by Hughes, E.
“I’m fine,” I sighed, collapsing into his arms.
“What on earth were you thinking?” he asked, cupping my chin.
I blinked tears from my eyes.
“We were in danger. You said you wanted to get away from China so I just assumed…”
“Someone had been dispatched from China to kill me?”
I nodded, wiping a tear from my eye. Ethan laughed, drawing me into his arms.
“But the man in the pictures isn’t a Chinese. You watch too many spy movies,” he laughed.
“I was scared,” I sobbed.
“Care to explain why?” he asked, echoing my words.
I shook my head. I was having a hard enough time explaining it to myself.
CHAPTER 6
I was elated when the chauffer-driven Maybach parked in the driveway of the three story beach house I called home. I rolled the window down and gazed out as Ethan leaned across my lap, lowering his shades.
“We’re here,” I said, answering the unspoken question in his eyes. The driver had already unloaded our luggage and was on his way around to my door when I jumped out and ran down the walkway, hauling two of the suitcases he left near the car.
Ethan climbed out of the vehicle coolly, sunglasses still covering his eyes as he surveyed the flawless landscape.
The house sat on top of a cliff overlooking the ocean in an area called Sharkfin Bay. I could hear waves crashing ashore against the craggy rocks fortifying the base of the house on the other side, spraying a fine mist of cool ocean water into the air. The driver continued to dump our luggage on the pavement one by one as I unlocked the door to the house and bumbled inside. Ethan grabbed his bags and followed, peering inquisitively around the corner of the chateau where a trail lined with boulders and wild peonies forged a cobbled path to a private beach. The backyard featured an elaborate landscape adorned with flowers, organic fruit, a vegetable garden, and a handmade gazebo as its centerpiece, my private sanctuary.
Ethan closed the door behind us as he walked inside. The blinds to the patio door had been left open by the cat-sitter, and a fresh bowl of water for Roger had been placed nearby. Hearing the commotion of my entrance he strutted in, happy to see me, meowing and circling my legs. Shimmering light reflecting from ocean waves filtered into the living room, filling it with an abundance of bright natural light. I dropped my suitcases and sighed as I gazed out the window at the stunning view. “Hello, Roger! Mommy missed you!” I said, bending to brush his soft black fur with my hands. Already bored with the attention, he lifted his tail, rubbed his chin against my leg, and walked away. I followed Roger over to the window, lifting the cute little tuxedo cat into my arms.
“I bet you’re hungry,” I purred into his ear, brushing his furry white neck with my fingertips.
Ethan swept a hand through his hair, watching as I sauntered off into the kitchen to prepare a plate of wet cat food for Roger. When I was done I sat the saucer on the floor to answer the ringing phone.
“I saw pictures of you and Ethan online. Very convincing,” Daddy praised, after a brief hello. “I’m glad the two of you are getting along.”
“Well, it’s not like we had a choice,” I said, cutting him off.
“I heard you were fighting.”
“About what?” I droned, irritated by the judgmental tone in his voice.
“Work. I got your letter. Edgar Yu and I agree with your proposal. 135,000 square feet is sufficient.”
I cut a look at Ethan from the side of my eye and lowered my voice. He was still hauling the rest of our luggage into the house.
“I’ll let him know,” I muttered, unsure of exactly how I was going to tell him. “He won’t be happy about it.”
“Then make him happy,” my father snapped. “Don’t mess this up, Elizabeth. I mean it. This is business, not personal. It’ll be over soon enough.”
“I know,” I answered, gripping the phone. “What I don’t understand is why you’re acting like this. Why Ethan and his father are so important to you?”
“They’re not important to me, they’re important to us.”
My heart dropped like a stone. What was he talking about?
“Is this about Byron Energy?” It was hard to keep the frustration out of my voice. Maybe Claudia was on to something about the millions in stock that came in after Ethan and I had gotten married. None if it was making any sense.
“The relationship I have with the Yu family is complicated,” Dad answered, reticent as ever.
“Complicated or twisted? Just how in the hell did I get involved in your shenanigans?”
“Maybe you should ask your husband.”
“He’s not my husb—I gotta go,” I said, as Ethan entered the kitchen.
I hung up.
“Was that your father?”
“Yes,” I muttered, trying to hide my irritation.
“We have six weeks of vacation left,” Ethan noted, clearly irritated that my father had called.
“So.”
“What did he want?”
“He asked about our honeymoon and something or other about Paris,” I hummed, crossing my legs at the ankles.
Ethan studied my face, his head turning sideways.
“Did you tell him about us?”
“No! Why would I do that?”
I knew I sounded just a tad defensive.
“I would prefer to keep our relationship private.”
“They already know we’re married,” he smiled, following me out of the kitchen.
“I’m serious, Ethan… It’s none of his damned business.”
“Fine, I won’t say anything,” he smirked, throwing his hands up in mock defeat.
“So when do I get the grand tour?” Ethan asked, deftly changing the subject.
I eyeballed his face. He was laughing, shoulders bouncing up and down as he tried to hold it in.
