“She’s my –” Kirsten interjected, not letting him finish and greeted him nonchalantly. “Good evening, Mr Roosevelt.”
“Good evening, Mrs Roosevelt,” Matthew answered, throwing Kirsten into confusion.
Except Matthew, everyone was shocked.
Taking advantage of Monalisa’s shock, he freed his arm from her grip and pulled Kirsten from James' side to his side. Now, Kirsten was standing beside him with his hand resting around her tiny waist, displaying a possessive gesture.
“Hi, I am Kirsten's husband,” Matthew said to James, whose lips were pursed into a thin line. He reached out his hand for a handshake. James accepted the offer and shook his hand. Only the two of them knew how much force they used in the handshake. They were trying to crush each other's hand. None of them winced and the handshake was broken after a while.
‘No wonder why she was wearing a brand that only wealthy people could buy.’ James thought.
James felt as if his heart was being wrung like a washcloth. He had been secretly in love with Kirsten since they were highschool but he couldn’t let her know because his grandma was against it.
If he only man up and didn’t give in to the pressure his Grandma put on him, he and Kirsten would have been married today and that would leave Matthew no chance. Regret ate his heart up.
He planned to confess to Kirsten after he gained total control of Lincoln Group. He thought he had all the time in the world as Kirsten never showed any interest in any man as she was focused on her goal to become a lawyer thus he was confident that Kirsten would not involve herself with a man.
Who would have thought that she would get involved with a man. To Matthew Roosevelt, one of the most desired bachelors in the country, at that.
“Matt! Don’t joke!” Monalisa reprimanded Matthew and got a hold of his arm again but Matthew looked at her coldly and she let go of his arm.
No, she didn’t believe it. It was a lie. The only person she thought would be her rival was that woman but was confident that Matthew would come begging her to be together again because it was impossible for him and that woman to get married. Matthew's dad and grandpa made sure that woman would have no place in the Roosevelt.
“Do I look like I'm joking? Do you want to see our marriage certificate?" he said, the corner of his lips twitching as he talked and he drew Kirsten closer to his body. Kirsten cheeks were tainted red at the moment at how close their body was. Though they did more intimate things than this, Kirsten couldn’t help but blush being held by Matthew intimately in public.
"Go to your suite as I have to take my wife home.” The taciturn Matthew seemed to have said a lot tonight. So, Kirsten looked at Matthew in utter disbelief.
“Wife, why don’t you introduce your friend?” Matthew said with a smile but his smile didn’t reach his eyes.
Kirsten knew that he was angry as his hold tightened.
“Mm,” Kirsten paused as she was hesitating and she continued shortly after his grip became even more tighter. “Hubby, this is James Lincoln, my best friend. James, this is my husband, Matthew Roosevelt”
“Did you call me, hubby just now, wifey?” Kirsten nodded her head in response.
They have been married for a week now but not even once did Kirsten call his name even when he was making love to her. It did not cross her mind that she would call Matthew's name let alone call him hubby with other people around.
Monalisa huffed and went away stomping her feet. Her heels wiggled and she almost stumbled but was able to regain her balance.
On the contrary, James stood there, unrelenting. He scrutinized his love rival, looking at him up and down.
He and Matthew belonged to the same circle but they never met. Each of them were heading large companies and the only difference was that Matthew was the one who brought his company to its position at the top while James took over an already big and established company.
“Thanks for the dinner, James,” Kirsten could no longer stand the growing silence between the three of them and spoke to cut through the thick silence.
“Always my pleasure. Counting for another dinner with you,” James replied which brought a palpable tension between him and Matthew.
“We were in a hurry to get married so we didn't have the time to invite friends. My wife and I will surely invite you for dinner. That is to celebrate our wedding." Matthew fired back. Even when Kirsten was his pawn, he didn’t want her to be involved with another man while they were married. But when they were divorced she could be involved with any man she wanted. But this thought didn't sit well with him, making him frown.
Incredulity colored Kirsten eyes. Is this the man that she married? She heard him say more words in just under an hour than the whole week they have been together.
Did she make a wrong assumption? Or was he drunk? Kirsten sniffed to check if he was intoxicated by wine. They said that a quiet man when sober would become talkative when drunk.
"You really enjoy smelling my scent, wifey," Matthew's remark startled Kirsten and she accidentally bit her tongue, making her cry out in pain. “Aw!”
"What's wrong?" Matthew’s face ashen in panic.
James stretched his arms but soon retracted them when Matthew cupped Kirsten's face. His hands hung on either side of his body, clenching and unclenching as he watched another man touching Kirsten’s face.
"Tell me, what's wrong?" He wiped the single tear that ran down her cheek.
"Can we go home now? I'm tired," Kirsten said, looking down.
