“So I haven’t been straight with you,” Steven said as Marie spooned a mouthful of risotto into her mouth. Marie closed her eyes as she savored the explosion of flavors in her mouth. Never in her life had she had risotto that had tasted this good. She opened her eyes to see Steven King staring at her with an amused expression on his face. Had she made an ugly sound? Did she have rice on her chin?“What?” She asked, rubbing her chin.“Nothing. I was saying that I haven’t been straight with you.”“Okay, how so?” Marie asked, her eyes boring holes into his.“After you kissed me at the party, I was ready to fire you because you know my rules but I got an email that made me rethink.”An email? Had he finally discovered her link to Alden King? Was this dinner some kind of malicious plot to deal with her? Oh God,what if he had poisoned her food? Marie felt her stomach flutter as the disturbing thoughts barraged her mind.“So, I know you’re going to be upset but..”Wait a minute. She was going
Marie winced as she recalled Sandra’s words from last night.“What do you mean you’re married to Steven King? He was my husband!” She had screamed as Marie had stood across from her pacing.The discussion had gone even worse than Marie had expected it to go, and she had prepared for the wrath that was sure to follow when she told Sandra about her and Steven King. Several times during their agreement last night, it had been on the tip of her tongue to tell her bestfriend that the marriage was fake, like hers had been but she had felt a kind of restraint not to. Besides, Steven had never touched Sandra after their kiss at the Notary's office but was going to be making public appearances with her.Marie had apologized a million times yesterday for loving Steven, and for marrying Steven. If she was being honest, Marie felt conflicted about Sandra's reaction. Sandra knew that about her giant crush on Steven King, and she didn't understand why her friend couldn't be happy for her.Last nig
There was no bloody way Steven King was serious about the box in her hand.“I told you that you would love it. Would you like to see it?” Steven asked, beckoning on her to follow him. Shaking her head, Marie tried to string a coherent sentence together.“Steven, you can't give me this. I can't accept it.” Acting like he hadn't heard a word she said, Steven King continued walking to where a shiny Navy blue BMW was parked.“I know you did not buy me a new car, Steven. Especially not an i8. Is this a joke?” Marie asked, standing hands akimbo.“I did, Mrs King. Want to take it for a spin?”“No! Here, take it back. I can't accept this, Steven.”“Why not? It's your birthday gift, Marie. I’ve never given you one. Consider it a culmination of the past years.” Steven said as Marie shook her head harder.Steven was rolling his eyes but she didn't care. He wasn't going to thrust this expensive car on her as a gift. It wasn't something she could return if he changed his mind. And besides, she did
“I don't want it, Steven. Honest.” Marie said, leaving forward and holding her hands together in a plea.“Why?” Steven asked in his usual dominating tone now that they were alone and there was no need to pretend.“I just don't. It's too expensive, Steven… I can't…”“Expensive? Marie, I know you were going to make a fuss about money and got an i8.”Was he serious? Had he been considering a more expensive car? She shuddered as the thought of owing him that much crossed her mind.“I just…can’t.” She said, dropping her eyes to her dress and wrapping her arms around herself. How could she make him understand? If he loved her, then maybe she would have been able to accept his gift but everything between them was fake. How could she accept gifts that were born out of a fake, and contractual marriage? What she wanted was for Steven to love her, not buy her expensive cars. Maybe she wanted both but she wanted his love more than any car. “What are you thinking about?” Steven said, a slight f
Steven kept his eyes closed for the rest of the journey even though he wasn't sleeping or able to rest. When he had thought about this plan and proposed it to Marie, it had seemed like a walk in the park. Just pretend to be married for a couple of months till the account acquisition was established and then end things. But he was growing wary at the way things were progressing with them. Reminding himself why he had the rules that he was never going to get involved with anyone he worked with wasn't helping as much as it used to and Steven was worried about that.There were unguarded moments where Steven caught himself feeling like he could get used to the idea of being with Marie and it rankled him. Marie was off-limits. He wasn't losing the best work asset in hopes of what would end as a stupid fling. Knowing Marie, if she found out what he was thinking now, she would fling the car door open and hightail it out of here.Taking in a labored breath, Steven recalled the real reason wh
Marie shook her head to dispel the thoughts flying around in her head. When had she fallen in love with him? The truth is that Marie couldn't remember. Right from the first time she had seen him during the orientation when he gave the scary speech, Marie had found him attractive. As he spoke, the curls on his wavy hair had bounced against his eyes, and Marie had found herself lost in the intensity in those warm brown eyes. People said the eyes could tell you who a person was, and Marie had seen that in Steven. She had never met someone so driven and intense. Even though she had seen the restlessness that most creatives had in Alden, she hadn't expected it to be cranked up in his grandson. The longer she worked with him, the more she started to fall for him. He was always there, and that was the quality Marie sought the most in people. Consistency. It made her feel safe. And Steven had consistently made her a part of his life this past ten years. How could she not love him?“Marie? C
