Chapter 13 #5
This time he didn’t bother to respond, he simply pressed the volume control on the remote which I’d failed to wrest from him an hour ago.
The circles on my back changed to sweeping up and down caresses.
My chin rested atop my crossed arms on top his chest, giving me a clear view of his profile.
“It’s the orchid, right?” I threw it out there.
“You’re mad because I kept it.”
His jaw clenched for a split second before he replied, “Don’t be silly, Madi. Can I finish watching the program please?”
Yeah.
That was the nail which I’d just hit on the head.
If I had known keeping the damned thing would’ve caused Matt to be so infuriatingly detached these past three weeks, I would’ve sent it back with the diamond necklace.
But it was so beautiful and rare.
And the last form of contact between Dougal McGregor and myself.
Kiss-ageddon.
The kiss between Dougie and myself that Matt had happened upon.
The kiss that had fractured my friendship with Dougie and sown seeds of doubt in my husband’s piercing eyes whenever he looked at me.
Two days after the kiss , we had received a delivery from one of Dougie’s minions.
A caseload of McGregor’s finest aged whiskey for Matt, and an exquisite diamond necklace for me, plus that frigging orchid.
I loved my orchid, though.
Matt had taken one look at the necklace and released a stream of expletives that would make a sailor blush, posh voice notwithstanding.
Naively, I had pointed out that rich men similar to themselves did crazy things like that as a form of apologizing.
I mentioned that Matt himself had bought me jewellery to say sorry.
Matt had glared at me and retorted yes he did, but as he was shagging me it was perfectly acceptable for him to do so.
Then he asked, quite coldly, why would McGregor, who was not shagging me, think it would be acceptable to send me such a thing?
I had shut up then, unable to think up an answer that wouldn’t land me in trouble.
And my orchid.
Cymbidium Kiwi Midnight.
My black orchid.
I knew the name due to Matt’s surprising knowledge of plants.
He had taken one look at it before stating resolutely I would no longer be in contact with that ‘piece of shite Scottish bastard’; Matt’s words not mine.
I thought it was beautiful.
Matt then gave me a little lesson on how orchids have been long thought to provoke and stimulate the sexual consciousness of humans.
Again he questioned why Dougie would think it appropriate to send me such a thing.
The card which accompanied my gifts had said: a rare flower for a rare lass, forgive me, my wee wild cat.
Matt had read the card, arched one eyebrow at me and said, “Wild cat?”
I kept the orchid, used my quick thinking to reason that plants helped the environment by changing Co2 into o2.
Matt had shook his head and repeated I was to have no future interactions with Dougie.
Honestly, I didn’t want to speak to Dougie; he’d crossed the line and brought a whole lot of unnecessary drama into my home life.
Three weeks later and it continued to feel as if Matt was punishing me for something that wasn’t really my fault.
The most hurtful dose of punishment to date had been his absence at the recital we held for our juniors.
It had been important to me and I wanted him there but he had missed it.
That was the moment I knew things weren’t right between us.
Oh, he had a valid excuse.
There was a meeting of epic proportions to address their projected annual profit margins, a meeting that had run later than he’d expected.
By the time he realised how late it was, well, it was simply too late.
I knew his workload pressures had increased to the stage where sometimes he stayed working through the nights at his offices.
Adam and Nathan were also burning the candles at both ends.
Just yesterday I spoke to Bella and she was not a happy pregnant bunny.
But for Matt to not be there when I’d asked him to come?
That shit hurt.
I had waved his apologies away when he’d returned home and smiled brightly at him as he vowed to make it up to me.
A tiny part of me suspected he chose not be there, to punish me because he had yet to forgive me for that stupid kiss.
I should have listened to Matt from the very beginning, I should have never been friends with Dougie.
He had warned me and I hadn’t listened.
Hindsight was always frigging 20-20.
My cell rang from where I left it on the table next to the sofa.
Crawling up Matt’s body I reached for it.
“Lovely,” Matt murmured in appreciation as he nuzzled his face in my bosom.
“Urgh.” I groused when I saw the caller id.
“It’s your mother.” I slid back to my original position and handed him the phone.
“Soul Sucker?” he drawled in amusement when he saw the name flashing on the screen.
“It was either that or She-who-hates-my-guts.” I laid my head over his chest and closed my eyes.
The dull thud of his heartbeat always made me feel safe and warm.
