Page 6 of Legally Yours

Even though I’ve just gotten hitched to a man who looks like a movie star, I can’t help but harbor this feeling of discomfort. I feelawkward.He is a complete stranger, whose name I just tacked onto the end of mine.

Not to mention I have no idea what he does. And he doesn’t know anything about me. That thought sits nicer than the last. We are in this together. Maybe he could turn out to be a real friend.

And it is afakemarriage, anyways. If it doesn’t work out well, I can pick up and leave. I just need enough time to show David that he really messed with the wrong girl. I don’t care about his love affair. I’m having one of my own.

The thought makes me giddy.

“Where to now?” the man beside me asks as I hold a small bundle of cheap flowers from the ceremony. I look up to answer, but my phone starts blaring a familiar ringtone.

“Hold that thought,” I say as I quickly fish it out of my small bag. Answering it, it’s none other than my soon-to-be ex-fiance.

“Honey, are you still in Vegas?” He sounds worried or stressed. I bite my lip before answering. “Yes? Why?”

“I’m in LA for a campaign, but Emma can’t make it. She’s sick. We need you to replace her. You’re the only one who can do it.”

I start to shake my head, and I can feel the eyes of my new husband on me. He is waiting patiently but watching me closely. Like he’s trying to figure me out.

I want to say no but just as I start to form the words, another, bigger thought enters my mind.I can use this. This is perfect. I’ll take Emma’s job, revive my career, and tell off David all in one!I get a goofy smile on my face and spin around to put my back to Liam.

“Okay, wait for me,” I say, and David’s sigh of relief makes my grin widen.If only he knew.I hang up and slide my phone back into my bag triumphantly. I can’t stop the excitement coursing through me.

It’s time for the queen to take back her throne. The runway will be mine again!I need to burn off this exciting feeling and fast. With a jaunty step, I start walking to the door. The thought barely brushes my mind in the swirl of happiness but when it does, I immediately feel a tad guilty.

I should probably let my husband know what’s going on.

6

LIAM

Iwatch as Cassandra ends her phone call.Maybe now I’ll get the answer to my question.I adjust my suit jacket, waiting for her to turn around and address me. If we’re going to be fake-married for the next six months, I want to know where she’s from and see how far she’ll have to move.

Instead of turning to me, she just walks away! My mouth hangs open, as if my jaw is magnetically connected to the ground and is trying its best to get down there. I stifle my anger and start to follow her.

“Why is everyone leaving me to look like a fool today?” I grumble to myself, hands burrowed in my pants pocket. Wherever she’s going, I have no choice but to follow.

We’ve been married for a total of maybe fifteen minutes, and already she’s taken off! I try not to think too much about it, because that kind of self-deprecation builds and builds like a constantly stoked fire.

Before I know it, my long strides have caught up to her. She merely glances up at me before doing a double-take.

“I’m so sorry for walking off on you.”

I shrug lightly. At least she’s apologizing. “Is something the matter?” I ask, and she starts to fumble over her words.

“Well actually, yes. Not with me, though. I’m on my way to fixing the problem. See, this place I work for needs a replacement like… right now. And it has to be me, so I’m on my way to LA.” She picks up walking again, and I follow her.

“So we’re going to LA?” I ask, and she looks back at me with a puzzled glint. “You’re coming with me?”

“Of course. You’re my wife now, I want to see what you do.” I smirk and as if it’s her kryptonite, her cheeks turn a lighter color. I chuckle to myself and get on the phone to one of my assistants. “I need two tickets to LAX, ASAP.”

* * *

We board fast,neither of us having anything standing in the way at security. On the plane, she plays with her hands in her lap. She seems fidgety, but not in a bad way. Just excited. In the prolonged silence, I start to think of all the different things she could do for work.

She could be an accountant, but that wouldn’t need such a cross-country flight, would it? Perhaps she’s a journalist, and the paper needs her eyes on a breaking case. Or she’s a paparazzi… but I think she would have recognized me if she was.

That last one makes me stifle a physical head-shake. How egotistical of me. Once we’re in the air, Cassandra starts talking. She’s speaking slower as if the weight of the rush is off her chest now that we just have to sit back and let the ride happen.

“So, this job I’m doing. It’s for a modeling agency. I have to fill in for one of the girls. Apparently, it’s a huge shoot in LA. The one that my fiance missed our wedding for.” She speaks the last words with a bitter tone, but I’m already preoccupied with what she said before.

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