Page 12 of The Marriage Agreement (Agreement)

After dinner, Osei says he will clean up, and I go to my room to put on the spare sports bra and grab my backpack. “I put my clothes in the dryer; I’ll pick them up tomorrow,” I say to Osei.

“I’ll send someone to pick them up tomorrow,” Luke says.What’s his deal?

“I’ll bring them over tomorrow afternoon. Remember, we are meeting with your lawyer?” I nod, though I’d forgotten about that too. This guy is already sucking the not so common sense out of me.

“Good, let’s go,” Luke says in a low growl. Now I wish Jace hadn’t decided to sleep again, causing me to leave it at the hospital parking lot and hitch a ride home with Jax.

I follow him out and mumble a thank you when he opens the passenger door for me. I make sure our bodies don’t touch in any way as I get into the Range Rover. The luxury smell and feel hit me as I tuck my backpack in front of me. I’m quiet on the drive to his place. In ten minutes, he pulls into a garage. I didn’t know he lived this close to Osei. Which means I can walk back to Osei’s place. I smile inwardly as the silver lining is revealed to me.

As we step out of the car, I follow him with a racing heart and an overwhelmed mind. I clutch tightly to my backpack, like a security blanket. The elevator ride is quiet, but the silence between us crackles with tension. My thoughts are a jumbled mess as I try to resist the urge to reach for his hand. He smells familiar, comforting, and his proximity is both exhilarating and nerve-wracking. I shift my backpack from one arm to the other, trying to distract myself from his alluring presence. But it's no use. His energy keeps pulling me in like a moth to a flame.I mentally scold myself for letting my irrational subconscious take control.Shut it down, now!I yell at my inner mind as I desperately try to regain control of my emotions.

The elevator door dings and opens at the exact moment, almost as if I had some magical power, but I know it’s pure coincidence. I follow him until he stops and opens the door. I exhale a slow and heavy breath, one I didn’t know I was holding in, at the confirmation that behind the door is my new home for the foreseeable 1,095 days. I lace my fingers as I take guarded steps into the unit, and I’m blown away by the large open space. The floor-to-ceiling window shows a beautiful view of the city, with Lake Michigan sitting serene, kissed by the night sky.

The off-white leather sectional with a chaise on one end is my style. The beige carpet with beige and black throw pillows complements the matching coffee tables. The dark wood flooring is certainly a preference I would have chosen. The curtains are also a hint of beige and black. Like Osei’s place, four bar stools with a granite counter and dark wood make up the luxurious kitchen. A peek at the appliances from afar spells high-end. I should be excited because I love to cook, but I also need to remember that I need to stay in my lane. There’s a pivotal reason why I’m here, and he might have girlfriends coming around.

The dining area sits openly between the living room and the kitchen. I must say, the entertainment design, adorned with a large fireplace in the living room, is sumptuous and covers the whole area. I catch a glimpse of a dinette that looks more inviting to me. My breath catches as I feel Luke’s breath so close to me.

“I had them move your stuff into the bedroom next to mine. Feel free to look around, and if there’s anything you don’t like, let me know, and we can change it,” he says, then turns toward a long hallway.

“Okay, thank you. Where is my room?” I ask. He leads the way, and I follow him, admiring the simple and bold décor in the hallway. When he opens the door, I’m marveled at the size of the room and the simple yet elegant décor. I notice a chaise in the corner, and I am doing a happy girl dance inside. I’ve always wanted one. The sage blanket draped over the chaise looks soft. I can see myself enjoying every minute in that chaise. Maybe the 1,095 days won’t be torturous after all. Just maybe.

“Thank you. This is really nice,” I state, without looking at him. I can feel him a few steps behind me. The heat radiating from him has my body responding in ways I’ve never experienced. My nipples are hard again. Oh Lordy, this isn’t good.

“Glad you like it. I had the men put all your stuff away in the drawers and closet. If you don’t like it, just tell Paula how you want it changed,” he urges. My mind blows with the thought of men touching my underwear.

“My underwear too?” I blurt out. I can’t believe he had strange men packing up my undergarments. They are personal. I only ever splurge on two things: underwear and shoes. By splurge, I mean the final sale on the semi-luxury items that I like.

“Paula took care of that. She was with the movers at Osei’s and here as well.” I breathe in relief. Paula and I will get along well. I’ve met her the few times she comes over to clean Osei’s place.

“Thank you.” He nods.

“Good night,” I say to him.

“We'll talk in the morning,” he states, like it's an order, not a request.

“I have to be at work by seven and meeting with Osei and my lawyer at four. Can we talk after?” I turn to him and notice a frown that’s quickly hidden.

“Sure, goodnight.” He leaves, and I let out a breath, dropping my backpack. I step into the oversized closet; it smells like fresh linen. All my clothes barely fill one side of the large closet.

My shoes look fancy on the shelves. The reality is, none of my shoes are high-end, and I didn't pay full price for them.

I open the drawers, and my panties are arranged by color and fabric. The next drawer holds my bras, also arranged in the same format, by color and fabric. I check out the large shower with multiple showerheads and white marble tiles and the soak tub next to it. I'm definitely going to use that. The grand mirror with bright light that I can adjust is nice. I pull open the drawers and find my toiletries. I return to the bedroom to lock the bedroom door, then go back to the closet. I remove Osei's T-shirt and my bra, then pull on one of my nightwear pieces. I also replace the items in my backpack once I'm done. I bounced onto the bed like a kid. I get under the soft sheet; a charger is next to me, and I plug in my phone. Lights out. It doesn't take long for me to fall asleep.

Chapter 9

LUKE

I know, I was a tad bit overbearing, texting her all day, but no way was I going to give her a crack to wiggle out of marrying me, let alone a small room for the crack to get bigger. It upset me when she didn’t respond to a single text, and even more so when my calls went to voicemail.

I called Osei, who informed me that she always turns her phone off at work and at study group.Who does that?Most people put their phone on silent, not off.That’s the first thing she and I are going to address.

When Osei texted that she was at his place, I knew she was defying me on purpose, and no fucking way was I going to let her spend the night there. Did she not realize how much pressure spending another night at Osei's places put on my mind? I grabbed my keys and drove to his place. I arrived right as the dinner order was getting delivered.

“I knew you would show up,” Osei mocked, stepping aside as I barreled my way into his unit.

“Where is she?” My tone was harsher than intended—maybe subconsciously I intended it, causing a raised brow and a confused look from Osei.

“Taking a shower and getting ready for bed.” He scoffed.

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