by Hamel, B. B.
I roll my eyes. “Good. I’m glad. Come on, let’s go see your room.”
She follows me upstairs. I show her the office, the bathroom at the end of the hall, the two guest rooms. I take her to the third floor, show her my bedroom, and the stairs up to the roof deck.
“I have to see this,” she says, moving up and opening the roof door. We step out onto the deck in the gorgeous afternoon sunshine. She’s still wearing her wedding dress and I’m still in my best suit, and I have to admit, we make one hell of a couple. “Okay, now you just won me over.”
She walks to the railing and looks out at the city. We have a decent view, South Philly in one direction, the big skyscrapers of Center City in the other. She laughs and looks back at me as I lean up against the doorway, my arms crossed.
“I’m glad you approve,” I say.
“How can you afford a place like this?”
“I saved,” I admit. “I’m also ten years older than you and I’ve been working for my father since I was eighteen.”
“Still, this must be worth…”
“A lot.” I shrug. “And I can more than afford it now that I’m CEO of Cork.”
“Assuming it stays in business.” She shoots me a grin.
I grin right on back. “Exactly.”
“So what now?”
“Well, we need to go get your stuff.”
“No, I mean, with the companies.”
I hesitate then walk over to the railing to join her. It’s metal with stiff wires running horizontally all along its length. A patio umbrella is in one corner, down for the time being, and some comfortable chairs are scattered all around. I lean against the railing and look out at South Philly, out at the city I love.
“We need to convince the board,” I say. “But it won’t be that simple.”
“Do you think any of them are going to be on our side?” she asks.
“Maybe one or two. We’ll start with them and move on from there.”
“We’re doing this… individually.”
I shrug. “That’s the idea.”
“Josh.” She laughs. “How big is your board?”
“Twelve of the best men and women in the world.” I grin at her and cock my head. “You got anything better to do?”
“I guess not. I married you for a reason.”
“Exactly. Seven percent.”
She laughs and doesn’t argue. We stand there looking out over the city together and I feel strangely comfortable. I’ve spent countless hours up on this roof, just sitting and staring out at the skyline, but I’ve never seen it like this before. I’ve never stood next to my new wife, still in our wedding clothes.
“Hey!” I look at a roof a few houses down. An older woman with white hair and big sunglasses stands there waving at us.
“Hi, Cathy,” I call back.
“Did you get married?” She’s practically shouting. She always shouts, can’t help herself.
“We got married,” I shout. “This is my wife, Maggie.”
“Congratulations!”
“Thank you!”
“Why wasn’t I invited?”
I roll my eyes. She laughs and flips me off. The old bird is crazy in the head, but I like her. Sometimes we stand up on the roof and shout about politics together. Pisses everyone else off, but oh, well.
“She seems nice,” Maggie says.
“She’s a treat. You’ll get used to her.” I turn back to the house, the moment passed. “Come on, let’s go inside. You can pick your room.”
“Sounds like a plan. I need to change out of this dress as soon as possible.”
We head back inside. I let her pick which room she wants before I bring her bag up. She picks the biggest of the two rooms, which is the correct choice, since it’s the closest to the bathroom. I toss her bag on the bed. “Feel free to change it up,” I say, looking around. “I’ m not going to lie, I got most of this crap at flea markets.”
“I can tell.” She picks up an old doll missing an eye. “What is this?”
“Early American,” I say. “Worth thousands.”
She frowns and gingerly puts it down. “Really?”
“Nah. Bought it for a dollar, thought it looked cool.”
She sighs. “It’s creepy.”
“Then burn it. Come on, get changed. I have a feeling there are a lot of bags in my future.”
She gives me a huge grin. “Damn right there are, hubby.”
“You know, since we’re married now, I think I get to stay while you strip down. That’s how it works, right?”
“Not even a little.” She pushes me toward the door. “Don’t get the wrong idea. I may be your wife, but I’m not yours.”
“We’ll see,” I say, grabbing her wrist as she tries to push me again. I stare into her eyes then down at her body. “I don’t think you’ll last long.”
“Last long until what?”
“Before you’re crawling up to my room, begging me to strip you down.”
She glares and pulls her hand away. “Asshole.”
“Hurry up.” I turn and leave, shutting the door behind me.
I knew this would be an adjustment. I mean, I’ve never been married before, and she’s a total stranger.
But for some reason, I’m looking forward to it.
Maybe it’s the way she looks at me. Maybe it’s the way I feel when she’s around. Or maybe it’s just those lips, so delicious and pouty and good.
Doesn’t matter what it is. I’m excited to have my new little bride move in with me. We’ll figure out the rest from there.
3
Maggie
Dad helps us move my stuff in with Josh. It’s a jarring transition, going from living with my father to living with a total stranger, but we all agree it’s the best thing. “Are you okay?” Dad asks me once the last box is dumped unceremoniously in my new room.
“I’m fine.” I force a smile. “Really.”
“I know this is a lot.” He looks away. “It’s really too much.”
“Dad.” I walk over and hug him. “I love you. It’ll be fine.”
“Yeah.” He sighs and hugs me back. “And plus, when it’s over, you’re going to make a lot of money.”
