Total pages in book: 64
Estimated words: 62497 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 312(@200wpm)___ 250(@250wpm)___ 208(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 62497 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 312(@200wpm)___ 250(@250wpm)___ 208(@300wpm)
I feel the breath at my ear as I hear Kenzo whisper from behind me, “You better stop telling me how good-looking I am, Mayve.”
Vanessa’s brows shoot up. I’m unsure if she heard what he said, but I think it’s more of a surprise that he’s talking to me.
“You know him?” Vanessa asks, but when she says it, she’s looking at him, not me.
He’s still so damn close I feel his breath wafting over my skin—warm and comforting.
“Mayve, gurrrl, who knew you were hiding this hunk in your closet?”
My eyes briefly flick to Nick, who is in IT and hardly talks to me at all. I say nothing to him as I see Jeff walk over. Vanessa doesn’t seem to notice him approaching as she leans closer, placing her hand on the counter while she looks straight past me to Kenzo.
“Care to join us for a night out?” she asks him.
“It’s two a.m.,” I remind her. Again, she doesn’t spare me a glance.
“We can show you a good time,” she purrs.
I mumble under my breath about her being engaged just as I hear Kenzo say, “No.”
She pulls back, confused. I look at her ring, and she snatches her hand from view.
“We could all have so much fun… you can even bring Mayve. But be warned, she’s a quiet, timid little thing.” She says it as an insult, and I take it as one.
I turn away from her and reach for my drink. Swallowing the last of it, I give Kenzo a side-eye. “You don’t have to sit here with me. I might head to bed,” I tell him, giving him an excuse to go with her if he wants to.
I know she’s smiling behind me.
Winning, that’s what she wants.
Kenzo’s eyes lock on mine.
“Mayve, look at you. So happy you could make it out.” I tense as I mouth the word “boss” to Kenzo before I turn my attention from him to Jeff. “You decided, after all, to join us,” he says happily. To be honest, I do like Jeff apart from his sexist views. He gave me a great job and has always supported my work.
“She was heading back to her room,” Vanessa announces, adding a fake pout for effect. “But her new friend is going to join us.”
“Friend?” Jeff says, noticing Kenzo next to me. He probably didn’t even think he was with me. For all they know, I have no friends. Heck, that’s probably exactly what they think.
“I’m her husband, actually.”
My head swings around to face Kenzo. Did he just say?
“Husband?” Jeff asks. I face him once again to find his mouth hanging open. “You never wear a ring… we didn’t know—”
“We’re shopping for rings tomorrow. I flew out a few hours ago to surprise her. So, if you all wouldn’t mind, I’m taking my wife back to our room now.” Kenzo stands and offers me his hand.
And I just stand there stupidly for a moment.
Did he just? No, no way.
I can’t marry this man.
How can he even say such a thing?
“Oh, yes, absolutely. This is such good news, Mayve. Let’s discuss that position on Monday in the office, and you can tell me all about your husband.” Jeff holds out his hand to Kenzo, whose hand is still waiting for mine, but he smoothly shifts it and shakes Jeff’s.
What is happening?
I don’t know.
I can’t stop it.
“Wife, let’s go.” His hand is on my back, nudging me to get up. I finally do, and his hand stays planted there as we leave my co-workers behind. I can feel their eyes on me, and I try to tell myself to stay calm.
Stay calm.
Eight
Kenzo
Mayve’s quiet while she walks beside me with my hand on her lower back. Who knew she has an actual waist below all those baggy clothes she wears? Her phone dings, and she pulls it out. She goes still, and her face pales as she reads the message. I lean over to read it too.
“I know you’re lying. You would never get a man like that, and I will prove it.” I read it out loud and watch her wipe an angry tear from her face as she stuffs her phone back into her purse.
“Why did you tell them you’re my husband?” she whispers, her eyes wet with unshed tears.
“Let’s go up to my room to talk.” She doesn’t argue. Instead, she follows me to the elevators and up to my room. I unlock the door and hold it open for her. She stops in the middle of the room, her eyes taking in the large king-sized bed and spa bath.
“I helped you. Don’t take that lightly… I tend to never help anyone,” I tell her.
She steps to the window and puts her hands on the glass, looking out at the view of the water fountain.
“Why don’t you help anyone?” she asks, keeping her back to me.