JADE
My eyes fluttered open; the first thought in my mind was the kiss.
It had been three days, and still, all I could think about was pressing my lips to his.
I was supposed to feel bad that I had been the one to initiate the kiss.
I didn’t feel bad at all.
In fact, this was supposed to be normal.
We were married, after all.
I was more worried he would think I was a bad kisser.
My finger traced my lips gently as I stared at the mirror on the wall opposite my bed.
I liked how he tasted.
Of fresh mint and a lingering taste of whisky—that I had to taste once—I wanted another taste of it.
I pinched my side and blinked rapidly.
“Get out of your head, Jade,” I scolded.
It was improper for me to have these thoughts, and yet I had already crossed the line.
Roman was already at the breakfast table when I got down.
I clutched the handle of my bag as I lowered myself into the chair.
“Good morning, Mr Volkov.”
“Good morning,” he murmured, barely looking away from the iPad he held.
He didn’t even acknowledge me.
It was not unusual for him to be flipping through the bright iPad he carried around.
It was my wishful thinking for him to change because of one kiss.
‘Jade, it’s a contract marriage.
Intimacy is a clause in the contract.
Don’t expect to melt the heart of the devil.’
I ate in silence, not trying to overanalyze every action from him.
I took a sip from the coffee in front of me.
I paused as the bitter liquid swirled in my mouth.
I allowed it to settle on my tongue longer than it should have.
I had no idea if spitting it out was the right choice.
I held the liquid as I swallowed slowly.
“Ana, get a different coffee for Jade,” Roman said before I could even fully react.
I looked up at him.
How had he known I didn’t like the coffee?
He wasn’t even looking at me!
“I am so sorry, Madam; I mixed it up.” Ana took the cup from me and walked away, leaving just the two of us at the table.
“If you don’t like something, you should voice it out.”
“It was okay; I would have gotten used to it.”
He raised his head to me like I was crazy to say that.
He looked away and focused on his iPad again.
“I do not want my wife to suffer any grievances.”
I was not used to voicing out.
With the Saints, they were kind and would try to meet my needs, but I couldn’t complain, not with how poor they were.
I was used to eating what I was presented with without any complaints.
With the Sterlings, they would think I was an entitled country bumpkin who was trying to take advantage of the situation and act rich.
I waited for him to say something about the kiss.
Anything that showed he was not just some kind of ineffective robot.
He didn’t say a word, just scrolled on his iPad.
I caught his brows quivering so many times and saw a slight smirk.
Aside from that, it was like I was alone at the table.
“Get ready.” He got out of his chair.
The screen of the iPad was off, and for the first time that morning, he looked at me.
I coughed and got out of the chair as well.
“I have to get to work…”
“Take the day off,” he said.
“Even if I wanted to, I couldn’t.
I just started working there; asking for a day off now seems…”
“I can ask your director myself…
I am sure he wouldn’t have a reason to say no to me.”
My lips parted as I tried to find the right words.
He was very correct.
No one could say no to him.
He surely knew how to use things to his advantage.
I also couldn’t say no to him.
My responsibility as a wife was to act as the doting, loyal wife in public.
“Where are we going?” I asked when he turned his back to me.
His back tensed up, but he didn’t turn to me.
“I just wanted to know how to dress.”
“A friend of mine is commissioning a hot spring resort.
I have to be there…” He turned slowly, his eyes dragging over my body.
“And naturally, it only makes sense if you are too.”
I nodded because he was right.
“I will get changed and meet you downstairs.”
I hated the feeling of not knowing.
Not knowing what he was thinking, even though I was pretty sure he could read me like an open book.
The ride to the hot spring resort was a big deal.
We were in a convoy of about ten cars.
He was really making a statement.
His hand stayed on mine even in the silence of the cars.
The event was boring.
I was not going to lie and say I learned a lot of things.
The only thing I learnt was that the rich were obsessed with outdoing each other.
The resort was beautiful, no doubt.
The scenery was the kind your mind would imagine but never believe you’d see.
“Come with me to say hello to my friends,” he whispered to me.
I had been by his side all day, producing my soft, forced smile to fool everyone into thinking I was the perfect wife.
“Do I have to meet them?” I asked with a sigh.
“I know the contract,” I added as he pulled me through the crowd of people to three people huddled together.
Two men and one woman.
As soon as our eyes met, my heart sank.
Was this a woman I needed to fight off?
Was she someone who thought the position I had was hers?
She reached out first and pulled me into a hug, dragging me from Roman’s side.
His grip on my waist fell to the side.
“You are Jade,” she exclaimed happily, like I was a Christmas present she couldn’t wait to unbox.
“Roman is finally bringing you to meet us.” She leaned in close and held my shoulders.
“I am Sable Rossi.”
“Hi, Sable,” I smiled softly.
“It’s so good to finally meet you.”
‘Finally meet her?
Really, Jade?
You haven’t even heard a peep about this woman before.
If not for today, would you have even known she existed?’
“I know Roman would not have told you about us,” she said.
She threw him a warning glance before her soft smile settled on me.
“But I have been waiting to meet the woman who seemed to melt the devil’s heart.”
‘Melt the devil’s heart?
Is she saying Roman was in love with me?
Did she not know that between us was a cruel contract?’
“This is Aiden Knight and Steven Harrington.” She pointed between both men, who had been staring at me as if I were not a part of this world.
“Nice to meet you,” Aiden said first.
He stretched his hand to me.
I tried to take it, but before I could, Steven pulled me to his side, and Aiden’s hand dropped to his side.
“Quite possessive of her, aren’t you?” Steven mocked.
They all laughed.
A lump grew in my throat, making just existing with them more difficult than it could be.
I looked up at Roman, and he was staring down at me with the brightest smile I had ever seen from him.
He was definitely not the same man who sat at breakfast with me this morning.
Was this a show for his friends, or was this real?
The lines were blurring badly, and that was exactly what I wanted now.