“Of course,” she said nodding.
“No rainbows. Please. I can accept color but no rainbows” I complained and she burst into laughter as Rachel did the same.
Timothy looked at me in awe. He had never seen me act so carefree and look at ease.
“I can manage that,” Flair said giggling as I let out a large dramatic exhale of relief.
Flair delicately cut into her toast. “I’m afraid there is one event that I’m unable to refuse to attend in the next few days and as my wife, you will be expected to attend also,” I told her quietly as she glanced at me confused.
“Oh,” she said with slight interest, Timothy leaning over to speak to Rachel who was nodding enthusiastically, “what event would that be?” she asked.
I winced. I knew this was not about to go over well but she needed to be prepared. I cleared my throat and sat back, eyeing her closely, hoping she didn’t lose her composure.
“I’m afraid that we have to attend Johnathon and Charlotte Deluca’s engagement party” I told her quickly.
Silence. Flair’s fork clattered as it fell onto her plate. I saw her face whiten. I swallowed hard. I was asking a great deal from her. I pinned my gaze on her. “It cannot be helped, but you are no longer a divorcee” I reminded her tersely as she gulped “and you are my wife and to be granted the same respect as I am. Johnathon will receive the divorce papers either later today or tomorrow” I continued as she stared at me “and you will no longer be under his control. I won’t leave you to the vultures” I commented lightly “and you wanted your revenge on him, didn’t you? This will be the perfect opportunity for you to announce your marriage to me” I said with a vicious grin.
Flair was quiet for a moment. Rachel was excited. “Flair, it’s brilliant. Oh god, I can’t wait to see the look on that bastard’s face when he realizes you’re married already” she gushed, practically bouncing up and down on her chair while Timothy slowly nodded in agreement “it will do Johnathon some good to be taken down a peg or two. Remember when he said…” she trailed off and Flair shot her a sharp look, shaking her head.
Too late. I was intrigued. “When he said what?” I drawled.
Flair blanched. Rachel was indignant “the bastard said that Flair would never find another man as good as him and that she was lucky to have him. That nobody else would ever give her a second look. Well now he’s going to have to eat those words” she crowed.
Son of a bitch. Johnathon was really up himself, wasn’t he, I mused. Flair looked pissed off now. She straightened up. “You’re right” she said to Rachel furiously “I’m going to turn up to that damn engagement party looking hot and with a gorgeous man on my arm” she declared heatedly.
I blinked and then gave her a lazy smile “you think I’m hot?”
“Well um, I mean” she stammered as I chuckled.
I sighed. “As much as I would love to spend more time with you gorgeous women,” I said with a wink and a regretful look at my empty plate “there is unfortunately some work at the office that I cannot postpone or reschedule” I apologized “else I would have.”
Flair looked surprised by the apology “That’s okay” she told me sincerely “thank you for the breakfast, Grayson.”
I reached into my jacket pocket and withdrew the spare key to my home, handing it to Flair deliberately. “I believe you already know the security code,” I said with a twist of my lips and a glance at my sheepish-looking assistant who avoided my gaze.
Flair’s lips turned up “I do,” she said huskily.
I stared at those luscious lips of hers, begging to be kissed. I had gotten a mere sample earlier, but now I wanted more. I bent down and swiftly pressed my lips against hers, feeling the softness of, her lips eagerly pressing back against mine. It was heaven. I fought back the groan that wanted to erupt as I pulled away, Flair’s eyes shining, her hand going unconsciously to her lip as she stared at me.
“I will see you tonight Mrs Oakes. Make yourself comfortable in our home. Don’t cook dinner, we can order in tonight” I told her huskily, trying hard not to imagine what she would look like underneath her clothing and barely holding onto my composure.
“Come along Timothy” I instructed my assistant, who swiftly rose and shook hands with my wife and Rachel. “Have a good day ladies” I said quietly, inclining my head and hastening my steps, my mind already going back to that kiss as I tried not to glance over my shoulder and look at my wife one more time. It was going to be a long day, I thought grimly, if I couldn’t stop thinking about my new wife and what I wanted to do to her.
Johnathon POV
Charlotte would not give up on the ring. She was like a dog with a bone. The moment we spotted her grandfather the next day, she elbowed me and gave me a pointed look, indicating that I needed to ask him posthaste about the family heirloom. I took a deep breath and approached the old man, who was seating himself in the living room, feeling my anxiety skyrocket. I didn’t understand Charlotte’s desire to have this ring. I had seen a photo and while it was beautiful, it was old and dated. It was worth a fortune though and I suspected that was what held the most appeal to her and not the design of the ring itself.
“Mr Deluca,” I said politely, inclining my head as the old man regarded me silently, Charlotte hovering in the background, keeping a close eye on me “I was wondering if I may have a quick word with you?”
Mr Deluca waved his hand at me to sit and I did, leaning forward to gaze at him intently “Mr Deluca, as you are aware, Charlotte and I’s engagement party is in a few days and it’s occurred to me that I have yet to get Charlotte an engagement ring…” I trailed off, not sure how to put it.
He raised a brow looking impatient “I don’t understand how any of this is my concern” he said blithely.
I glanced over my shoulder and saw Charlotte glaring at me. I sighed and turned back to her grandfather. “Well sir, I was speaking to my fiancee and it seems that she’s very taken with a particular ring of your family’s.”
He tightened his lips and something flashed in his eyes, but otherwise he remained mute. I continued “A black diamond ring that I understand has been in the family for generations? I was hoping that I could give the ring to Charlotte personally, seeing as it means so much to her” I finished, looking hopefully at the old man who looked remarkably calm at the question.
The grandfather chuckled, taking me aback. “I doubt it’s the ring she’s after but the money its worth,” he said shrewdly, his eyes glinting “and I’m afraid that I must refuse your request, as polite as you were about it.”
I stared at him stunned. I had not expected him to refuse me. Neither had Charlotte, for she stormed forward and put her hands on her hips, glaring at her grandfather who blinked up at her, looking amused by her anger.
“What do you mean you refuse?” she demanded, while I put a hand on her arm, trying to soothe her ruffled feathers “that ring is as much mine as anyones. I am your granddaughter, your flesh and blood. That ring has always been passed down. How can you refuse to hand it over?” she snapped.
“Charlotte,” I said a little shocked at how rude she was being to her grandfather “you need to calm down.”
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.