THIRD PERSON POV
Sky's phone buzzed relentlessly, the vibration grating against the smooth surface of the table. Shawn glanced at her, raising an eyebrow as another call came through.
"Who is it this time?" he asked, his voice laced with curiosity and a hint of impatience. Sky shook her head, lifting a finger to indicate she needed a moment.
"Just a second," she murmured, stepping away from his side.
Fifteen minutes ago, Ocean had called to ask if she'd arrived safely. She'd assured him she had, her voice calm despite the irritation brewing under the surface. Five minutes later, he'd called again, this time to check if she'd met the person she intended to meet. She had only just arrived and had told him as much, her tone clipped but still polite. Now, his name lit up her screen again, the third time in less than twenty minutes.
"Hello?" she answered, keeping her voice steady but firm. She glanced over her shoulder, catching Shawn watching her with mild amusement.
"Did you get there safely?" He snapped.
Sky exhaled, her fingers curling slightly around the phone.
"Ocean," she began, her tone carrying a mix of patience and exasperation, "I told you five minutes ago that I just got here. Nothing's changed in that short time."
"I know, just making sure you are safe."
"Do you think I can't handle myself for fifteen minutes?" she interrupted, her voice softening despite her words.
"I appreciate your concern, but you're calling every five minutes. I'm fine. Really."
There was a pause on the other end, followed by a sigh. "I do not appreciate that tone of voice," he snapped.
Sky gripped the phone tighter, her eyes closed as she couldn't believe this was happening. She felt sad because she knew she didn't deserve any of the things that was happening to her.
"I get it, Ocean. I do. But you've got to trust me. I'll call you if I need anything, okay?" she said, finally.
"Okay," he relented, though the hesitation in his voice was evident before finally cutting the call, not giving her any chance to respond.
She slid her phone into her pocket and turned back to Shawn, who was grinning now, clearly entertained.
"Overprotective boyfriend or family?"
Sky shook her head, not wanting to involve him in any of her issues. As it stood, she already had enough on her plate and she didn't want any other additional baggage.
Sky clenched her fists underneath the table as she stared at her phone, debating whether to call Ocean back. She had said everything she could, pleaded in a tone she never thought she'd use with him, and yet his clipped responses still rang in her ears. When she had told him she would be careful, that she was doing everything to prove she wouldn't embarrass him or ruin his reputation, his silence on the other end of the line had stung.
"Sky are you sure everything is okay?" he asked again, his tone cautious but curious.
"Yeah," she replied quickly, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Just some personal things." Her smile felt forced, but Shawn didn't press further, instead nodding.
Back in his office, Ocean hadn't heard a single word of the conversation around him in the last fifteen minutes. His mind was elsewhere—on her. On Sky. And the image that had been haunting him since that morning.
He had lied to her when she asked if he remembered. Told her his mind was blank from that night, when in truth, he remembered everything. Every curve, every detail, every soft breath she'd taken. It was maddening.
She was a sight to behold, she looked devillishly tempting and if he wasn't a well disciplined man, he might have done things he would regret the next morning.
He had woken up, disoriented and confused, only to have that image of her burned into his brain like a brand. How could he tell her that? How could he admit that she occupied his thoughts in ways that felt far too dangerous for his tightly controlled life?
He leaned back in his chair, rubbing a hand over his face as guilt clawed at him. He had been cold to her, distant, even when she had been his friend in the past.
And yet, despite everything, there was a part of him—small but stubborn—that wanted to pick up the phone and call her again. To hear her voice, to reassure her that he wasn't as unaffected as he had seemed. But he couldn't. Instead, he stayed in his office, consumed by the memory of her and the ache in his chest that wouldn't quite go away.
Sky had once been his friend, the regular boss and secretary relationship and she had also been his confidant, even—but those days felt like another lifetime. He had drawn a line, not for his own sake, but for Amanda's as she was against his closeness with his employee.