I laugh and let him go. “That’s the goal.”
“I’m proud of you for negotiating, you know,” he says, grinning. “I planned on giving you my cut, but, you know.”
“You can still do that, don’t worry.”
He laughs. “Look, if you have any problems with him… anything at all. You call me and I’ll be over in a flash. I mean it.”
“I know, Dad. But he’s a decent guy.”
“Yeah, I think he might be, but I’m still worried.”
“Look, his room is on the third floor. We’ll barely even see each other. We’ll be glorified roommates.”
“Right. Roommates.” He sighs. “A male roommate.”
“Dad.”
“I know, I know. My idea.” He shakes his head. “A stupid, insane idea.”
“We’ll be fine. I promise.”
“Good.”
He leaves not long later. I order a pizza and I split it with Josh. We sit up on the deck, talk a little bit about Harvard, and I go to bed early.
It’s strange, sleeping in an unfamiliar room. I put my own linens on it and use my own pillow, but it still feels totally foreign. The ceiling is different, the sounds are different, the smell is all wrong. Even though Josh threw the weird creepy doll thing into the closet, I swear I can still feel its beady little black eyes staring at me through the door.
But I manage to get some sleep. Alone, in a strange bed, on my wedding night.
I wake up early the next morning to the smell of coffee and bacon. I sniff the air like a bloodhound before pulling on yoga pants and a t-shirt. I head out into the hall then pad down the steps in bare feet.
Josh is standing in the kitchen, sipping coffee, and humming to himself. He’s making breakfast, not paying attention to anything else.
Bacon’s frying in a pan and he already has a big stack of pancakes, a few waffles, and scrambled eggs.
“Hey,” I say.
He looks back at me and grins. “Morning. I wasn’t sure when you’d be up, so I just started cooking.”
I rub my hair and frown. “What, uh, time is it?”
“A little past eight.”
“Oh, okay. That’s not bad.”
He laughs. “What time do you normally sleep to?”
“I don’t even want to say.” I walk into the kitchen and pour myself some coffee. “Fancy. This is really hot.”
“Better be. I hate coffee that’s not piping hot. I’m talking, just on the edge of burning my mouth. If it’s not a little bit dangerous, it’s not hot enough.”
I laugh and take a sip. Sure enough, it’s really hot, but good.
“What’s all this for?” I ask.
“Breakfast,” he says. “I wasn’t sure what you’d like, so I just went a little nuts.”
“Cereal is fine.”
“I have cereal too.”
“I mean, I’m going to eat the bacon. Just in the future.”
“Understood.” He grins and gestures at a stack of pancakes with his spatula. “Try those. I used fresh blueberries.”
“Really?” I grab a plate and dump a couple on it along with some bacon and eggs. I carry it over to the table, sit down, and dig in.
I don’t speak for five minutes. I’m not capable of it. Everything is delicious, way better than I ever would have guessed. The blueberries are definitely fresh. They’re sweet and the pancakes are fluffy and they’re practically heaven. The eggs are buttery and just the right consistency, while the bacon is crispy but not burnt. I sip my coffee, now a slightly more reasonable temperature, and sit back in my chair.
He’s leaning against the stove, smiling at me. “You liked it,” he says.
“Holy shit.”
“Yeah?” He grins. “I don’t get to cook for people all that often.”
“You’re amazing at breakfast foods.”
“I thought so. Glad to have it confirmed.” He makes his own plate and sits down across from me.
“Should I get used to this?” I ask. “I mean, seriously, I’m going to get fat and disgusting.”
“Nah, you won’t. I’ll make sure you hit the gym.”
“Don’t be a dick.”
“I’m just saying. Right now, appearances are everything.”
I tilt my head at him. “So that’s how it’ll be? I’m just your arm candy?”
“Absolutely.” He looks me up and down. “And you fit the role just so.”
I sigh and lean back in my seat. “If I weren’t so full of delicious pancakes right now, I’d be pissed.”
“That’s why I make sure to bribe you first.”
“Seriously, what is the plan? Please tell me you have a plan.”
“Like I said before, we need to go after some members of the board first.” He shrug a little and spears some eggs, stuffing them into his mouth. “We’ll start with Elizabeth Gulp.”
“Who?”
“She’s this rich old lady that was always close with my father,” Josh explains. “She was like an aunt to me, back in the day. I think if she sees us together, she’ll be the easiest one to convince.”
“Perfect,” I say, nodding. “That’s one of twelve.”
He jabs a fork at me. “Don’t get excited. We haven’t even begun yet. You need to get settled here first.”
I roll my eyes. “Please. The faster we do this, the faster we can divorce.”
He hesitates, watching me closely. I’m not sure what that look means, but I sense that I’m not going to like what he’s about to say.
“Listen,” he says, “about that.”
“Uh oh.”
“Look, I get that you don’t want to stay married to me forever. And I feel the same way about you.”
“Ouch, but okay.”
He smirks and continues. “But the fact is, this merger won’t be fast. Convincing the board will be the quickest part. Finalizing all the details, getting the paperwork signed, getting approvals and making cuts, it’s all going to be a long, painful process.”
