____________________________..."Rowan?""Rowan!""ROWAN!!"I let out a deep breath of exasperation as I watched the worker Rowan was talking to point in my direction, telling him that I was calling him. But Rowan paid no heed and continued to pretend I had not called him.I tried to calm myself as I walked over to him."So yeah, that will be all." I heard him say to the worker and he walked away."Rowan!" I called again, from five feet away and he still did not pay heed.I let out another breath before looking around and saying, "Cupcake?""Yes, honey?" He turned to me with a triumphant smile on his face."You are such a man-child!" I groaned."Only for you." He winked at me.I rolled my eyes though inside, I felt something flutter in my stomach.No!Bad, Aurora, bad!This is so bad. What do I do with myself?"Can you oversee the catering?" I asked. "I need to go look at the decorations on the deck."The cruise event started this evening. It had been a week of crazy planning and p
_______________________________...Rory stepped out of the bedroom in a beige bodycon and a sparkling purse. And she looked so ethereally beautiful that I had my breath stuck in my throat. I was wearing just a black tuxedo - I was never brave enough to experiment with my style, despite all the courage and grit people usually associate me with. You look as beautiful as the first time I set my eyes on you. That's what I wanted to tell her. But I knew I would end up with a broken nose for sure this time if I went as corny as that."You look absolutely gorgeous." I went with it instead. I expected a blush, a glare, or at least a flat look. But all I got in return was a murmured "Thank you." Did something happen again? "Honey?" I called out to her. "We are running late." She said, not meeting my eyes. "As I said, we are the bosses. We-""If you plan to be late, then I will take my car." She cut me off and it did not look like she was joking around."Did I do something?" I asked.
_______________________________...I felt restless and fidgety the whole night. Shannon, Ashton and Rowan were watching me like hawks. As if they knew that I was upto something. I just hoped that Rowan didn't know that Gabriella was coming back home."I hope you have a great week with us." I shook the hand of Mr. Davidson before finally excusing myself for the night.It had been a long day.It had been a long two months.Gabriella had been distraught so I had no choice but to make her come back. But my prior worries still remained and I did not know what to do about the situation when Rowan would get to know that Gabriella was back.Would he again try to get a upper hand on me and make me dance to his tunes or would he still continue to try to make this marriage work like he had been trying to make me believe all these days?My mind told me he would do the former but my treacherous heart wished with all its might that he would do the latter."Aurora!"I turned to the source of the
______________________________..."And you believe him? Rory, don't be so naive!" Eric said on the phone.I stood at the deck watching the sun rise. It was a peaceful and beautiful morning and no one was up after yesterday's celebrations. So I had the deck all to myself.I knew the peace would not last for long because the morning event was supposed to take place at the deck so the organizing team would be here in a few more minutes."I am willing to give him the benefit of the doubt, Eric. After all, he too has a lot to lose here.""You think it's worth the risk?" He asked solemnly.I loved how protective he was of my younger sister. It made me feel at ease."We did not have any plans to begin with, Eric. Obviously we will not let our guard down but yeah, I think we can at least be at a bit of ease right now. He seems to be preoccupied with other things."He seems to be preoccupied with me. I wanted to say this. Especially after last night. We had had sex twice before but both tim
______________________________..."Rory!" Gabby started wailing as soon as she saw me.My mom also got up from where she was seated."Oh my god, I missed you!" I hugged her and rocked our bodies sideways."Rowan didn't come?" Mom asked.Gabby went rigid immediately.I rubbed her arms and whispered, "Don't worry. He will not do anything. I promise.""Rowan is exhausted from the cruise, Momma. He said he will come over for dinner tomorrow.""He is?" My mother clapped excitedly. "That's great. My son in law never comes for dinner. I should ask the staff to prepare everything to his taste. What all does he like?""Just make whatever mother. He is not a picky eater." I shrugged as I pulled away from my sister.Mom gave me a flat look but then excused herself to give us sisters some space."He is not a picky eater huh?" Gabriella asked, her face neutral."That's not what I meant. I-" I didn't want to lie to her. Because of what was at stake for her, I needed to tread carefully through th
_____________________________...When I reached back to the apartment that night, my legs were asleep. The emotional stress that I was in was wearing me completely out. It didn't help that the cruise that ended just yesterday had did its bit to my muscles and bones.I was just too tired.The whole house was dimly lit.What was Rowan up to now?A part of me told me he was doing something romantic and the pathetic part of me wished he was doing something romantic."You are home." Home. Was this my home?Rowan walked over to me, taking small tentative steps. He had a washcloth over his left shoulder and a sprinkle of flour on his hair. "Were you cooking?" I asked him. I did know he could cook in the last two months but I did not think that I would ever see the day when I came home to him welcoming me like this. "Homemade pizza. With Mexican toppings, your favorite." My weak legs did not have the power in them to hold me up when he said something like that. I almost stumbled and h
_________________________________...I stepped out of the bath and changed into a lavender set of pajamas, not bothering to blow dry my hair. I knew good food was waiting for me and I didn't want it to keep waiting for me. I hurried out of the room and stopped when I heard Rowan on the phone. "I don't know what else I am supposed to do. She won't take the bait." I felt my entire body go cold. Take the bait?"What else am I supposed to do? Lick her shoes? Do you know how hard it is to pretend to like someone you loathe? But I need her on my side so I have to do this shit!" He was pacing around the living room so I hid myself away from his field of view. I felt the unshed tears sting at the edges of my eyes but I was not going to cry. He had already made a fool out of me. I was not going to let him make me a pathetic fool. "Ashton, you don't understand. She is disgusting! She is so annoying. I can't. You know I would rather spend my time with someone else." Disgusting? Annoyin
____________________________...I woke up in the morning feeling every bit of pain and sorrow I felt the night before. But I had also found a newfound courage and determination to give it back to Rowan. I had been civil to him yesterday night at dinner at my parents' but he was going to have to deal with this new me from now on. I was going to make him wish he had not asked for another year of this facade. I did my morning business and dressed myself in my usual suit pants and a white shirt. I put on my red lipstick and twisted my hair into a side knot before exiting my room, only to bump into a sturdy wall immediately. I flailed my arms as I stumbled backward but before I could fall, strong muscular arms wrapped around my waist and pulled me towards them. My eyes made contact with the enthralling ones of my husband, and I felt anger boil throughout my body. "Careful there, pumpkin." He gave me a lazy grin. "We don't want anything happening to that perfect ass of yours." I na