He leaned against his table, forcing himself to focus on anything else, but his thoughts betrayed him. Why did she have to go out with that guy? Who was he and what was their relationship, and why was it bothering him so much?
Back at the restaurant, Sky knew that Shawn was staring at her and she had a feeling that he wanted to ask her a question.
"Do you have a boyfriend?" he asked, plopping down in the chair beside her.
She froze mid-text, her eyes narrowing as she glanced up at him.
"What? Why would you ask that?"
Shawn shrugged, leaning back in his seat.
"I don't know. You've been glued to your phone all day. You seem distracted," he answered.
Sky rolled her eyes, shaking her head. "It's nothing like that," she said, tucking her phone into her pocket.
The day went on and soon they were done for the days. Shawn requested to give her a ride home. Before getting to the mansion, Sky has requested for him to drop her off a street before the mansion. She got out of the car, glancing at Shawn through the open window with a polite smile.
"Thanks for the ride, Shawn. I'll manage from here."
Shawn raised a brow, his hand still resting casually on the steering wheel.
"You sure? It's late, and this neighborhood doesn't exactly scream safe."
Sky waved him off, adjusting her bag on her shoulder.
"I'm sure. I like walking. Clears my head."
He didn't seem convinced, but he didn't press further. "Alright, if you say so. Text me when you get inside, okay? Just so I know you're safe."
"Will do. Night, Shawn."
"Night, Sky."
As the car pulled away, she let out a quiet breath, watching the taillights disappear down the street. She hated being this cautious, but she couldn't risk anyone like Shawn knowing where she lived. Not yet, at least. She turned on her heel and walked briskly toward the mansion, her steps lighter the closer she got to the gate.
When she stepped inside, the dimly lit hallway was quiet, save for the faint hum of a television in the living room. She paused, slipping off her shoes and tiptoeing toward the source of the noise.
Ocean was sprawled on the couch, a bowl of half-eaten popcorn beside him, his eyes glued to the screen. When he noticed her, he muted the show and sat up, his expression shifting from neutral to inquisitive.
"You're late."
Sky rolled her eyes, dropping her bag onto the nearest chair.
"I didn't know I had a curfew."
"You do! Now as my wife!" he shot back, crossing his arms. "But you've never stayed out this late before. What was so important that you couldn't make it back on time?"
She hesitated, running a hand through her hair. "It's nothing, Ocean."
"Work stuff?" he repeated, his tone tinged with skepticism. "At this hour? What kind of work are you even doing that keeps you out this late? And come to think of it, what work are you doing? If I recall correctly, your only job is to be my wife. I'm paying you for the job so I see no reason why you should have any other engagements outside besides me," He snapped, his tone taking her by surprise.
He paced around the living room, an angry look on his face even as Sky stepped back a little.
"Does it matter?" she countered, her voice lower than she anticipated.
"I'm home now," he added, unsure of what to say to him as she couldn't understand the reason for his anger towards her.
Ocean shook his head, standing up and closing the distance between them. "It matters to me if you're running around doing something or have you forgotten you're my wife and I practically bought you?"
Ouch! She said in her head.
"I'm not sneaking around," she interrupted, her voice rising slightly.
Tears gathered in her eyes and in that moment, she didn't know for how long she'll be able to hold back on her tears. She hated whenever she was scolded and worse for what she had no idea about.
He stared at her for a long moment, his jaw tightening. "You behave like you're not under someone. You are under me Sky and for as long as you are, you will do everything I tell you to or else there'll be hell."
Sky watched him settle back into his seat. A lone tear slid down her eyes even as she stood there watching him unsure of what to say as her words kept failing her. Instead, she clung onto her bag firmly and headed for the stairs.
Tears streamed down her eyes in torrent and even as she got to the head of the stairs, she whispered a "goodnight" to him but Ocean didn't respond, but the sound of the television resuming filled the silence as she disappeared upstairs, her eyes streaked with pain and tears.