“It's not my boyfriend.” Marie replied, deciding to be coy. She watched Steven’s eyes for a reaction but could find none.“Right, let's get back into it.” He said, looking into the binder.“Favorite color?” He asked.“None.” She replied. Steven said nothing as he wrote in the binder. Curious to see what he had written, she leaned over to get a clearer glance but was too slow as Steven had placed his fingers over it.“Let me see!” She cried, giggling and straightening up when he continued to cover it. As she raised her head, she found herself lost in Steven’s eyes. She knew she should look away but couldn't bring herself to do it, and Steven wasn't looking away either. She saw his gaze drop to his lips and her mouth went dry. She leaned forward to kiss him when she remembered what his friend, James, had said.The fake wife. What was she doing? He didn't love her and their relationship was going nowhere. Feigning a yawn, she retracted to her initial position. Clearing his throat, Steve
“Stevennnnnnnnn!” Marie bellowed, as she ran out of the room, clutching her cardigan and her purse in her hands. “Marie? What is it?” Steven asked, panting, as he bounded down the stairs that led to her.“I have to leave now! Sandra is in trouble. I just got a call from someone who used her cell to call me. She's messed up pretty bad in a bar somewhere. He's scared that someone might take advantage of her. I need to go because it's all my fault!”“Okay, calm down Marie. Where is she?”“At the Runtown Bar. I’ll go myself to get her.”“ I don't know, Marie. It's pretty late. Can’t the said person drive her home? Do you have to leave?”Seeing that Steven was serious about keeping her here tonight, Marie channeled all the emotions she had about her situation with Sandra into her voice.“No! I have to leave. Now! She's my best friend! I can't let her end up in some ditch somewhere when I could have helped.”“Calm down, Marie. You're not kidnapped. You can leave if you have to. I’ll just g
“What?” Steven asked in a voice so phony that everyone turned to stare at him.“Is that blood, uncle Steve? It is. There's blood on your shirt.”“Shhhhh, buddy. Don't make a big deal about it. I cut myself.”“You did? Cool! Let me see.” Rick exclaimed, as though he was being given front row tickets to a fun show.“Richard! Get back to class!”“But granny…”“Now!” Amelia boomed as a disgruntled Rick turned in his heel and headed towards the stairs, waving to Steven as he went.“You may want to get that cleaned up before leaving.” Alden said to him as he wheeled himself into his room.“Hand it to me.” Amelia said.“Oh? I didn't actually cut myself.”“I know. I’m not stupid. Alden keeps sneaking off in his wheelchair and I've seen some funny looking characters hanging around. I don't want to know what all this is about but I hope you're both not being stupid. And he's finally getting the exercise ”“Ah.” Steven replied as he took off his shirt and handed it to Amelia. He walked with Stev
Maybe it was the fact that the guy was a psychopath who had put his wife in a coma or the fact that he had such a punchable face but Steven didn't stop until Smith stopped laughing and started to cough.“Oh, I could go on for hours. I'm only just getting started.”“Kill me, please. I’d love to see how you get the answers you want.” Smith saidSteven snarled as he shook his knuckles.“Oh, make no mistake, Smith. You are going to die. You're going to pay for what you did to Cadence. I’ll make sure about that even if it's the last thing I do.”“I keep telling your stupid old man. I didn't kill Cadence Steele.”“The same way you didn't run my wife over?”“Exactly. I mean I know about it, make no mistake. But I neither authorized nor did it.”“You know what Smith, you're full of crap and I'm tired of doing this with you, so start talking. There's no use stalling too because you're not getting out of this till I'm satisfied.”“Look, I know you think I'm the one you’re looking for but I'm no
“What do you mean?”“I mean I've never seen you so affected by anything, Alden. Not even when your own son got into an accident.”Alden’s eyes hardened as he grunted.“That wasn't an accident. It was a stupid decision made by someone who should have known better.”Steven fought the urge to roll his eyes. Of course Alden would say that about his father. Alden had never cut him any slack.“Right, but you're deflecting the question. Why do you act like she means so much to you? What's this about?”“The only person that can give you the answers you want us is your wife, Steven.”What did that mean? Was there something about Alden and Marie he didn't know?“I don't understand what you mean, Alden.”“Are you ready to leave now?” Alden asked, pushing his chair backwards as he averted his eyes from Steven. Steven sighed and walked ahead of his grandfather. It was funny that Alden would rather die than let Steven touch his wheelchair while he allowed Amelia to help him all the time. He also kn
