Mr and Mrs Sullivan: Standalone Arranged Marriage Romance

by Simone Nicholls

  "Your three o'clock is here." Megan said sounding unhappy about it.

  "I don't have a three o'clock." I pushed my glasses up and kept working on the fraction. I tucked my legs underneath me. I knew I had today free because I had depended on it- to get this work done.

  "Yes you do. I just didn't expect him to show up."

  "Why did I agree to do advance math? Seriously. Why didn't you talk me out of it? What's wrong with general math?"

  "You wanted an edge when it came to university next year?"

  "Well next time I want an edge, tell me to do some bloody volunteer work."

  "You don't have time for that."

  "I don't have time to redo bloody fraction questions! I've been at it since eight and I am still nowhere near finished. Why is it Mr Gardener personally wants to make my life hell?"

  "I can make a note to him, to give you more detail next time?"

  I scoffed.

  “Your three o'clock?"

  "I don't have a three o'clock!"

  "Like I said you do. I just didn't put it in your schedule because well I didn't expect him to show up."

  I groaned. "If it’s Evan about me doing that lace shot again, tell him no. I am not modeling anything that is completely see-through. It's basically me with no top on!"

  "It's not Evan."

  "Well, if it isn't the CEO of Victoria Secret, who the hell would be important enough for me to stop what I'm doing?"

  "Your husband."

  I dropped my pen and swung the chair around, confused, as if Dane would be here, my eyes glanced to the doorway. Megan was standing there but who was standing next to her, had my full attention.

  Dane.

  Here.

  Right now.

  Right in front of me.

  I ripped my eyes off him and looked back at my work. Oh my god what is he doing here? Why did my heart decide to have a fit at just seeing him? He looked even better looking than normal. The way he had his white shirt sleeves rolled up, and dark jeans. And that serious look on his face.

  "Why is he here?" I kept my voice calm and empty of all the emotions that were currently flooding my body. How could one look at him, do this to me?

  "Because I have an appointment with you." Dane's voice was confident, calm and steady. All things I wasn't right now.

  "I'm busy." I picked up my pen.

  "I'll leave you two to talk." Megan said and I heard the door shut after here. Which meant, I was left alone with him.

  Just don't look at him.

  Just don't look at him.

  "Emerald can we talk?"

  "I told your lawyer if you wanted to speak to me, speak through my lawyer. I suggest you contact your lawyer."

  "Why would I do that, when you are right in front of me?"

  Why did it sound like he was closer? The chair spun around and then, bang I was suddenly in front of him. His hands gripping the back of the chair, and his arms brushing past me. He had me trapped.

  I kept my eyes on my lap. "If this is about the divorce, we can say we parted mutual ways." I staggered out and finally forced myself to look up at him. Why was he looking at me like that? Like it was the first time he was seeing me. "I'll even agree to us saying we are still friends. Just discuss the details with my lawyer. I've already signed it."

  "You've signed the divorce?" His voice went up- it sounded like out of panic.

  I nodded my head. "I rang to tell you but you never answered." I saw the fear in his eyes, but I didn't understand it.

  "Emerald, you have no idea how sorry I am for not answering your calls." His hands cupped my face. "Just tell me what to do, to get you to change your mind? I'll do anything, just please tell me what to do. Because I don't know what to say or do."

  He looked scared. Terrified even. He nervously lowered down to my level, keeping our eyes locked. I saw the regret, the fear, the panic. All clear in his eyes.

  But it didn't change a thing.

  "You wanted a break. I'm just making that break permeant."

  "I don't want that." He ran his thumb over my bottom lip. "I don't want a break. I just want you back."

  "You never had me to begin with." I gripped his hands and pushed them off me. "You should go, wait sec." I frowned. "Don't you have a game today?"

  He shrugged his shoulders.

  "Your coach will just be loving you right now." I rolled my eyes and pulled my chair back to the table.