“What are you looking at?” he grinned.
“Nothing,” I shrugged, smiling.
“Do I look like the Mona Lisa to you? You’re staring. Stop doing that. It’s rude.”
I covered my mouth. Now I was the one who was laughing.
“Seriously,” he pressed, observing me with a perplexed expression on his face.
“What’s so funny?”
“Your eyes crinkle when you laugh.”
Ethan’s mouth dropped in mock surprise.
“What was that? I look like an old man?” he barked.
I heard the warning in his tone and backed away as I tried to keep my laughter in check. I ran up the stairs, bursting with giggles, but Ethan lunged after me, catching me halfway up the steps where he hauled me over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.
“Where are you taking me?” I demanded, woozy from the sudden movement.
He kicked a door open at the top of the stairs.
“Where else?” Ethan answered. Then after a pause asked, “Where in the hell are we?”
“The guest bedroom!” I squealed, laughing as he dropped me on top of the bed.
“Oh. We can’t do it in here,” he said, rethinking his original plan.
“For the next three years we can do whatever we want!” I teased, squirming into his grasp.
“Just three years? I need an hourglass so I can count the days before you slip through my fingers.”
“I’m just the girl you married for a green card,” I shrugged. “What’s wrong with you, Ethan? Most guys would kill for no-strings-attached sex with an attractive woman. Just enjoy it,” I smiled.
“No, you’re the girl I married. The girl I’m in love with,” he corrected. “I think too highly of you and our relationship to reduce what we have to sex.”
I swallowed nervously.
“Okay, fair enough. Although, there’s just one thing I disagree with.”
“Every word I said was the truth. You’re not allowed to disagree,” he said, smiling gently.
“You married me for a green card and we’ve only been married for four weeks. How can you say
you’re in love with me?”
Ethan took my hand in his and kissed the back of my fingers.
“Because I have been in love with you my whole life. From the moment I laid my eyes on you, even before that…”
“You know nothing about me,” I said, trying to quell the nervous rumble of my stomach.
“I know you’re career-driven, passionate about family, and breathtakingly beautiful. I want to spend the rest of my life with you…”
I shook my head.
“I don’t know what to say,” I answered, still unconvinced.
“I’ll prove it. Elizabeth, there’s something I need to tell you,” he said, gripping my hand.
My stomach fluttered nervously as I waited to hear what he had to say.
Suddenly, a string of noisy chimes rang out. Ethan cursed the intrusion and rolled out of bed.
“I’ll get it,” I insisted, resisting his attempts to draw me back as I skipped out of the room.
I ran downstairs, thinking it was the chauffer at the door with something we left behind. But when I opened the door, it was Danny who stood on the other side.
CHAPTER 7
“Surprise! Danny exclaimed, as I stood gawking at him, unable to speak.
He rushed inside, lifting me off the ground as he spun me around. Too stunned for words, it had taken almost a full minute before I said something.
“What are you doing here?” I cried. “I wasn’t expecting you.”
Danny smiled like a cat with a bird in its mouth.
“I flew in a few days ago.”
My eyes were wide as saucers.
“But I was out of town. How’d you know I was back?”
“I paid your neighbor’s son to give me a call when you arrived. Damn, did that pay off. You look good. I miss you,” he added, looking me up and down.
“Danny, this isn’t a good time. We need to talk.”
“About what?” he answered. “I thought you’d be happy to see me.”
“I, I am…” I stammered, suddenly realizing, Danny was no longer looking at me.
Ethan stood behind me in the foyer, legs crossed, hands in his pocket as he gazed at the golden-haired stranger.
“Hi, I’m Danny,” he said, voice deepening, eyes wide with suspense.
Danny extended a hand, but Ethan ignored it, letting it drop. I felt my alliance shift. I wasn’t Danny’s girl anymore. I was really married, and Ethan was the man I wanted to be with.
“I’m Ethan Yu, Elizabeth’s husband,” he answered firmly.
I didn’t expect him to announce it this way. I wanted Danny to hear it from me.
“I’m sorry… I wanted to tell you,” I explained.
“Married?” Danny gasped. “How can you be married? Why?”
I looked helplessly at Ethan.
“Do you mind?” I asked.
“Actually, I do,” Ethan answered.
“We’ll talk outside,” I amended. “Danny, just give me a minute to explain, okay?”
Danny backed out of the house and grabbed his suitcases, which sat on the doorstep. I closed the door behind me, leaving Ethan in the foyer with an irritated expression on his face.
Danny walked briskly to the rental car parked in the driveway, tossed his luggage in the backseat, and walked around to the driver’s side.
“It’s not what you think,” I pleaded, as Danny climbed into the car.
“Not what I think! I just traveled across the country to find out my girlfriend married some other guy! I can smell him all over you, for chrissakes!” he sneered. “Don’t ever talk to me again. Got it?”
He put the key in the ignition and started the car, but I grabbed the door and pulled it open.
“Danny, it’s a marriage of convenience. It’s not real.”
He looked up, eyes wide with disbelief.
“What?”