“Hello, Mum,” Matt answered the call, then paused before, “Yes, I know it’s Madi’s mobile – (pause) – she’s somewhere about, on the loo I think,”
I’d been about to kiss his chest in a show of gratitude for him covering for me, but that loo comment stopped me.
“No, she hasn’t mentioned it to me-” Matt gave me a dirty look and I shrugged, already knowing where the conversation was heading.
“Yes, I’ll remind her how much time and effort it took to make her a member of your group-”
I mimed shooting myself in the head and Matt mouthed ‘behave’ to me.
“Yes, well, she’s quite busy, Mum-”
I nodded in agreement with his words.
“She works full-time. Where is she going to find the time between running her studio and taking care of me?”
I stifled my laughter in his broad chest and Matt’s free hand stroked my hair before he wrapped a curl around his finger.
“Mum-”
I couldn’t make out what my mother-in-law was saying, but the volume of her voice increased.
Matt grimaced and started toying with not just one of my curls but wantonly running his hand through all of them.
Did he not understand how easily it could get tangled?
“I’ll tell her, but I know she’s got a lot on her plate at the moment-”
I began kissing his chest.
“Ah, next weekend?”
My head snapped up.
What was happening next weekend?
Please, please, not another family dinner.
“Dinner at seven, right. We’ll be there.”
I bit my tongue to halt the groan.
Matt shrugged, mouthing ‘what do you expect?’
“No, I do not want to speak to Dad now. I’m sure I’ll see him tomorrow at work, so much for his retirement. Look, it’s Sunday afternoon and I’ve been on the go all week. If you want to chat, call Hannah-”
I smacked his shoulder lightly.
There was no need for him to be so curt with his mom, granted I was ducking my crazy ass mother-in- law; but Matt should be nicer.
“I don’t know, Mum – cherrio.” Matt hung up and tossed my cell to the opposite end of the sofa.
He bent his head to kiss my forehead.
“Mum said she’ll pop around to see you on Tuesday. Best of luck with that.”
“She keeps calling me Matt,” I groused, resting my cheek flat on his warm skin.
I inhaled deeply.
He always smelt divine.
“I’ve been screening her calls,”
Matt let out a mocking gasp.
“The nerve of you, screening my darling Mum.”
“Shut up. You do it all the time.” I slowly rubbed my cheek against his chest.
“And I am so not into that group of hers. They say they’re feminists, but it’s the feminism that only serves white women. The problems they face don’t always affect women of colour the same way, in fact, a lot of the times whenever it’s pointed out you get the usual spiel about being divisive and to stop making it about race-”
“Then maybe you should accept their invitation to join and educate them on this issue.” he interrupted, a touch sharply might I add.
Yep.
He still didn’t like these discussions.
I lowered my eyes, disappointed, maybe even saddened by his obvious discomfort.
Matt suddenly kissed my forehead.
“I meant that in a good way, poppet.”
I smiled and leaned up for a proper kiss.
Maybe kiss-ageddon was making me over-sensitive.
I snuggled against my hubby for the next five minutes then Matt shuffled about, grabbed me around the waist and slid out from beneath me.
Oh, maybe not.
I sat up as he stretched his arms above his head, giving me a great view of those firm abs of his.
The jogging bottoms rode low on his hips, and hot damn, my man was sex on legs.
“I’m supposed to be meeting up with Nathan,” he advised, running a hand through his unkempt black locks.
He was going out?
Sunday afternoons were one of the few times we actually got to chill out together.
I jumped to my feet and tugged the t-shirt down to cover my panties.
“I’ll come,” I offered quickly.
So what if I had to share him with Nathan, as long as I could spend time with-
“I highly doubt you’ll enjoy trekking across the golf course,” Matt said dryly.
“I’ll be back in time for dinner.”
“It’s not a problem, Matt, I don’t mind coming.” I hoped he didn’t pick up on the pleading note in my voice.
Being clingy was not an attractive trait.
Matt brushed my suggestion aside with a wave of hand.
“Nathan’s in need of some male company, allegedly Bella’s been driving him around the bend. I’ll be back in a few hours.”
I forced a smile to my lips as he winked at me before sauntering out the entertainment room.
This sucked ass.
To anyone looking in my life was perfect.
Amazing career, married to a great man, good friends and family…
everything seemed perfect.
