The following Monday, Gina went to her parents mansion to discuss the intricacies of the wedding with her parents and Knox.

She met her brother Jamie on the outside as soon as she got out of the car. He strolled towards her with his charming swag, blonde hair slicked back, shades on.

"Hey, dad told me everything," he began. "I didn't think you'd agree to such a think GG, but I'm proud of you."

Gina smiled tightly. "Yeah well, it's about time I made someone proud."

Jamie patted her on the shoulder. "Look, I'll talk to you more about this some other time. I'm meeting Sally for lunch."

"Yeah, sure."

Gina entered the house to find both her parents and Knox seated in the living room, all discussing something they put to an end upon her entry.

"Sweetheart, you made it," Gianna greeted cheerfully.

Gina forced a smile. "Of course, I wouldn't want to miss my own wedding planning."

She sat at the opposite end of the sofa Knox sat in, briefly glancing at him before she brought her gaze to her parents. .

"So what's up?"

"We were just talking about the church and reception location," Sergei exclaimed mildly.

Gina snorted. "Church and reception? I don't want a grand fake wedding. Find a priest, get me two witnesses and let us get this over with but I will not waste my time planning something I can't even stomach."

"Gina!" Gianna shrieked in dismay.

"Its my wedding after all and that's what I want mom and that's final."

"Very well then," Knox announced from the side, looking at Gina with his ashy gray eyes. "Anything for the bride."

Gina rolled her eyes. "And I have already made it clear that this will be on paper only. I will not play the role of the wife."

"Gina this is ridiculous," Sergei reproved.

"What's ridiculous is this entire proposition. The only reason I'm doing this is for the company."

"Very well then Gina, but you'll have to live with me," Knox informed slyly.

Gina was about to protest when she halted.

"That one isn't up for discussion," he clarified firmly.

Gina held her tongue. Living with him or not, she was adamant not to let him control her.

"Fine, when is this wedding going to take place?" she asked dryly.

"This weekend."

"And when do I get my suffer-ring?" she asked sardonically.

Knox couldn't resist his smile. "On our wedding day."

Gina sent him a steely glare that had him smirking, the tension palpable.

"Well if there's anything else, give me a call. I've got a date I've got to prepare for," Gina exclaimed as she stood, sending Knox a spiteful stare.

She had nothing planned but knew it would rile Knox up. He was always the possessive type who frowned even when she spoke to a male acquaintance. No matter how fake their engagement was, Gina knew he was displeased about her plans.

She got up and walked to her car, sighing heavily when she saw Knox approaching her. He was dressed in a suit seeing that it was a workday.

"What do you want?" Gina asked with a huff.

"Cancel your plans. I want to take you to dinner," he said, his form merely a silhouette in the morning sun.

Gina scoffed. "Now why would I want to cancel my plans to accommodate yours?" she asked blankly and not awaiting his reply, she opened the door to her car and attempted to step inside but Knox held the door.

Gina was more irritated. "What do you want Knox?"

"You."

Tracing her tongue over her teeth, Gina replied. "You had me once and you ruined it, that's your mistake, now leave me alone."

Knox released a sigh. "Cancel your plans Gina," he warned.

"Or what?" she challenged bitterly.

"You wouldn't like to find out."

Gina rolled her eyes and pried the door from his clutches. "Fuck off."

As she drove from her parents mansion, Gina fumed at Knox's arrogance and audacity. It seemed he still thought she was the meek girl he once knew all those years ago. The new Gina that he knew nothing of, didn't take kindly to orders or his brooding personality.
Muttering a string of curses, Gina reached for her phone and called up one of her random male friends. She knew they wouldn't pass up on the opportunity to be with her, that much she knew. She chose the second contact in her list - Andrew - a guy she had met at one of her father's functions. Gina reflected on the kind of guy he was as she placed the phone to her ear, awaiting his answer. She remembered he was ambitious and fairly good looking with a tendency to moan loudly during sex. While that had been an annoying characteristic, Gina didn't mind, seeing that she had no plans to sleep with him.

"Gina, you finally returned my call," Andrew answered saying and suddenly she was reminded that he was someone whose calls she always ignored.