"As you said my wife," Matthew said, bending, he swept her in his arms.
Startled, Kirsten squealed and reflexively reached out for his neck to prevent from falling. "Matthew!"
Matthew chuckled, surprising Kirsten.
Kirsten's already leaping heart due to shock, jumped wildly as her sight settled on his handsome face. The smile plastered on his face brought his handsomeness to a greater level.
James' lonely figure stood in the middle of the huge hotel lobby as he watched his beloved taken away by a man. It was not just a random man but her husband. It should have been him who was in that position if he didn’t let his grandma control him.
How he wished he could bring back time. But that would never happen. His opportunity to be with Kirsten had already sailed.
Inside the car, a suffocating silence pervaded the air. The presence of the driver restrained the two from having a confrontation.
Curious that the couple were silent, the driver stole glances at the two through the rear view mirror.
Matthew was looking ahead with a grim expression while Kirsten was curled up at the far end of the backseat, her back facing Matthew.
'Did the missus see her husband with another woman? Who won't get angry? If I were her, there would be war,' he thought.
Though he knew that Monalisa was Matthew's fiancée. That was in the past, Matthew was married now. The legal wife was Kirsten and she had all the rights to be jealous and get angry.
Kirsten went for another round of coughing fit and she almost peed on her pants because of it.
Couldn't ignore her despite his anger, Matthew pulled her and lifted her on his lap.
Kirsten struggled but he cooed while he gently patted her back while she was coughing. "It'll help when patting your back."
Kirsten gave up struggling and hugged his neck and coughed once in a while. Kirsten was not aware that she was enjoying her husband’s care. And loved being pampered by him.
"Drive to the hospital," Matthew instructed the driver as he kept patting her back.
***
"Being drowned made Mrs Roosevelt's lung weak thus she could get coughs and colds easily," the doctor explained, looking at Matthew.
Realizing how stupid she was for letting her emotions unchecked, Kirsten lowered her head.
She brought it upon herself. And she couldn't blame anyone.
"Is there a way to strengthen her lungs?" Matthew asked, wearing a grim expression.
"Stop smoking," the doctor said but Matthew replied, "She doesn't smoke nor drink."
"Get regular exercise. Staying active makes lungs and heart stronger. Eat healthy," the doctor continued after Matthew spoke.
After Kirsten had been vaccinated and given a prescription they drove home.
Matthew had her take her medicine before going to bed.
"Mr Roosevelt?" Kirsten wanted to talk to him about what happened in the hotel.
"Yes, Mrs Roosevelt?" Matthew said with a cold tone. By calling her Mrs Roosevelt, she will be forced to call him by his first name.
Kirsten covered her mouth and coughed. Matthew embraced her and patted her back.
"Why did you let others know that we are married," Kirsten assumed that their marriage should be kept secret since none of their relatives were present during their wedding.
Matthew looked down at the woman in his arms. His face looked even more lugubrious than usual. He wanted to open her skull and look at her brain. Isn't she a law student? Why is she dumb? Lifting her chin using three of his fingers, he spoke slowly with a low voice while keeping his annoyance at bay. "Did our contract say we are going to keep our marriage secret?" Considering her health he couldn't bear to scold or berate her. While they were in a contract marriage, still, she was his lawful wife. He must take care of her as he didn’t want to look for another pawn to marry. It would complicate things even more if another woman was involved. This time he would make sure that before this marriage was over, everything would be in its place as he had planned. "No, but since we got married in secret you want this marriage kept hidden." Her lawyer's instinct kicked up, defending her case. "I have no intention in keeping this marriage secret, my little wife." He has his reasons why he
Per instruction by her husband, in the afternoon, Kirsten went for a walk but this time she asked Tony to drive her to the park. With Tony here, she wouldn’t have to worry when it rained. Kirsten had been walking in the park for about fifteen minutes when her phone buzzed and she took out her phone. "Where are you?" Kirsten held her chest when she heard Matthew's voice as her heart began to beat more rapidly. "In the park, walking," she replied. A few minutes of interlude went by before Matthew spoke again. "Open your camera."'Is he having doubts about me?’ She made a face as this thought came across her mind. At the time she opened her camera, Kirsten had no idea that her face was revealed on the big screen in the conference hall. Her blue eyes made a beautiful contrast with her wavy auburn hair and her cheeks a shade of pink complimented by her luscious red lips. Matthew laid his back on his swivel chair, staring at the woman on the screen. "Did you bring an umbrella with
