The Blackmail Bride

Epilogue (5)

I missed writing. My brain is a cluttered mess and I must've lost my will to live somewhere deep within the jumble. Somehow, I got to pull myself out of the slump so here you go. I love you guys. Thank you always for reading my work. 

Graduation

I was with the assumption that Jace Black, my husband, flew halfway across the world so he could attend my graduation ceremony. But this morning, as I got ready with the hired glam team, I also had to also watch the man get ready... to go to work.

My eyebrows and mouth twitched as I held back from saying anything unpleasant. I had lived alone for quite some time, and wanting to pick a fight with my just-landed roommate was an alien feeling I refused to entertain.

"You look beautiful," he said for the third time in the last hour.

The person doing my hair gushed at the comment.

I didn't reply, pretending to focus on the reflection in the mirror. But in the corner of my eyes, I could see the man struggling with the cufflinks of his shirt.

I looked up at the makeup artist and it was as if she knew what I was thinking. She grinned and stepped back. She waved at the person doing my hair and I got up.

I went in front of Jace and silently helped him with his clothes. I picked up the tie lying on the coffee table before looking up at him. Silver eyes glittered with mirth.

"Having fun?" I asked as I looped the tie around his neck and tightened it suddenly.

"Ow," Jace laughed, placing his hands on my waist. I was still wearing a robe with my makeup half-done. It made me conscious that he stared at my face intently while I struggled with his tie. "You're ignoring me."

"I'm not," I murmured, focusing on his clothes.

"Sure," Jace dragged the word, smiling like all was right in the world, "Where's your dress?"

I waved vaguely to the rack beside the vanity. Today, I was going to wear an ice-blue silk dress—fitted, up to the neck with short sleeves, pencil-skirt-ish that fell just above the ankles, slit on the back just before the back of my knees so I could walk. And the three-inches of black peep-toe stilettoes. The shoes were to match my hair color which were being styled into waves just above my waist.

I paused, hesitating, before I looked up at his face for a quick second.

"You look busy," I finally said once I stepped back to admire my handiwork.

The smile on his chiseled face faded a little, an apologetic expression replacing the playful one.

"Unfortunately," he replied, "What's the point of being the boss, right?"

My lips turned down the slightest. I hated that I understood the sentiment in that moment.

Nero Hotels was currently in a good place, but a lot of people underestimated how easily the whole thing could start crashing again. With the scandal still a fresh memory with the stakeholders, Jace had all eyes on him.

I shouldn't complain.

"Don't slack off," I half-heartedly scolded. For a person that I knew for a fact barely rested, he simply nodded before giving me a peck on the lips.

Jace Black was gone before I could react.

The color went to my face. I made no comments at the collective awws received from our audience. And like that, makeup and hair was done.

Today, the housekeeper was around. I gave her instructions to help the team pack up and to lock the house behind her and I headed out the door—where grandmother was waiting.