Chapter 9

Hannah I can’t fight the feeling of not belonging when I sit next to Tobias around an oval-shaped table. I’m wearing his much-too-large suit, and the other people here, board members, partners, and other important people, are all staring at me.

“Tobias, you have forgotten the most important part! She isn’t wearing a ring.” someone points out. It’s an older man whose smile is friendly when I look at him. His eyes crinkle. “You must be Hannah.”

My nerves make me blush, but still, I find my voice. “Yes, I’m Hannah, now Mrs. Ford, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr-”

“Ford,” he says and laughs at the shock on my face. He then further explains. “I’m the funny uncle, Elias.

Tobias’s father, Paul, who is no longer with us, was my brother. I’m sitting on the board as Tobias’s advisor. It’s a pleasure to meet you. Oh, and welcome to the family.”

“Thank you!”

We shake our paws over the table, and I immediately relax. Elias seems nice, and the elderly lady at his side, dressed in a white dress, smiles sweetly at me before reaching out her hand.

“I’m Joana Ford, Elias’s wife,” her smile is all fake teeth, but she seems really sweet. “I’m so happy that Tobias has found someone he loves so much that he couldn’t help but marry her immediately! You two must like each other a lot!”

I inwardly grimace at that but keep the smile on my face. “Yes, we love each other very much.”

When I say that, I notice that a gorgeous woman, not much older than me, sneers. Gorgeous brown hair cascades from her head, and her eyes are surrounded by thick, dark lashes.

Could it be Sarah, Tobias’s ex-wife? I glance her way and smile, and she immediately averts her eyes with fire in her gaze. So yes, it must be the ex-wife, based on her behavior.

As if reading my mind, Tobias leans forward to whisper in my ear while everyone else is laughing at some. joke around the table. “Joana and Elias are good people. They already like you, but the scowling brunette is Sarah-she hates you already. I love it and will make things worse for her by kissing you.”

I shudder when Tobias lips my chin and moves my head to look deeply into his emerald green eyes. His lips curl, and my pulse quickens when he leans in to kiss me in front of everyone.

It’s a quick taste, but I’m tingling all over when he leans back. The worst part is that my chest is filled with longing. Tobias is beautiful, and his lips have awakened something within me.

I try telling myself that Tobias’s kiss was only for the point of revenge and held no emotion, but it doesn’t quench my thirst for him. I’m burning even as the waitresses ask us what we want to order.

It’s so bad that I can’t focus. The waitress is speaking to me, but I can’t hear her. It forces Tobias to order for me. I don’t have to lift a finger. Soon there is a starter dish on my plate.

Tobias chuckles above me, whispering, “You’re welcome.”

I blush at that and eat the chicken salad on my plate. At least, I think that’s what it is. There is probably a fancier name for the dish, but I will call it a chicken salad with garlic bread.

The buffet continues. I eat a delicious filet mignon for the main dish, and since I don’t like vegetables, Tobias fixes me a side of french fries. Some of the wealthy guests look at me weirdly, but to make me feel better, Elias and his wife aiso order french fries.

Everything is perfect, except for the fact that I now have Tobias stealing french fries from me. I send him an offended glare when he nips another from my little basket.

“Get your own fries!” I growl at Tobias and try to stop his third advance with my fork.

“But they are so good!” Tobias argues with his mouth filled with french fries. “Give me a few more, then |

will be settled!”

“A few more?!” I question. “There are barely any left! You even stole the entire dip sauce that I specifically asked for! My ranch dip is gone, you monster!”

He snorts in amusement but still tries to sweet-talk me into giving him more of my food. Persistent bastard. “Come on, Hannah. I’m starving, and you won’t finish all of your french fries anyway.”

“Oh, I most definitely will!” I narrow my eyes. It doesn’t matter that Tobias is pouting. I’m fierce when it comes to my food. “And there is nothing worse than a french fry thief!”

“Amen to that!’ Joana says and swats at her husband’s fingers when he tries to reach for hers. She also gives him a playful glare. “If you want more fries, you have to order more!”