  "Emerald I don't want a divorce." His hand gripped the chair again and he swung it back around. "If you don't want to agree to go back to dating me. At least see the year of our marriage out."

  "No." I looked him squarely in the eye. "Why would you think, that I would wait for you to dump me or divorce me?"

  "I'd never do either."

  I scoffed, shaking my head. "You were the one wanting a break. You told me you wanted a break from me. So how can you stand there and say you wouldn't do that! When you did!"

  "I was under pressure with the club. I had to focus. Pushing you away made sense. I didn't mean to hurt you."

  Hurt me. That was exactly what he did. And I was never letting him do it again.

  "Just tell me what you need from me?" Dane said looking like I had been the one to hurt him.

  I don't know where the anger came from but suddenly it was bursting through every blood vessel.

  "You know what I needed? I needed you a month ago!" I got out of the chair pushing him away from me. I had never been so angry! "I needed you when everyone was demanding an answer from me! When I had to make a life decision, but I was on my own. Like I’ve always been. You weren't there as a boyfriend, you weren't there as a husband. Hell, you weren't even there as a friend! So don't come here and act like you care!"

  I wanted to leave. I had to leave. I couldn't be in this room with him anymore.

  Chapter 12

  Emerald

  Being near him was suffocating me.

  But just because I wanted to leave, didn't mean he was about to let me. He stepped in the way of the door.

  "Emerald, I'm so sorry." It actually sounded like he meant it. As if.

  "It doesn't matter anymore. I'm finished with you. Marrying you was a mistake. One I'm correcting. So can you move now because I'd rather swallow glass then spend another minute with you."

  My need to get out of here was even stronger. I couldn't be near him.

  "I'm not letting you go anywhere till you agree to come home with me."

  I wanted to laugh. Had he not heard a word I said? "I'm not going anywhere with you. We," I gestured between him and I. "are over."

  "I'm not divorcing you."

  "That's right because I'm divorcing you." I took a deep breath in. "Now move."

  "Did you really want this deal with Victoria Secret? Is it something you really want?"

  Where was he a month ago? When I needed to be asked that question? "I've already signed the contracts." I couldn't change my mind even if I wanted to. Legally, I was theirs.

  "You said you didn't have time for it. You said you didn't want it."

  "Yeah that was before!"

  "Before what?"

  Before you broke my heart. "You said the club forced you to take a break from me, right?" I had to speak logically with him. If he realised that I was making the best decision when it came to ending our marriage, then maybe he would leave and I could try to find a way to live without Dane Sullivan.

  "Yes."

  "So you had to pick between your career and me, right?"

  He looked at me with a hardened expression and I saw the regret in his eyes. "Yes." He gritted out.

  "I wasn't taking the deal with them because I couldn't handle school, my modeling and you. You made me see, I was making a stupid mistake by putting you before my career. Opportunities like this rarely happen. And I was going to turn down a massive opportunity because I had already made a commitment to you."

  "I never wanted you turning down that deal for me. I told you that."


  "But I was going to."

  "I wouldn't have let you." He moved towards me. "We would have talked about it and I would have made you see your career comes before me. Even if it meant we had to spilt for you to take it. I would have supported you." He took a noticeable step closer to me, his hands going to mine. "And now I will support you through it."

  I looked at his hands as they entwined with mine. Why was I letting him touch me? He was saying all the right things, but it didn't change the facts. He wasn't there when I needed him. So how the hell does he expect me to believe him that he will be there through all the shit I was about to go through?

  I was in for long nights, a crazy schedule. What I had been dealing the last month was crazy enough. And the shoots have just started. It was going to be months of shoots, runways appearances, parties, exclusive interviews and more shoots. And that wasn't even factoring in my school and university commitments.

  He had no idea what he promising being with me through all that.

  "You should go." I pulled my hands from his. "Fly home. Go back to Leah or whatever. I'm sure your talent will out shine your reputation."

