Steven turned on his side as he thought about what he had overhead tonight. Maybe she had been so upset that she didn't care about how loud her voice was but it had carried all the way to his office and so he had been forced to come out. That's when he had overheard Marie saying that she loved him. That she had loved him for years. It was possible that she had been talking about someone else but his crazy, hopeful heart said otherwise.Marie was in love with him. The Assistant he couldn't afford to lose was in love with him. He felt his heart exploding with a myriad of emotions. There was a part of him that felt ecstatic about the information, and the other part was terrified because he suddenly felt like he had to do something about the feelings stirring in his heart.His eyes darted to the bedside clock beside him. The time was 10 PM and true to her word, she hadn't returned. He hadn't planned to do what he had done earlier today. He had just been so conflicted about her going out w
“Why do you look like I'm leading you to your death, Marie?”“Who knows where we’re going? Remind me again why I have to do this! Our marriage is fake, Steven. I do not need to meet your family. Call your grandfather and tell him I'm not coming. Tell him I'm sick or something.” “You know, I could tell him you’re sick because you're carrying my baby. How's that for an excuse?” He asked, his voice deadpan.“Is that supposed to be funny!” Marie shrieked, causing Steven to howl with laughter. “He’s just an old man, you know? He doesn't bite. If it makes you feel better, he can't even walk without support.” Steven said.“That doesn't make me feel better, Steven.”“Well, put on your big girl pants because here we are.” Steven said, as he pulled into Alden’s driveway. Marie's fear about meeting his grandfather as not just his assistant but his wife would have been a lot more amusing if he wasn't terrified himself. But what could he do? He had woken up to a summon by the man and Alden wasn'
Steven let out a sigh as he ran a hand over his face. What he had thought would be a fairly straight forward process had turned out to be a lengthy one fraught with complications. Creatives had certain mannerisms and most of the people who had come highly recommended weren't fitting into the mold. He had been looking for someone who would blend in as a creative person even though they were a mole. He had been about to give up when Marie sent in a lady called Cadence Steele. After some background checks and thorough interviewing, he had found out that she was the one for the job. Now, he sat at his desk, hungry and exhausted, and at the risk of running late for his special surprise for Marie. He wanted to make tonight so special that all the resistance she had built up in the past weeks ebbed away. He texted Sarah to ensure that all the fresh ingredients he had requested for dinner had been delivered. Marie had already left for her house an hour ago to meet up with Antonio. Steven ho
“So why do you keep trying?”“This may be hard for you to believe Steven, but not everyone wants to end up old and alone. I know I don't.”That's what she thought? That he wanted to be old and alone? “ I want love. I want someone to choose me. I want to have a family of my own.” Marie said in a wistful tone under her breath. Steven wondered if she knew that she had said the words aloud when her head whipped up in shock.“Did I just admit that out loud? Oh my God, I am such a dolt!”“No, Marie. You're not.”“I wish I could love Antonio. I really do because I've spent so much time loving a man who may or may not love me and I'm tired of waiting.”Steven said nothing because he wasn't quite sure where and how to cut in. He had hoped that after they ate and kissed, everything would be crystal clear to her.“Sorry, oh my God, you should see your face, Steven. Thank you for everything you did. You are a nice guy, and such a great friend.”Friend? He didn't want to be her friend. Did frie
“Steven, stop. Oh my God. Someone will see us. Steven, stop!”Marie said, laughing as she tried to push a mischievous-looking Steven away from her. They were in the parking lot, waiting for the elevator, when Steven suddenly got very handsy.“Steven, people are coming. They will see us.”“So, let them. We’re married, Baby.”“Steven! If you keep this up, you’re going to lose your Godzilla status. No one will fear you anymore.”“Mhmmm… A small price to pay if I get to do this…” He said, grabbing her waist and kissing her neck. The elevator opened and they came face to face with a group of staff. After shooting him a look that warned him to behave, Marie stepped into the elevator. Steven, who had been holding both her purse and her briefcase, placed them down. Cracking his knuckles and neck, he came closer to a giggling Marie and said,“Now, where were we?” He grabbed her hand and brought it to his lips, and then pulled her tighter to himself.“Steven, people are watching us!” She said
Save me! Ellen is making a fuss about decor and seat placements and bla bla bla…Laughing while shaking her head, Marie focused on the work in front of her. No one had told her that being in a relationship was so distracting. The most she had done all day was type a memo. Her mind was jumbled up with thoughts of kissing Steven King and being in his arms. It was like her brain had decided to stop functioning and her insides were turning to jelly. So maybe he hadn't exactly popped the question yet but he had let his guard down so much.“I bet you're thinking about me.” The man in question teased, his eyes crinkling with mirth “What? No. I just got a text from Antonio.”“Liar.” He said, walking to her desk to plant a kiss on her cheek.Marie groaned inwardly at the thought of Antonio. She had to end things with him tonight. Even if Steven refused to place a label on whatever it was they were doing, she couldn't keep stringing him along. For some reason, she felt unsettled about going t
“Care to explain this?” Antonio barked, his phone still in his hand.“Can we discuss this inside, please?” Marie said, lowering her voice in a bid to get him to lower his.He glowered at her for some seconds before turning on his heels and going into the house. Marie followed at a safe distance, wondering how on earth she had gotten into this situation?How had the Paparazzi been so fast? It was barely two hours and an article brandishing her face and Steven King’s was headlining a gossip blog. Antonio balanced his hip on the curve of his kitchen counter and folded his arms as he waited for her to speak.Marie was terrified at the look in his eye. She had never seen someone so upset before. Especially not with her.“I’ve been such a fool. An idiot. A donkey!”Donkey? She fought back the urge to laugh.“Antonio, I'm so sorry. I was going to tell you about him.”“You were going to tell me? What exactly were you going to tell me, Marie? That you were married to a billionaire, or that
“Marie, you have to come into the house, please.”She shook her head sideways and averted her gaze. They had done this five times now and she showed no sign of relenting.“Marie…” He said, reaching out to touch her and flinching when she scooted backwards. It annoyed him that the bastard had laid his hands on her. One look at the jerk’s face and he had known that if he didn't step away, he would have spent the rest of his life in a slammer, serving a life sentence for murder. There were a lot of things he could have done better tonight. He could have insisted she texted him. Asked her out properly. Seized her phone. “I can't go in with you because you're mad at me, Steven.” Marie said, her voice shaking with the weight of unshed tears.Angry at her?“Marie, Baby. Why would I be mad at you?”“Because…” She said, shrugging her shoulders and looking away as fresh tears spilled from her eyes.What had the bastard said to her to make her this ashamed?“Baby… I'm not mad at you. I'm furiou