Oliver's POV
For two days, I haven't seen her. She hasn't shown up at work like I expected her rebellious nature would lead her to do. And in those two days, I've been as useless as I can be.
I can barely concentrate on anything. I find myself shutting my files with unnecessary force.
Tonight, we're supposed to host a celebration party, which will be her introduction to society. I sent her the terms of our agreement, including all the activities we should attend together and our weekly dates. I just don't know if she will show up.
Cara mentioned she didn't seem thrilled about living alone, and Theo offered to check in on her. It's a nice gesture, but something's been off about Theo recently. I have a feeling he's tangled up in some mess.
I'm not sure if Quinn knows. For his sake, I hope he does.
My office door bursts open as Christian Thorne enters loudly. "I leave town, and you get hitched?" he laments.
He's wearing a beige polo shirt paired with matching beige chinos, finishing his unusual look with sunglasses.
"I thought that's what you always wanted for me?" I ask with a smile, standing to greet him.
"Where's the unlucky bride? And why are you in the office on your honeymoon?" he asks, looking around as if someone could be hiding here.
I chuckle. "She's the lucky one."
He bursts into a loud, cruel laugh. "Yeah, she is," he says sarcastically, sitting down and placing a bottle of whiskey on my desk. "Why are you here and not at home romancing your bride?" he adds.
"There's more to life," I mutter begrudgingly.
"Is she ugly? Because I have yet to find something sweeter than burying myself in..."
"I get it," I raise my hand to stop him from finishing.
"What? Four days in and the desire to be with your wife is already dead?"
I had long forgotten what desire felt like until I laid eyes on her. From the word go, I knew there was a line I couldn't cross with her. Now that she's my wife, I've never been more certain.
"Can you shut up?" I joke.
"I have to see this chick, let's go," Christian says between fits of laughter.
It takes me a moment to realize he's drunk, which is unusual. "Where's Katerina?" I ask.
He groans. "I think we're done."
"What did you do?" I ask.
He stares at me for a moment. "Man, fuck it," he swears bitterly.
"Let's go," I suggest.
I lean forward to ease the back pain I've been dealing with.
"You don't look okay. Are you feeling well?" he asks, concerned.
"Just back pain, probably from sitting too long," I lie.
I watch him and wonder if I should tell him about my situation. He's my friend, and though we try to make each other's life hard, we also ease each other's burdens. I open my mouth to speak and then close it. He already has enough on his plate, and I wouldn't want him to treat me differently. I've seen how Jessie looks at me, like I'll fall apart any moment. Holding back words she would otherwise say, for my sake. I hate it.
"Where have you been?" Mr. Meyer asks before noticing Christian beside me.
"I'm not answerable to you," I state.
I only wanted a wife and heirs. I never anticipated problematic in-laws.
He gives Christian an evil stare. "Can you excuse us?" he growls.
Christian is caught off guard by the hostility. "Do you know who I am?" he asks.
"Young man, we're all somebody in this room," Mr. Meyer gestures around the room, filled with influential and wealthy people from near and far. "So, can you excuse us?" he finishes.
I look at Christian and nod that it's okay for him to leave. He shakes his head and walks away.
"Why is my daughter living alone? That was never part of our agreement," Mr. Meyer hisses.
I huff. "You want to tell me how to run my household?"
"If it's about my daughter, yes."
"The one you sold to me," I start, "the one you openly ignore even when she desperately craves your attention. Yeah, let's pretend we both care about her."
Jessie's father stiffens, his eyes narrowing. He grits his teeth, his lips pressed into a thin line. A muscle in his jaw twitches as he struggles to stay calm.
"You better make sure she's here," he finally hisses through clenched teeth, his voice low, barely hiding his irritation.
I watch him walk over to his wife, kissing her cheek and smiling at her company.
From my few interactions with Mr. Meyer, I can tell he's a good pretender. Charm is his best weapon. Being a charming, ruthless bastard is what's kept him at the top. I wonder if Jessie knows who her father really is? If she did, would she still care for his approval?
Where is she?
I pick up my phone to call herâif she's even using the new line and phone I gave her. But I stop when the room falls silent. I lift my head to see what's happening.
I see her emerge, her luscious tendrils pinned up on her head, with untamed curls escaping the pins and a few strands framing her face. I will never escape the flirtatious nature of curly hair. Each twist is a defiance of nature, mirroring her spiritâuntethered. A pair of gold earrings glow against her lobes.
"She's beautiful," I hear Christian say from beside me.
When did he get here?
"Who is she?" he asks.
"I don't know," I whisper.
It's the truth. Besides being my wife and having worked for me, I don't know who she is.
"She's the perfect girl to make Katerina jealous. She's pretty and young," Christian says, not realizing Jessie is my wife.
"Don't even think about it," I snarl at him.
"Aren't you being greedy? You have a bride and still want another girl?" he teases.
"That is my wife you're ogling," I state. Did I just refer to her as my wife?
Christian's eyes widen, and a smile spreads across his lips. "Now it makes sense. I have to introduce myself to her," he says, already heading toward Jessie.
I can't allow that.