Page 40 of Broken Bonds

I stare at him, lips tight. We’re back at step one.

“I-I’m not making fun of what you’ve already accomplished with what you have,” he reasons, his gaze fixed on mine, without hesitation. “I’m just trying to help you, to offer you the tools to make your life easier, think about it from a productivity point-of-view.”

“I can accept it,” I begin, and victory shines momentarily in his eyes. “As a loan.”

Fuck, I hear him say under his breath as he looks up at the ceiling.

“Why do you have to be so stubborn?” he questions.

“That’s the deal, take it or leave it.”

And there are no more offers, that’s the way it will be. I will not compromise on this, it’s my way or the highway.

“Where did it go that with my body, I thee worship, and with all my worldly goods, I thee endow? What is the use of having a lot of zeros in my bank account when I can’t give my wife a new phone?”

Seriously?

“You brought this upon yourself…”

“Punishment?” he asks, raising his eyebrows.

“A suspension of activities,” I correct him. “And about the goods, well, I wouldn’t have married you without signing a prenup, had I known about your money. I’ve told you to call your lawyer, I’m sure you have one on your payroll.”

I can’t name the expression that crosses his face, maybe it’s one, perhaps it’s the mixture of several.

“So speaking of activities… How about baseball? What base will you allow me to get to?”

That silly question and the blatant change of subject makes me smile.

“I’ll tell you when you stop being such a cocky player.”

“You’re cute when you try to hide that it doesn’t affect you as much as it affects me.” Saying this, he kisses me on the nose. “Come with me, I want you to show you where the office is.”

“What happened to your wonderful idea, ‘where’s my wife’ app?”

“It’s in the developing stages, smartass.” He takes me by the hand to guide me down a corridor that I’ve never been to until today.

The irony doesn’t escape me, this path is new for me and I’ll have to trust him as a guide.

???

Lionel’s assistant Hadley is a girl with long black hair and blue eyes, so well dressed that she looks like something out of a magazine.

She comes home like someone who has done it many times before. Smiling, she looks me up and down. Twice, like she hasn’t seen me before.

I feel like I’m taking some kind of test that I didn’t know I had to prepare for.

“So… you have already made yourself at home?” she asks me after an uncomfortable silence.

I’m standing in the kitchen, facing the stove, getting one of my mixes ready, because I’m still trying to find the perfect formula. I’m almost sure that mint, honey, and bergamot are the winning recipe, but until the soaps are ready to go, I can’t take it for granted.

“Hadley,” says a hoarse voice behind her. “Of course she’s settled, it’s her home, after all.”

The girl opens her mouth and for a second doesn’t seem to know what to say, but immediately she composes herself and pastes another smile that does not touch her eyes. Is she interested in my husband or do they have a history? “Of course, Mr. Kral.”

She reaches out with a bag. I want to tell her a few things, but I remind myself of courtesy over jealousy.

“Mrs. Kral, here is your new phone and computer.”

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