Chapter 2
With her son comfortably asleep across the hall, she retired to the sitting area of her room. Lounging in the oversized teal chaise next to the large stone fireplace, she surveyed her new surroundings or rather her old love nest. The wall of thick curtains blocked out the world, lending a cozy warmth to the room that was bigger than the apartment she shared with her mother. In the morning, the room would fill with sunshine like a meadow on a summer day.
Her gaze kept being drawn to the large antique canopy bed on the other side of the room. In another lifetime she had spent hours there, learning every inch of Michael’s naked body and how each touch elicited a different, more alluring reaction. Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, she could almost smell him moving through the stages of his arousal. The increasing musk created an erotic air that made her yearn for him. Her hand slid down her thread-bare nightgown to her breast, squeezing her nipple at the memory of his strong muscular form trembling above her as he tried to hold back his release until he satisfied her.
“Hmm?” she purred into the phone. She hadn’t bothered looking at the ID when she felt the vibration against her leg.
“Hi, sweetie! Did I catch you at a bad time?” Her mom always seemed to know when she was needed, and being pulled out of her fantasy about the devil she just married was a necessary distraction.
“Hi, Mom. No, it’s fine. What’s up?”
“You sounded out of breath. I thought maybe you were giving Micah a bath.”
“He’s already sleeping. Besides, he’s gotten too old for me to do that.”
“But he’s still so small. Be careful, especially if your room is far away from his.”
“Mom, do you miss us already?” Evelyn and Micah had gone to pick up their few belongings after the formalities of the morning and filled her mom in on the details of the meeting.
“Of course! I don’t know how I’m going to start each morning without my rays of sunshine.” She had always been close to her mom, but when Micah came along, the woman became her rock, promising Evelyn there was always a solution. Even when the Hardings were tearing her world apart brick by brick, her mom had found a way for them to persevere.
“You are going to love having some peace and quiet. And you know we’ll still be visiting almost every day.” The three of them had been inseparable. She and her mom had traded off watching Micah and working to scrape enough money together for them to survive. Even the small business they had started didn’t bring in enough to keep them from feeling like they were drowning in debt. But, if she was careful with her new income, she might change that for all of them.
“I hope so. Tell me, how was the rest of your day and dinner with that man?” Her mother had refused to say Michael’s or his father’s name for the past eight years.
“We haven’t seen or heard from Michael since this morning. But Banner and the staff are taking very good care of us. ”
“At least someone is. He has always been so much more than a butler.”
“You should have seen how much food they had at dinner, just for the two of us. How did they think we’d eat that much?”
“They don’t know how little you’ve been subsisting on. The occasional cheese sandwich isn’t standard.”
“At the end of the meal, Micah slipped some rolls into his pockets. He thought he was being so sly.”
“It’s going to take you both some time to get used to having access to food whenever you’re hungry. Don’t think that little boy of yours didn’t notice every time you went without so he could eat.”
“What else was I supposed to do?” She rubbed at her forehead, thinking of all the things she wished she could have done for her son.
“You’re doing everything you can for him. Maybe the warmth and nourishment will help him thrive.”
“I hope so.” Getting up and pacing the room seemed the only way to relieve some of her pent-up anxiety.
“Are you settled in your rooms?”
“I’m in the old room I used to sleep in when I stayed here. It’s like nothing changed.” She smoothed out a wrinkle from the comforter, remembering how attentive Michael could be when they were tucked away in here.
“Oh my god, do you think he did it on purpose to goad you?” Her mom was well aware of the tactics that the Hardings used on their enemies.
“Maybe. I’m not sure he put any thought into it, particularly regarding us. Banner showed us to the east wing and told Micah he could choose whichever one he liked out of the dozens available. You know Micah. Of course, he opted for the smallest room that barely fit a single bed and a tall, thin dresser.” Micah had a beautiful soul trapped in a body that fought against him, yet he was always grateful and kind.
“They didn’t have his room ready for him?” Her mom’s indignation on Micah’s behalf was endearing, even if it was for something Evelyn considered trivial.
“I was surprised too. Banner looked so embarrassed. I’m not sure they knew Micah was coming.”
“I’m sure they’ll set up a playroom for him, now that they know.”
“I don’t think they’re allowed. The contract specified that all our personal expenses come from my allowance.”
“Maybe you could splurge a little with your new income.”
“Mom, you know we still need to be careful with our finances. It’s not like we got insurance or transportation in the deal.” In actuality, her debt was still growing and they would always have to scrimp and save just to stay afloat.
“That eff-ing cheapskate. Tell me that at least clothes are being covered by him.”
“You know you can curse when Micah isn’t around, right?” She placed her most prized possession, a framed picture of her and Micah on his birthday last year, on her nightstand.
“Yeah, but if I get into the habit, I’ll forget, and then you’ll be mad at me for teaching him new words.”
“Very true. Anyway, only food and shelter are covered per the agreement. ”
“Can’t you renegotiate?”
“It’s fine. I couldn’t chance him backing out. Think of how many people have turned us away from a job because we asked for benefits in addition to a living wage.”
“The things you will have to wear for appearances are going to take a lot of your monthly stipend.”
“I’ll make whatever I need. That reminds me. I left my dress from today over there. Will you get it dry-cleaned so I can repurpose it?”
“It’s good you’re so handy with that sewing machine. Did you get it set up?”
“Yeah, there’s a huge walk-in closet with a ton of light. It’ll make a great workspace.” She stood in the middle of the small room that was bigger than her old bedroom. She had already placed the leased industrial machine in the corner and filled a drawer with her personal items.
“You’re not going to work tonight are you?”
“Probably not. I might sketch some ideas out, but it’s been a long day. I assume Michael won’t make an appearance, so maybe I’ll read and go to bed.”
