"I—I look pale?" Avery repeated. Of course, she did. Who wouldn’t look pale if they were in her current position?
It wasn’t everyday that one decided to order Archibald Donovan and expect to go scot free. What more? She had risked her pride getting hurt by flaunting her wifely power to stop him. If Archie had taken this the wrong way and laughed at her, maybe she would have had to hide her face for the rest of her life.
"You do," He replied, worry etched all over his face.
Avery nodded slowly, the lie rolling off her lips, "Oh... I guess it’s because I was angry."
"Then I think you’ll remain pale for the next one hour or so," Archie stated with an emotionless voice.
"What? Why?"
"I have to return to the headquarters," he answered.
"Why? You just agreed to... Didn’t you just agree that you won’t be going on the business trip a mont ago?"
"I did. And that’s why I’m going to the headquarters. I’m bailing out on them in the last minute so I have to take responsibility, and assign soone else to go in my place."
"Oh... That’s true," Avery murmured, realization dawning on her. "I completely flew over that in my mind. The one you are going to assign, is it Neil?"
"The fucker would refuse," Archie deadpanned.
A fresh wave of guilt washed over Avery.
"Then, soone else has to take over? Soone who won’t be able to refuse even if their wife asks them to stay ho?"
"I pay them to do that," he pointed out. "Go on in. I’ll be back in an hour."
Hearing the cold undertone of his voice, Avery montarily forgot her guilt and rembered their earlier argunt.
"Don’t you dare trick by going anywhere else that’s not the headquarters!" she warned.
"Or else? What will you do?"
"Or else..." Taken aback by the question, Avery swallowed. "Or I’ll create problems for you. Don’t underestimate or you’ll regret it."
Archie slamd the door shut, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of his lips at her defiant tone. He handed the car keys to her and removed another bunch from his breast pocket.
"Go in," he said, "I’ll be back in an hour. Might co in earlier but definitely not later."
Avery nodded. "I’ll trust you and obey. Don’t make regret it," she glared at him.
"I wish you could see yourself through my eyes right now," Archie scoffed. Before he could tell her she looked like a kitten baring its teeth at a tiger, he turned away and continued, "I’ll take the bike. Call if you need anything."
Avery watched him round the corner to walk deeper into the underground garage where she presud his bikes were, before turning around and heading back to the elevator.
As soon as she arrived at the penthouse and stepped onto the plush rug into the living room, she was bombarded with welcoming hugs and licks from Lake and Thorne. After feeding them, she moved on to her room, changed into fresh cotton sweater and shorts then returned to the living room to wait for Archie.
Sitting in the sa spot for five minutes had her bored out of her mind so she pulled out her phone and began texting him.
Avery: You have 35 minutes left.
Archie: Will be back at the ti I promised to.
Avery: Fed your brothers.
Avery: No reply?
Avery: Bored. Get bars of chocolate on your way back. And large tubs of ice cream. Maybe candies? You think you could stop by at a bakery and get cake?
Avery: You’re gonna ignore on text just like you did in the car?
Avery: Wait, you didn’t get on the plane, did you?!
Avery: Archie! Arch!! Archibald Donovan!!! Tell you didn’t get on the plane.
Archie: In fact, I did. That’s why I can read the ssages.
Avery: Are you calling dumb?!
Avery: That’s no way to talk to your wife.
Sitting up on the couch, Avery frowned when she didn’t get another reply for the next ten minutes.
"Is he ignoring ?" she murmured, clicking on the call icon. Seeing that the call connected instantly was enough to make her eyes brighten, and she imdiately placed it against her ears.
"Arch?"
"..."
She frowned at the silence from the other end. He was going to play this ga?
"Are you there?"
"..."
Avery scoffed, "Stay silent for as many hours as you want. I know you’re listening."
" ..."
"If you think you ignoring would make hang up, then keep dreaming. I’m not hanging up!" she hissed. "Hmmm... Seems like I’m getting this all wrong. If you wanted to keep hearing my voice, then you should have just asked."
"..."
"Anyways, I’m a good wife so I’ll bless you with my voice. Want to sing for you?"
"..."
"A yes it is then. What song would you like to sing?"
"..."
"Oh, I should sing anyone I like?"
"..."
"Great! I’ll start then... Are you there?" she waited for a few seconds, lifting her gaze to check the clock. There was less than thirty minutes left until the ti he promised was up. ’I can sing one song after another to fill up the ti,’ she thought. Taking in a deep breath, she started, "... I just woke up from a dream... Where you and I had to say goodbye... And I don’t know what it all ans... But since I survived I realized... Wherever you go, that’s where I’ll follow..."
Before a minute was up, Avery was slurring the words and drifting off to sleep.
~
Avery’s eyes snapped open to a white ceiling that was supposed to be familiar, but seed unfamiliar instead due to the absence of a chandelier. She wasn’t supposed to be here. At least not yet.
She was supposed to be downstairs in the living room waiting for Archie, and not up here in her bed. Climbing out of the bed, her feet easing into her fluffy slippers, she hurried out of the room with the intention of getting downstairs to check the ti. Had she sleepwalked up to the room after falling asleep suddenly?
Slamming the door behind herself, Avery was about to head down to the living room when she noticed the streak of light emanating from Archie’s room door, which was slightly ajar at the mont.
He was ho!
Instead of going to knock on his door, she went back to her room, picked up her pillow and duvet and headed back out to stand before his door.
"Archie?" she called.
"You can..."
She didn’t bother waiting to hear the rest of his words before pushing the door open and stepping in.
"You’re back!" she smiled at the figure sitting on his bed, his brows raised in question as he half stared, half glared at her.
"Obviously," Archie deadpanned. "What do you want?"
"Obviously," Avery returned, lifting the pillow and duvet in her hand as if to help him see them properly. "I want to sleep."
"And you can’t find your room?" he asked.
"My room? Haha, what kind of married couple, newly married ones at that, sleep in separate rooms?"
Archie’s frown deepened and he adjusted his glasses as if to make sure the wife he left at ho was the one in front of him. Not like he had two wives anyway.
"Is that you, Ava?"
"Why?" Avery’s lips curved into a bright smile, knowing very well the reason he was asking that. "Do I look more beautiful than I was earlier? Don’t be shy. Just tell ; I won’t tease you."
"Wait," Archie said, a mirthless chuckle escaping his lips as he rose from the bed. "Is this you apologizing? By being... I don’t know."
Avery sighed, her hands tightening around the soft pillow in her hand.
"It’s obvious, isn’t it? Do you forgive ?" she probed.
"What exactly are you apologizing for?"
"Uhm..." she humd, biting down on her lips as she fell deep in thoughts. "I’m apologizing for sending that stupid voice ssage and making you wait."
"And?"
"For saying carrying your baby wouldn’t be bliss..."
"And?"
"There’s more?" Avery asked. Seeing his eyes narrow, she hurriedly added, "For losing the anklet? I promise, I’ll find it."
"You don’t need to."
Avery’s eyes widened. "I don’t? Okay, I guess I won’t bother—"
"You won’t?!"
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