Chapter 23

Barron’s POV

I slowed the car slightly with my fingers tightening around the steering wheel as my thoughts circled back to the same point.

Go back.

The idea pressed into me, persistent and so much not like me.

Go back and fix it, that's what my mind kept screaming to me.

My jaw tightened and I could still see her standing there with her calm voice that cut straight through me.

“I’m asking to be heard.”

Those words hadn’t left me, they weren’t leaving me anytime soon.

I exhaled slowly with my foot hovering over the brake for a brief second.

Should I turn around?

Go back now?

My gaze flickered briefly to the side mirror, like I expected to see the road leading back to the office staring right at me.

But I quickly thought otherwise. It was late, too late.

And she had probably gone already, even if she wasn’t… showing up again like that…

I shook my head firmly. No, I’ll see her tomorrow.

That made more sense.

With that, I pressed the accelerator and drove straight home.

By the time I stepped into the house, my shoulders had eased off a bit, and it only got better as I stepped onto a familiar ground.

I dropped my keys on the console and loosened my tie slightly as I moved upstairs.

I needed a quick shower, and went straight for it, letting the cold water soothe my stressed out body.

Looking beyond what happened with Helena, I had a busy day, it was so easy to forget that now.

By the time I stepped out, I had a smile tempting to play on across my face, that's the extent to which a shower can take a man.

I dressed into something more relaxed as my head had gone quiet.

The thoughts were still there, but now didn't mean too much to me.

I pushed whatever was remaining aside and headed downstairs.

I met dinner already set at the table and settled for a meal.

I had barely gone halfway through my meal when I heard her voice.

“Working late again?” 

I didn’t look up immediately but I knew exactly who it was.

“Something like that,” I replied calmly.

She stepped in fully now with her ever so calm but impossible to ignore presence.

My grandmother had always had that effect.

“Hmm,” she hummed, settling into the chair across from me. “You say that like it’s a normal thing.”

A small breath escaped my lips, almost a laugh.

“It works for me,” I said simply with a shrug.

“It is you,” she corrected, eyeing me knowingly. “Whether it works or not is a different conversation.”

I shook my head slightly, focusing back on my plate.

She watched me for a moment longer before speaking again.

“So,” she began casually, “how is your… arrangement going?”

My fork paused mid-air.

Arrangement.

For a split second, I didn’t respond.

Then it clicked.

Lena.

Right. My wife.

I pushed my brows up, holding back a wow as I had completely forgotten about her and the whole arrangement.

I lowered my fork slowly. “It’s fine,” I said, keeping my tone neutral.

“Fine?” She repeated, clearly unconvinced. “That’s all I get?”

“It’s an agreement, not a romantic show,” I replied.

“That doesn’t mean it has to feel like a business engagement,” she said lightly.

I didn’t respond to that.

“She checks on you?” She continued. “You check on her?”

“We talk when necessary,” I replied flatly.

Her lips curved slightly. “That sounds very much like your usual relationships,” she shot back and I sighed quietly, setting my fork down.

“It’s functional,” I corrected.

“And is that what you want?” She asked.

That made me look up while her gaze held mine for a second too long.

She was waiting for what I had to say.

Then I held the gaze for a second longer before breaking it.

“It works,” I repeated.

She leaned back slightly, studying me.

Then she added in a softer manner this time, “You know… arrangements have a way of becoming something else if you’re not careful.”

I didn’t respond, I didn’t need to.

“My advice to you is to stop being careful,” she added softly and gave me a wink.

I gave her a tight lipped smile and went back to my food.

After a while, she let it go, waving her hand lightly.

“Anyway,” she said, standing up, “don’t stay up too late. You look like you’ve had one of your busy days again.”

I almost scoffed at that.

“Goodnight,” she added.

“Goodnight, grandma,” I replied as she walked off.

The silence returned after she had gone, but it wasn't all that comfortable this time.

My gaze drifted briefly to my phone resting beside my plate.

Then away, then back again.

A small breath escaped my lips as I picked it up.

If this was an arrangement… then I should at least act like it.