Yet I wasn’t happy, and I was beginning to think neither was Matt.
He was once more the man from the early days of our relationship.
Aloof, guarded, so very hard to read.
I missed being able to know what he felt by assessing the nuances of his face.
This really sucked ass.
It felt like one of those clichéd romance novel where the female character got her man but then had to go through a lot of unnecessary shit to pad the storyline up before her real happily ever after came to pass.
I wanted my happily ever after now!
We should be living it right now.
I mean, don’t get me wrong, marriage was hard work.
If it was smooth sailing every one would be doing it.
But why did it feel as if this was as good as it got for us?
I shuddered, envisioning our marriage going the same route as Matt’s parents.
They were weird together and I suspected either Portia or William was engaged in extra-marital affairs.
Hell, maybe the both of them.
No one ever pointed it out though.
Once I’d tried to ask Matt about them and he shut the conversation down with a speed that left my head spinning.
My in-laws were nothing like my aunt and uncle.
A tiny smile graced my lips.
Aunt Cleo and Uncle David, they acted similar to love-struck teenagers whenever they thought us kids weren’t paying attention.
The secret glances, fleeting touches, yeah the flame of their love burned brightly after all these years.
Of course, there had been times where they couldn’t stand each other.
I distinctly remembered a time when the living room sofa masqueraded as a bed for Uncle David for a few months when I was about 16.
And Aunt Cleo’s sharp tongue was never at rest, sometimes I wondered why Uncle David put up with her.
He loved her though, we all did.
My smile widened into a foolish grin.
The relationship between myself and my aunt was the best it had ever been.
I no longer dreaded her calls, well, sometimes I did but that was understandable.
Cleo Meyers was still a force to be reckoned with, mellowing out after her brush with death.
The expected shudder ran through me at the memory of my aunt lying in that hospital bed.
Matt had been so supportive during those horrible days.
I sighed, walking over to grab the remote to turn off the tv.
“Mean asshole.” I muttered angrily.
He was punishing me and I didn’t know how much more I could take.
His smiles never reached his beautiful eyes anymore.
The only time there was complete ease between us occurred when we made love, only then did he look at me with an unguarded gaze.
“Stupid. Mean. Gazillionaire.” I snatched my cell up.
“It was just a damned kiss.”
George’s head popped around the open door.
“Mrs Bradley, I’m supposed to remind you to plan the new schedule of classes-”
“Done it.” I quipped, worried he’d heard my previous exclamation.
“Did you also create a new spreadsheet-”
“Yep,” I cut him off with a smug grin.
“I’m on top of things, Georgie Porgie.”
An annoyed flush crept up his cheeks.
Not my problem, I told him the rules last week; unless he started calling me Madi he’d be subjected to these nicknames.
Georgie Porgie was my tenth attempt at breaking the starchy old butler.
“Yes,” He fumed.
“It seems so, and I’m not your personal assistant.”
I blew him a kiss as he spun on his heels and disappeared.
“Why she persists in such a state of undress is beyond me.” he spoke loud enough for me to hear his complaint though.
Obviously done on purpose for my benefit.
“I can still hear you.” I yelled.
My eyes dropped down my body.
Oversized t-shirt and panties, what was wrong with it?
Not much different than a leotard.
I hurried out after him.
“And it’s DuMont-Bradley. Just because I’m married to Matt doesn’t mean I’ve lost all sense of self. A person’s family name is very important.”
George’s back paused and his shoulders went up and down slowly, I think he was taking deep calming breaths.
A teasing grin lit my face up.
Things had been so awkward with Matt and me, I needed to get my kicks wherever I could.
Riling George kept me from fleeing the house most days.
Deliberately skipping up to him I tried to slip my arm through his stiff one.
“Must I lecture you again about your behaviour, Mrs Bradley?” he asked tartly.
“Sir George,” Had I used this one before?
“I’d rather discuss your annual leave. Matt told me you haven’t had a vacation in years. Shall we plan something outrageous? You know, that man, um, what’s his name? Never mind. He reminds me of you. The old guy who works for Matt at his place in Venice. He’s an Italian version of you. How about Venice?”
George politely stepped away from my reach, shot me a dry look and did that slow breathing thing of his again.
“I have errands to run, Mrs Bradley. Is there anything else I can assist you with?”
I deliberated for two long minutes, the flush on George’s face was growing with each passing second.
