19. Enrique
Chapter 19
Enrique
I watch Yasmeena disappear after getting what she wanted. I’m equal parts mad and worried. Each one tries to overtake the other but they settle in an uneasy truce. There is only one reason why she disappears and I hope she’s taking her medicine. I wanted to go to her on the plane earlier but my emotions were too raw. I only know what I’ve read about Reactive Attachment Disorder, it's much harder to navigate in real life. I can’t be an emotional open wound while she’s designed to not give a fuck.
She hurts me even when she doesn’t understand it and we’ve only been married for five minutes. She compared getting this tux in advance as calculated and linked it to our business dealings but this is my life not business and the same shit doesn’t apply.
I told her not two days ago what my participation in this meant. I was up front about this being the end of Emily and me. Told her how it would affect me but she doesn’t understand how to deal with someone with a broken heart. I feel Matthew’s and Jeeve’s twin stares eating up my profile. They have so many questions, I’m sure they’ll implode if they don’t get the chance to ask them.
“Looks like we'll need to have a very private lunch?”
“Hell yes,” Jeeve’s response clashes with Matthew’s, “Yes, please.”
I look at both of them for the first time since they’ve joined this fuckery. “Let’s get this fucked up belated bachelor party going.”
The venue has a reception place that we get for an hour with our elopement package. It’s empty because well…we have no fucking guests. There is, however, charcuterie, alcohol, and cake.
“Get all of the personal, burning questions out here guys then we can go to a restaurant.” I grab three of the pre-poured champagne glasses and sidestep the guys when they reach for one. “Get your own.”
I’m halfway through my second flute when the guys join me. Out of habit, Jeeves made me a plate and put the assortment of meat, cheeses, fruit, and crackers in front of me.
“Thank you,” I say before finishing the second glass. The light reflects off of my new jewelry.
I stare at the gold band with the emerald in the center. It’s nothing like the one I picked when I thought I was marrying Emily but it’s nice. It doesn’t look much like a wedding ring.
“Does it burn your finger or should I say freeze it?” Jeeves jokes.
“Really, how did you get held at gunpoint by the icy bitch?”
I’m aware that I’m not happy right now and I’ve just finished my third glass of champagne in the span of five minutes but I’m not a fan of the nickname.
“You guys really need to find something else to call my…” I freeze and try it again. “My wife.”
Matthew raises his eyebrows in acknowledgement as he drinks his champagne.
“Did saying ‘wife’ burn your throat a little? That looked painful.”
Matthew choked a little on his drink from laughing at Jeeves.
I remind myself not to take it personally since there are things that they don’t know about her illness or her disorder.
“Just blink twice if you’re being held hostage by the icy…woman,” Matthew prompts as he leans in with his elbows on the table.
“Is it out of your systems, yet?” I ask them between bites of food.
Both sober up as if they’re truly looking at me for the first time. It appears that the shock has worn off for them now.
“It’s a business arrangement,” I tell them up front then embellish the truth just a tad. “She wanted her husband to be her partner. That didn’t happen and since I’m practically her partner already, she’s giving me COO for being her husband.”
“She had to buy a husband. Makes sense,” Matthew responds with a nod.
“Not exactly. With her culture, if her parents push for her to marry, it’ll most likely be a super traditional man, twice her age, and looking to take over. This way, things stay as they are.” I look at the ring on my finger again. “Mostly.”
“More like a favor for a friend,” Jeeves adds.
I tap my nose since I’m chewing. Except Yasmeena isn’t my friend and there is much more at play than just a favor.
“Emily was right to be suspicious, then?” Matthew questions.
I understand why it’d be his question because he probably got an earful from Bailey about the past weekend spa debacle.
“No. You two were just at our wedding, does it look like we were hooking up while people were working?”
“No,” they say in unison.
“In all the years Emily and I were a couple I’ve never touched another woman in any way that could be construed as cheating but she just wouldn’t believe me no matter what I said. A three year relationship eroded by one working weekend.”
Matthew frowns. “If Emily was jealous of the time you’ve spent working with Yasmeena, Bailey should be murderous.”
“Bailey trusts you.”
“You spent more time with me than you did Yasmeena,” Jeeves points out with a fake pout. “I guess I’m not hot enough for Emily’s jealousy.”
His bullshit pulls a genuine laugh out of me. “I guess not.”
Now that you two have all the Yasmeena questions out of your system. Please, remember your NDAs.” I stand and button the jacket of my custom suit. “Now, let's go get some heartier food.”
“Okay, if we move away from our shock from the last event,” Jeeves starts, “then how are you holding up, Enrique?”
I know what he’s asking and for a moment I was happy to be with men because we usually don’t dive into emotions without a good reason. That wasn’t the case with the wedding they just saw.
“Hurting. It’s like I have this weight on my chest that I can’t alleviate,” I respond, honestly.
“Then why this?” Matthew probes. “I love Bailey so much that I cannot imagine leaving her for business.”
There is a tinge of judgment in his tone as he rubs his beard and stares out at the water like I asked him to choose between Bailey and his career. Hell, that’s not the simple thing that happened here. I wish it were that simple.
The part that I cannot talk about is what kept me up at night. I can’t cure cancer but I can help solve some of her issues. Plus, if this doesn’t go well, I know I’m willing to take care of her.
“There are still a lot of details I cannot discuss. I didn’t run off and leave my fiancée just for a business deal. Besides, Emily was jealous of Yasmeena the entire weekend. She lost trust in me where it was unnecessary. By the time I returned from work yesterday, she was gone. Emily packed up, blocked me, and left to take a job in New York. All without consulting with me.”
My hand trembles a little when I grab my drink. The last thing I want to do is break down in public.
“I’m sorry, man,” Matthew says. “That’s rough.”
“Yeah,” Jeeves adds. “It is.”
I don’t say anything for a while as I watch the people move around us at the restaurant. Matthew and Jeeves look at each other after a while, probably wondering if they should change the subject.
“I didn’t know she was even considering an offer.” I mumbled before moving my attention back to them. I’m sure they see the pain on my face but it doesn't matter. “That should help with your curiosity. Let's eat.”