  "I'm not with Leah!" He grabbed me sounding frustrated. "I want you. What do I have to do to get you to agree to see the year out with me?"

  At least he had accepted the fact we weren't dating anymore. But he still hadn't given up on me. My first real relationship and it failed before it started. I should’ve never agreed to date him in the first place. I was the idiot.

  "I'm sorry Dane. But I'm not changing my mind. I've already approved the press release for tomorrow." I ran a hand through my hair. "You’re wasting your time."

  "I'm not accepting that you've made up your mind." He looked more determined than ever. "Give me a night. If I can't change your mind by midnight, I'll fly out tomorrow and I won't bother you again."

  He wasn't changing my mind. But I was interested in how he thought he could. I sighed. I knew I shouldn't even bother. So why the hell was my heart pumping so fast hoping he would do something that would change my mind. I never had a weakness before but now I did and it was Dane bloody Sullivan.

  "Come on Emerald, just give me the night." He was pleading with me, and my body loved that his hands were on me. Loved it too much. It wasn't healthy. "One night."

  I looked him the eye. My brain was saying don't do it. My heart was pumping let him try. Like I said, I have one weakness now and it was him and his stupid smile, and the way when his hands touched me it sent every nerve in my body alive.

  "Emerald?"

  I groaned. "I can't give you a night. It's my only day off. I have a heap of studying to do."

  "I'm good with math. You wouldn't think it but I can help."

  "So your way to win me back is to do my homework?" I couldn't stop my smile.

  His eyes lit up seeing it. "If it gets you smiling at me, then yes, I'll start to win you back by doing your homework."

  I laughed and then sighed. Do I do it? Why did it feel like I was giving him back my trust? I wasn't, was I? I was firm on the divorce. What could he possibly do, for me to change my mind? I knew the answer, there simply wasn't anything he could do to make me change my mind.

  "Come on, you don't expect me to just give up on my wife."

  "I'm not really your wife." It wasn't like we were together out of love.

  "You are legally married to me, are you not?" When he put it like that, then yes. I am his wife.

  I nodded my head.

  "So do I get you for the night?"

  No. Yes. No. Maybe. No. No. "Okay." I blew out. "But there isn't anything you can do that will change my mind."

  There wasn't was there? Why was he looking at me like that? Like I had just given him everything he needed to drag me back home.

  Well I hadn't. Had I?

  Chapter 13

  Emerald

  What did I do wrong? To end up here? I was on the phone trying to get out of a call in. The last few years have had some real highs but also with some real lows. Modeling was something I used to enjoy. I don't know when it happened but it stopped being fun. I was starting to think I needed time. Time away from it.

  But the pressure was on me. I wasn't just posing, but I was putting on a front and it was exhausting. I modelled because I loved it, but now, I’m forced to. Expected to. All the reasons I had to do it were slowly disappearing. I was starting to regret every decision that had led me to here, trying to convince Megan to let me have the rest of the night off. Even though there were deadlines and all of a sudden they needed my input from the last shoot.

  Normal teenagers would just have to worry about their math homework. They wouldn't be handling insane deadlines. They wouldn't be spending hours in front of a camera and when I wasn't in front of that camera I was signing pictures or handling calls and emails.

  I was juggling too many things and I was slowly crumbling. Did anyone see it? I was losing the battle.

  I was about to give in and just go in to the office. Megan wasn't going to let it drop. Dane must have realised that I was losing the fight because one second the phone was against my ear and the next he had it.

  "Megan she isn't coming in. She needs a night off. Leave her alone." He snapped and hung up.

  "Please tell me you didn't just hang up on her?" I knew how much Megan hated being hung up on. Which is why I never did it. I knew a lot of clients were demanding and rude. But I wasn't one of them.

  "You need a break. Have you been working this hard all month?" He didn't hide his disapproval. "Have you had any time off in the last month?" He looked at me wanting an honest answer.