He knew deep down he was my boy, at least I hope he did.
Otherwise I’d be the worst person to wait upon.
“Poppet, stop pestering George. I’ve spoken to you about that numerous times.” Came from the bend in the hallway.
Crap.
I thought Matt had gone upstairs to get ready.
Had he overheard everything?
George tilted his head smugly.
“Is there anything else I can assist you with, Mrs Bradley?”
“Ah, no, thank you.” Busted.
If I persisted teasing George, Matt would tell me off.
George spun on his heels and rapidly proceeded down the hallway.
“Bye Curious George.” I couldn’t help myself it seemed.
“Madison,” Matt’s warning was sent and received.
I followed George’s retreating back at a more leisurely pace.
When I rounded the corner, Matt was scowling at his phone, he must’ve been in his office to retrieve it.
Pasting a bright smile on my face I sashayed up to him.
Matt slipped the phone into the pocket of his jogging pants before tapping my nose with his index finger.
“Your manner in dealing with our staff leaves a lot to be desired. I’ve already spoken to you about your over-friendliness with George, poppet. It’s inappropriate.”
I grimaced and rubbed my sock-covered toes over the carpet.
“Inappropriate how? He lives with us, Matt.”
“As a loyal and trusted member of staff, not a favourite uncle.” Matt reminded me a touch sharply.
“Speaking of staff, I’ll need you to call the Surrey estate; the care of the grounds is not up to scratch and one of the stable stalls needs immediate repair. There are also a few trees on the drive in to the estate that are in dire need of pruning before the branches interfere with the electricity poles. Poppet? Are you listening to me?”
I blinked slowly.
Was this further punishment?
“I’m not your P.A, Matt. Why can’t George handle it? Or Rachel? I think these things fall more into their remit than mine.”
Matt twisted his mouth into a frown.
I fidgeted under his unwavering gaze.
“You’re absolutely right,” His tone was deceptively pleasant.
“You’re not my P.A, you’re my wife and these things need to be dealt with. Properties don’t run themselves, you know.” Yep, definitely a new form of punishment.
Matt knew how I felt about having staff .
He continued in that pleasant voice, “The staff need to know your position and I may have been too relaxed in letting you avoid establishing that fact. But if you’re reluctant to accept these expected responsibilities, I shall look into your suggestion of a P.A and contact my mother. I’m sure she’ll know someone suitable.”
The bloody tyrant!
I would rather die than give his mother another reason to judge me.
It was time to pull out the big guns.
“Who dealt with these things before we got hitched, Mr Bradley?” I glanced around, checking George was nowhere close by.
“George did, under my instruction.” Matt admitted, the corners of his mouth curled up as I started doing a slow shimmy while teasingly lifting the bottom of my long t-shirt to reveal my cartoon briefs.
“So,” I licked my lips slowly, really slowly.
“Why can’t he continue doing it?”
Matt leaned against the wall and folded his arms across his bare chest as my shimmy became even more suggestive.
“Because he’s getting on in years and I’ve been trying to reduce his duties before his retirement.”
My shimmy stopped abruptly.
“What? He’s retiring?” This was news to me.
George was a part of the woodwork.
“Does he know this? I don’t think he should. You always hear about old people who die because they have nothing to do. He doesn’t have any family,” I was getting worried for George.
Was Matt planning on forcing him to retire?
“I mean, we’re his family. No, I won’t allow it.”
Matt arched a perfectly formed eyebrow in my direction.
It was his ‘ you’re not actually telling me what to do, are you?
’ arch.
“He’s not retiring now, but it is something we’ll need to think about in the near future. I’m going to get changed, make those calls.”
I watched open-mouthed as he walked away.
The urge to shout expletives at his back was strong, but common sense prevailed.
It was best to simply accept my punishment and move on.
How long could it last?
A few more weeks?
A frigging life-time?
There was no one I could talk to about it.
Dr Brown would probably rub her hands in glee and suggest marriage counselling with one of her psychiatrist friends; they would split the no doubt hefty fee and laugh at me all the way to the bank.
Dante knew things weren’t all hunky dory but his advice had been: you shouldn’t have gotten married so soon.
I told him to suck my balls as he was too chicken shit to handle a committed relationship, and he said if I did in fact have balls I would’ve called Matt out on his current treatment of me.
