Roderick
Once I’m behind closed doors, I take out my phone and call my father.
Father:What the HELL has gotten into you? You haven’t answered any of my texts. Are you insane? Should I have you committed?
Roderick:And hello to you too.
Father:Don’t you give me your fake courtesies. Where the hell did you meet a school teacher, anyway? Does she moonlight as a stripper?
Roderick:Natasha is a lovely woman. I’m sure you’ll be thrilled to meet her.
Father:Like hell, I will! I’m already working on an annulment.
Roderick:Look, I agreed to marry who you chose, because I honestly thought the family business was in jeopardy. Imagine how I felt when I was stood up and found out that the books were just fine.
Father:We made you a good match. You just didn’t have the sense to take it. You needed a little shove.
Roderick:Well, you’ve instilled the importance of marriage into me. Now, if you will excuse me, I’m off to plan my honeymoon with my new bride.
Father:Don’t you dare hang up on me. Don’t you realize I can take it all away—
I hit end and take a deep breath, trying not to let the worry show on my face.
As each day passes, my plans change. Initially, I was going to fly right back to New York with Natasha on my arm, greet my parents and the flashing bulbs of the paparazzi cameras, and play it out for a month before Natasha and I parted, leaving her a considerable gift for her compliance.
But that plan went out the window the moment I woke up to her angelic face.
I didn’t want to share her with the world. Not yet, anyway. And then there was the guilt. Things that hadn’t added up before suddenly made sense. Natasha was a virgin, completely innocent, saving herself for marriage, and while she made it to her goal, the way things played out certainly wasn’t ideal.
So I gave her a day to rest—though rest we got little of. As it turns out, Natasha has an insatiable appetite for carnal pleasure and wanted to try everything. I was happy to oblige.
One day turned into two, and now a whole week has passed, and if I’m being honest, it’s been one of the best weeks of my life.
A knock sounds on the door and I open it to see Natasha’s anxiety-laden face.
I step forward, cupping her cheeks in my hands. “What’s wrong?”
“That lady is trying to get me to buy a jacket for like ten-thousand-dollars. And a purse that’s like—”
I put two fingers over her lips to hush her. “Lyra is known for her keen eye. I trust that she’ll pick out styles that are on-trend.”
She blinks as she does when she’s confused. “Did you just hear what I said? How much the jacket is?”
“Did you think when I told you to spend my money that I was going to have you spend it at Walmart?”
“That’s where I buy my clothes! Walmart and Target.”
“Well, as my wife, you’ll buy Stryder, Gucci, and whatever’s on the runway.”
Natasha’s face contorts in confusion.
“Lyra,” I call over Natasha’s shoulder.
“Yes?”
“Go ahead and order whatever you think Natasha will look good in and have it sent to my New York address. My wife’s grown tired and needs a nap.”
“Okay.”