“It’s a marriage of convenience. I tried to tell you before but I couldn’t.
Danny grabbed his cell phone, dropped it into the inside of his jacket, then climbed out.
“Explain that again?” he said.
“I married Ethan to help him get a green card. He’s the investor from China I told you about. Our fathers have been friends for over thirty years. Daddy asked me to help him out.”
“You married a stranger for a green card?”
I nodded guiltily. “Only, he’s not exactly a stranger. I’ve known him since I was a little. I wasn’t trying to hurt you, Danny.”
“How long do you have to stay married to him?”
“Three years, before he can apply for permanent residency. Then we go our separate ways,” I answered.
“I have to wait three years to be with you again?”
“No doubt you won’t be waiting alone. I understand if you want to move on.”
“I’ll need some time to think it over.”
“Don’t bother,” I replied. “It’s best we end things now. Like I said before, I don’t expect you to wait for me. I’m sorry.”
Danny nodded, then solemnly climbed back into his car.
I strode back to the house, eyes brimming with tears as I walked inside. Then I leaned against the door and quietly sobbed. I didn’t expect it to be so hard.
As I pulled myself together, wiping tears from my eyes, I looked up to find Ethan in the foyer standing before me.
“You okay?” he asked.
I nodded. “I told him it was over,” I said.
What I neglected to tell Ethan was what I told Danny about our marriage. But I’d only said those things to soften the blow of breaking up with him…
“I’m sorry you were forced to meet him like this. I procrastinated over telling Danny the truth because it made me so uncomfortable,” I confessed.
“Breaking up with a boyfriend is hard. I understand,” he answered coolly.
“We were in the middle of something before he got here. We can pick up where we left off. You were about to tell me something,” I suggested, optimistically.
“Oh. That. Don’t worry about it. I forgot what I was going to say.”
I tried to decipher the frosty expression on Ethan’s face, but to no avail.
And with that, he strode away, as I stood alone in the foyer wiping tears from my eyes.
That night, Ethan slept in the guestroom, and I slept in my own bed. I’d gotten used to his warm body, the feel of his arms wrapped protectively around me, and making love every day for the past four weeks, just before dawn. Did he hate me now? Did he think I was an evil bitch for sleeping with him before officially breaking up with Danny? Was he not in love with me? Moreover, was I falling in love with him?
The next morning I awoke to find a small pink gift-wrapped box on the nightstand. Inside were four pieces of Peanut butter and raspberry imported chocolate. I took one out, popped it into my mouth, then ate another when I was done. That’s when I noticed the ring hidden in the box in an empty crate. I slipped the gorgeous diamond ring on my finger then modeled it, before closing the box again. Ethan strolled in a few minutes later, dressed in a bath towel. He sat on the edge of the bed and shortly after, our morning ritual resumed.
“Thank you, for the ring,” I said. “And the chocolate…”
“You like it?”
“It was delicious.”
“I was talking about the ring.”
“It’s beautiful. But I really like the one I already have.”
“I gave it to you for a reason. My mother would like to see us get married in China.”
“In China? Does she know about the green card?”
“I would prefer she didn’t.”
“One lie always leads to another until it snowballs out of control.”
“When I said I loved you I was telling the truth.”
“Ethan—.”
He silenced me with a finger over my lips.
“We made love every day for the past four weeks.”
“I know,” I smiled, sliding under his arm. “What about it?”
“You don’t find it strange?”
“Not really,” I answered, wondering what he was getting at.
Ethan shrugged. “Never mind, then.”
That night he left the guestroom and moved into my room. I guess all was forgiven. We carried on much the same way, with only a few weeks of our eight week leave from work to spare. At night, Ethan cooked dinner, and in the morning I made breakfast. I was standing over the stove, scrambling eggs one day when my cell phone rang. I recognized the number immediately then pressed the ignore button. What on earth could Danny possibly want?
He called again a few days later one morning when Ethan was out at the grocery store, picking up items for dinner. So I finally decided to take his call as I made pancakes for breakfast.
“Hello, sweetheart.”
“What do you want, Danny? I really don’t think we have much to say to each other now.”
“On the contrary, I think we do.”
“What exactly would that be?” I asked, gripping the phone.
“Come and find out.”
“I can’t see you anymore.”
“But I have something for you.”
“Not interested,” I answered, cutting him off.
That’s when I heard the sound of my own voice filtering through the line. It was a recording of me and Danny talking the night I told him about Ethan.
Every word of what I said about the green card had been recorded.
“As you can see, we still have plenty to discuss.”
“You recorded our conversation. That’s illegal.”
“Marrying a foreigner for a green card is illegal. I’m just the jilted boyfriend. I’ll get off easy.”
“Why are you doing this?” I trembled.
“For money, of course. I thought when I married you, my days of working a regular nine to five were over.”
“You were after my father’s money!” I gasped.
“Is that so wrong? Is it fair that you, and people like your husband are born into wealth and I’m not?”
“We didn’t choose our parents.”
“Exactly. But we choose the people we’re married to,” he retorted. “And you chose him, thus robbing me of my fortune.”