Chapter 3

Jennifer

I love you so much dear husband. 

I caress his face in the picture, still lost in the moment, when a strong hand got wrapped around my waist. 

“I love you too my dear wife” I yelp in surprise, hand flies over my chest. 

This man will be the death of me someday. 

“Michael you scared me” I looked at him annoyingly. 

I and annoyed over him? Come- on it is just a facade to get myself out of this embarrassing situation. Otherwise, he will tease me to death. 

“I scared you!?” He widened his chocolate brown eyes. 

“Who else, Mr. Patterson? And when you did come?” I now turned towards his direction and rested my hands on his chest. 

“I came when you were busy romancing with my picture. Now this has disappointed me a lot, baby. Why to romance with a materialistic thing when you have such a hot husband to be with.” He looked at me with a mischievous glint in his eyes. 

Okay so he saw it! Time for mother earth to open up and swallow me. 

I swallow hard as my face turns red on being caught.” You are so cute” He pinched my heated cheeks and then pulled me into a hug. 

And this is it. This is the moment I wait for the whole day. I encircled my arms around him and buried my face in his chest.

 “Happy anniversary love! I know I am late but as you always say it's better late than never.” 

I shut my eyes tightly refraining myself from crying in front of him. I don't know why I feel so emotional all of a sudden. Is it because he forgot our special day while I kept waiting for him the whole night or is it because I was meeting him after a very long day, and my soul was craving for his love and attention.

 “Baby you okay?” I heard his concerned voice. 

No! I am not. 

I wanted to tell him, but not wanting him to become guilt ridden again, I simply nodded my head and forcefully stretched my lips into a wide smile. “I am perfectly alright. I was missing you so much from the past few hours so I just got caught in the moment. You must be tired. So you take some rest while I prepare something for you to eat.” I patted his stubble cheeks and turned around to leave the room. 

“Jenny” I halted and turned around, facing him again. But to my surprise, this time he was kneeling in front of me with a solitaire in his hand. 

“To the woman I married with love in my heart. I am never alone, even when we are apart and the smile you give me still melts my heart. I never knew life could be so perfect until I met you. Thank you for always being there for me and showing me how love can alone conquer the whole world. I love you never seems enough when it comes to how I feel for you. Happy anniversary love. Here is to many more years as husband and wife.” He said sliding the ring on my finger and I once again lost my heart and soul to this charming man kneeling right in front of me. 

“ I love you Mike. I love you so much and have only ever loved you” I smiled, cupping his face with another hand and looking into his eyes, my own eyes brimming with tears. 

The last thing I remember was me confessing my love to him once again, before my face lowered and this breath mingling with mine, something warm and plump moved along my lips. His beard was tickling my chin and his one strong arm had me in a tight grip, while the other cupped my face. It almost felt natural to move my lips as he moved his. Each time his lips moved with mine, a sort of fireworks erupted inside my body and I followed his movements — because that's all I knew.

 His phone rang breaking our magical moment, hence Mike departed lips from mine, panting hard and throwing caution into the wind before distancing himself, and brought his phone out of the jeans pocket to answer it. Taking the chance I quickly pecked his cheek, taking him by surprise and made a quick exit from the room. 

I was stirring the curry in the kitchen when he encircled his arms around my waist and buried his face in the hollow of my neck. My body shivers at his intimate touch. 

“Mike I packed some snacks for you. You just tell me about the number of days you are going out this time, then I will pack your bag too.” 

He narrowed down his eyes at me “How do you know that I am leaving for a business tour?” 

I slightly chuckled at his shocked expression “Because I am your wife”. 

He made me face him. “How do you do it every time Jenny? You should be angry with me for leaving you again and instead of fighting with me, you are preparing for my trip.” 

I slowly raised myself and encircled my arms around his neck “Because I trust you Mike. I know if you are doing something, then there must be something important behind it. I am your wife, so it is my duty to support you in meeting your obligations. Now don't waste your time here and let's start packing, otherwise you will be late for your flight.” I stated. 

***

Michael

I was standing outside the airport with my luggage when I felt a tap on my shoulder. “ What's up dude?” I took off my shades, turned around and saw my boys grinning at me, except one. Ignoring his sullen face, I greeted everyone.

 "We thought that you won't be able to make it on this trip.” comments James. 

I leaned back, taking the support of my car and crossed my hands around my chest “And may I know why you thought so?”

 Ryan put an arm around Harry's shoulder and chirped “After all, now you are a married man, which wife allows her husband to go alone for a vacation? I shook my head on his comment. 

They know nothing about my wife.

I shifted my gaze towards Nick who jumped in the conversation.” Come-on guys we are talking about Jennifer here. The so-called dumb Jennifer.” he quoted raising his fingers. 

“Mike must have created some fake story for her, and she, like a fool, must have believed his every word. Such an over emotional fool she is" Nick joked and that was enough for me to lose my temper. 

I pulled him by the collar. “How dare you, bastard? Who the hell you are to speak nonsense about my wife? You are just a friend so act like one. No one, I repeat no one” I barked looking at all of them. “Has got the right to insult my wife because, only I have got that right to laugh on her foolishness” I loosened my hold on his collar and burst into fits of laughter. They all looked at me with widened eyes, but then they too joined me in the fun. 

“If you guys are done with your so-called joke then can we please move?” barked Harry with a sullen face. 

Now what is his problem? We seriously need to have a talk

But nevertheless we all picked our luggage and started moving towards the airport entrance. We completed all the formalities and now we're seated on our assigned seats. I looked beside me and saw Harry sitting with a sullen face. 

“What happened bro? We are going for a vacation together after such a long time and here you are sulking in a corner?” I poked him slightly. 

“Don't act as if you don't know Mike. Whatever you are doing with that innocent soul is a sin. She is your wife, your responsibility and instead of protecting her dignity, you are making fun of her love for you.”

 I knew he was going to berate me for what I did today. “ Dude what is your problem? She is my wife and it is solely my choice how I treat her. Wait a minute! Why are you always so concerned about her? Don't tell me you have fallen in love with my wife” I teased him, whereas he looked at me disgustingly. 

“You know it very well brother why I married her. If anyone is to blame here then it has to be that old man, who made that will, that I won't get a single penny from our ancestral property, if I didn't get married before turning 24. Marriage was never on my to-do list.”

 I heard him sighing hard. “ Okay I get it. Your grandfather trapped you in this. Then why Jenny bro? You could have got anyone at your feet. Why are you playing with her feelings?"

 I leaned back on the seat and my lips split into a dirty grin."You are correct. I could have got anyone but with Jenny everything is different. I trapped that old man in his own game, he wanted to cut my wings and that is why he planned all this property drama. But he forgot that he was messing with a wrong person. Marrying Jenny was a win-win situation for me. I got my share of property without losing my freedom.” I smirked at my victory. 

“Do you have any slightest idea that you have spoiled the life of an innocent girl” He looked at me accusingly. 

“Come-on dude! She has got Mrs. Patterson Tag with her, she has got more than what she deserves." This time I was seriously annoyed with his constant accusations. 

“And what about love? Don't you think she deserved a bit of your love too?”

 I turned towards him completely “You are my best friend since grade one. Don't you know me a bit? I Don't do this love thing. For me it always starts with attraction and ends with one exotic night stand. That's it. Now for god’s sake, I am exhausted. Keep your leftover questions to yourself and let me sleep.” saying I plugged ear plugs and closed my eyes.

I can never love anyone. Not even you Jenny.