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She gives me a nod, her lids moving slowly as she blinks up at me. "Are you sure it doesn't bother your mom that I'm here?"
I press a kiss to her lips, unable to resist. "Did it seem like my mother was bothered?"
She gives me a sleepy little smile. "No."
I stroke the soft skin of her cheek, stalling even though I know I need to go. "No. It didn't." Forcing my hands away from her body, I make myself stand up, collecting her wrinkled dress as I go. "If you wake up before I'm back, would you keep an eye on her? Make sure she doesn't overdo?"
Val gives me a nod. "Of course."
I give her one last look before turning away, but her soft hand grips mine, stopping my retreat. I turn to face her.
"Be careful?"
"I will." I lift our joined hands, pressing a kiss to the back of her palm before releasing it. I manage to wait until I turn away before smiling, recognizing my own buffoonery at being pleased that she worries over me.
I quietly close her in before making my way through the quiet apartment. My mother and Nicholas are nowhere to be seen, making me assume my mother is doing the same thing Valerie is, so I collect my keys and head down the lift. After leaving the garage, I make a stop to drop Valerie's dress off at the dry cleaners, arranging for it to be delivered to my mother's, then go to my office. I'm just settling into my chair when my assistant, Brian, barges in, eyes wide.
“Where have you been?”
I raise my brows, a little surprised at his panicked state. “I had appointments this morning.” I lean forward, concerned over what exactly has him so worked up. “Why? What’s wrong?”
Brian falls into the chair on the opposite side of my desk. “The phone has been ringing off the hook and I tried to call you but it kept going straight to voicemail.”
I reach into my pocket to retrieve my mobile. "I can't imagine why it would have—" I stare down at the black screen as I continue pushing the button at the side that’s supposed to wake it up, confused as fuck when nothing happens.
Brian leans closer, brows pinched together as he looks from the phone to me. "Is your battery dead?"
"Of course not." I grab the charger from my drawer and plug it into the USB of my desk. "It's got to be something else." I secure the thing into my phone. "I charge my phone every—" My jaw goes slack with shock as the red battery icon flares to life on the screen, indicating that my battery is, in fact, dead.
I set it down on my desk, keeping my movements careful, even though I’m frustrated with myself. "I must have forgotten to plug it in last night before I went to bed.
I can't imagine why.
I look up to find Brian staring at me with wide eyes. "So it's true?"
I lean back in my seat, trying to seem calm and reasonable even though the information he likely has will make me seem anything but. "Is what true?"
His eyes drops to where my hands are folded on the desk in front of me. The hoped effect was that the casual pose would make me seem in control, when in fact it shows just how out of control I am because it puts my brand-new wedding ring front and center.
My assistant jumps up from his chair, jaw going slack. "You fucking got married." He presses one hand to his head, looking distressed at the discovery. "I didn't know what to say when everyone was calling to ask, and I swore to them there couldn't be any truth to the rumors." His other hand goes to the opposite side of his head, squeezing it between both palms. "How in the world did you get married?"
"Well, it's easy enough to schedule an appointment at the courthouse and—"
Brian’s hands drop as he starts shaking his head. "I don't mean how. I know how to get married." He leans forward, bracing against the desk between us. "Who in the world did you marry?"
I’m eager for the world to know who my new wife is. To claim her as mine in every way possible. However, disclosing her name will put Valerie in danger, and I’m not willing to do that. "Who she is doesn't matter." I pull out my laptop, situating it in front of me. "And feel free to tell anyone who calls now that I am, in fact, married." I pause, realizing that will be unlikely to appease the gossips that I'm sure are responsible for the majority of my assistant’s stress. "And inform them that my mother will be planning an event to announce the marriage soon."
Soon is a benign and arbitrary date. Soon could be tomorrow. Soon could be next year.
But soon will not be before I have secured my wife's safety.
Brian continues to stare at me, disbelief etched into his face. "You couldn't even give me a heads up?"
"It was a rather sudden sort of thing." I open my email, raising a brow at how many have collected in my inbox in the time I bedded my new wife and made my way to the office.
My assistant lowers his voice. "Is she pregnant?"
"No. She's not pregnant." Probably.
