Chapter 1 A Call From His Stepmother

TAMMY’S POV

Sean handed me an envelope yesterday with a bright red card inside. I opened it excitedly and made out the words written in his terrible handwriting,

“Pack your bags, my darling. We’re going to Greece. Happy first Anniversary! Love, your hubby.”

Well, this makes up for missing our honeymoon in Italy last year because of his last-minute work commitments. This is finally going to be the vacation of my dreams!

After a few hours, we land in Greece. The air is thick and hot as we step out of the stale airplane air.

Sean grabs my hand while we walk off the runway and looks deeply into my eyes. I crook a little smile and wink at him.

“We’re here, babe.” Sean breaths into the humid air.

I’m so lucky to have Sean. I remember feeling breathless when I first laid eyes on him. He was so tall, I had to strain my neck all the way back in order to meet his brooding eyes, their color a deep, forest green and his hair so perfectly wavy and thick. I distinctly remember the veins bulging out of his muscular forearms as he spoke.

I get goosebumps just thinking back on that day when he asked for my number.

I always knew I would only ever marry someone that I knew for certain was my soulmate, but when I found out that Sean was a billionaire and the President of a large multimedia group, I really thought I’d hit the jackpot.

But I definitely never wanted to rely on anyone financially because my independence matters to me, and I really love my job working with animals as a veterinarian. I’m pretty sure I have the perfect life.

We head out the glass exit doors and into a busy road full of taxi cabs.Sean leads me past all of them to a matte black SUV. Our chauffeur hauls our two heavy suitcases into the trunk and in the next moment, we speed off into the direction of the ocean.

***

We watched the sun slowly descend over the melting horizon from our beach-front villa. We lounge lazily on a big swinging chair on the wooden porch, cuddling close.

“You’ve outdone yourself, Mister Saunders” I said, as I tucked myself in closer to his side and nuzzled my head into his neck.

“What can I say? I know how to impress.” he retorted with a cheeky smile .

Almost on autopilot, my hand that’s resting on his chest slowly makes soft circles on his pecks, as I move down to his abdomen where I can feel the lines of his toned muscles.

I don’t know if it’s the humidity or the fact that we’re both in nothing but our shower robes, but I can feel excitement building deep in my belly.

“Don’t stop,” Sean whispers into my temple.

“Your wish is my command…”

My hand continues down past his abdomen. When I feel an impressive bulge over his robe between his legs, I know I’m at the right place. I put pressure on my palm as I start massaging. A small groan spaces him and I turn my face towards him so we can finally kiss.

There must really be electricity in the air, because just as our lips meet, my breath hot against his mouth, I feel a buzz between our touching bodies.

I pull away with a big question mark on my face. Sean looks at me and then down toward the pocket of his robe.

“Damn, so I guess there is cell service out here.” he says, breathing out the tension we’ve just created a moment ago.

I feel the buzz from his cell phone again.

“You going to get that?” I mumble, trying to calm the heat in between my legs.

“I have to. Give me a sec., I’ll be right back” Sean hops off the chair and walks back into the suite to take the call.

After a few short minutes, he’s returned to the porch with a tumbler of whiskey in hand.

“Who was that?” I ask

“Tam…uhm….”

“Is everything okay?” I press

“It looks like there’s a situation.”

My heart drops. What does he mean ‘a situation’? He said the same thing before we were supposed to leave for Italy on our honeymoon almost exactly a year ago.

“Sean? Is it work? Surely it can wait? We’re in Greece for fuck’s sake.”

“Tam, please. This is out of my control. Sue needs me urgently at the head office.”

“Sue?”

“Tammy, you know she’s also the Marketing Director of the company. I can’t help that my dad gave her that title in his will before he died almost a decade ago. And now that I’m the President of this company, I have to honor what he wanted now that he’s gone.”

Suddenly I start to feel dizzy. I’ve always found it weird that he worked so closely with Sue, his step mom and now business partner for the past few years. Is he really leaving me on our honeymoon?

“Sean, please.” I softly begged, searching in his eyes for something, anything.

“I’m sorry Tam. The next flight out is in an hour. I have to pack.”

I’m not sure how much time passes as Sean kisses my cheek, packed suitcase in hand and says as he walks out the door, “I’ll make it up to you, I promise”.

The door shuts too loudly behind him and I’m alone in this massive honeymoon suite. In Greece. Alone.

I shake myself back into the present moment and sigh deeply. Well, what was I expecting? His job has always been first in our relationship. This is the life I agreed to. This is the man I married. I can be an understanding wife, right? I can enjoy this holiday alone, I think. I guess I don’t have a choice.

In the night, I slip out of my dress in a half-zombie state and fall onto the massive bed. It looks even bigger now that Sean’s not sharing it with me. I grab my phone to check if he’s messaged me; that he’s landed safely or that he misses me. Anything.

Instead I see a notification from Rachel, my best friend from kindergarten. She’s now an Attending Physician at one of the best hospitals in the country. I wonder why she’s messaging me? We haven’t spoken in weeks.

But I fight my heavy eyes as I open the message she left me a few minutes ago.

Hey Tammy. Sorry to text you so out of the blue but I’ve just seen Sean walk into the hospital reception. He’s getting weirdly cozy with some woman. I didn’t have time to say hi though, I got a page that one of my patients was seizing in another ward. Anyway, I thought it was weird and wanted to let you know. Miss you. R.

I slowly read her message again and then drop the phone to my chest, absolutely defeated.

Yeah, this is all very weird!