10|A Man's Word

Marybeth's uneasiness must have shown through despite the dazzling smile she wore the whole time Austin's people hovered around her because he came to her rescue before the only other woman in the room could pounce on her.

"The Home Affairs official is waiting for us," he said as he firmly took her hand and led her out of the room. She was taken aback to see four other men waiting outside the room when they stepped into the hallway.

"Who are all these people?" she asked Austin.

"You'll meet them all later. Right now, we have to finish this thing."

She nodded. "Right! Let's finish it."

When they entered the office, one floor up, Marybeth didn't know what to make of the woman behind the desk, kitted out in Nike gear from head to toe.

Sure, her union with Austin wasn't real, not in the traditional sense, at least. But as the marriage officer, couldn't this woman take her job more seriously and dress appropriately like the rest of them? Marybeth, herself, didn't want to be there, but she'