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“Meet me outside for breakfast, and we can agree on the logistics of our schedules.”
Schedules?
29
THE CARD, THE PHONE, AND THE RING
MICHELA
After I dress in my best charcoal suit and beige blouse and slip on my sensible flats, I walk into the main living space, where the sun in the east can’t pierce the tinted windows, so I’m able to get a perfect bird’s-eye view of New York in the morning. Busy city. Serene waters. Calm horizons.
“It’s so beautiful.”
“One of my favorite sights,” Corrado says.
I turn. “Oh yeah?”
He nods from a barstool, one foot propped on the bar under the chair, the other stretched out. His wedding band reflects the sunlight as he swipes his thumb across the phone screen. As I approach, Corrado’s cool and breezy cologne welcomes me. I’m used to his other cologne, the spicy, warm one I like so much. This cool one makes me think he’s not going about his regular business.
Come to think of it, Corrado’s dressed in black. While some men dress in black all day, every day, this doesn’t seem to be the case with Corrado. I think he might be attending a funeral today. Since it’s a sensitive subject and I don’t know him well yet, I skip asking the direct question.
Besides, I still haven’t had coffee. I walk to the bar where a tray with a pot of fresh steaming coffee, milk served in a carafe, and cubed sugar in a bowl await me.
“Did you prepare this?” I ask as I sit at the bar.
Corrado pockets the phone and motions with his hand. “Come closer. I don’t bite this early in the morning.”
My thigh brushes his knee as I fix my coffee with a splash of milk and two cubes of sugar. “Thank you.” I pick up a silver spoon and stir.
“Welcome. Put your wedding band on, or I’ll carve my name in its place.”
I sip my coffee and groan with pleasure. Tastes like some gourmet dark roast they might’ve grown on Mars for all I know, since it’s otherworldly good. Strong and smooth at the same time. Ah-mazing. I’m going to savor every moment of this morning and not let Mr. Dangerous Billionaire, who made it all possible, spoil it with the reality of our bogus marriage. I take another sip. And another.
From inside his pocket, Corrado pulls out a thick gold pen. He twists, then flips it, and it’s a switchblade! “The ring, wife.”
I grab the jewelry box, open it, and slide on my band, then lift my left hand in front of his face. “There! Good Lord.”
Corrado grabs my wrist while pocketing the blade-pen. He kisses the top of my hand and says, “Looks beautiful. Do not take it off. Also, our names are engraved so you don’t lose track of who’s your husband.”
“Haha. You’re a comedian in the morning.”
“I do my best.”
“The Joker wants his role back,” I say under my breath.
“What was that?” Corrado leans in.
“Nothing.”
“Didn’t think so.” Between two fingers, Corrado holds a black credit card. He flips it toward me. “This is for you.”
“I don’t have a credit card like that.”
“You do now.”
I ball my hands into fists. “I can’t accept that.”
Corrado sighs. “It’s for the things we need in the house. Whatever else you might need. New clothes?”