My thumb hovered over the screen for a second before I typed.

“Hey.”

I stared at the message for a moment… then hit send.

Five minutes passed without a response, then ten.

I had already set the phone down when it buzzed lightly against the table.

My gaze dropped immediately to it.

“Hi,” she replied.

And strangely, a part of me wanted to smile at that.

“How are you?” I asked.

The reply didn’t take long this time.

“I’m okay. Just a long day. You?” 

My thumb hovered briefly before moving over the keys again.

“Same, just work.”

There was a pause before her next reply.

“Work never kills, huh?”

A small, unexpected smirk tugged at the corner of my lips.

I let out a quiet breath through my nose and leaned back slightly in my chair, staring at that message a second longer than necessary.

Then finally replied.

“Yeah, work always wins. What made your day long anyway?”

There was a longer pause this time before she replied.

“Nothing much, just family stuff. Someone wasn’t feeling well, so I had to go to the hospital.”

My brows drew together slightly before I replied.

“Is he or she okay now?”

She answered immediately.

“They will be. It's just… one of those things.”

I nodded faintly to myself, feeling the need to make my presence known.

“If you need any help, don't hesitate to tell me, Lena.”

I sent. If grandma really thought it right to make her my wife, then I have to start showing up.

“Thank you, I appreciate.”

I read her message again and set the phone down. 

I went one minute without replying then felt the pressure to keep the conversation going.

“You were still able to get to work today?”

She answered almost immediately.

“Yes, barely. I had to go there first, some things matter more.”

The words lingered in my head far longer than they should have.

I shifted slightly in my seat, thinking of my best response before she sent another message.

“What about you? Had a rough day?”

I stared at the message, then typed back.

“Just work. Nothing out of the ordinary.”

I paused… then added another text.

“Just people not listening.”

Then her reply came almost immediately.

“Maybe you should try listening to them too, I think that might work.”

My fingers went still, and for a second… I almost laughed.

I shook my head slightly. I guess women will always be women.

But I still typed back anyway.

“Thank you, I'll put that into consideration.”

She texted back at once.

“That usually means “I'm politely ignoring your advice.” Lol.”

I found myself chuckling at her response.

“Maybe.”

I texted back before adding…

“Well, I hope tomorrow is better for you.”

My gaze softened slightly at the screen when she responded.

“You too.”

Then there was another pause before I texted back.

“You should get some rest.”

She replied fast.

“I will. Just have a few things to finish first.”

A faint frown spread across my face.

“Don’t overwork yourself.”

I texted and she replied.

“Says the person who said work always wins.”

That earned a low chuckle from me again.

Fair point.

And she sent another message before I could.

“Goodnight.”

I hesitated for half a second before replying.

“Goodnight.”

I stared at the screen for a few seconds after the conversation ended.

It was… easy, way too easy to be free with her.

I set the phone down slowly, leaning back into the chair.

For a brief moment, I let myself sit in that feeling.

Then I stood up and headed upstairs.

Tomorrow. I’d deal with everything else…

The morning came faster than expected and my usual routine took over.

I had my shower, threw on my suit, placed my watch where it usually was and sprinkled my cologne.

Then stepped downstairs just as my grandmother was settling into her seat.

“You look less miserable today,” she noted casually.

“I wasn’t miserable yesterday,” I replied.

She hummed. “If you say so.”

I scoffed with a little chuckle as I picked up my keys.

“Have a good day,” she added.

“You too,” I called back as I walked away.

The drive to work was quiet, fast if anything else.

My thoughts circled back to Helena, to her in the office.

To yesterday.

By the time I stepped into the building, something felt off.

I barely registered the greetings as I walked past.

“Good morning, sir—”

“Morning—”

I nodded absentmindedly, not really stopping.

My mind was already ahead of me, pushing me to her office.

Should I go now? I asked myself.

Or later?

No, now.

Get it over with, fix it.

I turned down the hallway without slowing my steps, all the way down to her office.

What exactly was I going to say? I wondered as I reached her door.

But the answer flashed away as I pushed open her door.