The Blackmail Bride

Epilogue (4)

A/N: Back from the dead. but only for a bit. Enjoy!

Date

Jace had been back for a week by now. And like that, we have somehow started on another domestic routine living in the same house. We just somehow fell into pattern so quickly.

And I was very comfortable.

With me only waiting for graduation day now, I was almost free from university requirements. I was cooped at home, reviewing some paperwork for Prestigio. My grandmother was pestering me about what position I wanted to take over at HQ. The options were given to me weeks ago. But remembering that revelation from Jace about my divorced parents, I was being petty and delaying my reply.

Jace appeared at the door of his office (which became basically mine for the time he was gone). I sat on his swivel chair, using his computer (which were unofficially mine now too). He knocked even as I was already looking at him.

I glanced at the time on the computer monitor, "Shouldn't you be leaving? You're gonna be late."

"I'm going," was his reply. But he continued to stand there and I stared. "Want to go out tonight?"

Returning to the topic of our domestic routine, Jace normally came home early to help me make dinner. We haven't really gone anywhere together since he came home.

My back straightened and the excitement I felt was almost automatic.

"Want anything in particular?" he asked.

I thought for two seconds, "Sushi? Vegetable tempura?"

"Okay. I'll pick you up by 6."

I nodded. He disappeared from the door. In under a minute, I could hear his Jaguar's engine start. And he left for the day.

That was such a normal interaction. But I still had the tendency to overthink things and as normal as it was, conversations with my husband were also strange to me still.

Maybe it had to do with the fact that Jace daily mentioned about "our promise", and at very very random times. Even during conversations that were too far removed from that topic.

By this time, I had come to the realization he was only mentioning children to get a reaction from me. Because once I narrowed my eyes or became nonverbal, he would be laughing as if he was largely entertained. We slept on the same bed. From time to time, he would plant suspicious kisses on my cheeks, my shoulders even my lips. Yet he never took it farther than that.

Which brought me to another internal dilemma. Because now, I was wondering why he was only joking. Was this some type of mind game that he was playing at? Or was I just unappealing in his eyes?

And with that last question, I shook my head, focusing all my attention back to the documents I have been reviewing.

A sigh left my lips. There was always an abundance of things to do. I finish school, now I had to start working. Never-ending. By now, this should be something I'm already used too but lately, I was finding myself easily tired.

It was by five in the afternoon, after I'd taken a bath and blow-dried my hair that I realized I didn't even know where we were going.

Still in my bathrobe, I went back to our bedroom and sent him a message.

Can I dress casual?

I received an immediate reply.

Whatever you're comfortable with. Japanese restaurant.