“It’ll be a blessing if the asshat doesn’t show. You should lock your door and turn out the lights, just to make sure he can’t have his way with you.”
“Alright, Mom. I don’t think he’s interested anyway. I’ll see you tomorrow. Love you.”
“Love you too, sweetie.”
She sunk further into the chair, pulling a blanket over her. While she loved cuddling with her son, she enjoyed having a little space of her own and a lovely warmth that had been missing for so long.
“HEATH, WHAT THE HELL was that shit show?” Michael groaned toward the speaker on his phone.
“I told you to read all of the documents thoroughly. I couldn’t figure out why you were so nonchalant about this arrangement.”
The stacks of papers didn’t get any smaller, whether at his official office in town or his study at home. His hours-old dinner sat untouched in the small clear space that remained. The strata of files made sense to him most times, but occasionally things got buried, like the original documents about his new family.
“But Evelyn of all people? How could you let that happen?” He honestly hadn’t cared who it was, until he saw those bewitching green eyes.
“I’m sorry, man, but I tried to warn you. You brought this on yourself.”
“She fucking betrayed me. You are the only one who knows how she crushed me when she deserted me at the hospital.” He gestured wildly, as if Heath could see him.
“I tried to warn you even before that.”
“I know, I know. How was it so easy for her to sign that prenup today when she refused back then?”
“I’ve told you before that she had something on the side while she was dating you. It was the only thing that made sense. There’s nothing to say that she doesn’t this time too, but has just learned to be more cunning.” Heath had been telling him things like this since he and Evelyn first started dating years ago.
“Hey, by the way, what was that thing between you in the meeting?”
“What thing?” The lawyer may have been a good actor in the courtroom, but he couldn’t carry off the innocently accused role.
“She seemed like she was going to say something and shut down as soon as you coughed.” He tossed a paperclip in the air to occupy his hands as he circled his desk.
“I guess she’s still intimidated by me being your friend, just like she always was. What did she say about it?” Evelyn had never been daunted by anyone, so there had to be more behind Heath’s recriminations.
“Huh? Oh. I haven’t spoken to her since the meeting.”
“Avoidance. I guess that’s one way to handle this. What about tonight though?”
“What about it?” It was Michael’s turn to play oblivious.
“It’s your wedding night. You always said the sex was on fire between you and that kiss screamed it.”
“That was a mistake. As long as I keep my distance and my hands to myself, I can resist her.”
“Ha! What are you going to do when you have to go to functions and act like a couple? You’ll have to sit next to each other, have meals together, even put an arm around her.”
“Don’t they say people can withstand anything for a year?”
“I don’t think Nietzsche can help you out of this one. Depending on the translation you trust, the quote is ‘He who knows the why for his existence will be able to bear almost any how’.”
“Exactly! This is a means to an end. In a year the election will be over, and the two of us can go our separate ways again. This time, both of us will be the better for it.”
“Alright. You tell yourself whatever will help you sleep. Hey, heads up, the press release about the wedding is coming out in the morning.”
“Like anyone’s going to pay attention to it? I gotta go. I have another meeting.” He glanced up at Banner, who was standing solemnly in the doorway.
“Got it. All kinds of denial tonight. You have a good one.” He hit the end call button and slumped in his chair.
“Sir?” The butler waited for permission to enter.
“Come in, Banner.”
“You wanted an update on Mrs. Harding and young master Micah.”
“Maybe you could skip the formalities and just call them the woman and child?”
Banner ignored the request and proceeded with his report. “They settled into their rooms and had a lovely dinner before heading to bed.”
“Did they eat in her room?”
“They waited in the dining room for you until I informed them you would be otherwise detained. Mrs. Harding offered to bring your meal to you.”
“Why?”
“I suppose she thought it would be a nice thing to do,” Banner stated, picking up the cold plate of food from the desk that he had delivered earlier.
“Or she had an ulterior motive. You’ve obviously forgotten what she’s like, Banner.” Michael stood, emphasizing his point.
“Perhaps it is not me with the lapse of memory,” Banner murmured.
“When will the rest of their things arrive?”
“It appears that they have no other things.” Banner aligned the already straight guest chairs.
“How did they manage to bring it all over already?”
“Upon review of their rooms while they were dining, they have a few articles of clothing each, with little else.” Banner had a devious side, which made him a good ally.
“That is ingenious! She will not get another penny from me, apart from what I have agreed to.” Michael crossed the room to the door.
“I don’t understand the connection, sir.”
“I knew she was concocting a plan. I just couldn’t figure it out. Now I see it.”
“Ah. Is there anything else I can do for you this evening?”
“No. Just keep me updated. Goodnight, Banner.” Michael stated, walking down the hall.
Slamming the heavy, carved wooden door of his room, he tore at his clothes, trying to remove Evelyn’s scent. It had been strangling him all day. He assumed it was from when they were entwined earlier. He’d been hard since she walked into the room, but after that damn kiss, he was like titanium. Stuck in meetings all day, there had been nothing he could do to alleviate it.
Steam billowed through the large, black-and-white bathroom. He stepped under the hot stream of the shower, hoping for relief. Images of Evelyn soaping his body invaded his mind, his hand trailed down his abs to his cock. He tried to shift the fantasy to other women, but each one morphed back to Evelyn’s curvaceous body. His hands caressing her full breasts and his erection sliding into the crack of her firm ass. Turning on the cold water did nothing to cool his boiling blood.
Leaning his head against the tile wall, he let the memory play, his hand searching for relief. He could envision her sweet little smirk when she knelt in front of him, wrapping her luscious lips around his cock. Her warm tongue swirling, mouth and hand sucking and sliding down his shaft. Her whole body moved in rhythm, breasts swaying. He squeezed and rubbed faster. He came with a strangled cry.