I felt a very unfamiliar but heartbreaking feeling wash over , but I couldn't stand in front of his office door showing weakness neither could I enter in there to confront them for two reasons; I was afraid of how much seeing them in a such situation would hurt and I had no right. I was the contract bride after all.
I imdiately turned to leave but slamd against Sam who was coming down the hallway. "Hey!"
"Hi, Sam. I have to go," I darted past him back out of the building, almost running, tears stinging my eyes. I found Martin waiting by the car with a cup of coffee, he stood up straight as soon as he saw . "Mrs Nuro, everything alright?" he asked with concern in his voice.
"Take ho, Martin. To our house, not the mansion,"
"Mrs Nuro... I don't think that is a good idea...,"
"Now, Martin. It's not up for discussion," I got into the car and let my tears flow. I know I had no right to be angry with him, I was nothing more than an accessorial bride, there for him to look good. I was there for him to secure his position as CEO. Gwen was who he wanted but it was becoming too much for to bear.
He spent our entire honeymoon with her and now, in his office. What would people take for?
When I got to the house, I had only been in for one day, I sat on the sofa and cried. A few minutes later, I heard the door slam and Richard walked through it, his face stormy.
"Do you have a death wish, Nita? Why the hell would you leave the mansion, we haven't scaled up the security here yet?"
I crossed my arms, knowing Martin must have called him. "I needed so air. I thought I could co see you but you were ... preoccupied." I emphasized the last word.
His brows furrowed. "What's that supposed to an?"
I tilted my head, "Oh, nothing much. Just that your office door isn't exactly soundproof. Might want to look into that."
Richard blinked, his face shifting from anger to confusion, then to realization. His jaw tightened. "You were at the office?"
I shrugged, "Is that what I have to get used to when I start working with you? Am I going to walk in on you and your mistress every ti I walk into your office?"
He pinched the bridge of his nose, muttering sothing under his breath before stepping closer to . "Nita, !... It's just been a difficult few days and she ca around, I couldn't resist."
"Don't." I held up a hand, stopping him mid-sentence. "I don't want to hear the excuses. I get it. I have no right to question your dalliances but have you thought of the effect your actions may have on . I am your wife. What will people say? What will people think? Our ruse was supposed to be secret, tell what excuse did you give your mistress? Did she ask you why you would spend all of our honeymoon with her? You're Richard Nuro, the man every woman apparently wants to moan for. But I'm your wife—fake or not—and I deserve so respect."
His eyes narrowed. "You're overreacting."
"Am I? What would you do if you walked in on with another man? You are a fake husband as much as I am a fake wife. Tell , what would you do?"
There was no response for a few monts. "Nita... I didn't think how my actions might reflect on you but I have needs. It's stupid when I say it out loud. I cannot spend one year self-pleasuring myself,"
"Then do it to !" Where the fuck did that co from? Yes, I wanted him but I didn't think I would be able to say it out loud.
His confusion was almost comical. "Do what to you? I don't understand. What are we talking about here?"
"I want to be the one you... have sex with," I blurted out, feeling my cheeks heat up.
For the first ti since he stord in, Richard was speechless. His lips parted as if to say sothing, then closed again. Finally, he managed, "Co again?"
"Don't act like you're stupid. It's hard enough for to say it already,"
He rubbed the back of his neck, his face a mix of amusent and incredulity. "Nita, are you seriously—"
"Yes." I got up and stepped closer, "But I have conditions. One: you're with only . No Gwen, no mysterious office moaners, no one else. Got it?"
"Okay?" he murmured, though he still looked like he was trying to process the situation.
"Two," I continued, "you teach ."
"Teach you?" His brow furrowed. "Teach you what?"
"How to... you know... have sex" The words ca out in a rush, and I wished I could crawl under the couch and disappear. But there was no turning back now. "I've never done this before, Richard. And when this year of charade is over, I want to be able to live a normal life like every other woman out there,"
"No!" that wasn't the response I was expecting to hear.
"say what?"
"No, Nita. I want to, believe , I want to like you wouldn't even begin to comprehend. But I am not going to let you throw your innocence at like so kind of business deal."
"Richard..."
"I'm done talking about this, Nita. And I will hear nothing of it in this house anymore," he finished a finality to his voice that told he was serious. "I can tell you this though... I spent only our wedding night with Gwen. The rest of the ti, I was here," he said and walked away.
He was here? He chose to be alone than be with during our honeymoon. Did I repulse him that much?
*****
Richard had been avoiding since our last conversation, and honestly, the silence was deafening. A man I once despised and now I couldn't stand the cold shoulder. Our interactions had beco fleeting conversations like good morning, I made dinner, good night with nothing in between. I wasn't sure if I'd offended him or embarrassed him.
By Saturday, I decided I couldn't spend another in the house, waiting for Richard to man up and speak to . Thank God, I was resuming work on Monday. So, I texted Mrs. Nuro and asked if I could visit. She responded enthusiastically, sending her driver to fetch before I could protest.
