SADIE I woke earlier than Cenric to a cramp in my lower belly. I rolled out of bed, hoping I wouldn’t wake him currently sleeping under the comfy satin duvet. I had completely forgotten that today was a day of the month, and I had no tampons. Thankfully, my first day didn’t flow like a river.I dialed Devin for help.“Mrs. Wollf?”“Can’t you just call me Sadie? I’m younger than you, yet you make me look like a seventy-year-old grandma.”“No, ma’am.”“Fine, but don’t annoy me, and I need your help.”“Anything.”“Can you drive to a convenience store or the nearest pharmacy?”“Is something wrong?” His voice changed to alert mode.“No. Are you going to drive me there or not?”“Just tell me what you need, and I’ll get it for you.”I growled, “I told you not to annoy me. I want to buy something myself. Wasn’t my husband telling you to take me anywhere I want? This is an emergency, Devin.”
CENRIC Sadie loosened up around me. If she continued to open things up about her, this marriage would start to bloom into something more than just a business deal. I also started to know a bit about her. She liked to be cocooned. She snored a little, and she wasn’t sorry to show what she wanted. I liked the boldness in her character. The first time I saw her picture, I knew there was a fire inside her, and I couldn’t wait to see it flare out. “I thought you wanted to stay at home.” Theo barged into my office with brows knitted and an iPad over his chest. “Are you trying to kick me out of my office?” I’d been reading through the company proposal I wanted to start. And this was something very personal to me. All the companies I owned were personal to me, and I always thought those employees depended on me. One wrong move I made, everything would crumble down, and if it happened, they would lose their jobs. “Would you like me to grab
SADIE “Your husband—” I jerked inside the fitting room, my hand on my chest. My heart was in my throat. Shivers ran down my spine as I watched my brother in the mirror standing behind me. “How the hell did you get in here, Jasper?” I turned around to face him, stepping back. At least if he would think of doing something, he couldn’t do it from behind. “He’s going to ruin this family, sis. He’s going to destroy the Greer legacy.” With a calculated pace, he took steps closer to me. “You should do something. Tell me about his plan.” I clutched the garments in my hand against my chest. “Back off, Jasper.” “You will spy on him, Sadie. He trusts you.” “I’m afraid your judgment is wrong. Cenric doesn’t trust me.” With his eyes bloodshot wide, he hovered and gripped my arms that I knew would leave marks. “If you, as much as enjoy your life outside, you will do as
CENRIC Having a constant raging hard-on was a motherfucker. And now she thought I didn’t want to fuck her. She didn’t have any idea what I did to control this urge to stop myself from taking her wherever I wanted. Now that she was in period, the struggle was far more severe.What is one week I can’t handle?Easy peasy. But it was a lie. “I want to work.” I focused my mind on the tv screen. Cooper just lost a few decades, and it was that one of his team was getting older while he only got a few hours older. “Cenric.” “I heard you, babe.” “That’s good.” “Not until I settle out with your brother. You’re still not safe.” “If I get an office job, he has to go through a security guard before he can get into me. Devin will send and pick me up after work.” I completely understood that she wanted to work. She had been going through a rough patch for years in the hands of her brothe
SADIE Argh!I wanted to pull my hair out. He didn’t get it, did he? He would never get it. Again, I was trapped in the same maze over and over again. Men were all the same—they thought they ruled the world. They felt they owned women. They thought women got easily manipulated. Well, I would make him wrong. I would never back down.Watch me. I was kind of relieved that he had left me alone. I was exhausted.I’m done. I started getting used to sharing a bed with him, but I woke up alone this morning. The entire penthouse was dead silent. I knew Cenric had left to work— that was what he was good at. I still tiptoed down, making sure I wouldn’t make any noise. “Good morning, ma’am.” “What’s good in the morning? Where’s your boss?” “Left for work.” “Good.” I walked directly to the kitchen. To my surprise, I couldn’t f
CENRIC The last two days had been rough at work, even for someone who had billion dollars. Money couldn’t buy happiness if you were not materialistic. Getting to where I was right now didn’t happen overnight. I worked hard—sweat, blood, and tears were my investment. There were trials, a lot of problems, and errors along the way. There were criticisms and rejections—tons of it, but I never gave up. I had a goal to reach, and my efforts had paid off. I worked for long hours than usual, only to divert my attention from apologizing to my wife. I was not good at sharing my emotions and spilling my guts, and it wasn’t going to happen now. Yes, I was an asshole, a selfish son of a bitch, but Sadie was disrespectful, and she had to learn some lessons. If I tolerated that kind of attitude, she would get used to it and do it again. One of us should change, and it should be her. And this birthday party gave me a headache. All I wanted was a charity event that didn’t have to focus on me. Every
SADIE It may sound like a Q & A in a beauty pageant, but I wanted to help. If there was even a tiny thing, I could help make the world a better place, then so be it. I also reminded myself that I was married to a business tycoon. Cenric had money and power, and he was well connected. So I decided to show up. It was not my first rodeo to attend events like this, but not with the man of the hour. Earlier today, he sent a makeup artist to make me look like the woman fit to be in his side. So tonight, they would meet the trophy wife of the great Cenric Wollf. The birthday slash fundraising gala had already begun, and damn, the strapless sweetheart neckline, high slit red floor-length evening gown in crystals and sequins was eye-catching. It was created in sophistication and class. Added to that, the diamond set around my neck and teardrop earring gave me a Grace Kelly vibe. I also put on my engagement ring and wedding band he returned. I’d already mastered a different kind of smile b
CENRIC The tension between us was thicker than the earth’s surface. Sadie was guarded all the time—distant, and she had no intention of hiding it from me. She wasn’t sorry for what had happened. I must say, though, I was surprised how she could blend in easily with the crowd. And she looked breathtaking in a red gown. Gorgeous. My fucking wet dream. “I’ll pay the money you borrowed from Zhuri. I want you to have your necklace back.” Confusion knotted on her forehead. “Why?” “I want you to have it back. Why is it so hard for you to accept it?” Does she have also trust issues? “It looks special. Who gave it to you?” I had to ask even if I knew it was from her mother. “Mom.” “Then you need to keep it.” The look in her eyes, she was questioning my intentions. “No motives, babe.” “Fine.” I gestured to another table to our left. Willa was sitting there. “The woman you get jealous over.” The reaction on her face was fascinating to watch. She blushed furiously. “Will you stop it?