Norman's wrinkles got even deeper as he narrowed his eyes and frowned. This grandson of his was getting more and more out of hand. He could no longer control him. "Bring her home tonight. I want to meet my granddaughter-in - law." Norman couldn't do anything but to compromise at this time. When Matthew was still working at the family's company, Matthew had to bend to his will. With force he managed to persuade Matthew to get engaged with Monalisa but after five years Monalisa broke free from the engagement. Monalisa went to Hollywood when the opportunity of making a name in the film industry was presented to her. She had no qualm when she called off her engagement with Matthew. Monalisa was a whimsical woman and Matthew accommodating her capricious attitude was a testament of his great love for her. He thought that Matthew learned to love Monalisa as he pampered and spoiled Monalisa for the five years they have been together. However, it's been three months since the engagement wa
Kirsten was consumed by her own thoughts and did not pay attention to gasps and whispering in the lobby. She entered the elevator and pressed the button to where the law firm was. Within a minute the elevator halted with a chime and opened. Kirsten ambled towards her designated table. She had been interning in this law firm for three summers, this was the only time she will be interning here while having classes at law school. It was a paid internship as she and Anthony Dumont, the firm's boss, were friends. Anthony was also her teacher at the law school. Comparing her salary from the firm and Mr. Rossi's Restaurant, the law firm, offered her a better salary but it was too far from the university. Hence, she could only come here for an internship every summer. A litigation attorney asked her to research relevant laws and legal precedents that apply to their client’s case. She was also told to review all the evidence related to the case which included witness statements, medical
“What’s the matter here? Why are you all surrounding Kirsten’s desk?” Anthony’s low voice filled the air and all at once they turned their heads to look at Anthony. Standing tall a meter away from them, was a handsome man, sending some of the single ladies a giddy feeling while looking at him. “Er, Mr. Dumont, we are asking Kirsten who –” Kirsten interjected and said, “It’s lunch time, you better go. We have only one hour lunch break.” Everybody knew that Anthony didn’t want tardiness so they dispersed and rushed outside to grab some lunch. Having been able to dodge the question about Matthew, she sighed in relief at the thought that she didn’t have to make another lie. At one glance, Anthony recognized the paperbag that was seated on top of Kirsten's desk. He understood why the staff surrounded her. "You have a very rich admirer this time," Anthony teased her. It wasn't new for Anthony to see Kirsten receive gifts and lunches from admirers. Kirsten was the campus belle.
“Do you have a problem with it?” Matthew answered coldly and put his arm around Kirsten’s shoulders in a protective manner. Donna smiled and then pulled Kirsten to give her a bear hug. “I am happy that you are the woman my brother chose to be his wife.” “How are you doing, Donna?” Kirsten said after she recovered from her shock. Kirsten at some point wanted to ask Matthew if he knew Donna as they have the same last name but gave it up because they might not be related as there were many who have that last name. Matthew looked at Donna and Kirsten. “Do you know each other?” “She’s the tutor I was setting up as your blind date but you refused,” Donna chuckled. “You are really destined for each other.” Donna had been setting him up for a blind date with her tutor in law school. Whenever she got a chance to be with his brother, she always told him about Kirsten as the most beautiful woman in the campus. And she was not only beautiful but she had a brain and a body too. Infuriated th
A frown marred her stunning visage following the mention of Matthew’s ex - fiancee. Almost immediately, realization hit her so hard. Matthew had successfully crawled in and penetrated her heart. She had fallen to his caring side. Outside, he looked like a cold and unfeeling man. But he was a warm and good man. Countless of times that she saw how caring he was to her. Gemma always teased her that Matthew treated her like the queen of his heart. Her impenetrable heart that couldn’t be conquered by men’s besieging love, now invaded and conquered by her dear husband. Too confident that none would be able to invade her heart, she didn’t fortify her guard. And now, he resides in the castle of her heart. What if it was only her who fell in love? What would she do if her love story was another story of one sided love? Will she be able to take the pain and live with it? Seeing Kirsten was lost for words, Donna glared at Callum and said, seething, “Can you not talk about that woman here?
Evelyn’s words once again ignited Matthew’s anger that had been successfully put out by Kirsten. “You are the older person, it’s you who should be the bigger person here. You did nothing good at her since she arrived but my wife had been magnanimous to you. Aren’t you ashamed, mom?” Matthew couldn’t stand his mother’s attitude any longer. She acted as if they were above everyone else. This family was lofty. They said that they were one of the wealthiest families in the nation, so what? Did that give them the right to look down on people? All of them were mere humans and will soon wither like grass. “You are taking this wench’s side, ha? What is in her that bewitched you?” Evelyn's rage was spilling over and had forgotten how to behave with grace and dignity. Matthew was aware that Kirsten flinched at the word ‘wench’ and hugged Kirsten to console her. Aware that Kirsten flinched at being called Wench by his mom, Matthew, to console her, surrounded her with his arms. “Enough