Dante had then said no real woman from Queens was going to let some man play head games with her and I’d become what I’d been born…
a too polite English person.
Well.
His balls earned a knee and Gerrard had been my dance partner for the rest of that day.
I certainly couldn’t confide in Aunt Cleo.
Oh Lord no.
She’d want to speak to Matt and that would not be pretty.
I trudged into Matt’s office, grumbling to myself about the unfairness of it all.
Dougie was still fucking up my chi and I hadn’t spoken to him since that infamous night.
“You are kidding me.” I said out loud when I sat in Matt’s chair.
There, in the middle of the desk, was a sheet of paper filled with his neat handwriting of pending tasks.
It had my name on the top of it.
The proof was right in front my eyes, I had become his damned P.
A.
I put my feet up on the desk and drummed my fingers across the glass top as I glared at the sleek office phone.
I’d do it, yeah, I’d complete the tasks set out for me; but I wasn’t going to simply accept this new penance.
Maybe I should do it ineptly, then Matt wouldn’t make these requests of me ever again.
Except I didn’t want the staff thinking the lady of the manor was incompetent.
The lady of the manor.
That was my title.
Was this indeed a new form of punishment or were these tasks exactly what Matt implied they were?
My responsibilities as his wife.
“Feet off my desk.” Matt stuck his head around the open office door.
Crap.
I’d been sat staring at the list for the past twenty minutes without one move towards the phone.
I hid a grimace and kept my feet up.
Matt walked into the room.
He looked scrumptious in casual khaki pants and that navy shirt, the undone top two buttons gave an enticing glimpse of his chest.
Now was not the time to be distracted by his hotness, even though the brushed back waves of his hair beckoned my fingers, begging to be tousled into its previous relaxed state.
“This is a long list, Matt.” I said, picking up the piece of paper and wafting it about.
Matt came over, eyed my feet then firmly removed them from his desk.
“It isn’t, poppet. Would you like me to pick you up anything while I’m out?”
“My very own secretary to make these calls?” I drawled.
“And I know you’re mad at me, this list proves it.”
Matt snorted before leaning down to kiss me swiftly.
“I’ll see you in a few hours.” Wrapping a finger around one of my loose curls, Matt peered at me.
“I’m not angry with you.” He kissed me again, this time much longer and with much more tongue action.
Nice.
“Feels like it.” I mumbled when he pulled away.
Matt dropped my curl.
He paused, as if about to say something, then flashed me a cool smile.
“Keep your feet off my desk. Love you.”
“I love you too,” My declaration was staunch and Matt rubbed his thumb lightly over my lips.
“Leave George alone, poppet.” he gave a final warning then headed towards the door.
“Matt,” I called to him before knowing how I wanted to express what I truly wanted to say.
He turned, a questioning smile on his striking face as he waited for me to speak.
I was being punished and perhaps I deserved it.
“Have a good game on the golf course, hon,” I said.
“Don’t make any wagers with Nathan, he’s sneaky.”
Matt looked at me for a second, scrutinizing my face.
I tried to smile, but made no attempt to cover the truth of my emotions.
He could see it all, Matt knew me.
The expected verbalization of his Vulcan mind reading powers didn’t happen though.
He read my eyes, the uncertainty, the silent plea for him to tell me all was forgiven; Matt read my eyes and offered no soothing words of assurances or comfort.
Instead he nodded once and gave me that cool smile of his, the one that failed to reach his piercing grey orbs.
“Will do, poppet. I’ll give Nathan your regards.” Then he left, pulling the door shut behind him.
Fuck sakes.
How long would this continue?
I knew Matt had an unforgiving streak, but damn!
Never had it crossed my mind he’d be this way with me.
“It was only a kiss.” I said glumly, reaching for the phone with a tired sigh.
Might as well make those calls.
Glancing at the last task I rolled my eyes.
It had obviously been added just now, the ink was a different colour.
Call my Mum .
If he thought that was going to happen, not only was he an unforgiving meanie but Matt was insane too.
Maybe I could get him something spectacular for his upcoming birthday.
Buy my way out of trouble.
Yes, yes, I could do that.
Get him some mind-blowing gift which would propel me back into my place as the apple of his eye.
Hmm.
The fact it would be money spent from our joint Coutts account, mainly his money, shouldn’t matter.
Right?
I was not a trophy wife spending her husband’s cash.
I was not turning into my mother-in-law…