Chapter 10

Michael's POV

“You can't do without me, Elena. You will come running ba…”

I stopped the message halfway, reconsidering if I should hit the send button..

Since the dinner, I'd become even more obsessed with the messages. Whatever audacity Horace was feeding her with, I was sure would fade away soon enough. It was only a matter of time.

I knew Elena's soft spot. She could hardly deal with pressure and would always back out of a fight. And I was sure going to make this one more than she could bear.

Who did she think she was, thinking herself worthy of being chosen by Horace?

Just then, a knock on the door interrupted my thoughts. It was Ashanti.

She carried a tray of food, walking slowly like it was some marriage ceremony. But that was the least of my wonders.

Ashanti never served me. Worse still that she was pregnant now.

“Hey, baby”, she said, setting the food tray ok the side table. She lifted my head and kissed me.

“What's this?” I asked, a little annoyed that she'd interrupted my peaceful thoughts.

“Dinner. I made you that grilled chicken and rice that you like”, she said, lifting the top of the silverware. The aroma filled the room.

“Did you cook this?” I asked, genuinely puzzled.

“Well…”

She avoided my eyes, moving to the wine cabinet in our room.

“I had some help from the maid”, she said, taking out a bottle of red wine.

“Because you've been stressed lately and I wanted it to be perfect ”, she said, looking back, glasses in her hand. Soon, she was back to where I sat at the edge of the bed.

She placed the wine glasses on the top of my work table, her robe slipping off her shoulders to reveal her light, alluring lingerie.

“Maybe after dinner, we can talk and lie down and…”

The robe fell to the floor. “De-stress”, she added in a whisper, locking me between both knees on the bed. I noticed her new hairdo too, and it was obvious she had this whole thing planned. I wasn't in the mood, but I needed something to take my mind off Elena.

Her soft hands rubbed the nape of my back, and I leaned in to kiss her from neck down. Her scent was different and strongly familiar tonight, and I knew why.

“You smell just like her”, I whispered into her ear. I guess that was the wrong move.

Ashanti immediately pulled back, visibly annoyed.

“What did you say?”

“I said you smell nice”, I lied quickly. But Ashanti wasn't having it tonight.

“No. You said I smell like her. Like who? Elena?”

“Ok, ma’am. You knew and you are still questioning me? Did you use her leftover perfume or something?”

“No, babe. It's not like that…”

“Nah, nah”, she waved her hand frantically to stop me from talking.

“You're ridiculous.”

She dropped the glass and got off the bed, wringing her hand out of mine when I tried to pull her back.

“Damn! You smell like the woman. Ok? I said it. You don't usually use this perfume. Why the change?”

“You know what? You're ridiculous and pathetic because you're stuck on the godforsaken woman, and you won't move on.

“I have”

“No, you haven't! She’s moved on already. Why can't you accept it?”

“She’s my wife and she belongs to no one!”, I roared even before she finished her sentence. Ashanti looked at me in shock.

Before I knew it, tears gathered in her eyes.

“We are having a child together, Michael. I'm carrying your heir, and you say this to me?”

“Babe, come on. You know I don't mean that”

“Yes, you do!”, she screamed. “I hate you!”

She plopped on the couch and cried loudly. I immediately felt remorse.

“Babe, Shanti…”, I said, going over to where she sat.

“Don't touch me!” she shouted, but didn't bother to reject my advances

“Come on, listen”, I said, placing a hand on her arm. “I … it's complicated, you know this. We are not divorced yet. We haven't even broken our mate bond.”

“Then do it already! What are you possibly still waiting for? In less than six months, we are going to have a son, Cal.”

“I know. I know. But we still need her licence, remember? I need to get her on my side or else, sooner or later, this whole thing will blow over. It's only a matter of time.”

“Then make it quick. I'm not your side chick anymore, Cal. I'm the mother of your child, your freaking son, for God's sake. The heir to the Wilmingtons”

I smiled, bending to kiss her tummy. “I know, babe, and you know I love you. But if we are going to do this and take care of our baby, we have to bring Elena to our Beck and call. Just be patient. This whole charade will soon be over, and we will have nothing to worry about.”

“But we don't need Elena. We don't need the licence. I mean, you have money, I have money. Our parents are rich. I don't understand…”

“And I've told you it's more complicated than that. You'll know when it's all over. Trust me”, I said, raising her hand to my lips.

Ashanti looked at me long and hard. “Fine. But get this over with. And you have to promise to never mention her when we are together.”

“Fine”, I said, putting my hand up playfully. “I promise.”

I leaned in to kiss her, and she kissed back, our tongues intertwined tight and deep into each other's mouths.

We ended the night on the couch, under the covers, and in each other's arms.

But when we were together, I still thought of Elena.

I had to get her back, else my whole life was over.