It had been three days since the shooting and, there were no new developments in the investigation. There were many theories though; the leading one was that I wasn't the target; Richard was. It may have something to do with some people against him being CEO of Numero Company.
I, on the other hand, was bored out of my mind. I felt like I was trapped so, I decided to go visit Richard maybe we could grab some dinner after the day's work like a date. I smiled at the thought of him, how he would hold me to sleep like I would disappear in the next minute. We were used to being in awkward positions now. Sometimes I could feel his early morning erection poking my back or his hand hanging dangerously close to my breasts. One morning, while he was deep asleep, I was tempted to move his hand to my breasts to know what it would feel like.
Martin drove me to the office even more cautiously than he usually was. He would check the rearview mirror every now and then to make sure we weren't being followed. Richard had permanently assigned him to me and assigned one of the new recruits to himself. If he was the real target, shouldn't he be the one with the more experienced security?
I got to the office building and took the elevator to the top after saying hi to the receptionist. I walked down the hallway to Richard's office but stopped dead in my tracks when I got to his door. I heard moans coming from behind the door, and Richard grunting.
I immediately turned to leave but slammed against Sam who was coming down the hallway. "Hey!"
"Hi, Sam. I have to go," I darted past him back out of the building, almost running, tears stinging my eyes. I found Martin waiting by the car with a cup of coffee; he stood up straight as soon as he saw me. "Mrs Numero, everything alright?" he asked with concern.
"Take me home, Martin. To our house, not the mansion,"
"Mrs Numero… I don't think that is a good idea…"
"Now, Martin. It's not up for discussion," I got into the car and let my tears flow. I know I had no right to be angry with him; I was nothing more than an accessorial bride, there for him to look good. I was there for him to secure his position as CEO. Gwen was who he wanted but, it was becoming too much for me to bear.
He spent our entire honeymoon with her and now; in his office. What would people take me for?
When I got to the house I had only been in for one day, I sat on the sofa and cried. A few minutes later, I heard the door slam and, Richard walked through it, his face stormy.
"Do you have a death wish, Nita? Why the hell would you leave the mansion? We haven't scaled up the security here yet!"
I crossed my arms, knowing Martin must have called him. "I needed some air. I thought I could come to see you but, you were … preoccupied." I emphasized the last word.
His brows furrowed. "What's that supposed to mean?"
I tilted my head, "Oh, nothing much. Just that your office door isn't exactly soundproof. Might want to look into that."
Richard blinked, his face shifting from anger to confusion; then to realization. His jaw tightened. "You were at the office?"
I shrugged, "Is that what I have to get used to when I start working with you? Am I going to walk in on you and your mistress every time I walk into your office?"
He pinched the bridge of his nose, muttering something under his breath before stepping closer to me. "Nita, !... It's just been a difficult few days and she came around, I couldn't resist."
"Don't." I held up a hand, stopping him mid-sentence. "I don't want to hear the excuses. I get it. I have no right to question your dalliances but, have you considered the effect your actions may have on me. I am your wife. What will people say? What will people think? Our ruse was supposed to be secret; tell me what excuse did you give your mistress? Did she ask you why you would spend all of our honeymoon with her? You're Richard Numero, the man every woman apparently wants to moan for. But I'm your wife—fake or not—and deserve some respect."
His eyes narrowed. "You're overreacting."
"Am I? What would you do if you walked in on me with another man? You are a fake husband as much as I am a fake wife. Tell me, what would you do?"
There was no response for a few moments. "Nita… I didn't think how my actions might reflect on you but, I have needs. It's stupid when I say it out loud. I cannot spend one year self-pleasuring myself,"
"Then do it to me!" Where the fuck did that come from? Yes, I wanted him but, I didn't think I would be able to say it out loud.
His confusion was almost comical. "Do what to you? I don't understand. What are we talking about here?"
"I want to be the one you… have sex with," I blurted out, feeling my cheeks heat up.
For the first time since he stormed in, Richard was speechless. His lips parted as if to say something, then closed again. Finally, he managed, "Come again?"
"Don't act like you're stupid. It's hard enough for me to say it already,"
He rubbed the back of his neck, his face a mixture of amusement and incredulity. "Nita, are you seriously—"
"Yes." I got up and stepped closer, "But I have conditions. One: you're with only me. No Gwen, no mysterious office moaners, no one else. Got it?"
"Okay?" he murmured, though he looked like he was trying to process the situation.
"Two," I continued, "you teach me."
"Teach you?" His brow furrowed. "Teach you what?"
"How to… you know… have sex." The words came out in a rush, and I wished I could crawl under the couch and disappear. But there was no turning back now. "I've never done this before, Richard. And when this year of charade is over, I want to be able to live a normal life like every other woman out there,"
"No!" That wasn't the response I was expecting to hear.
"say what?"
"No, Nita. I want to, believe me, I really want to like you wouldn't even begin to comprehend. But I won't allow you to fling your innocence at me like some kind of business deal."
"Richard…"
"I'm done talking about this, Nita. And I will hear nothing of it in this house anymore," he finished a finality to his voice that told me he was serious. "I can tell you this though… I spent only our wedding night with Gwen. The rest of the time, I was here," he said and walked away.
He - was here? He chose to be alone instead of being with me during our honeymoon. Did I repulse him that much?