Page 29 of Wedding Contract
“I'm so sorry,” the redhead in the stunning green dress suddenly blurts out. “I was a bitch the other day. I hope you can accept my apology.” She says it before Charles gets to her. He's taking them out one by one.
Damn, I wonder what that tea is on her.
“That's the spirit. Ms. Scott is brighter than I thought. Others might want to follow her lead. My beautiful, sweet wife here is far nicer than I am, and I know she doesn't want to cause a scene, but if I must, have no doubt that I will.”
Apologies pour from the women. I have to fight a laugh.
“Do you accept?” Charles turns his full attention to me.
“It is supposed to be a charitable night, so I reckon I can accept the apologies if they can be more than charitable to the event.”
“That is a brilliant idea.” He turns his ire toward the ladies who have taken a few steps back. “Spread the word to not fuckwith my wife,” he warns them. “Or I'll be spreading words of my own and start playing averyvindictive game.”
They all nod, more apologies coming from them before they all flee, their asses on fire.
“Oh my God.” I put my hand over my mouth to try and smother my laughter. I didn't know the blood could really drain from people's faces like that. I was sure it was only a saying. “I can see how you’ve made it in a cutthroat business world.” Those women didn’t stand a chance against him.
“I didn’t want to upset you. It’s not in my nature to ever speak to women that way, but I won’t stand for anyone bullying you.” He tucks a piece of my hair that came loose behind my ear.
“That was the sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me.”
“The bar is fucking low,” he mutters, again pissed for me.
“No one has ever stood up for me before.”
“I will always stand up for you. Not only because you’re my wife, but beautiful creatures like you are rare. I don’t want you to lash out and do something that is against your nature.”
“To make me be like them?” The man wants to protect all parts of me.
“You’ll never be like them, but I, however, have no problem doing it.” He pulls me flush into him. “Does it bother you?”
“No.” I run my hands up his chest and lick my lips. “The last thing I am is bothered by anything you do.”
In fact, if I didn’t already think I was falling in love with him, this would have done it. As soon as I signed the contract to marry him, I began to count down the days until the end. I’ll still be doing that… only now checking each day off will be hell.
Chapter Twenty-Two
WICK
The night goes well. I let Clarice haul me and Belle around the room. Everyone loved her dress, and Belle repeated the designer’s SNS handle so much that I have it memorized, too. There were no questions about my identity, although I swear I heard a couple people whisper to each other that the surgery to remove my warts was spectacular. I guess some rumors will never die.
The gazes of a few men linger far too long on Belle’s frame and face. I resist the urge to throw my tux jacket over her head and settle for glaring the men into submission. I must be fairly convincing because a small island of space develops around us.
Belle and I entertain ourselves by watching the lunch ladies’ faces grow even more horrified as they realize that I really am Charles Wickham and Belle is now Mrs. Charles Wickham. They are torn between trying to stay out of shooting range and wanting to come and kiss ass. Ms. Scott, the one to apologize first, opts to try to curry favor with Belle by bringing her food and champagne.
“Whatever did you do to Mandy Scott?” Clarice asks Belle after Scott had dropped off a plate of sweets. “I’ve never seen akind word fall from her lips that didn’t involve her little crew of museum harpies.”
“It wasn’t me,” Belle explains. “It’s Charles. He, um?—”
“I blackmailed them,” I chime in. “They were rude to Belle earlier, and I wasn’t having it.”
“It was a lot,” Belle admits.
“Just enough by the sounds of it.” Clarice laughs and claps her hands. “A man who doesn’t stand up for his wife is no man at all.”
“I want to say that I’m above that because I don’t need to rely on a man to fight my battles, but I admit it was nice to be defended.” Belle nudges my shoulder with hers. I pull her close to me and kiss her temple.
“What were you blackmailing them with?” Clarice is all bright-eyed. “I love good gossip.”
