Page 14 of Impending Consent

“Why are you sitting?”

“Because if I leave, I leave with half of everything you own. I’m willing to bet that’s not going to make your family happy, neither is the very legal contract you drafted which says I have every right to claim it.”

A stoic expression shifted onto her face but I felt the rage seeping through her skin. She was pissed, but also well aware that my argument was solid. “Is that what this is about? You want my money?”

I chuckled lightly. “I don’t give a fuck about your money, Sailor.”

“Then why issue the threat? Why not just leave? I don’t want to be your wife.”

“Then you shouldn’t have manipulated the situation to become my wife if taking our marriage seriously wasn’t your intention.”

“I did not manipulate…”

“You wanted me in your bed, so you married me. I’m pretty sure you didn’t fully think things through, considering the alcohol involved, but it happened. We’re married, Sailor. The sooner you accept that the sooner we can start working on what our marriage looks like.”

“It doesn’tlook likeanything. We are not married.”

“We are.”

“Get out.”

“Sit down.”

“Get out!”

I exhaled a sigh. “If I leave, I will fully enforce that prenuptial. Is that what you want?”

“You just said you don’t want my money.”

“I don’t.”

“Then why would you take it?” she hissed, tone full of venom.

“I want you and the only way I can have you as my wife is to enforce the terms of the agreement.”

“Why can’t you just let this go?” Her leg bounced and her shoulders stiffened.

“I like the idea of you being my wife and regardless of how you manipulated the situation…”

“I did not manipulate the situation.”

I smirked and stared. She rolled her eyes but didn’t argue her point further. “Did you ever consider that you manipulated me? We were drinking and you forced me to marry you.”

“Neither of us was forced, but for argument’s sake, let me just remind you that you willingly filled out the paperwork online. You enlisted the help of a friend to make the paperwork legal. You drafted, printed and signed the prenuptial, and paid for the ceremony.”

Her expression twisted in disgust. “And what man allows his woman to pay for their wedding?”

“A man who isn’t fully committed to marriage but being coerced into doing so.”

Her mouth dropped open but before she could deliver a rebuttal, there was a knock at the door and a flash of irritation fanned across her face. She marched to the door instead of arguing with me. She yanked it open forcefully and I watched her brother move over the threshold carrying breakfast bags identical to the one I arrived with.

I had only seen him once when he stopped by with his wife to deliver paperwork to Sailor and we talked briefly about the work I was doing but that was the sum total of our interaction. All ten minutes of it was generic conversation which meant he probably didn’t know my name or remember me. That also explained the surprise that washed over his face when he realized Sailor wasn’t alone.

“Uh, you have company.”

“Company would imply he was invited or I want him here.” She narrowed her eyes my way and I smiled, alternating mygaze between Sailor and her brother. He shifted into a defensive stance, moving between where Sailor stood and I was seated.

“What’s going on, Sail?” A warning glare was on me, clearly statingI will fuck you up if you’re here to do my sister harm, but he posed the question to her. Still, I responded.

---