After a long moment, she placed her hand in mine and let me pull her to her feet. I led her back inside, closed the balcony doors, and guided her to the bed.
She sat down and I knelt in front of her, gently removing the heavy jewelry she was still wearing. The earrings. The bangles. The necklace. Each piece I set aside carefully on the dresser.
"Do you need help changing?" I asked.
"No. I can manage."
I nodded and stepped into the closet to give her privacy. I changed out of my suit and into comfortable sleep pants and a t-shirt. When I emerged, she had changed into soft cotton pajamas and was sitting on her side of the bed, looking small and vulnerable.
I turned off the main lights, leaving only the soft lamp on the nightstand. Then I got into bed beside her.
We lay there in the semi-darkness, both of us on our backs, staring at the ceiling. The space between us felt like an ocean.
Then, to my complete surprise, she moved.
Slowly, hesitantly, she shifted closer until her head was resting on my shoulder, her hand coming to rest on my chest over my heart.
I froze, afraid that any movement would make her change her mind. Then carefully, slowly, I wrapped my arm around her, pulling her closer against my side.
She fit perfectly. Like she had always belonged there.
"I am still angry with you," she murmured into the darkness.
"I know."
"And I do not forgive you yet."
"I know."
"But I am tired of sleeping alone. And the baby likes it when I am close to you. It moves more when he can hear your heartbeat."
I pressed a kiss to the top of her head, breathing in the familiar scent of her hair.
"Then stay close. For the baby."
"For the baby," she agreed softly.
Within minutes, her breathing evened out and she was asleep. But I lay awake for a long time, holding my wife, feeling her warmth against me, and making silent promises.
I would win her back. I would earn her trust again. Whatever it took. However long it took.
She was mine. And I was never letting her go.
???
The next morning, I woke early and slipped out of bed without disturbing Viya. She was still sleeping peacefully, one hand on her stomach, her face relaxed in a way it never was when she was awake anymore.
I got ready quickly and headed to the office. I had a plan, and I needed to execute it before she arrived.
Meera, my assistant, was already at her desk when I arrived.
"Good morning, sir. How was the party last night?"
"It went well, thank you. Meera, I need you to do something for me. I want Viya's workstation relocated to my cabin. Her desk, her computer, all of it. I want it set up by the time she arrives."
She nodded.
"Of course, sir. I will have facilities handle it immediately."
