NOVA
The morning air bit at my cheeks, crisp and clean. My strides were even, and at the same time controlled, just another rich wife pretending to jog before sunrise.
More like I had left the mansion so I could communicate properly without being caught.
"Are you sure you're alone?"
His whisper crackled through the sip buried beneath my hair. I didn't answer right away.
Just shifted my eyes slightly like I wanted the estate still. Lights dimmed slowly as dawn crept in. Not a soul in sight. Just cameras I had already mapped and blind spots I memorized.
"Completely alone," I murmured, my tone flat, emotionless.
Then there was a pause, then my assistant again. "Boss wants to speak to you. He said you should make sure you're not being watched." Of course, he would.
I tapped my watch, with a small sigh. "Connect to him and stop trying to piss me off."
"I see you're settling in well," came his voice, gruff, and familiar.
"Good morning Boss," I greeted, hoping to meet with his calm phase.
He is a man who had taken me when I was nothing and at my lowest point, he is the one who made me who I am today.
"He's more cautious than we expected, I just carried out some investigations about you…" I knew he would, Calvin is just not anyone he is Cater.
"And you will handle it." He added.
"I always do," I replied sassily.
There he broke into a very cold laughter, The kind that lingered long after it ended.
"Just remember why you are there. You are only his wife on paper not at heart. You owe him nothing but owe me everything."
I smirked, barely. "Have you forgotten who I am? I will get results."
"I like that about you," he said, and I could hear the smile in his voice. "Just don't forget your place."
"I never do," I whispered.
The line had barely gone dead when I felt a hand, clamping around my shoulder. My eyes widened and I didn't think twice.
I spun, grabbed the wrist, and yanked the body forward. My knee was already rising, my teeth clenched when the voice hit me.
"Hey! Ow… shit… it's me!" Seeing it Calvin and I dropped my grip instantly, blinking hard as I stepped back. "What the hell are you doing sneaking up on me?"
He rubbed his shoulder, wincing. "Me? This is my estate. You are the one skulking around like a damn spy."
I forced a soft laugh, hoping he wouldn't notice, "Sorry. Reflexes. You startled me."
He eyed me too closely. "Startled? That was more than startling. Who were you talking to?" He asked.
"Talking to?" I blinked, innocent. "Do I look like someone having a conversation at six in the morning?"
He didn't respond right away and stared at me for a while. But after a beat, he sighed.
"Why did you leave? You shouldn't be jogging alone. This part of the estate is isolated. I will come with you."
I didn't protest this time around after all the calls I had been expecting had made me leave my bed early. I shrugged and started walking beside him, adjusting my waistband with a casual flick of my thumb. But inside, my pulse still thudded too loud.
We jogged in silence, footsteps falling into rhythm. Weirdly I noticed how a bit distant he was, he didn't say a word and just jogged along with me.
So I decided to break the silence, "This estate," I said eventually, slowing my pace just slightly. "You live here alone?"
He shot me a side glance. "Not exactly. My family's around. A few… private men. My nephew too." I almost missed a step after hearing that.
"Nephew?" I asked, keeping my voice light.
He nodded. "He's like a son to me. Why?"
"No reason. You just never mentioned family."
"You never asked." He fired back.
Touché.
We rounded a bend, passing another security camera. There I made a mental note again. Then he looked over suddenly.
"Have you ever lived here before?"I blinked. "Here? No. Just transferred to the country, remember? Why would I know about this place?"
His gaze lingered a moment too long before he nodded. "Right." I fell a few steps behind, watching his back.
The files said he was ruthless and built empires by burning others to the ground. But this version of him… carried himself like a man who had forgotten how to be feared.
I didn't think twice before, I jumped onto his back giggling. He grunted in surprise but didn't drop me.
"Hey," he mumbled and his hands caught the backs of my thighs automatically, like he had done it a hundred times. I buried my face into his neck, catching the scent of his cologne, something earthy and expensive.
"My little wife is tired already?" he teased.
"I just wanted to be lazy," I muttered, voice muffled.
He didn't let go. Just kept walking, the sunrise cast a golden light over the estate walls, painting everything in warmth:
"Are you having a problem with this?" I asked, softer than I intended with my head over his shoulders
"No," he said, voice low. "As long as my wife wants it… consider it done."
'Wife.'
The word curled around me like a noose made of velvet. I still want to get used to it but instead of arguing, I let my head rest on his shoulder.
"Wife," he said suddenly, "There's a formal dinner tonight. One of my most important clients. I want us to go together. I will introduce you… you can talk business." That word again.
Wife. "Will your family be there?" I asked quietly.
"Yeah," he replied. "Including my nephew. And his little fiancée. You might like them."
'Fiancée…' I thought as a warm smile played on my face, I love where this is going.
I didn't reply and just closed my eyes, letting him carry me all the way home… while the storm started building in my chest.
"Soon… I will be meeting that f**ker."