Chapter 6 - The King's Decree

James was starring at me. With those piercing and stormy eyes of his that had frightened world leaders with a single look, made women wanting to drop to their knees in public og frozen CEOs in their place.

"What?" I asked him.

"At no point did I say that I wanted a divorce NOR accept an annullment." He stated firmly.

"That may be, however I will not accept being a wife to a husband with a mistress. Even in a contract marriage." I told him in no uncertain terms.

"Josefine, I told you that if Carrie ever came back you should prepare youself. I told you plans may change. Not that they will change. And yes, I do have feelings for her, but I haven't processed those feelings yet. I think we have a decent marriage. We get along. The public like us together as husband and wife. You are well liked, not just in high society circles but by all. I know you and take care of yo-"

"I DON'T CARE!" I scream at him!

Fucking Bastard!

I'm so angry with him that my entire body was shaking with adrennalin. My chest was rapidly heaving up and down as though I've just run a sprint. I've never yelled or spoken to him like this before. But I had to get this out before I freaking exploded! I just continued to yell at him like a pissed off banshee "You KNOW me?! You take care of me? James, I run your household FOR you. NOT for me. I think you know me? You just proved that you haven't paid the slightest bit of attention to me during these past five years. Since you think you know me. Tell me. Whats my educational background? Where do I work? What kind of allergies do I have? Huh? What color is my car? Here's a hint; I haven't touched any of those ridiculous cars in the garage. Whose Glory and where is Glory now?"

James just looked shocked and continued to stare at me as though I wasn’t done yelling at him.

"Answer just ONE of my questions and I'll know you've paid just smidgen of attention to me. Just one question?" I try to immitate him and stare him down while waiting for my answer.

Nothing. Nothing but silence.

I walked to the door where two things happened at once. I opened the door just as James assistant Nate is about to knock on it while saying “Sir, I have that contract you have to sign today -“ and at the same time James almost yells as me “you studied PR! PR! With a minor in classical literature! That’s why you’re so good at it!”

He continues but in a more normal voice but as though he is reading a script.

“You don’t work. Or you do but your job is to run my household and keep it prime condition in case someone from the public surprises us with a visit. You don’t have any allergies that you’ve told me about. You drive that red Mercedes that’s parked just inside the gates and Glory is that show online everyone is streaming and is getting a lot press right now. So you see…I do pay attention. Now can we just drop this talk about divorce for now? I know we need to figure out this Carrie situation but it’s a delicate situation that requires some serious thinking before making any official moves”

Disappointment runs through my body as a freight train. I look up up at Nate and mutter “excuse me just a few minutes Nate” and close the door softly in his face and turn around to face James. “Carrie studied PR and literature. She wanted to be a journalist or work in media, but wasn’t smart enough to be accepted to the universities that specializes in media and journalism despite my father’s efforts to bride a few of the admission’s people or deans. PR was the closet she could get. I on the other hand chose to study culinary arts and science with a minor in teaching as I’m a serious foodie.”

James’ thick and dark eyebrows shoot up this. Clearly he’s never heard this before. “But your parents told me you wanted to follow Carrie’s footsteps and studied the same as her.”

“Oh they wanted me to. They’re embarrassed that I’m “just a scientist” - not very lady-like at all. They told me that if they were paying for my education they’d get to decide my major and minor. I decided to pay for it myself by working my way through school instead.”

I continued “Three times a week, I work at King’s college where I teach food science and chemistry. I’ve been doing this for the past four years. Furthermore, I have a rather successful lifestyle vlog online where my main focus is on cooking affordable food on a budget.”

He looks shocked at this info. “But why? You don’t need to work. I have enough money-“

I interrupted him by pulling out an epi pen out of my bag and hold it up to him. “Remember this? I’ve told you several times where you could find the ones at home, should you ever see me having an allergic reaction. I have five severe allergies; Soy, celery, peanuts, marzipan and certain Food additives. You should know this as you were told. Repeatedly. Your entire household staff knows this well considering they've brought me to the hospital several times in fact.

James looked ashamed and embarrassed. Good. “When did that happen-“ I interrupted again him as though he hasn’t talked. “The red Mercedes belongs to Jeff.”

James looked confused. “Who is Jeff?”

I sighed, not at all impressed with his memory right now.

“Jeff, your security guard. You gave him the car yourself after he stopped that photographer from breaking into your bedroom last year before the Gala.”

“Oh yeah…” He muttered even though I could tell he doesn’t remember doing this.

“I drive the grey, beat up sedan.” He looked horrified at me “That death trap?! I thought it was one of the maids’. Why would you drive that thing when we have a whole garage full of new cars?! Or even just the limo with a driver?“

“I do get Adam to drive me sometimes. But other times I don’t want people to recognize me so it’s better if I just drive a normal car. And it’s not a death trap! It’s just dinged up a bit because I’m not exactly a confident driver when it rains, so I might have hit a tree that suddenly was in my way a few years back. It’s just superficial so I don’t wanna get it fixed, because I think it gives Betty character.”

“Betty?”

“The car. She’s been with me since college. And Glory? Yes, Glory is a show. That Carrie was one of the scriptwriters for if I’m not mistaken. MY Glory was the golden retriever that lived with us at the house for 4 years until 6 months ago when she died of some mysterious illness.”

“Wait….we had a dog?” He asked confused.

“Geeez…Yes. I had a dog. And this right here is exactly what I mean. You don’t pay the slightest bit of attention to me. How the hell couldn’t you have noticed a freaking dog in the house? Why would I bother staying in marriage that I’m clearly alone in?” I turned to open the door again. This time I only managed to pull the door handle down before James suddenly spun me around, grabbed my neck and waist and put that delicious mouth of his on mine. His tongue traced the outline of my lips and I gasped in shock of how it kinda tickled. He took advantage of my gasp and slipped his tongue into my mouth to really taste me. My first real kiss with James King.

Heaven. It felt like I had just entered heaven.

His hand slid into my hair while the other hand had slid down to just above my ass.

James stopped the kiss but didn’t move them away, instead he whispered against my lips.

“Yeah…we’re not getting divorced. No way in hell.”