“You look it.”
That gets a reaction.
She scoffs, then turns to me.
“How do I look? Like a woman who’s been snatched from her home and friends because a grown man couldn’t handle his emotions like a mature adult and threw a temper tantrum instead?”
My jaw tenses.
“You weren’t snatched. You agreed to this marriage. I saw your signature on the contracts and the wedding certificate.”
“And no one in the history of the world has ever signed anything out of desperation or fear.” Her voice is even and firm. “You could have given me another day or two before taking me away from my friends.”
She doesn’t mention her family. Her brothers may be gone, but she has cousins, aunts and uncles, still living in New York. Surely, she was close with some of them.
“I have business that needs attention right away. It couldn’t wait.”
“Of course. Business.” She tilts her head. “Business acquisitions, right? What business are you acquiring now?”
“Did your brothers let you ask questions about their business? Or maybe you were deeply involved in the family businesses with them?”
Her expression hardens.
“Don’t talk to me about my brothers.”
“No? You don’t want to have a long chat about them?” I’m poking a wound, waiting to see how long it takes for it to bleed.
But instead of pain washing away the irritation, she only gets more tense.
“If I never speak of them again, I will die a happy woman.” She picks up her phone again, then mutters under her breath, “and hopefully alone.”
Darlene shows up and squats down next to my chair, placing her hand on my forearm.
“Would you like another drink? Maybe something to eat?”
“Do you have any crackers?” Sienna’s gaze lands on my arm, then flickers up to Darlene’s face within a blink.
“I believe we do. I’ll take a look.” Darlene stands back up. “And for you,sir?”
“Nothing.”
“He’ll have whatever you brought him before.” Sienna instructs with a smile.
“Of course.”
Once she’s gone, Sienna turns back to her phone.
“Are you a nervous flyer?” I question after she’s pretending to be engrossed in her movie again.
“No.”
“You seem tense.”
“Maybe it’s because I’ve just married a man who has multiple personalities.”
“Here you go, ma’am.” Darlene leans over me, her breast brushing against me as she hands Sienna a small plate of crackers and a variety of cheeses. “I thought you might something to go with the crackers.”
“Thank you.” Sienna takes the platter and places it on the tray.
