*Dove*I feel like I’m on top of the world. After the small disagreement with Miles last night about my employment status and getting eaten out on the dining table by a starved man, we had a lovely dinner and talked about our plans to one day go to Paris. It was a reminder that this is my life now. I’m Miles Scott’s wife. It’s a sentence I never thought I would say. In a matter of months, I went from living in a shitty apartment and not having enough money to pay for my mother’s hospital bills to living in a penthouse apartment that is nicer and bigger than any house I have lived in and having my mother taken care of. It’s not something I ever thought would happen in my wildest dreams. But I’m glad it did.As much as I would prefer to pay for my mother’s bills because I don’t want to feel like Miles is giving me handouts, I understand that he just wants to help and I need to push my pride to the side for one moment. If I want the best treatment for the woman who raised me by
*Miles*A sigh fell from my lips the moment I hung up with Dove. Leaning back in my chair, I spun around to face the New York City skyline my office overlooked from the top floor. My eyes moved across the shadows of the buildings and the tiny ants that were people walking along the sidewalk, heading to whatever destination they needed to. What the fuck am I going to do about Dylan? He’s becoming more of a problem than I would like. He clearly didn’t take my threat seriously from last night if he was still harassing Dove at work just now. Running a hand through my hair, I spun back to face my desk and pressed the button that linked the phone on my desk with Jennifer outside my office doors. “Jen, can you come in here please?”I folded my hands on the edge of my desk while waiting for Jen to enter. Moments later, the door swung open and she stepped into the room. “Is everything okay?”“Can you do me a favor?” I asked.She nodded, her eyes focused on me as she folded h
*Dove*My eyes fluttered open to see Miles’s head resting on my bare stomach with the early morning light streaming in through the curtains and his arm wrapped around my hips. As my eyes adjusted to the light, I could see how peaceful he looked. I watched as he breathed softly through his slightly parted lips.I’ll never get used to the fact that this was my life now and he was my husband. I wanted to think that I was having some kind of fever dream, but when Miles groaned and tightened his grip around me, I knew that this was reality. My reality. And I couldn’t be more grateful.I smiled to myself as I ran my fingers through his soft strands of hair. They tickled the exposed skin, but I did my best to remain still. I didn’t want to wake him.I didn’t know how long I had been lying here running my hands through his hair before I heard a raspy voice pierce my ears.“How long are you going to stare at me for?”My hand stilled in his hair as my teeth captured my bottom l
*Miles*It would be an understatement to say it was hard to get out of bed this morning and wave goodbye to Dove as she left for work. After our relaxing day at home just soaking up the feeling of being in each other’s company, and, of course, taking my stunning wife any chance I could, makes it hard to be sitting at my desk right now. I leaned forward to wrap my hands around the steamy takeout cup of coffee I grabbed on my way to the office and spun in my chair to overlook the New York City skyline. It’s dark and gloomy again today as raindrops slide down the large panels of glass windows. I would rather be at home wrapped up in my wife than sitting here knowing I have a full day of meetings. I’ve gotten so used to having her in my life that now I can’t picture my future without her. What started as a fake marriage to get my grandfather off my back turned into something I never expected in my wildest dreams.It seems everything does happen for a reason.A sudden knock
*Miles*The doors to the garage open and I drive in, parking in one of the many parking spaces I have in the back of the garage. When I kill the engine, I lean back in the leather seat and sigh, letting my hands drop to my lap. After the fucking day I’ve had, I’m ready to go upstairs and see my wife. I know I shouldn’t feel this way, but I can’t help but think I failed Dove today. I was confident I had found the man who hurt her, but it wasn’t him. To say I was disappointed would be an understatement. Jennifer is going to keep searching but I’m not optimistic I’ll find this fucker.I pull at the tie around my neck, feeling constricted by the tight knot. Once the material is loose around my neck, I unbutton the top two buttons on my long-sleeved shirt. It feels like I can properly breathe now.I silently get out of the car and ride the elevator to the top floor. Once inside the penthouse, I look around at the space. Greta isn’t anywhere in sight and Dove isn’t either. H
*Dove*The longer I stare at my desktop screen, the sorer my eyes become. I push away from my desk and rub my tired eyes. God, how long have I been looking at the screen uninterrupted?I frown. Now that I think about it, I don’t think I’ve taken a break since the moment I sat down this morning. The time on my screen tells me it’s nearly 2 p.m. Shit, I missed my lunch break too?Looking around the office at the other desks, everyone seems to be working quietly. The sound of keys clicking and coffee being slurped is the only thing I can hear. I’m not used to this kind of silence. Normally I have Sabrina and Amy stopping by my desk, or worse, Dylan. But it’s been… oddly quiet today. What the hell is going on?Come to think of it, I haven’t seen Dylan around the office since last week when he tried to get me to go interview Miles again. I know he’s been in the office because I’ve seen his car parked in the garage downstairs, but I haven’t seen or heard him at all. Strangely
*Dylan*I stare at the front door to my house from where I’m sitting in my car in the driveway. The lights are on in the living room and I can see Sylvia’s silhouette as she walks past the closed curtains. I have no doubt she knows I’m out here because she would’ve heard my car pull in moments ago. I’m sure she’s wondering what the hell I’m doing, but I can’t seem to unbuckle my seat belt and get out. After I sent that text message to Dove after she called in sick to work, it was like a flip had been switched inside my mind and I could now see my surroundings in color and not the dark shades clouding my vision. I don’t know why it happened, but it did, and now I can’t stop thinking about those damn photos of the night she was assaulted. When Sylvia showed me those photos, I let my hatred for Dove and the way she betrayed me drive me to show them to my uncle in an attempt to blackmail her. I hadn’t stopped to consider how Sylvia got her hands on them or how she knew about the
*Dove*The drive to the hospital from my work takes a little longer with the after-work rush hour traffic. New York City is a pain in the ass to drive in. The honking from taxis was excessive and the amount of pedestrians I had to slam on my brakes to avoid hitting because they walked out in front of me was too much to keep count of. Everyone just always seems to be in a rush to get somewhere. I don’t share that mentality, however. I’m more than happy to take my time because I know I’ll get to my destination eventually. I wished everyone in this damn city thought the same way.Driving through the packed parking garages next to the hospital, I manage to snag a space, bringing my car to a park. I heave a deep breath and look down at my watch. I have time for a quick visit with my mom before I head home to have dinner with my husband.I decided that after the bombshell Dylan dropped on me today about the photos that were taken the night of my assault, I knew I had to see my m