“Long and painful,” I repeat. “So what does that have to do with us?”
“We can’t just divorce in the middle of it. We have to stay married until it’s all over.”
I stare at him. “I’m not sure I signed up for that.”
“You did, though,” he says. “It’s not my fault you didn’t think it all the way through.”
I feel a stab of anger. “Don’t be condescending.”
“I’m not, I’m just telling you the truth. I want you to have reasonable expectations here.”
“Okay then. Set my expectations. How long do we have to be together?”
“Three years, I’m guessing,” he says. “Maybe two if we move fast.”
I sit there in shock. I let that number sink in like molasses all over my skin. “Three years,” I repeat.
“Could be less, could be more,” he says, shrugging and eating more eggs. “It depends on how fast the merger goes. If your father is easy to work with, we could get it done in two.”
“Two years at best,” I whisper.
“Sure.” He stares at me. “How long did you think this would last?”
“Weeks,” I say. “Months, tops.”
“Oh.” He sits back. “Well. I’m sorry, Maggie.”
“What happens if I walk away now?” I ask, feeling panic all over. I want to get up and run out of this house. “What happens?”
“Nothing,” he admits. “We just… divorce. My mom will think I’m an idiot. I imagine your aunt and uncle will think you’re one, too. But we’ll know the truth.”
I shake my head and stand up. I feel like I can’t breathe. I walk away from the table, trying to catch my breath. My heart’s hammering in my chest and my skin feels clammy. I’m shaking, almost shivering like I’m cold.
“Are you okay?” he asks, coming up behind me.
“I’m freaking out,” I manage to say.
He puts his arms around me and hugs me. I don’t know why, but it works. “It’ll be okay,” he says, his voice soft and gentle. “I promise. I’ll be good to you. I’ll take care of you, and when this is over, you’ll walk away a very wealthy woman. Think about it, Maggie. Three years of your life, and you’ll be financially set for the rest of it. You’ll have so much potential.”
I look up at him, eyes wide. My breathing stabilizes and I feel like I can think for a moment.
He’s right. Three years, while a lot longer than I thought, isn’t that bad. I’ll be in my twenties still, my whole life ahead of me, and with money to use however I want. I can buy a house, establish myself, or use it to start a business. I can do whatever I want.
In three years.
After I’ve pretended to be married to this total stranger.
I push away from him and take a long, deep breath, steadying myself. “Sorry,” I say. “I just… freaked out a little bit.”
“It’s okay. I should’ve been clearer up front about the timetable here. I honestly thought your dad would’ve told you how long these things can take.”
“He didn’t,” I say, frowning. I look away, unable to meet his intense and handsome gaze. I wrap my arms around myself. “Thanks for breakfast.”
He nods once. “Look, I’m going into the office in a little bit. You can do whatever you want around the house. Make yourself at home, make the place more comfortable. I don’t care what you do. I know you don’t know me, but… I want us to have a good relationship, Maggie. I want you to be happy.”
That last bit surprises me. “Thanks,” I say.
“I mean it.” He steps closer, head tilted. “I want to take care of you while you’re mine.”
While you’re mine.
“Have a good day at the office,” I say, and walk to the steps.
He smiles at me. “Have a good day at home, sweetie
.”
I shoot him a look, but smile back despite myself. I head upstairs and disappear back into my room. I shut the door and lock it before throwing myself down on my bed and burying my face in the pillow.
I’m not going to cry. I won’t let myself do that.
I made my choice. I married this stranger. I did it for myself, as much as I did it for my father, and I can’t pretend like I have any moral high ground here.
But the idea of spending three years trapped in a fake marriage…
It’s terrifying. I can’t pretend otherwise.
Still, it could be worse.
At least Josh is good to look at. Like, really good to look at. And he can cook, which is pretty much the biggest bonus imaginable.
I’ll manage this. I’ll get through it. And in the end, I’ll come out the other side, stronger than I was before.
Still, one thing keeps bugging me, as I lie in my bed trying to process my new reality.
While you’re mine.
That phrase keeps playing in my head, looping over and over.
I love the way he said it. Those words sent a chill down my spine.
To be possessed by a man like him…
There are worse things in this world. Much, much worse things.
Maybe, for just a little while, I can be his, all his.
At least until this is over.
4
Josh
The office of Cork Electric is located right in downtown Philly. We have two floors in a high-rise, and my office is on the top floor in the far corner. I get good light in the morning and have a nice view across the city. As I lean back in my chair and kick my feet up, I should feel like I’m on top of the world.
Except I know my world was built on shaky foundations, and one wrong move can bring it tumbling down.
I grew up in Cork Electric. My father’s father created and built this company, and it’s been a tradition within my family to devote our lives to it. There’s nothing more important in this world than Cork, and there’s nothing I wouldn’t do to keep it going.
Even merging with Bushings, our competitor.
I think about my new little wife back at my place. She’s gorgeous, clever, and ready to bolt at any second. She’s only halfway in this, I can tell, and I can’t blame her. The idea of being married to some stranger for years is probably horrifying. I wish I could go back there and tell her that it’ll all be okay, that it’ll all be worth it…