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“Or, rather, a marriage of convenience.” Nara’s words yesterday echoed in his head. A marriage of inconvenience.
“Why would you get married for one week? That doesn’t make any sense.”
“It was supposed to be two years, so Mr. Claymore could pass the company on to me, and therefore Nara and I could both benefit.”
“But?”
“But he released us from the obligation, so Nara is leaving. We’ll be filing for divorce.” He felt like a truck had hit him, went into reverse, ran him over again, and then moved forward to get him once more.
Brielle’s expression was unreadable. “So, you’re telling me, the woman you’ve been in love with all your life married you to please her father? And now that’s all over and she’s leaving?”
He nodded, unable to say anything else.
“And you’re just letting her go?” Brielle’s voice rose in pitch.
“Be quiet,” he said, glancing toward the staircase. What if Nara heard her?
Brielle took a step toward him, then slapped the back of his head.
“Ouch. What did you do that for?”
“You deserved it.”
He gave Brielle a flat look. “Nara wants to go back to New York. What kind of a jerk would I be if I tried to convince her to stay?”
“Does she know you’re in love with her?”
“No.”
“Wait,” Brielle held up her hand. “Didn’t I tell her you’ve been in love with her forever?”
Derek moaned and put his head in his hands. “I told her that was a joke.”
“You what?” Brielle hissed. “So, she doesn’t even know you’re totally madly in love with her? Why hasn’t that come up? What were you doing on your honeymoon anyway?”
He shrugged. “It’s a marriage of convenience. We didn’t do anything like that.”
“But I saw you making out with her.”
“Yeah, that was just for show. To make you think we were in a real marriage.”
Brielle slapped the back of his head again. He hopped off the stool and raised his hand like he was going to do it back to her. She stepped back. “You’re an idiot. A girl doesn’t make out with a guy like that if she’s just pretending. It would have been a peck. She likes you.”
“Then why is she upstairs packing to go to New York?”
Brielle raised one eyebrow. “Want me to go ask?”
“No!” He sat back down. “Don’t.”
Her mug was now full of coffee, and she picked it up. “Fine. Suit yourself. Let the woman you love leave you. What do I care?”
“You don’t understand.”
Footsteps on the stairs silenced them both. Derek waited until Nara appeared before them, her jacket on and dragging two suitcases. Her gaze met Derek’s for a brief moment before she looked at Brielle. She timidly bit her lower lip. “Did Derek tell you I’m going to New York?”
Brielle rushed to Nara, embracing her. “Yes. He told me everything. I’m glad I got to see you again before you left.”
“Me, too. You keep up the good grades in school, okay?”
