She chokes on a mouthful of coffee, sputtering the liquid all over the table, “What!?”
“I hate him.” I repeat. “Likehatehim.”
“Shit, Oli!” She rapidly shakes her head, “Do we need to like, buy plane tickets or something?”
I shake my head. Even if I did, he’d find me, I’m sure.
“No, but it’s okay,” I nod, more to myself, “Everything will be fine. After tomorrow I’m just going to actively avoid him.”And make his life hell.But I leave that part to myself.
“That’s not a marriage,” She grimaces.
“It’s an arranged marriage. It’s a farce anyway.”
“You always dreamed about finding love,” She pouts, “I remember that journal! The one where you planned your wedding day when you were twelve!”
“That was when I believed in fairytales,” I laugh. “We live in the real world.”
She rolls her eyes, “You know what I mean. You can’t see this going anywhere? At all?”
“With Malakai Farrow?” I laugh at how ridiculous that would be. Me and him? Absolutely not. I’d rather swallow glass than ever give that man the time of day. Not only did he manipulate me into agreeing to this marriage, using blackmail and threats as his weapons, he’s a dangerous man. One that kills for fun. He owns a whole damn business designed for people exactly like him. He’s terrifying. Brutal.
“If a day comes when I tell you I have feelings for him, put me out my misery. I will never,” I meet her eyes, showing her how serious I am, “Never, fall in love with him.”
Chapter Eight
Heading to bed last night to find my room fucked with was not on the list of ways I wanted to end the evening. I expected a little tampering, it’s human nature to look without invitation, but it was only supposed to be a drawer not closed properly or the toiletries in the bathroom misaligned.
It wasn’t even the bed. It was the clothes in the closet, the misplaced shirt, the light left on. She calculated it based on how organized I liked to be. She watched me, calculated her move and played it seamlessly.
It’s amusing. But she’ll have to try harder than that.
And whispering in her ear this morning, telling her to strip and get into my bed sank so much satisfaction into my stomach I don’t know how I survived this long without her. It’s been too long since I’ve had any sort of amusement in my life.
She’s been gone since this morning, but I know she’s finished shopping since the bags and boxes arrivedthirty minutes ago.
I dial Dennis, putting my phone to my ear and he answers on the second ring.
“Where is my bride?” I growl into the cell.
“Having coffee with Miss Stanton.” He replies immediately, “I have eyes on them right now.”
“Why isn’t she here?”
“Sir?”
I glance at the clock and note barely any time has passed since she left to go shopping. I just assumed it had been a few hours already.
“She finished quickly,” I note.
“Yes sir.”
“She asked to go for coffee?”
“Yes sir,” He answers robotically.
“Fine,” I grumble, “Bring her back within the hour.”
“Yes sir.”