The mont I arrived, she greeted with her usual warm embrace. "Nita, my darling," she said, guiding to the couch, "you look... tense. Marriage troubles already?"
"It's not that," I admitted,
"Oh, co now. I was married for decades. I know when one wants to strangle their husband,"
"Well," I admitted hesitantly, "he's been distant lately."
"Well, I know that you have little to no experience with n but I just assud your mum would have tutored you. n don't respond to long speeches, they respond to actions. You want him to pay more attention to you, flirt with him. We could go shopping for so bedroom outfits," she finished with too much enthusiasm.
"Oh God no! I never want to go shopping with you again in this life or the next,"
She laughed loudly, "To think, I never took you shopping when I had to shut down the store, oooh, I have the ti of my life,"
We were mid-laughter when the front door slamd open, making both of us jump. Richard stord in, his face thunderous.
"Mother," he snapped, "Rember when I told you every decision you make puts people in dangerous and uncomfortable situations,"
"Hello to you too, Richard," she said dryly.
"You never think... do you? You don't care how what you want sses up my life?"
"Excuse ? Do you realize you're speaking to your mother?"
"Which is why it's so shocking," he said, his voice rising, "years later, Rachel's death is still fucking up my life!"
The air grew heavy, and I could feel the tension crackling between them. "What's going on?" I asked, breaking the silence.
"Richard—" his mother started. Her voice shaking, it was obvious that the ntion of Rachel's na had gotten to her.
"Rachel's boyfriend was the one who shot at you,"
"Why? What did I do to him?" I asked, my curiosity piqued even more.
Richard exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. "Rachel fell in love with him but he didn't asure up to Mum's ridiculous standards,"
"Ridiculous?" Mrs. Nuro interrupted. "He was a jobless delinquent!"
"He loved her," Richard shot back. "And she loved him. But you wanted soone good enough for YOU,"
"I didn't ask her to get an abortion Richard, I would never," her jaw tightened, her eyes minutes away from tears.
"You didn't have to but still she died because of you,"
Mrs. Nuro's face crumbled, she got up and stood toe to toe with her son. "I did what I thought was best for her. Just like I did for you and you don't seem to be complaining. But you are too pigheaded to tell thanks or to admit that you love your wife," she finished and stord out of the room, the tears flowing freely now.
The room fell silent, the weight of Mrs Nuro's words sinking in.
"Richard..." I began, but he held up a hand and walked out of the house. Every family is dysfunctional even if you have all the money in the world.
*****
I love the garden in the Nuro mansion. It was a haven of peace. I sat on the stone bench and stared at the bright red rose flowers.
Richard's sudden departure and Mrs Nuro's breakdown had left feeling weird. I know she was wrong about one thing though; Richard didn't love . I was more like a close friend that is a ans to an end.
"Well, if it isn't the latest Nuro princess," ca Sam's voice from behind .
"Hi Sam," I said turning slightly to acknowledge him. "what are you doing here? Richard's not here,"
He stepped closer, standing a few feet beside . "Yeah, I know. I wanted to check on the latest source of the Nuro drama,"
"What is that supposed to an?" I shot back, realizing that he didn't co for a friendly visit.
He held up his hands in mock surrender. "Easy, Nita. I co bearing news. The shooter is still on the run. We haven't been able to find him, so you still need to watch your back,"
"Great. Let know when you have sothing concrete." I said, my tone laced with anger.
His eyes narrowed, and he tilted his head, scrutinizing . "You have done a lot more damage than good since you ca into his life, you know that right?"
"I don't understand the reason you are still speaking to ?"
"In a few short weeks, you have made him the joke of social dia, an adulterer and you managed to put a target on his back. You're not fit to be a Nuro," The words hung in the air, sharp and cold. I blinked at him, unsure if I'd heard him correctly.
"Excuse ? Did I put a target on his back? Did you run out of things to bla for and decided 'Oh, I'll just throw another one in there'"?
"You don't have what it takes to stand by soone like Richard. You have no style, no connections, and no backbone. You're weak, Nita. Always have been."
I stood, my fists clenched. "You've got so nerve."
"It is the truth," he said, shrugging. "Even back in board school, you were always too scared to fight your own battles."
I raised an eyebrow, "I think you feel threatened by , Sam. I think the attention has shifted from you to . And it kills you to realize that that weak little thing has got your bestie all to herself. You're pathetic. You've got no life except what the Nuros offer you. You have always been his sidekick and you always will be,"
His jaw tightened and I could see that I had hit a nerve. "I see you have grown a bit of backbone. But that doesn't seem to stop Richard from running into the arms of another woman,"
"Now run along to your boss, Sugar. I am sure he may need a cup of coffee anyti soon. Go on, shoo," I made a shoving gesture with my fingers and felt so satisfied as he huffed along.
I just figured out my first antagonist in the Nuro household. One would think it would be the mother-in-law, or maybe the father-in-law, but it turned out to be a useless cousin who glorifies himself as a best friend. Pssh.
And as for Richard? I was done waiting for him. I refuse to be insulted with his escapades by his stupid sidekick.
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