𝐒𝐀𝐅𝐄 𝐏𝐋𝐀𝐂𝐄

𝟔 #2

When I gave him the encouraging nod, he started to open the box eagerly. For the quickest second my gaze went to Fenix.

Oh my God!

He was smiling at Ian. He knew how to smile?

Fenix had dimples on each cheek, covering behind his five o'clock shadow beard. Who would have thought that the man would ever smile in my presence.

My mouth was still parted in shock when he straightened himself up and took a step toward me.

"And this is for you." He handed me the small bag and the file which I assume was the contract.

My eyebrows pinched together when I looked inside the bag. There was a plastic container. I took it out and my cheeks blushed.

I must look like a tomato.

There was a slice of tiramisu inside of the container. The one from Nino's restaurant which I have told him is my favourite.

My heart swelled at the gesture.

"Thank you." I said and without looking at him, placed the tiramisu on the table together with the file.

"Can you help me with this?" Ian tilted his head and lifted the car in his hands while gazing at Fenix with hopeful eyes.

"Sure buddy." They sat on the sofa and Ian watched Fenix work with the car in his hands. He poked his tongue on the corner of his mouth while he carefully observed Fenix.

"Do you want something to drink?" I asked.

"Water would be good." I hummed as a response and turned to the kitchen. I opened the fridge and took out a bottle of water and brought it to Fenix.

He placed the car on the floor and handed the remote to Ian.

I watched their interaction and it was sure messing with my feelings.

Ian never got to have moments like this with his father. Wayne, Sally's boyfriend wasn't in the picture that much. He was there when Ian was born but I wasn't really seeing around them a lot.

Ian played around and then took Fenix by the hand and showed his room.

At the end of the tour, the whole bedroom was covered in small car toys and dinosaurs. He even showed him all of the stickers he had and jumped on the bed to show him the covers and pillows.

Fenix listed to all of his stories and not for a second did he made Ian feel dismissed or unseen.

"Ian it's your bed time. You should brush your teeth first and then it's time for you to sleep." I said after almost an hour of them bonding.

"Eli please, can I stay longer tonight?" He jutted his bottom lip and circled Fenix's arm with his tiny hands.

He looked even smaller next to him.

"But you have school tomorrow." I didn't want him to feel sad but this was his bedtime and I didn't want him feeling sleepy tomorrow morning.

"Please." He begged and Fenix turned to him.

"You should listen to Elsie buddy. I'll visit you again. You have to go to bed now." Ian's shoulders slumped and he nodded in defeat.

"Okay. But please visit us again."

"I will, don't worry." He ruffled his hair and made him stood up on his feet. "Go on brush your teeth now." Ian ran to the bathroom and I whispered a quiet thank you to Fenix.

After Ian was done with everything, I tucked him into his bed and kissed his forehead.

"Sleep well, Ian. I love you."

"I love you too, Eli." He turned on his side and I left the lamp on.

I exited his room, leaving the door slightly open.

He didn't like when the door was fully closed and I also felt better knowing that if he needed something, he was able to reach me without struggling to open the door in the middle of the night.

We use to sleep on the same bed but since last year, I wanted him to get use to sleeping alone.

"Thank you again. He was really excited when I told him that you are visiting us tonight." Fenix nodded and stood in the middle of the living room. His hands flexing as he slid his hands into pockets of his slacks.

Strangely, I didn't feel weird having him here. Not that he was standing in my living room and that I have seen him interact with Ian, I felt so much better.

"Feel free to sit." I pointed to the chairs by the table.

I grabbed two spoons from the kitchen and lowered myself on the chair next to him. I offered him the spoon while I opened the plastic container with the tiramisu.

We dig into the dessert and I closed my mouth when the sweet taste hit my tongue. I craved this so much.

Before I lost myself in the sweet heaven of the tiramisu, I opened the file and started to read the contract.

Fenix stayed quiet while I went through every page. The deal was going to last six months, if needed, seven.

Ian's school bills were going to be paid together with everything else. Also mine as well.

We were going to divorce mutually and I was going to have a secure future as his ex wife. All of the things he told me were here. Written without any mistakes.

So he was a man of his words.

