Chapter 7

Tobias I can’t stop thinking about Hannah.

I sit inside my office and rock back and forth in my chair that I should change out. My eyes stare out through the window from the top floor, but no quiet time in the world can sort out my brain.

What is the matter with me? Usually, it’s Sarah that I think about day and night, but Hannah?

Why do I think about her?

I’m still in love with my ex-wife, who betrayed me. I wish I weren’t. Sarah is why I don’t believe in true love, but my heart has a will of its own. It still remembers back when things were good with Sarah..

Which is why I’m so confused Hannah is on my mind. She is too young for me. She also isn’t my type.

That’s why I picked her for my marriage contract. I told myself I wouldn’t risk falling for her.

But when I close my eyes, I hear her shy voice say, “Do you know what I do when I’m feeling like I’m under a heavy rain cloud?”

A smile works over my lips. That woman is a nutcase. The way she spun around with her hands? Such a weirdo, but… She made me laugh. Hannah also finds me attractive, and it pleases me.

1 find Hannah beautiful too. But as I said, she is too young for me and not at all my type. I need someone. who challenges me intellectually, not someone who tries to make me-

My thoughts trail off when my phone chimes on my desk. I pick it up and smile when I see it’s a text message from Hannah.

Pixie Spaz: I have good news and bad news.

Pixie Spaz: I found some very classy clothes and bought them, but something happened. I might look less presentable. Not to worry, though! I will be on time for the brunch!

I arch an eyebrow. Hannah is speaking in riddles, and I don’t like it. I prefer her to be straight with me..

Also, I really hope she isn’t late for brunch. Sarah was always late for every meeting and every event in our life because she was busy fucking my ex-best friend, Daniel.

Me: Something happened? Can you elaborate?

When she isn’t responding, I frown.

Me: Also, you’re supposed to be here within ten minutes. Will you be late?

Will she betray my trust by showing up late to the first event I’ve invited her to? And she is now trying to come up with an excuse?

Pixie Spaz: I won’t be late! I fell, but I will definitely be there on time!

There it is, the excuse. I roll my eyes. Why did I marry Hannah? After walking into the wrong hotel room, she stood up for her mistake-I liked her honesty, but now she is lying to me?

She fell? Why do I find that so hard to believe. And why would falling stop her from being here in time? I don’t get it.

I drag my hands over my hand but look up when there is a knock on my door. The person doesn’t even wait before opening it, and I soon stare at my ex-wife.

Tall, gracious, and with even more plastic surgeries done to her already-beautiful face, Sarah looks like a goddess. But strangely enough, I’m not hit with longing when I see her-I’m struck with an urge to send her off.

It baffles me. I’m usually always eager to see my ex-wife. I’ve been secretly hoping for Sarah to want me back, but now? I’m bothered by her showing up unannounced.

“I heard the news that you’ve married someone new,” she says, crossing her skinny arms over her chest.

She is wearing a beige dress and golden hoops, and her brown hair has been curled to perfection.

“I have,” I tell her, lifting an eyebrow. “Are you here to congratulate me?”

“I don’t know,” her words surprise me, and then her tone goes sarcastic. “I didn’t expect you to be over me, to be over us,” a smile works over her lips, and she walks closer to my desk with her eyes set on mine. “What would you do if I meant those words?” 2 This is something I haven’t missed: Sarah’s mind games. She loves sarcasm as much as I do. But you don’t see me making fun of other people’s emotions, and I certainly don’t play with other people’s hearts.

Hannah would never do that. When I was tired, she stopped pressing her agenda. And when I was angry, she offered her solution to the problem in her own weird way.

I smile, and for some reason, that seems to shock Sarah. She stares at me. I don’t know why, but I like that reaction.

“If you’re not here to congratulate me, I must ask you to leave or stay if you want to, but I won’t be here. I will pick up my wife from the bottom floor and bring her to the brunch.”

Sarah gasps. “You’re bringing her to the brunch?”

“I am,” I get up from my chair and walk around my desk. Sarah looks me up and down, and I tilt my head.” What?”

“N-nothing… you just…” her eyes rake me up and down again, and her mouth won’t close properly. “Your look different.” 1 “Different?” I am trying to figure out what she is talking about.

“Bigger.”

Oh, that.

“I’m working out almost every day,” I nod at the far back of my office where I keep barbells, and then I look back at Sarah. “You complained that I was too skinny for you as a reason for you cheating on me, yet. you never once said you liked muscular men.”

She gulps. “You wouldn’t have gotten offended?”

“Nope,” I shrug and smile. This time, it’s fake and evil. “I would have hit the gym for you, Sarah. But we are past that, and now, I try to keep myself looking fit and healthy for myself. Though, I suppose my new beautiful wife also reap the benefit.”

Sarah gape at me when I wink at her, and that fills me with dark satisfaction. This is my revenge and exactly why I married Hannah. The plan is already working out perfectly well.

“Now, if you will excuse me. I have a wife to get from the bottom floor, but I will see you at the brunch.”

I leave my ex-wife staring after my back and pick up my phone, eager to see if Hannah is here yet. There is a new message from her.

Pixie Spaz: They aren’t letting me into the building! The guards threw me out and didn’t believe me when I said I was your wife!

I snort at that.

It doesn’t surprise me that the guards don’t believe her-I have yet to announce that I’m married. I will do it at the brunch and raise a toast for Hannah and me. The only reason how Sarah knows I’m married must be because there are moles among my maids. People who are still loyal to Sarah that I will later fire.

Me: I will be downstairs soon.

I don’t put down my phone. Three little dots are jumping over my screen, and I cannot ignore them. It doesn’t matter that I will soon see Hannah. I still want to see what she is writing.

Pixie Spaz: Don’t freak out when you see me. I didn’t want to betray your trust by showing up late, but there wasn’t time to… fix things.

Hmm?

Her message baffles me, and I hurry my steps. I don’t text her back. Instead, I ignore someone who calls my nake, half-run to the elevator and curse under my breath. Is the elevator moving slower today? 1)

Doesn’t matter. The elevator soon stops, and I practically tackle my way past people who respect me too much to complain.

Again I hear some of them call my name. One says, “Mr. Ford! I’ve been looking for you…” and begins.

talking about non-important stuff. I ignore them and hurry to the entrance.

The two guards immediately turn to face me. “Mr. Ford, you probably don’t want to leave the building. A young lady is claiming to be your wife outside these doors. I suggest you take another way-”

“It’s okay. The young lady-” I trail off and laugh once I see Hannah pouting from the other side of the glassed doors.

She wears new clothes: a beige cardigan, white pants, and a matching tank top underneath it. But her clothes are stained and muddy! She didn’t lie to me about falling!

Fuck…

I can’t believe this! Hannah is so dirty! There are even blotches of mud on her pretty face, and that-Shit!!

can’t stop laughing! The two guards look at me as if I’ve grown two heads, but I can do nothing about my fit of laughter.

“Sir?” One of them asks in a worried tone. “Should we… send her away?”

“No,” I grin up at them. My chest has this funny, tickling feeling, and my lips won’t stop twitching.”

Because that woman out there is my wife. My beautiful perfect little pixie spaz.”