Chapter 3
Chapter Three
TRULY
Why is he doing this to me? As if the money he spent on me is that much in the grand scheme of things, but hell, what do I know? I have been fairly sheltered and never did have to worry about the cost of things. When I needed anything, he was right—I’d simply swipe the card.
All right, maybe I’m not so innocent in all of this. We used each other. Whatever. It doesn’t negate the fact that before this I thought we were friends. That he would keep some form of contact with me.
I had a giant crush on him that I never managed to hide well. My face would always flush a cherry red when he was near.
Blake was always friendly and polite to me, but he did keep his distance.
That's why I was ecstatic when I learned about the marriage.
I was never one hundred percent sure he didn't see me as more of a little sister type.
That he only tolerated me because he was forced to be around me by our parents.
I'm sure I was awkward as hell. That's what happens when you're in all-girls schools. I didn't know the first thing about having a crush or fully understanding it back then. But now I realize that was all it was. Only an infatuation. I don't know this Blake that stands in front of me today.
These stupid love feelings I harbor for him are only remnants of that.
That I'm romanticizing our encounters in the past, and they were purely platonic.
Why else would he have stayed away from me?
He didn't see me that way. That's what makes this all the more frustrating.
Why is he insisting that we stay married?
I take a breath and step forward, taking one of the seats in front of his desk. "We can do a payment plan. I have already started searching for a job."
"Where?" His questions and responses are so cold and direct.
"Random places." I shrug it off. Yeah, my prospects aren't great.
I've always loved history, and it's what I majored in.
I na?vely believed that marrying Blake would naturally lead me to become a wife and mother, which is why I indulged in pursuing a history degree.
I should have done something more practical like business.
I swallow down the emotion that tries to clog my throat. Being a mom and having a family was what I wanted for so long. Ever since I was a little girl and I first saw Blake, I was convinced I'd marry him. That one day he'd be mine. I would play make-believe in my mind. I really do need to grow up.
"That doesn't sound promising."
"Don't be cruel," I mutter. I don't need to be belittled. It’s not like I don’t know I’m up a creek without a paddle.
"I'm the cruel one? My wife stormed into my office and is now demanding a divorce."
"See right there." I lean forward. "I had to storm into your office. As a matter of fact, I had to secretly finish school early, get on a plane, and then sneak up to see my own husband.” I shake my head.
"Some husband," I mutter under my breath, staring down at the floor.
A low rumble comes from him that has my head snapping up.
"You were to finish school and then return home."
"Oh, was someone going to come over and give me my passport back? Would they care to stay and watch me walk across the stage?" Blake jerks back as though I slapped him.
"You don't have your passport?"
"No, you took it."
"How did you fly home?" I glance around. "Truly. How did you fly home?” There is a warning in his tone.
"I don't have to tell you shit." I watch his jaw flex and enjoy it far more than I should. He may be the one with the upper hand here, but I know him not knowing how I got here without my passport is going to drive him mad. He deserves the torture.
"I was unaware you did not have your passport. That is not something I would consent to. You were living abroad and could need to come home at any time."
Exactly.
"Yeah, God knows no one was coming to see me." I can’t help the little break in my voice that slips through.
"Are you telling me your parents never visited you? I remember that trips were discussed and planned, including the holidays." Oh, but he never planned to come himself? He can kick rocks.
"They came for a couple holidays and stopped for lunch or dinner a few times as well." If they had to pass by on their way to somewhere else.
"That doesn't make sense." He runs a hand down his face. I may not know him anymore, but I can tell he’s not acting.
"It doesn't need to. We'll set up a payment plan, and as soon as I get a job, I'll start paying you back.”
"You're aware that just a year for the classes alone costs two hundred thousand." Okay, that sounds like a lot. "Are you also aware that if you get a job at a museum or anything of that sort, you'd maybe get seventy-five thousand a year?"
I will be paying this off for the rest of my life. I really have been na?ve and stupid.
