Chapter 45

I yawned loudly, still feeling sleepy, rolling over the bed to reach for my phone.

1:30PM?!

I realized I was still in Faith's room so I screamed, "Faith!"

She ran out of the bathroom, drying her hand on her skirt. "Is there any problem?"

"Why didn't you wake me up?!"

"I'm so sorry for not waking you up. We both watched a lot of movies till it was past midnight and I thought you needed to sleep more."

I frowned at her for a while then sighed after noticing the worry on her face. "I'm sorry for yelling at you. It's not your fault. I'll have a bath. Please bring my clothes from my hotel room, I don't want to return there looking like a stinky mess." I yawned.

"Okay. You can use any of the unused towels in the bathroom." She smiled tiredly.

"No problem." I rolled out of bed and left for the bathroom.

After my morning rituals in the bathroom, I took a towel from a rack of towels with the label 'New', wrapped it around my body and returned to the bedroom.

Faith was sitting on the bed with my clothes beside her.

"Is Hames there?" I asked, checking out the clothes she had brought.

"Yes." She said, looking very distant and worried.

"What's wrong?" I asked but she simply shook her head. "I shared my problems with you, you cannot not do the same."

She hesitated before speaking, "A- a woman... was... in your hotel... room." She stuttered.

"What?!" I screamed, wore my underwear and maxi dress as fast as I could and stormed to mine and Hames' suite without wearing my slippers.

Lucie was in nothing but a towel that ended just above her knees, sitting on Hames' lap. His shirt was unbuttoned as well and they were almost kissing.

The fire of anger in me was fueled and every form of control left me.

I stormed to them, slapped Lucie across the face really hard then yanked her by her hair, pulling her away from Hames. "I won't permit useless sluts around my husband."

She began screaming but I ignored her and threw her out of the room.

"My--" I didn't let her utter more words but slammed the door in her face.

I returned to Hames who had risen to his feet and was buttoning his shirt. He had a scary stern face on.

"What was that for?" He replied indifferently, picking his phone from the bed.

"Mister, you're taking things too far from a mere jo-" I was interrupted by his phone that started to ring.

He answered the call and placed the phone on his ear. "Hello?"... Silence... "okay, I'll be there very soon. Don't leave yet." He picked his car key and wallet from the nightstand, keeping his phone in his pocket.

"You have to hear me out first before you leave." I frowned, breathing angrily.

"I don't have time to listen to you." He replied crankily then left the room.

Gosh, I was dying from this anger.

***

It was nighttime but Hames hadn't returned. I had done my night skincare and haircare routine after a very long bath but Hames still wasn't here.

I was more than scared. I kept pacing around the room, glancing at my phone's screen at short intervals to check if there was a new message from Hames.

He wasn't answering my phone calls either. I hated this sort of treatment. I needed Hames back and not this grumpy CEO.

I heard a clinking sound from the other side of the door, drawing my attention to it. It was pushed open then Hames walked in, dragging his feet.

"Jeez, Hames. Where have you been?" I scuttled to him, trying to see if he looked drunk but he simply looked tired, not drunk.

"Why do you care?" He replied frigidly.

His voice was kinda scary but I frowned. "I was worried." I folded my arms across my chest.

"You don't have to be worried about me. I have other things to attend to in my life." He wanted to walk away but I stood in front of him.

"Why won't I be worried? Really, Hames. I don't like this attitude from you. You're being grumpy, heartless Mr. Hendrix. Also, bringing another woman into our hotel room and sleeping with her is breaching our marriage contract." I stated clearly. "Firstly, you're not supposed to let anyone know our marriage isn't perfect and secondly, neither of us is permitted to cheat on the other." My anger was rising again. "It's also against our wedding vows."

"You don't have to care about the contract or vows, right?" He flared his nose. "They are just a joke to you. Whether or not I sleep with other women shouldn't concern you either."

His words sent a pang across my heart. "It's not a joke to me. We're both stuck in this marriage, okay?"

"Why are you so jealous?"

"I'm not jealous." I retorted unsurely.

He exhaled, shaking his head with a roll of his eyes. "I need to have a bath. Stop pestering me."

"Why won't you accept my apology?" Frustration was an understatement to what I was feeling right now.

"Do you realize you're not apologizing at all? Why should you? I should be apologizing for wasting my time and constantly trying to make you love me back when it's clearly pointless." He walked away from me, grabbed his towel and clothes then left for the bathroom.

