DEVAN
“You just never know when to shut up,” I scold Matias on my way out of the office.
“And where do you think you’re going?” Asks Matias.
“Where do you think, you idiot?”
“Of course I know where you’re going, but that’s a wrong move, bro. Take it from me.”
My brows furrow.
“Since when did you become an expert in women?” I ask.
“Since I was in my mother’s womb.”
I open the door.
“Devan, wait,” he calls out.
“What I’m trying to say is that she needs a minute. Come on. She just found out the love of her life has been playing her.”
A dull ache assaults my heart when he mentions the love of her life.
That fucker doesn’t deserve her?
I’m not sure if that’s making me mad.
Or is it the fact that the thought of her belonging to someone else does something to me?
I have no right.
Yet I can’t help it.
Matias must have read right through my mind, because he cocks a brow.
“The woman was going to say yes to Kelvin today.”
He doesn’t have to remind me about that part.
I’m not an idiot.
“Besides, when did things like these disturb Devan Galloway? You look so different today that I don’t recognize you.”
“What do you mean? I’m always calm,” I counter.
“Uh huh,” he leans back in his chair.
Whatever.
I still feel the urge to go check up on Scarlet.
She’s not okay, I know.
And why am I so concerned about a stranger?
Because she’s going to be my wife.
That’s why.
I take a look at the photos and I want nothing but to strangle the man to death.
I take another look at the one in the park.
“When was this one taken?” I ask Matias.
“This morning.”
That fucker.
I grip the picture so tight.
It only means he met with his woman on the day he was supposed to get married to Scarlet.
Now I want to kill him.
But again, death would be an easy way out.
He needs to suffer first.
“Yes.” I confirm.
“Scarlet and I have a deal and I need you to make arrangements for that.”
His pupils widen.
“You want me to plan a wedding?”
“No. Only required documents.”
Speaking of which, I really need to find my future wife.
I walk away ignoring Matias’s rants.
The first place I check is my bedroom.
She’s no where to be seen.
I decide to check the bathroom.
I’m about to knock when the door suddenly cracks open.
She’s trying to act strong, but it doesn’t take a genius to know that she’s been crying.
A smile flickers across her face, and I know it’s fake.
She’s clearly trying to mask her emotions.
“Are you okay?” I ask.
“I just found out my fiance has been cheating on me. I have never been better.”
Fuck.
That catalyzes my need to make Kelvin Harrel pay.
My urge to kill that fucker grows by the minute.
I already hate him, yet we haven’t met.
“Are we getting married any time this year?” She asks.
“I thought you’d never ask.”
We get back to the study where we find Matias playing with his gun.
“Is that a toy gun?” I ask.
“Do you want me to test it on you?” He points it at me.
I hold Scarlet’s hand as she stiffens.
“Put that thing down,” I order.
“Yes boss,” he obeys, surprisingly obediently.
“Can I borrow your phone?” Scarlet asks.
“I need to talk to my dad. I’m sure right now he’s dying with worry. I just want to assure him I’m okay and that I’ll be home soon.”
Of course.
Anything for her.
I give her my phone and she excuses herself.
Matias and I are left discussing business and then he leaves to take care of the marriage certificates, after I’ve made a few calls.
A while later, I find Scarler at the pool.
I find her staring blankly at the water.
I walk carefully not to scare her.
When I stand beside her, she sighs.
“Having second thoughts?” I ask.
I grunt, “You sure? I want you to be one hundred percent sure about this.”
“I sure as hell want to beat Kelvin on his own game,” she says with spite.
“Although, being married to you means I’ll have to move in here,” right.
“Yes.” I nod.
“If we have to make our marriage look real, that’s the only arrangement that makes sense,” I point out.
“Those old geezers are a pain in the ass.”
She seems to think deeply about it, but finally, she says, “Okay.”
And then a soft gasp escapes her as if she finally realized something.
“But that would mean sleeping in the same room, right?”
I rake my fingers through my hair.
“Yes. But I can always take the couch.”
“No. I can’t let you do that,” she jumps in quickly, making me smirk.
“So you want to share the bed with me?”
He cheeks flush pink and she looks away.
“That’s not…” she stutters.
“It’s just that, it’s so unfair to make you sleep on the couch, in your own room.”
“It’s six months. Besides, my couch is very comfortable. But if you feel like inviting me over to the bed, all you have to do is say my name.”
She smiles.
A genuine smile this time.
It comes out so beautiful that I want to mount my lips on hers.
_____________
Matias returns with everything I asked him to bring.
Competency is one of the things I admire about him, even though I would never admit it with a gun on my head.
The three of us gather in my office again.
Scarlet looks at the documents and exclaims.
“How did you make this happen in such a short time?”
“I have my ways,” I wink.
She shakes her head.
“Just some of the perks of being a big boss.” I add.
She smiles as she reads the documents.
“So this is the contract,” she concludes.
“Yes. All the rules are there, but if there’s anything you don’t like, you can tell me then we make adjustments.”
I watch her go through the rules.
I’m holding my breath.
She could decide to back off any second.
And she has every right to.
I told her I would respect her decision.
But why does it feel like my heart would break if she said no?
What if she finds everything in the contract ridiculous?
What next?