CHAPTER 1 Eli
“Mrs. Monti.” I fucking love when people call her by her married name. She hates it, of course, except when I do it. She likes to be seen as her own person and is adjusting to the underworld that receives her as only my wife.
“Jewel is fine,” she replies with a tight smile. I smirk, knowing how much it irritates her, as I slip my hand into hers. The hostess’s gaze dips to our entwined hand, most likely admiring my mother’s small ring Jewel refuses to remove, as well as our wedding band. Everyone is curious about the woman who is every part of me—my wife and she hates it because she thinks it feeds my ego.