Page 59 of The Marriage Agreement (Agreement)

“Fine, I’ll come with you and will beg Jax to help me get a dress tomorrow.”

“Good, get whatever you want.” I nod.

“Now, do you want to eat dinner first, or do you want Nami'k to say a proper thank you for the lovely gifts?” I bat my eyes at him. A roguish smile ensues.

“Forget dinner. What would Nami'k be wearing?” he teases.

“Since her imaginary husband no longer exists…” I roll my eyes at him. “No thanks to some people. I think she can be a bit naughty.”

“Good, I’ll take a naughty Nami'k.” I blow him a kiss; he catches it, making me smile.

“Relax, and she’ll be right back.” I race to my room to change into the lingerie I bought earlier today.

“I’ll bring a gift every night for my favorite dancer,” I hear him holler, making me laugh.

Chapter 40

LUKE

I arrive at the event earlier than most because I have to speak with a particular person crucial to the project I’m working on. He likes to be sly, but catching him off guard will give me an upper hand.

After I talked with him, we split up. I bump right into Lily. She’s all smiles.

“What a surprise,” she says with a fake, hysterical laugh.

“We both know it’s no surprise that you or I are here, so cut the bullshit,” I grit.

“Fine,” she says, grabbing a glass of champagne and rounding her lips on it like it’s supposed to arouse me. Only, I’m averse to her moves.

Lily openly flashes her pushed-up boobs in my face. If I didn’t know her, I’d say she just happens to dress like this, but I know her black dress—boobs pushed up so high they look about to fall out—is her attempt to seduce me. If only she knew nothing about her is attractive to me anymore.

“Oops,” she says with a flirty smile as wayward drops of champagne fall into her cleavage. She uses her index finger to collect the drops and licks her fingers. I present a stoic face as she does her best to elicit an arousal from me.

When she realizes her act didn’t move a bored audience, she moves into my space and rubs against me. I’m doing my darndest not to make a scene because we have some project to work on together.

“So, where is this supposed wife of yours?” she snickers. Thank goodness she gets that I’m not interested or realizes her act is quite terrible. Either way, I’ll take the reprieve.

“She should be here soon.” I’d sent Martin to pick her up, but it seems she’s running late.

“I really would like to meet her. After all, she’s the only woman to make you extinguish your bachelorhood.”Someone sure sounds bitter and jealous.

“I’m right here.” I hear her voice behind me. I turn to see my stunning wife flashing a demure smile. Her hair, a shoulder-length sleek bob, is parted in the middle. A simple yet elegant black halter dress accentuates her curves. I do not approve of the side slit, but we can discuss that later. For now, her red lipstick is doing wicked things to my mind—things only Nami’k can do. I return a wide smile to her.

“Ayo mi,” I whisper, kissing her cheek and inhaling her floral scent that’s already messing with my senses. I wrap my hands around her waist and feel her bare back, which makes my eyes widen as I turn to her with an arched brow.

“I thought you might like it,” she whispers.

“I do like it; just not sure I want every man seeing my wife’s body.” The cleared throat behind us stops her possibly cheeky answer. I see her puckish side about to surface but tamed at the sound of the cleared throat. I turn to see Lily’s look of disdain on Dele, even as she tries to hide it.

“Lily McIntyre, my wife, Dele Blythe,” I say with a wide smile on my face. I notice the quick eye roll Lily throws my way and the fake smile she gifts to my wife, who returns the smile, putting her hand out to shake Lily’s.

“Nice to meet you, Dilly, I’m Lily.” She shakes Dele’s hand like she’s expecting Dele to kiss her hand.

“It’s Dele, as in Day-lay,” I correct without hesitation. Dele drops her hand.

“Right, Deli,” she retorts with a feigned gesture, as if it was an error, but I know she’s mispronouncing 'Dele' on purpose.

Before I can correct her again, Dele adds, “It’s okay, I know my name isn’t common like a Lily. Ayodele might be a bit too ethnic for you, so in the meantime, you can call me Mrs. Blythe. That should be easy for you, right, Miss McIntyre?” Dele says with a straight face, emphasizing 'Miss' and 'Mrs.' Lily’s scowl is immediate. She turns to me, and I present her with a wide smile and a nod, signaling, ‘You asked for it.’ Without a word, she turns and walks away from us. My gentle wife has put Lily McIntyre in her place with class, rendering her speechless. I squeeze Dele’s hand, reassuring her that she did well. I feel her relax beside me.

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