how are things going with you?" her father asks trying to clear the air that surrounded the table.

"It's been a busy week" Richie adds and Alana scoffs before her father sighs and stares at the girl.

"If you do not have anything meaningful to say Alana there is always a thing called door you can walk out of here to" her father words makes her groan as she stuffs few items in her plate and carrying it walks out of the room.

"She has been a spoilt little brat, comes with being an only child" he father explains to Richie who nods his head quietly.

"There are times no one can just talk her through, that has been the reasons for many of my attempts to find a good man for her...

She is too loud for some men and too vocal, I hope she has not done anything stupid to make you re-think about the marriage" he asks Richie who clears his throat before he talks.

"She can be handful at times but she is not so bad"

"I am glad you think so and hope you two will find a common ground you two can stand on"

"I am sure we will" Richie smiles nodding his head as he stares at the way she walked to.

*******

"Alana, help your mom" her father orders as she follows the two men in the study room.

"On what?" she asks as the maids collects the plates.

"What I mean is leave us alone" he sighs.

"I see I am a second pick of the night" she grumbles before she goes and sits on the sofa instead.

"Behave my only daughter" her father warns as he asks Richie to follow him.

"So, how is married life treating you?" Alana's mother asks as she sits in front of her daughter.

"Fine" she huffs.

"Richie seems like a nice guy"

"Any man that married me will look nice to you mom" she rolls her eyes.

"But he seems to be treating you well" she smiles knowingly and Alana groans.

"I am not having sex with him if that is what you want to ask" she sighs and her mother gasps.

"Alana" she scolds her daughter who turns to focus on the screen of the T.V.

"I think as our only child I and you father has spoilt you rotten giving you far too much freedom" her mother sighs shaking her head.

"It's not like I wanted to be born anyways" she mutters under her breath but before her mother could shout at her they hear a loud crash from where her father and Richie had disappeared.

"What's going on?" she frowns getting up as they make their way towards the said room.

"Dad, Richie?" Alana calls entering the room to find the source of the crash which was a table.

"What happened?" she worries looking from her father to Richie for answer.

"Nothing, leave us alone" her father waves his hands and she frowns.

"You are not giving my father any trouble are you?" she asks narrowing her eyes at Richie who just stays silent which irritates her.

"Alana, I said leave us alone" her father once again scolds her and she groans before walking out as she mutters only she gets scolded all the time under her breath.

*******

"Do visit us often" Alana's mother smiles as she hugs Richie who nods his head before they walk towards their car.

Driving back home they keep quiet until Alana starts.

"Don't be nice to my parents" she speaks making him look her way curiously.

"I don't want them to think you are keeping me happy" she adds when he says nothing.

"And I am not making you happy why?" he questions as he focuses on the drive asking her sigh.

"Because I cannot put my finger on what exactly is wrong with you"

"What?" he asks with a chuckle.

"You are too nice to be true. I know you are using our marriage for your benefit and even if my father knows he is still siding with you...

What are you hiding Russo?" she questions.

"I admit I may not be an open book but I am not hiding anything"

"I highly doubt"

"Why?" he asks as he glances her way.

"Because you married me" she states straight and Richie just drives quietly.

*******

"Why do you sell yourself so short?" Richie asks as they enter the house and Alana stops to turn to face him.

"If there is one thing you should know about me is that I am too high for anyone to touch" she grins making him grin back.

"You think no one can see right through your haughtiness? There is this sadness around you Alana you hide behind your arrogance, there is this shame in your eyes that you cover with your pride...

Though I admit, I have never met a woman who carries herself with such a pride, which such an importance, no one but my wife. You my wife symbolize the meaning to the word Regal every time I watch you" he smiles and she narrows her eyes at his way.

"Then you should know better than to question me" she raises her chin proudly before turning to walk away.

"I am your husband, there is just so much ignorance I can take wife" he calls from behind but she just walks away without a glance his way.

But Richie was not done as he follows her to their room.

"I will be leaving the town for few days" he starts as he enters the room and Alana turns to face him.

"Don't hope I will be a good wife to iron your clothes and pack a bag for you" she comments.

"Then be a bad wife and tag along" he chuckles as she narrows her eyes.

"My father did not give you any honeymoon tickets did he?" she asks making him laugh.

"We just got married few weeks ago and walking into a party all alone without my wife, will make a bad impression"

"As if" she scoffs.

"I am not asking"

"That is why I am not answering"

"Come with me" he asks staring at her.

"No" she replies as she walks towards the bathroom and shuts the door.

*******

Alana wakes up to a silent house, she walks out of her room to find the kitchen empty so she checks in her husband's office he had in the house and find the room empty as well.

With a sigh she remembers that he must have gone to wherever he had asked her to join, so walking back to the kitchen she starts to make herself a cup of coffee.

Yawning she stares out of the window, once the coffee is done she takes the cup and walks out to the garden. She frowns finding the dead flowers wondering why her husband never hired any gardener.

So, walking towards the water hose she turns it on and the water sprinkles all around the garden. She smiles as she feels few drops of water splash on her but steps away enjoying her warm coffee.

Enjoying her coffee out of the house, Alana wonders what she should do next. It was not as if she had many friends around her to hang out with and nor did she have any job to go for.