“Where are you?”“Hello to you too, Alden.” Steven said as he honked at the driver in front of him. Did people drive with their brains turned off these days?“I'm at your house and Dr. Terence tells me you’re not here.” The accusation in his tone spoke volumes but Steven chose to ignore it.“If you’d let me know you were coming over, perhaps I may have been ready to receive you.” Steven answered in a cool tone.“When you asked for this leave, you did say it was so you could remain at your wife's side, not gallivant around town.”“What do you want, Alden?”“No, listen to me young man. You're the one who’ll get down here fast if you want to hear what I have to say.” He answered before hanging up the phone. Steven exhaled as he massaged his temple. The last thing he wanted was Alden sticking his nose into how he was caring for Marie. Twenty minutes later, he pulled into the house and headed to the room where Marie was. Alden was in conversation with Dr. Terrence and didn't notice at firs
Dr. Terrence met him outside Marie's room and was about to say something but Steven held up his hand to forestall any comment.“I need everyone to leave for a few moments.”“Okay, Mr.King but if I may…”“Now, please.” Steven repeated as frazzled nurses began filing out of the room. He wasn't sure if he could stomach any more bad news so whatever Dr. Terrence had to say would have to wait.Dr. Terrence nodded and exited the room. Steven looked down at Marie and smiled at her. Even in a coma, her beauty took his breath away.He let out a long sigh and sat beside her bed before taking her hand in his.“You know, for the past few weeks, Marie. I’ve been mad at myself. Thinking about where I went wrong and how I could have failed you so much.”He squeezed her hand and checked to see if there was any reaction on her face. Her eyes remained blank and unfocused as they had been.“I’ve been mad at myself for letting you go through so much pain. For the fact that you're stuck somewhere between
Steven's mind whirled with thoughts as he heard the sound of Zed Norton's car backing out of his driveway.He ran a hand through his hair as he thought about what had transpired between Sandra and him. How on earth was he going to explain this to Marie when she came out of the coma? He could just imagine the look on his face.“You know when you were stuck in a coma fighting for your life? Yeah well, I slept with your best friend. And I don't even remember doing it.”He let out another curse and Sarah tossed him a concerned glance. He let out a sigh and plunked into the chair.“Any special orders for lunch, Sir? The chef wants to know…” She askedThe thought of having any food right now made him want to puke. Whenever he closed his eyes, all he could see was Cadence lying in a pool of her own blood.“I'm not hungry, Sarah. I’ll head out and probably eat something.”“Okay, Sir. Do I make any provisions for Ms.Rakes?”“No, Ms. Rakes wouldn't be returning anymore.” Steven replied as she
“What are you doing?” Steven whispered as he jerked away from Sandra. His head was reeling from pain. Had she really kissed him?“Sorry. I don't know what happened…You looked so sad and I wasn't thinking.” She said as she abruptly got on her feet and cleared her plate. She grabbed the glass and was about to take the bottle of wine with her when Steven dragged it from her.“You can't drink the whole bottle, Steven.” She said in a quiet voice.“Get out.” He said, in a voice harsher than he intended. She glared at him for some seconds before wilting and walking out of the room.He took a swig of the bottle and sighed. Did she deserve such hostility from him for a mistake? She had only been trying to help him after all. It seemed all he was capable of these days was messing up on a grand scale. His actions kept hurting the people he called friends and family even when he didn't intend for them too. Tomorrow, he'd apologize for being bitchy to her. For now, he had only one thing on his min
“Thank you for calling me. I’ll drive him home. The last couple of weeks have been very hard with his wife being in a coma, you know.”Steven could hear Sandra talking to someone. He tried to remember calling her. Had he done that himself or had Tony called her? What time was it? She was looking at him now with something akin to disappointment on her face. Well, he didn't bloody care.“Come on, let's get you home.” She said, as she tried to help him to his feet. Steven chuckled as the both fell back on the leather seat. What was she thinking? That her tiny body could support his weight?“Is something funny, Steven King? You should be ashamed of yourself. You’re drunk. No one's been able to reach you all afternoon. James and Joanna left after breakfast and have been trying to get across to you. Your cell was switched off. And then I get a call that you're wasted in a bar!”“Arghhh. Stop talking in my face.” He mumbled. Her voice was beginning to give him a headache. He wasn't that drun
After Steven got off the call with the 911 operator, he thought about what to do next. He couldn't go home to Marie in this state, knowing that her suffering was caused by him. Nor was he in the mood to face either James or Joanna. He couldn't go to Alden's as that meant endless lectures he wasn't ready for. He knew the only thing likely to get him through the next couple of hours. He turned off his cell phone and drove off. Thirty minutes later, he parked outside Ziggler’s. The tiny, nondescript bar was exactly as he remembered it. He hesitated for a minute before heading in. He had promised James that he wasn't ever coming back here and for over ten years he had kept that promise. But there was no turning back now. A woman was dead because of him, another was in a coma fighting for her life. He needed this, if only for a few minutes. He opened the door, alighted and walked in before he could lose courage. Inside the tiny bar was exactly as he remembered it. How long since he had sat