I couldn't take this at all. I was feeling really irked, it felt like I was losing my mind.

Slowly, I shambled to the bed and laid on it, watching the bathroom door, listening to the sound of water from in it.

After a few minutes, Hames returned in only his shorts and his towel over his neck. His shirtless body once again made sparks occur inside me. How could anyone look this hot? Was it even legal?

My eyes followed his every move as he dropped his towel carelessly, went to his wardrobe, did other random things, walked up to the bed and laid on it as well.

His gaze met mine but he immediately took it away, turning around so his back faced me. "Goodnight." He gruffed, covering his lower half with the same duvet.

Was this really how hard-to-get I was being to him? If yes, then it was fucking irritating!

This nonsense couldn't continue. If I lost Hames, I wasn't going to find anyone better for me and I knew that. I was going to drop my anger and pride to set things right.

'I'm a woman, he's a man. He loves me so I had to use my brain and act like the woman here, whether or not it includes being seductive.' I needed my loving husband back.

I moved closer to him and held his shoulders from behind which caused him to flinch. I moved even closer till our bodies were only a few inches away.

"Hames," I called but there was no response from him. "I know I might act a little... stupid sometimes." Gosh, I couldn't believe I admitted that. "I'm sorry if I've hurt you really badly, that's obvious. I need you to know that I didn't mean what I said. There's no way I didn't appreciate your surprise, I loved it so much, and everything you do for me, for always making me feel like a special person." I slid my arm under his arms to hug him from behind, resting my head on his back and slowly rubbing his bare chest. "I don't like this side of you; aloof, cranky, scary... please be sweet again..."

He didn't say anything after a while.

"There's no way he's sleeping." I frowned a bit and wanted to sit up straight to check if he was sleeping but he held my hands, planting a kiss on it.

He turned around then held my hands again, smiling at me. It felt like I had received a billion bucks; his smile felt like the greatest gift ever.

"Oh my God," I returned his smile. "He smiled. Do you accept my apology?"

"How can I ever say no to this side of you?" He kissed my knuckles and made us sit up straight.

I pulled him into a hug, feeling myself blushing with happiness.

"Who knew Lucie could bring out a different side of my wife?"

I pulled apart from the hug and hit his chest with my fists. "How dare you cheat on me?" I frowned.

He burst into laughter. "Seeing you angry and jealous was so cute. You should know there's no way I'd ever cheat on my Queen." He smirked.

I was brought into a confused state. "Lucie was in a towel and with you."

"Nah, nothing happened between us. She had a short dress under her towel. I only wanted to make you jealous and it worked."

I slapped my hands to my mouth. "It was all a game!"

"Yup."

I growled and picked a pillow, hitting him with it. He was laughing boisterously, not defending himself from my pillow attack.

I stopped hitting him when I was tired, trying to regain my breath but he didn't stop laughing. "It's really not funny. I was so worried that I had made you return to your monstrous way."

"Monstrous?" He increased the volume of his laughter.

"Gosh, she was so worried." He curled his arms around my waist and kissed my neck. "I missed your scent. It was Kade's idea, I couldn't control myself anymore but I was forced to. I'm glad it made you realize how much you need my good and husbandly side."

"I guess it did." I hugged him. "Please don't act so grumpy with me again. I agree you were a good actor but please, don't let it happen for real. We're stuck in this marriage and you mustn't scare me like that."

"Scare you? Aw, she was scared of losing me." He laughed again. "Yes yes, I won't be that grumpy man towards you anymore, but as long as you play your role as my wife correctly."

"I will." I tightened the hug.

"I feel so fulfilled. We'll return to our honeymoon activities tomorrow. We might have to leave sooner than I thought, the company still needs me, and you." He kissed my cheek.

I grinned; happiness was bouncing inside me at the fact that I had this side of Hames back and I was totally relieved to know he didn't cheat on me.

I now knew Hames' importance. Who

could ever replace him in my life? I doubted if there was anyone.

"I love you, Imogen."

"I'm glad you do." I lowered his head to peck him.

"Gosh, she kissed me first! Changes happen so quickly!"

"It's just a peck, silly." I giggled.

"It means a lot to me, babe. Kade, thank you for your intelligence!" He yelled for no good reason.

My Hames (husband) was back. I had never felt this relieved and good in my entire life.