"Such a drag" she groans just sitting in the garden.

But she was not someone who would just sit still, so getting up as her mind made up she walks inside of the house and gets ready to go out.

After all there must be someone to put a dent of her father's and now her husband's bank account.

********

"Go away" Alana grumbles as soon as she finds a smirking Spencer standing beside her.

"Don't be so heartbreaking Alana" he grins as he traces her bare arm and she glares his way.

"I can break your finger as well if you do not stop touching me" she warns him and he sighs before sitting next to her.

"Oh come on, don't be so cold Alana. You are hurting my feelings" he states staring her way.

"Don't worry feelings can be changed, you will not be the first person to have it hurt"

"Why are you like this?" he asks and she turns to face him.

"Like what?"

"So in control of your emotions, don't you feel the connection between us? Are you not even a little bit attracted to me?

I mean I sure am ready to make this into something more" he states as he covers her hand with his.

"I am sure you are, but one I am not interested and two I am married"

"But not claimed" he grins and she rolls her eyes.

"I am not some prize"

"You are" he grins as he moves closer to her.

"That is why I do not think we can ever be something more Spencer, you think all a woman wants to be claimed but not everyone wants to be...

Now go away" she states turning away as she gets off the stool and Spencer jumps off his stool to hold her back.

"Oh come on, you mean to say your husband treats to not as a prize? I mean does he even treats you as his wife?

I have found you twice in this bar at night alone, no calls to worry from someone, no man barging in search of you so...

At least I am showing an interest on you, but does your husband even gives you a second thought?" he asks but Alana just walks away not wanting to have a conversation on the topic as it was none of anyone's business.

********

Alana stumbles in her house trying to make as less sound as she could but she could barely stand straight in her feet. She grabs on to the door, before she throws the shoes she had worn away and feels good.

"It's twice" Richie's voice startles her and looks up at once in shock to find him standing in front of her.

"You are home" she comments trying hard to stand still.

"So are you, drunk. Again" he states and she waves her hands.

"Just had gone to have few drinks with myself" she grumbles as she starts to walk towards their room.

"There is a cabinet full of drinks in the house" he comments making her frown.

"Oh but there is no fun in drinking alone" she states and Richie stands in front of her stopping her from walking.

"Were you with someone?" he asks and she laughs.

"Of course no one is alone in a bar"

"But was there someone with you?" he asks and she sighs dropping her bag on the floor.

"Yes, there was the bartender and I guess few people did stop by and sat next to me"

"How did you get home?" he questions not stepping away.

"Taxi"

"And he took you straight here in this condition?"

"Of course, the bar would not like if their customer got hurt, they make sure their customer reach home safely...

I have done this plenty of times" she grins proudly trying to step away from him but stumbling a bit and he holds her arms.

*******

"You cannot even walk straight" he sighs as he tries to pick her up but stops as she sniffs him.

"Umm, you smell good" she hums before licking the side of his jaw.

"Alana" he warns.

"I am not some prize to be claimed" she states cupping his face in her palms and staring at his eyes.

"I am not some jewelry to be treasured, I am your wife, your better half and I will be damned if you treat me any less than your equal...

I will bring such stress in your life if you ever think of me as your damsel in distress" she states before pushing him a bit away stumbling on her way to the room.

"Who hurt you Alana?" his voice echoes through the room.

"Myself" she whispers before she opens the door to the room.

*******

"Eat" Richie orders as he forces Alana to sit up on the bed.

"No" she fights but he makes her sit up.

"I believe my wife to be smart but drinking in an empty stomach?" he asks as he puts the spoon closer to her lips.

"I had olives" she grumbles.

"And now you are going to have something else" he sighs watching as she opens her mouth with her eyes still closed.

"Why did you hurt yourself?" he asks taking the opportunity of her drunken state to get some answers.

"I don't want to talk" she chews her food and Richie dabs the towel at the corner of her lips.

"What did you do?" he asks ignoring her protests.

"I will tell my dirty secrets if you tell me yours" she bargains and he grins.

"Smart" he smiles before putting the tray away.

"You are my Getaway car" she admits and he raises a brow in question.

"You may think you have an upper hand marrying me but my father fooled you. No man will ever get to say yes to marry me, you know why?" she asks as she stares at his face.

"Because my father will never let that happen as he does not want me to be part of the world he lives in after all he is part of world's biggest human trafficking business"

"Why are you telling me all this?" Richie asks her.

"Because I know what you want from my father and by marrying me, you along with that Price want to stop this...

I know your eye is on that part of my father's property which touches the border and my father knows if I am pissed I will betray him...

He wants me out of his business, wants me to play happy with a husband" she laughs.

"But should you not be worried I will expose your father?" he asks making her laugh aloud.

"Expose him? You know nothing, you think there are only few men involved in this? The whole fucking world will crumble down if this business stops...

But father is just an ant, so whatever plan you have, throw it away"

"What if I don't?" he challenges.

"Well then just make sure I am not a widow at such young age, because I look fucking dangerous in black" she pats his cheek before getting under the covers.

"You are dangerous without it" he sighs before he drops a kiss on top of her head as he walks out with the empty tray.