Page 72 of Marry Me, Right Now

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BACK TO WORK

Everything had been running just fine in my absence, and although I was relieved, I wasn’t surprised. I had always made it a priority to surround myself with people who were more clever in their particular position than I am so that we all build each other up.

Not only had the entire office been running like clockwork, but Evans and Mueller had also discovered an underserved mutual fund and grown it by ten percent in just a week.

Although everything was exactly the same, I noticed one unusual change. Each bit of great news caused a new reaction – I wanted to share it with Mia. Spending so much time with her over the past few weeks had been simply amazing, and my compulsion to share each new highlight of my day with her was startling.

I was shocked to realize that I actually missed her. Sneaking out early to hit the gym before work, I wanted to tiptoe into her room to kiss her good morning, but stopped myself. All of our lines had been blurred, and I was terrified of making a misstep and offending her.

Staring out the window, watching the boats skimming over the lake, I realized it must be pretty windy. I didn’t even know if Mia liked boats. What sort of husband was I going to be, even if only for a year?

On the trip home, we both carefully avoided saying anything about our honeymoon vacation fling. It had been incredible, and just thinking about it made me miss having her beside me. But we hadn’t stated that it was over, just sort of assumed. It was the only thing we didn’t talk about openly.

I knew that I wasn’t really her type, and that made me feel completely inferior for the first time in my life. She didn’t want my money or connections. But she genuinely seemed to want to spend time with me. I felt guilty q

uite often about the money issues making her uncomfortable. Finding ways to have fun and hang out without spending money would be a good creative challenge for me, and hopefully show her that I was trying to grow and change. She has had to change so much for me that I felt I needed to pull my weight.

Now that we didn’t have a project to work on together, would she think I was dull? I might be too boring, and not creative enough for her. Now that I was analyzing my life a little more, I spent far more time on work than anyone else I knew. I didn’t really have hobbies other than the gym.

Before I stepped into the latest forecast meeting, I lurked in the hallway to send her a text. “About to enter the boardroom, about to be seriously bored. I guess they named the room correctly. Hope to see you at dinner?”

We hadn’t even established our home life, whether we’d be acting like a couple most days, or whether she’d be with her friends most of the time. But we’d been so connected over the past few weeks that I had to believe she’d want to stay close. I couldn’t just be deluding myself.

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NEW MRS. STONEBURROWES

I saw Jacob’s text an hour ago but hoped that he wouldn’t mind I was dropping in. I couldn’t believe it when I walked into the office. I knew that Jacob’s company was huge, but knowing something and actually seeing it with your own eyes is quite different. I felt terribly observed, and my hands fluttered nervously as I approached the enormous reception desk. The two beautiful young ladies regarded me strangely.

I instantly wished that I were wearing something a bit nicer than a plain black skirt and wine-colored top, with black leather boots. I certainly didn’t look like I belonged in a place like this.

“Good afternoon, welcome to Stoneburrowes Investments. How may we assist you?” the one on the left inquired, almost suspiciously.

“Hi. Um, I’m here to see Jacob Stoneburrowes if he’s available?”

“Mr. Stoneburrowes is extremely busy today. May I tell him who is inquiring?” She seemed a bit dismissive, as if she were trying to get me out of their perfect lobby.

I felt completely out of place and wished that I hadn’t dropped in without an appointment. “It’s just Mia, I’ll call him later.”

Her eyes widened and she stood up immediately. “I’m so sorry Mrs. Stoneburrowes, I didn’t recognize you. Your husband is a meeting right now, but you could wait in his office if you like.”

Hearing my name had been like flipping a switch. Why would Jacob’s staff know who I was already?

“Sure, as long as I’m not in the way.”

She was smiling as if she were trying to win a prize for it. “Of course not, Mrs. Stoneburrowes. This way, please.”

She led me down a grand hallway, into a breathtaking glass and steel corner office. I would have guessed that architectural and design photographers had just finished taking photos for a magazine. It was too perfect and shiny, to the point of being unnerving.

The receptionist waved for me to sit in one of the large easy chairs in front of the window. “May I fetch you some sparkling water, tea, cappuccino?”

“I’m fine, thank you.”

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