  "No, I've been too busy." I ran a hand through my hair. Feeling exhausted. But I had homework to do. Caffeine. I needed caffeine to get me through the night.

  "When we go back home, you’re going back to not working on the weekends. " Dane said pointing a finger at me and it was like I had already agreed to go home with him.

  "I never said I was going anywhere with you." I walked around him and into the kitchen. The food smelled amazing. Who would’ve thought I would get excited over pizza. Dane was still on my phone. "What are you doing with that?" I asked, while opening the pizza box. It smelled even better than it did five seconds ago.

  "I'm turning it off."

  I looked up, with wide eyes. "You can't do that!" I walked towards him, trying to snatch my phone back but he had already turned it off and put it in his pocket. "Give it back Dane."

  "You're having a night off." He said it, like it was possible.

  "I can't! I'm on call! Do you have any idea how many people expect me to answer when they call me? My Dad being one of them!" I still hadn't read today’s conferences and meeting calls he had. They were sitting in my mail box, waiting for me.

  "Your Dad books appointments. Has he booked one tonight?" Dane looked at me determined. He knew the answer.

  "No."

  "So what are you stressing about?"

  "Adam said he would call me tonight."

  "Your boss?"

  "No. He is...."How did I explain what Adam wanted from me? "He heard I was getting divorced."

  Dane lips tightened. "My replacement?"

  "It's not like that." I walked back to the food but I couldn't lie and say I hadn't already had offers. Adam was the only one I was considering.

  "So you're just going to let him use you?"

  "He just wants someone on his arm at parties. It's not a big deal. Not like I'll be marrying him." I gave Dane a pointed look. I had made that mistake once. Not again.

  "Why don't you just put your heart on the line and date someone you like?"

  I looked at him shocked did he just say that? Because that is exactly why I married him. So that wouldn't happen. "I don't date."

  "You dated me."

  I scoffed. "And look how that turned out. It lasted a few weeks." I shook my head. "I shouldn't have even attempted it."

  Dane was at my side, and he took my hand. "It never ended."

&
nbsp; "Yes. It did." I attempted to ignore the fact that my body had chosen this moment to melt from his touch. Stupid hormones. "Have I not made it clear? We’re over." I wanted to pull my hand away from his, but my stupid body wanted more of his touch not less of it. Finally my brain took over and I withdrew my hand from his.

  He would see the signs, right? See that I didn't want him touching me. Hear me when I say it's over.

  He pushed the pizza aside and I didn't know what he was doing till his hands went to my hips and he lifted me up, placing me right in front of him. Okay maybe he would ignore all signs and not listen to what I was saying.

  His hands ran up my sides.

  "I was a dick. I'm so sorry Emerald. But I meant it when I said I needed a break, I never wanted to break up with you." He sighed. "I just had to do what they wanted. Get them off my back."

  I knew what it was like to have people wanting something from you.

  I nodded my head. "I get it." And I really did. "Career comes first."

  "I didn't mean to put you second." He looked at me like I had just insulted him.

  "It's not a big deal Dane. I'm not really your wife. You don't have to explain yourself to me." I swallowed sharply, as his hand cupped my face. The way he was looking at me was causing my stomach to turn and twist.

  "But you are my girlfriend and you deserve an explanation." His thumb ran over my bottom lip and I didn't know if I was reading him wrong, or not, but it looked like he was about to kiss me and just as I thought it, his lips were on mine.

  But you are my girlfriend. His words repeated in my head. I was going to push him away. My brain was screaming at me to. All the reasons why, flashed in my head. But instead of pushing him away, I kissed him back. I didn't push him away when his hand slid under my shirt.

  This was going to be my undoing.

  My one weakness, Dane bloody Sullivan.

  Then just as I thought I was fully drunk on his taste, he pulled back.

  "You hungry?" His voice was husky and low, like it killed him to pull away from me and here I was thinking he couldn't make me want him more.