Is a marriage of convenience ever a good idea? It doesn't seem like it to Mr Charles Leclerc and Miss Evangeline Ashby when they find themselves signing a contract that bids them for life.
Today I realised I also had power and admittedly, I'd never felt as much power as I had the moment Charles sat me on his lap, in front of him was his big, wooden desk containing every bit of important information about work and he had sat me only centimeters away from all of it, from all of the power.
I sat upon his lap, melting into his grasp as he typed away on his computer, made phone calls and wrote on a pile of paper. To anyone else, these wounded like the acts of a businessman, maybe the CEO of a big company but I knew better.
He grew tired quickly, one hand dropping his pen and wrapping around my waist, drawing circles on the skin beneath my shirt on my back. He sighed halting his movement, he was nervy today, "Eva?"
It was now or never he decided, moving his hands away from his keyboard and in return placing one hand on my cheek and the other on my hip.
I smiled up at him, rosy cheeks from the heat, "Can I kiss you?" He asked me gently, softly it was so sweet I laughed at his behaviour.
"You don't have to ask you know."
He leans back against the cool leather and we both lean in, lips meeting halfway and it starts out slow, a simple kiss that leaves me satisfied but only for a mere few seconds, within moments he is deepening the kiss, his tongue running over my bottom lip.
He practically holds me, cradling my hands under his and then the hand moved to my waist and then to his draw, lips still on mine.
I pull away abruptly when I hear the drawer open, I tried to open my eyes and avert my gaze to see what he was doing but he pushes my face back so I'm facing him again, "What the hell are you-
He kisses me once again, his hand rustling in this draw. My brows furrowed but I didn't pull away, I trust him, Charles feels it suddenly, the cool silver hits the tip of his fingers and he lets out a breath, a layer of sweat sitting on his palms when he lets it roll around in the palm of his hand and he takes it out of the drawer, not thinking twice before he gently takes my left hand, rolling the cold band easily slides onto my finger and I rip My lips away from his.
A ring.
Charles' rosy cheeks heat up as he watches me eye the ring, "Charles, uh, what is this?" I ask as the diamond gleams.
"It's- It's a way of me trying to show you that I care about you and that I'm serious about this-, about us" It was true, every word. "I should've done it sooner."
Tears well up in my eyes and I have to cover my mouth with my ringless hand to stop the squeal that so badly wanted to escape my lips, I need to show Susannah!
"It's so, so gorgeous," I sniffled "You really didn't have to do this."
"I wanted to Eva, you're my girl and I want people to know it." He grinned from ear to ear placing another kiss on my lips.
I wrap my arms around his neck, moving so I was chest to chest with him and god, it was such an intimate moment and he adored every second of it, falling more and more head over heels for her by the minute, "Thank you.."
"You are everything Evangeline, yesterday at the boat just confirmed everything I already knew."
———
"I had a feeling he'd do it today" Susannah smiled, holding my hand and eyeing the ring she'd found sitting in his office desk a few days ago. "He was practically bouncing this morning."
I laugh, taking another look at it myself and feeling my heart flutter lightly. His sign of love was large and exceeded any of my expectations.
I wasn't ready for marriage, not the day I showed up here or now. But the fact I could go through all of the highs and lows with Charles was enough. More than enough. It might have been rough to start, but I wouldn't change it for the world now.
"It's so beautiful." I told susannah admiring it, she wouldn't hear the end of this for weeks, maybe months, maybe years.
"He has good taste I'll give it to him." She agreed with me as she smiled at the ring, "He really appreciates you Mrs Leclerc, he really does."
He is the kindest soul I've ever met.
He makes me feel like I belong with him.
Like I was meant to find him.
Like we were destined to be.
Contract or not.
Never in my life did I think there was someone out there for me, among billions of souls, was a soul like his. It's like he was sent to me, to be my safe place, my husband and my home.
"I mean, do you guys think you will have a proper wedding?" Susannah asked as I helped her to move the couch closer to the tv in the cinema room, I begged her to watch finding Nemo with me.
"I don't really know," I shrugged "I haven't thought much about it - but you would have to walk me down the aisle of course."
"Oh and I'd be honoured." She smiled to me kindly giving me a tight motherly squeeze, she is the cutest.
