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milayah.
The morning light gently filters through the slightly parted curtains as I stir from my sleep, my eyes heavy from the weight of crying myself to sleep the day before.
Next to me, Royce gently pants in his sleep, his small chest rising up and down as he snuggles into my sheets, curled up around himself.
With a heavy sigh, I sit up, feeling the weight of the sadness settling deeper in my chest than it had the night before.
My fingers absentmindedly trace the patterns of his brown fur as I stare blankly at the wall, staring blankly at the ball. Royce nuzzles closer, offering silent comfort in a way only he knew how.
With a shaky breath, I finally drag myself out of bed, the weight of having to face the day ahead already pressing down on my shoulders.
I stand up straight and slip my fluffy slippers on, dreading everything as I step into the toilet to do my morning routine.
As I brush my teeth, I sigh.
As I shower, I sulk.
As I wash my lashes and do my skincare, I huff.
Not a good morning.
I walk towards my closet and slip on some black leggings and a grey hoodie, not bothering to do any makeup or dress in any uncomfortable clothes to match my uncomfortable mood.
As I sit at the vanity with my legs to my chest, I hear a knock on my door.
Dragging my legs, I walk towards it and open it, Naila's dark blue eyes meeting my tired ones.
"Hi, Milayah." She beams up at me, the tray of french toast and orange juice wobbling in her grip.
I send her the best smile I could muster up and walk back towards my bed to cuddle a now waking up Royce.
She closer the door behind and her and sets the tray on my bed, climbing onto it after.
"You didn't eat yesterday." She takes one of the plates and places it onto her lap. "I was worried."
A smile creeps onto my face.
She cared.
"Don't worry about me." I reach over and grab one of the plates too, ignoring the guilt rising up my chest as I cut up the pieces and eat, slowly, "I just wasn't hungry."
She hums and sips onto her orange juice, looking at me as if she had something to get off of her chest.
"Can I ask you something?" Naila mutters, looking into my eyes with her huge ones.
I hum absentmindedly.
"Have you really changed your mind about marrying Capo?" Weary, that's how she sounds as she speaks, intrigue plaguing her features.
Had I?
Of course not.
Marrying him was probably the last thing I wanted to do, but the hope of the satisfaction I could bring to myself at the end of the marriagewas for stronger than the resentment I had for the man.
"I guess so." Royce cuddles up to my side, seemingly about to wake up.
Naila nods. "Why?"
I pause my chewing and look back at her. "Because..." I was a terrible liar. "He's kind of hot."
She seems content with my answer as she nods once again and goes back to her food, rambling on and on about how the chef makes the best french toast in the entire city.
I listen with a smile, loving the way she could ramble on forever about the most insignificant things but make it seem like she was talking about the most interesting thing known to man.
"... And everyone is excited for their break because Capo has a four day business meeting in California or something so we get four days off work with pay!"
My interest peaks.
"He has a business meeting in California?"
She looks at me, sipping on her orange juice. "Well, no one will tell me what it actually is but I'm guessing it's business. He doesn't really go away for that long unless it's serious."
"I see."
She continues on with her rambling, jumping from topic to topic with such excitement you'd think she never gets to talk.
Soon, both of our plates are empty and our glasses void as we lay against the satin sheets and look up to the ceiling, both too full to speak.
A knock sounds from the door.
"It's open." I mumble.
To my surprise (not a good one), Azrael walks through the door, clad in something I had never seen him in before.
A suit.
All black of course, matching with his dark personality and unwelcoming aura.
He looks between me and Naila and then his gaze settles on her, slightly easing. "Naila, I need to talk to her in private."
The shy girl nods, gathering our plates back onto the platter and scurrying out of the room, leaving me and the devil in the room alone.
I sit up against the headboard and refuse to look up at him, my gaze harboring nothing but detest for him.
Ignoring the brewing tempest in my eyes, he inches forward and further into the room until he's stood a few meters away from me.
"I'm going away on business to Los Angeles for a few days," he starts, his deep, monotone voice resonating throughout the room, "and you're coming with me."
Looking down at Royce who still for some reason hadn't woken up, I sigh. "Why?"
"Because you're my fiancée."
Having already had enough of his presence, I hum dismissively. "Okay."
The silence that follows tells me that he's taken back by how easily I give in but he says nothing of it, his gaze still boring into my face.
"Be ready tomorrow by 10am. Diego will come get you on his way."
His words barely register in brain, as all I can think of is when the conversation will be over.
"Okay." I mumble once again.
He stands, watching me for another ten seconds, contemplating and questioning my behaviour before he turns around and walks out of the room, leaving me sat with a mood as bad as the one I had woken up with.
The burnt out, hopeless feeling that had left when Naila had came resurfaced in my chest as I dreaded the four days to come.
Four days of lying, pretending and placing myself on a man's arm as decoration while he goes about his business.
And I couldn't help but wonder what life would be like if I had stuck to the decision I had made a year ago.
Something I had told myself to never ever think about again, but it always managed to find a way to creep back into my thoughts.
