Page 4 of Making Their Vows
"Watch me," I growl back at her, not recognizing my own voice. "You belong to me. That deal is done."
"Deal?" she scoffs, her cheeks starting to pinken. The same way they would when she'd stay out in her garden for too long. "I'll pay you back. I didn't know it was you footing the bill."
There is no way her parents are in on this. She is trying to change the terms.
"And how are you going to do that?" I will myself to relax and try to shove myself back into the role of CEO. If she wants a new deal, so be it.
Let the negotiations begin.
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 naïvely 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.