"What about my work?"

"You can work from home." He said.

"What about the restaurant?"

"I hope you can understand that with being my wife there will be changes. In which I mean, you can't just work at a public place where everyone can reach you. I can't afford something happening to you because of my work. You can find a job that you can work from home."

He explained and I understood what he meant.

I wasn't going to make fuss out of it. It was for half a year. I think I can menage working from home the whole time, that if I can actually find a job. I'll have to though.

"You and Ian will have a complete protection. Whenever you go there will be signed guards with you. And please follow their lead. They are there to protect you and not to make your life harder. Hmm?"

"Okay." I'll endure whatever for the next following months, I just want Ian to be safe. That's all that mattered.

"What were your rules that you wanted to add?" He asked and I shifted slightly on my seat. I braced my elbows on the table and my skin slightly touched his.

Shivers ran down my spine at the contact.

"Well... now that we'll have to act as a married couple. We'll... we'll have to show public affection right?"

"Mhmm." He hummed. This was embarrassing but we had to have this conversation.

"Just holding hands is enough I think. We'll have minimal physical contact." It was enough right?

"Okay, we can work with that."

"And that is if it's needed. Ian doesn't really understand so we don't have to do any of that in front of him."

"What else?"

"I'll sleep in Ian's room."

"Yeah that's not really gonna work. I'm sure he knows that married couples share bedroom. You don't want him accidentally telling my parents about that." Crap. I forgot that I'll have to meet his parents as well.

"But..."

"I'm not going to eat you, Elsie. You'll sleep on your side while I'll sleep on mine. It's not that hard." I stared at him as he placed his hand on the back of my chair and leaned slightly forward.

His woodsy cologne hit my nose and all I wanted to do was get close to him and take a deep breath. He smelled divine.

"Okay but we'll talk about this." I pointed a finger at him.

"Mhmm." He bit his lip and nodded his head while his eyes never left mine. I gulped and quickly averted my gaze back to the contract.

"When do I meet your parents?"

"Tomorrow preferably. The wedding will be in a week or so. It's better if you meet them earlier." I did read in the contract about the wedding date being close by but it still felt surreal.

And tomorrow? That felt too quick. Everything was happening too fast.

"What will they say to this?" I pointed between us. What if they don't like me? I was just a random girl and I'm sure they expected for him to marry someone from their level of class.

"They can't wait for me to get married so they'll be happy." Okay then...

I tapped my fingers on the table in nervousness. I'll have to add the deals we made into the contract and I'll also need a copy of it.

"Have you had any boyfriends?" The question popped out of nowhere and I faced Fenix.

"Yes. Two." And those two boyfriends were in high school and college. Since I broke up with Mike, couple of years ago, I haven't dated anyone.

It's not like those relationships lasted. The first one was more of a friendship than anything else. Oliver didn't even try to kiss me at all. In the four months of our dating, I was the one who kissed him and that was it.

Nothing happened at all. We broke up and I haven't seen him since.

Mike was an okay guy. He tried his best but we just weren't a match. He wasn't a guy who can settle down at young age. Those were his words. He didn't want to be tied in a relationship so I broke up with him.

We separated on good terms but never saw each again as well.

"What are their names?" Fenix asked again.

"What does that matter? It's in the past. They don't even live here." When I finished with college here, I stayed. I didn't move back home. It was not that far from my grandparents house but I had everything here.

"Fine." His jaw clenched and he averted his eyes.

"That's all from me. For now at least." I closed the file and Fenix stood up from the chair. He fixed his t-shirt and I stood up as well.

"I'll call you tomorrow." He said and looked down to his wristwatch. "It's late and I should go."

"Okay, thank you again for the Ian's gift and for this." I pointed at the now empty container where the dessert was couple of minutes ago.

He just nodded once and started to make his way over to the door. I said goodbye to him and watched him disappear in the hallway of the building.

After I closed the door behind me, I let out s long sigh. One of the things I was worried about is over.

I checked on Ian and found him sound asleep. When I did that, I went to the living room and slumped down on the sofa.

"What did you get yourself into Elsie?"

I whispered to myself and leaned my head back while closing my eyes.