Chapter 15
Stella
My eyes flew open at the sudden feeling of nausea that took over me. Jumping out of bed, I ran into the bathroom and leaned over the toilet. Shit. Not today. I started my new semester at NYU. As I sat on the floor with my head in the toilet, I could feel the rise in my throat. When it was finally over, I stood up, grabbed a wash cloth, ran it under hot water, and placed it on my face. The nausea was still there, but not as bad.
I stepped into the shower and quickly shaved and washed my body.
“Good morning.” Mile’s voice startled me.
“Miles, what the hell?”
I turned off the shower, and he was standing there holding a towel when I slid open the door.
“Thanks.” I grabbed it and wrapped it around my body. “Why are you in my bathroom?”
“Well, it is my bathroom too. This is my penthouse.” He smirked. “Anyway, I know you start your new classes today and I was worried you weren’t up yet.”
“I am, and I need to get ready.” The smell of the coffee he held intensified the nauseous feeling in my belly.
“I’ll make you a cup of coffee before I leave,” he said.
“No, don’t.”
“Why not?” His brows furrowed.
“I don’t feel like any right now.”
“You always have coffee first thing in the morning.”
“Not today.” I walked into the bedroom.
“Okay. I’ll see you later. Good luck today.” He smiled, kissing my forehead.
“Thanks.”
The last two classes I needed weren’t available online, so I had to attend class in person, which I was happy to do. I wanted to be around other people and not cooped up in this penthouse all day, which I had been for the last month with my other classes.
The situation between Miles and I hadn’t changed. He did his thing. I did mine. When he wanted sex, we did, which was amazing every time. I fell for him back in Vegas and even more now. I was in love with Miles Bradshaw and didn’t know what to do.
We weren’t your traditional married couple. After sex, I would leave and go back to my room. That’s the way he wanted it, and I hated it. I craved his body wrapped around mine at night, holding me tight and making me feel like I was the only woman in the world. He didn’t take me out on dates, and I barely spoke to him all day, only when he came home for a few moments before he went into his office and shut the door. What did I expect? I knew this marriage was fake, and I knew Miles would never be able to commit to anything. He was an emotionally damaged man, but I still fell in love with him anyway, being fully aware of the pain and complications that go with loving someone like that.
While I was getting ready, my phone rang with a Facetime call from Jordyn.
“Good morning, sunshine. How is the rich life treating you?” She brightly smiled.
“Morning.”
“What’s wrong.” Her brows furrowed.
“I start classes at NYU today, and I’m not feeling well.”
“How?” she asked.
“I threw up when I got out of bed, and I feel very nauseous still.”
“The flu is going around. Make sure you stay hydrated.”
“Jordyn, I love you, but I have to go.” I ran to the toilet and vomited.
“Damn, Stella. How are you going to go to classes?”
“I don’t know,” I said, my head in the toilet.
“Eat some crackers. I’m hanging up. I’ll check on you later to see how you are.”
“Okay.” I threw up again.
Shit. This was not okay. I wiped my mouth, gripped the counter, and stared at myself in the mirror. Inhaling a deep breath, I felt better. Maybe it was the Chinese food I ate last night. I prayed that was it for the rest of the day.
* * *
Miles
We’d been married for a month already, and only eleven months remained before I took over as CEO of Bradshaw Capital. My Uncle Ben popped over one night for a surprise visit. I knew it was to see if I was lying about Stella moving in, and I took great satisfaction when he saw her and her things around the penthouse.
My office door opened, and I saw Levi standing there when I looked up.
“Do you have some time for a friend?” he asked.
“Get in here.” I smiled as I got up from my chair, walked over, and hugged him. “How was your trip?”
“It was good.” He sat down across from my desk. “How’s married life?”
I cocked my head at him. “You mean my fake married life?”
“Okay.” He chuckled. “Your fake married life.”
“It’s fine.” I leaned back in my chair. “I do my thing, and she does hers.”
“Are you sleeping around with other women?”
“Nah. There’s no need to when I can have it anytime I want at home.” A smirk crossed my lips.
He sat there, narrowing his eyes.
“What’s that look for?”
“Nothing. Anyway, I have some news. I proposed to Laurel, and she said yes.” He smiled.
“Wow, Levi. Congratulations. I’m happy for you. If that’s what you really want.”
“Of course it is, Miles. I love her and want her to be my wife—my real wife with a real relationship for the rest of our lives.”
The way he said that struck a nerve in me.
“When’s the big date?” I asked.
“We haven’t set one yet. But when we do, I want you as my best man.”
“I would be honored.” I smiled.
“And you better bring your wife.” He pointed at me. “Fake marriage or not.”
“Can you please stop calling her that. It’s not real, and you know it. I still consider myself single.”
“I hate to break the news to you, my friend, but it is real. You have the rings and the marriage license to prove it. I will keep calling her your wife as long as you have those.” He stood up. “I have to get to the office. I just wanted to stop by and tell you the big news.”
I walked over and hugged him. “Congratulations, Levi.”
“Thanks, Miles.”
He walked out of my office and shut the door. I walked over to the window, tucked my hands into my pants pockets, and stared out at the busy city. I thought about Stella. Picking up my phone, I sent her a text.
“How are classes going?”
I waited for a response, and after a few moments, I placed my phone in my pocket and headed to a meeting. Once my meeting was over, I pulled out my phone, and still no text from her. What the fuck? I called Sean.
“Hey, Miles.”
“Did you pick up Stella at NYU yet?”
“Yes, and I drove her straight home.”
“How long ago?”
“About an hour.”
“Was she okay?”
“Yeah. She was fine. Why?”
“Just wondering. I’m leaving the office around five o’clock.”
“Okay. I’ll be there.”