Elias laughs. “I might just do that.”

“Same here,” I say, and continue to dig my eyes into Tobias. “Because SOMEONE has eaten all of mine…”

Tobias perks up. “Great! You should definitely order more! Then I can steal more fries from your basket!”

I gasp at him. “No way! Order your own!”

“But it’s funnier to steal them from you,” he teases. “I’ve never seen you this fierce before. I expected you. to be all nice and kind and hand over all of your french fries willingly. I was wrong.”

My face scalds. “When it comes to things that are mine, like food, I become a warrior to protect what is mine…”

“I see,” Tobias leans in close, and it speeds up my heartbeat. I don’t know what he is doing. I freeze into an ice cube, waiting until I feel his warm breath on my ear. “How about a trade then? You give me more of your french fries, and I give you something else later?”

By now, I’m close to passing out. What does something else mean? And is he serious or just putting on at show?

I secretly glance at Sarah and find her fuming in her seat. She is beyond jealous. Fury is written all over her pretty face. She is pretending to talk to who I’m assuming is her husband, though.

I look up at Tobias, and my heart falters when I see him looking at Sarah. He isn’t obvious about it. It’s just. a quick stolen glance, but it’s not enough to make me realize none of this is real.

It hurts.

It hurts so much that I want to cry, but… I got into this willingly. I knew what I was getting into. And I won’t let this revenge game break me, so I plaster on a smile and become a player.

“Sure,” I say and wink at Tobias before whispering. “I will definitely trade you some french fries for some fun later.”

His lips slightly curl by the corners. “Looking forward to it,” he steals another french fry from my basket.

Delicious.”

I smile, but on the inside, I’m breaking apart. I’m too weak for this revenge game; I know that now. Tobias is… Unique, and it’s unrea! how much I already like him.

I cut up another piece of my filet mignon and notice that Sarah is glaring daggers at me. I almost laugh at the visible hatred in her eyes.

Ironically, Sarah is jealous of me when I’m jealous of her. She has something I want-Tobias’s heart, but she isn’t aware of that. She thinks Tobias is in love with me.

Oh, how I wish that would be the truth…

I stare down at my plate, and once the desert comes, Tobias lifts himself from his seat.

“I will be right back,” he says. “I have to visit the bathroom.”

I pass him a smile. “Of course,”

Tobias smiles back and leaves. I look after him when he disappears around the corner, and then I pick up my water glass to drink. It’s then I notice that Elias is looking at me with curious eyes.

I inwardly grimace. I like Elias, but his eyes have a glimmer that frightens me. Is he onto us already?

Does he know our marriage isn’t based on true love?

I smile at Elias, and that’s when he breaks the silence. “Do you mind if I ask you a personal question, Hannah?”

Before I can answer him, Joana glares at her husband. “Elias! Tobias left the table three seconds ago, and you’re already planning on grilling the poor woman?!”

Joana is sweet. I like her a lot and smile despite my unease. “It’s okay. I expect questions from Tobias’s family. Ask away.”

For some reason, Elias’s lips curl into mischief, and he leans forward a little, lowering his tone to a private one. “What is your favorite thing about my nephew?”

Oh, is this a test?

I inwardly laugh because the joke is on Elias-I already like plenty of things about Tobias. We might not have spent that much time together, but I’m good at reading people.

“Tobias is quite possibly the grumpiest man that I’ve ever met. He has trouble stepping out of his comfort zone, and he is also a french fry thief. But if you can ignore that, then Tobias is one of the kindest people I’ve ever met,” I think back to him helping me with all the items I dropped on the floor yesterday and then.

how Tobias swiped my face with a tissue before the brunch, and my smile grows into a genuine one. “He looks intimidating, but… He has a good heart-that’s my favorite thing about him, and it makes everything else.”

up for Silence falls after I’ve spoken. I look up to see Elias and Joana smiling at me, and then I blush when I notice that Tobias is back. He is sitting beside me, blinking at me with an expression I can’t read. Shit, how much of that did he hear?