From Her Perspective (BWWM)

III

Auriella Devereaux

One year ago

I unlocked the door to Billy's house and walked in.

"Billy!" I called out for him. Moments later, I heard him coming down the stairs.

"Good evening, Ella," he said as he wrapped his arms around me and kissed my temple.

"How was your flight?" I said as I smoothed my hand over his chest, feeling his muscles constrict underneath it.

"Too long, but it's all worth it now," he said as he bent down to kiss me. Billy is 6'3, and I'm barely 5'6, so he has to bend his knees to look me in the eyes.

"Billy, you said you wanted to talk," I reminded him of the reason I was here. He told me that we had something important to talk about. He pulled away, and I saw something flicker in his eyes.

"Yeah, I know. I just missed you, and I'm afraid I'm about to run you off after you hear what I need to tell you," he said as he led me to his office. I sat down on the chair as he sat behind his desk.

"You're scaring me. What is it, Billy?"

"My Grandfather is stepping down. He's retiring," he said as he tapped his fingers on his desk.

"Is he offering you the position? What about your dad?"

"Father is taking over for him, and I am to acquire Father's position, but there are stipulations."

"What kind of stipulations?"

"Grandfather is not so keen on the reputation I've earned over the years. I've made a few enemies in the industry. More often than not due to having...affairs with their wives."

"You slept with married women?" I asked as I crossed my arms in disappointment.

"I know, okay? It was wrong, and I apologized, but Grandfather says we need to clean up how others perceive me."

"What does he want you to do?"

"I have almost a year to find love," he said, peering over at me.

"What? What does that have to do with the way others perceive you?"

"Grandfather believes that if I am shown as a loving husband and all-around family man, I will be looked upon in good favor."

"He wants you to get married?" I asked as I shook my head. Billy and I are complicated, and I hate the thought of him with anyone else, but I will never get in the way of him pursuing love and being happy, even if it isn't with me. Billy and I will never be together again, and it isn't my place to try to talk him out of this.

"He does. He will continue to run the company for another year until he officially steps down. He expects me to have a wife by then."

"Doesn't he realize how impossible that is?"

"Not to him, he and Grandma were married after two months of knowing each other. He believes a real man knows immediately if he's found the one. He did the same to Father, which explains why my parents were only married for six months."

"How will you find someone to marry you so quickly?"

"Well, I was hoping that you would marry me," he said shyly, his eyes fixed on me. I let out a laugh before standing from my chair.

"You're delusional."

"I'm being serious, Ella. I have to be married before he steps down."

"Why me?"

"Because I can't imagine marrying anyone else, even if it's just until I can take over."

"Billy, we haven't been together in years. We've both moved on. You need to do what you need to do to inherit your dad's company."

"Please, we have not moved on. We're in each other's beds whenever I return to town."

"Then maybe we should stop doing that," I said as I began walking away from him.

Present

"Are you two planning on having an actual wedding?" Cleo's voice rang through my phone's speaker as I took off my makeup. Miles was fussing near her.

"Maybe one day. We haven't discussed it, but I'll let you know when we do. I'm sorry I did this without you, but I just wanted to be happy."

"I'm glad you're happy, Auri. I just wish we were there to see it. Miles would've been the cutest ringbearer," she said. I smiled at the thought of my adorable nephew in a mini tuxedo.

"He would have," I said as I unzipped the beautiful gown that had been tight against me all night. I let out a content sigh as I felt like I could finally breathe. I examined the marks left behind from the skintight dress and rubbed them.

"I am really happy for you though. I need to feed Miles, but how about we grab lunch tomorrow?"

"Sounds good. I'll see you tomorrow. Love you."

"Love you too," she said before hanging up.

I hate lying to my best friend. I hate that I can't tell her about the contract, but I don't know how to explain why I agreed.

"Why didn't you tell me the dress was too tight?" I heard Billy ask. I turned to see him in the doorway of the bathroom. He walked towards me and gently rubbed the mark against my ribcage.

"I'm fine, Billy," I said as I began stepping out of his grasp, but he pulled me closer to him.

"Rule number two," I reminded him.

"I don't care about rule number two," he said as he caressed my waist.

"You added it to the contract for a reason."

"You distract me," he said as he unashamedly gazed at my body.

"Which is why we have rule number two," I said before pushing him away. "Goodnight, William."