"I understand, and I'll get a few jobs to try and pay you back."
"I don't want your money."
"What do you want then?"
"My wife."
"Blake, I have never been your wife. Let's be honest here." He holds up his hand with his wedding ring on. I'm still wearing my own as well.
The ring was another thing that had given me hope. I knew he had to have been the one to pick it out. It wasn't just some giant solitaire.
Oh, it's still big. The emerald-cut diamond in the center is likely ten carats, but a halo of smaller diamonds wraps around it and then down the band.
It was Lady Merabello's ring, named the Royale Halo.
I love it and the story behind it. It is rich with history.
Only he would have taken note that I'd desire such a ring.
"You could work for me."
Wait, what? I don't care for the sound of this. No, I need as much space between Blake and me as possible if I ever want to get over him. Working for him would be disastrous.
"As what? An assistant?" I glance back toward the door where she disappeared. I'm not getting a great vibe from her. I might not know shit about men, but girls I got. She has eyes for my husband. Even though he’s my soon-to-be ex, I can’t help the smidgen of jealousy I feel about that.
I push that down. It doesn't matter. He can fuck her for all I care. Okay, I'll care, but I'm not going there.
“A sort of assistant.”
I narrow my eyes on him. The conversation better not be going where I think it is.
“I’m not a whore if you’re thinking—” His hand slams down on his desk, making me jump. When did he get so angry?
"I think the paperwork you brought makes that more than clear.
" Then why the hell is he so freaking mad?
"You think so little of me." Oh, damn. Why does he care?
He hasn't considered my thoughts in years, if he ever did.
I shrug a response, only pissing him off more.
I can see the tops of his ears actually getting red.
"Then I might as well live up to that expectation. "
"You know what? I don't have to do this with you." I stand.
"Sit down," he orders, a finality to it.
Obey or else. My body obeys before my mind.
I swallow, wondering what that silent "or else" means, but I might be about to find out either way.
"We're going to be making a new deal." I open my mouth to respond, but the glare he shoots me has me pressing my lips together.
"We are at a crossroads here." He leans back in his chair. "I want my wife, but she wants out."
"You can't—"
"I can do whatever I like," he says, cutting me off.
I shake my head no. "Whose passport did you use to get here?
" The conversation suddenly takes a left turn, or maybe not, as my suspicion starts to rise.
"Both parties can be in serious trouble for such an act.
It's a federal crime that carries prison time. "
"Oh, you're going to toss your wife into prison?" I'll call that bluff.
"No, I have friends in high places now; for the friend, I'll have the embassy go collect her and ship her back here for the FBI to handle." My stomach sinks.
"I stole it from her," I blurt out in a rush.
"I'm sure the Feds will see about extracting that information from her. I can't believe what you say. You're not a woman of your word." I stare at him. I don't know this man any longer. "Are you not trying to go back on our marriage contract?" I suppose he might have me there.
"So you'll hold this over my head? You can't forever. Statute of limitations." I pull that out of my ass, but I'm pretty sure it's a thing.
"Maybe so, but that's going to be more than a couple of years."
"Don't do this," I whisper.
"You have given me no choice." I swallow. "But I'm not completely irrational." I bite the inside of my cheek. "And as you said, you're no whore, but you will still act as my wife. You will live in my home and act accordingly for the next year."
"And then what?” A year isn't too bad. I can do a year.
"Your debt to me will be cleared, and we can revisit the marriage." I chew on my bottom lip. "Tick tock, Truly. I'm a busy man running the company that has paid for your life. This deal will leave the table as quickly as I put it there."
"Okay!" I shout. I won't have Mable getting dragged into this because of me.
Giving me her passport was hard enough for her.
She adheres strictly to the rules. I tease she's a Goody Two-shoes, but I adore her for it.
She is sweet and pushed against her own ways in trying to help me because she loves me.
"I'm glad you are now seeing reason." I grit my teeth so I don't dig a bigger hole.
A year. I can do that… or so I thought.