"Yeah, consider yourself lucky. Listen, do you wanna take me out for dinner later, around seven?" she asked.

He chuckled. "Of course, I'll pick you up at the hotel."

"Great," she smiled.

"I'll see you then, beautiful."

"Okay."

Gina disconnected her call with a smile. She could already see Knox fuming.

***

She was doing the finishing touches to her makeup when she heard the room phone ring. Grabbing her purse, she briskly walked to answer it, knowing it was the concierge, maybe calling to inform her that Andrew had arrived.

"Yes?"

"Mr Warner is here ma'am asking to see you."

Gina hissed and muttered a curse, expecting his visit because she knew he'd want to ruin things but she had thought he would come when she left. She suffocated a displeasing groan, thinking of an alternative but she found none.

"I'm coming down."

As the door to the elevator opened for her exit, Gina saw Knox. Her breath caught in her throat as she watched as he blatantly stared at her. His gaze consumed the length of her, his hands tucked into pockets, his body covered in a black, tailored suit. The look on his face was grim and so Gina swallowed as she approached him.

"What are you now, a stalker?" she quipped.

"I told you to cancel your plans, sweetheart," he reminded with the raise of a thick brow.

"And I thought I made myself clear," she fired back heatedly, glancing around his shoulder to see Andrew entering.

Gina held back a curse, glancing up at Knox. "My date's here. I'll see you around," she said sidestepping him, rejoicing at the fact that he allowed it.

She moved towards Andrew and welcomed the brief kiss he always offered when they met. She felt Knox's gaze boring through her entire body but she didn't turn to look at him. Instead, she walked hand in hand with Andrew, sighing when she sat inside his car.

The restaurant he brought her to was one, her dates often times brought her. It came to a point where Gina now knew the staff members by name. But not that she was complaining; not only was the food exceptional, but the customer service and environment was also up to standards. Only the rich could afford to dine there and Gina was happy with the fact that her dates thought highly of her enough to bring her here. She smiled as she walked against the sparkling porcelain tiles that reflected it's scenery. The tables were glass and comfortably spaced, ceilings adorned with chandeliers. A pianist was at a secluded corner, playing soft music while light chatter and the smell of good food permeated the air.
Gina and Andrew found a table at a corner, Gina smiling knowing it was the spot she liked best.

"You look beautiful," Andrew complimented at the opposite end.

"Thank you, you cleaned up pretty good too," she said, taking note of his dark suit and tanned skin beneath. His hair was greasy and slicked back neatly, not a strand out of place. His smile was broad, lips moist while his eyes was seductive.

"Do you want to order now or-

Andrew stopped short when he saw someone stand behind Gina, which prompted her to turn to see who it was. She gasped when she saw Knox looming form standing over her.

Before Gina could recover from her shock and confront him, Knox was already moving towards Andrew.

"Do I know you?" Andrew asked irritably, not understanding the interruption.

"No, but you should. Andrew Byfield, right?" he asked, watching as Andrew's brows knit in curiosity. "You may want to run along and pretend this dinner never happened. I hear you're in a custody battle for your kid and I'm sure that you wouldn't want to let it be known that instead of spending time with her, you left her with your neighbor in order to be here."

Knox watched as Andrew paled. "How do you -"

"Never mind that. Now why don't you apologize to the beautiful lady and be on your way."

Andrew swallowed hard, glancing at Gina. "I've gotta go Gina, I'm sorry. I'll call you," he said as he stood, watching as Knox shook his head in disapproval.

When Andrew left, Knox occupied his chair, smiling satisfactorily at Gina who was no longer shocked but boiling with anger.

"Who the hell do you think you are?" she snapped bitterly.

"A man with connections and a tendency to always get what I want. It's amazing what people will say for money, his chauffeur is a chatty one."

Gina gawked at his arrogance, but she later calmed, gritting her teeth and leaning back in her chair.

"You really want to do this? You want to challenge my actions and control me?" she raised a questioning brow. "Give me your best shot."

With that said, she pulled back and grabbed her purse, walking out the restaurant, leaving a smiling Knox.

He was up for the challenge.