Happily Never After

Chapter 29

The rest of my day went as smooth as it could have been. Mr. Hayes had received an email during my absence from Landon, explaining my sudden leave and why I was involved in the matter in their office. A copy of the email was forwarded to me to confirm it and luckily enough, Mr. Hayes understood and agreed to reschedule our meeting for a later date as it wasn't as important as I thought it was.

As I had pointed out to Carter, everyone now knew about the two of us. Word spread quick throughout the building and everyone was loving the gossip since it involved one of the famous Romero sons.

I paid no attention to the gossip as I went on with my work within the four walls of my office. Now and again, people would come into my office and ask me for random stuff just so they could get a glimpse of the rings on finger. It got so bad that I told Claire to deal with it all. I needed to work but no one seemed to care about that fact. Gossip was what they were living off of right now.

I hadn't seen Zoe all day and something told me that she was avoiding me for her own reasons. Worst luck for her though, we had a meeting together at four thirty in my office. No avoiding each other now.

My office door swung open at bang on four thirty. Zoe didn't look to be in the mood and I really couldn't blame her. This was all we needed after how we left things, so this will be an interesting meeting.

"Close the door," I instruct, sitting back from my desk to lean back in my chair.

Zoe does so but stays standing by the door, her arms folding over her chest and giving me a distinct view of her growing baby bump.

"Do you have the pictures for me to go through?" I ask, clasping my hands together and resting them on my lap.

"I'm not going to talk about work with you, Sarah." She replies coldly. "I want you to explain to me what the hell happened since you left."

"Well, I think it's called getting married to the man I love."

"Sarah, how can you sit there and not give a damn about what people are saying about you? They all think that you only married Carter for his money!"

"Zoe, I simply don't care. It was going to come out sooner or later and nothing is going to stop them from gossiping."

"Don't you care that it's lies they're spreading though?"

"That's why it is called gossip. You just have to go with it. Besides, it'll subside when everyone decides to leave it alone."

"Sarah, this isn't like you. You aren't the same girl who came to me three years ago and-"

"Yes, you're right. I'm not the same girl. I was a broken mess when I came to you back then. You helped me find my feet and get my life back. For that, I thank you."

“Sarah, I’m worried about you. You drop a bombshell on me about marrying a guy just so he can keep his company and expect me to be okay with that! I can't be okay with that and I'm not okay with that!”

I nod and pucker my lips before rising to my feet and walking towards her. “Zoe, I understand your concern and I'm not lying to get you to shut up. Really, I'm not.”

“Sarah-”

“But I'm old enough to take care of myself on my own and make my own choices. I made the choice to marry Carter out of love, not to offer a helping hand. If you had listened carefully to my words when I told you about the marriage, you would have realised that. I'm sorry you still don't approve but that's just how things are.”

I watch Zoe as she simply stands in front of me saying nothing. She kept her eyes locked on mine like it was a stare-off. She knows I'm not going to back, so why is she testing me?

Her eyes narrow the tiniest fraction before she sighs and leaves the room, leaving the door lying open and allowing a cold draft to creep into my office. I inhale deeply and reach my left hand out to close the opened door. That was a very pleasant and short meeting.

I had just turned and started to walk back to my desk, when the office door opened again. I just closed that, dammit! I turn on my heel and sigh at the sight of Carter standing in his long black coat, all set to go home.

“Problem?” He asks, closing the door over so no one could hear us.

“If I answer with one simple word, what do I get as a reward?” I lean back against the desk and fold my arms over my chest.

“Depending on what it is, I might give you a hug or a kiss if it's needed.” Carter smirks.

“Zoe,” I sigh.

A sympathetic look crosses Carter's face briefly before he walks over to me and places his hands on my shoulders. I look up at him and unfold my arms before resting my hands on his hips under his coat.

“Argument?” Carter asks, his thumbs slowly rubbing the curve of my shoulders.

“Isn't it always now that I'm married?”

“It'll take time for her to understand and with her being pregnant, that isn't going to help since her hormones are all over the place.”

“I guess you're right,” I shrug. “On top of all that, everyone is starting to piss me off with how they are just walking into my office for no good reason. I have an office to get away from that!”

“I blame your assistant for that. Do you know that she never even stopped me from coming in here just then?”

“That may be because you own the building or the fact that you are my husband. Either way, I think I need to have a word with her about everything. It wouldn't surprise me if-”

I stop talking when I spot my office door open. I groan and look past Carter to the occupant at the door. “Yes, Blair?”

“Zoe told me to give you the pictures you asked for,” Blair announces, her voice on the quivering side at the sight of Carter standing in front of me.

“Just give them to Claire,” I instruct.

“Zoe said to give them to you,” Blair responds.

“And I'm telling you to give them to Claire,” I half shout, anger starting to fill my every word.

“But-”

“Blair, hand them to Claire then she will take them to Tori Delgado. That's who they've to go too anyway.”

“But-”

“Blair, just do it!” I snap. Blair nods and mutters words under her breath that I can't quite understand before closing the door. “See what I mean?”

“If only I could make you feel better...” Carter starts.

I move my attention back to him and smirk. “I still haven't gotten my reward for telling you the answer to my problem.”

“That can easily be sorted by one of two things,” Carter smirks down at me. “I can hug you and put a slight stop to everyone working outside. Or, I can kiss you and make everyone stop hounding you for the next few minutes. Your choice.”

“Hmm, what to pick, what to pick...” I ponder my answer for a few seconds but the look on Carter's face told me what he really wanted to do. “I think I'll take the kiss after what I've had to deal with today.”

“A kiss it is, Mrs. Romero.”

With the smile never leaving his face, Carter moves his hands from my shoulders and cups my face just enough so I can tilt my head back and meet his waiting lips. I smile into the kiss and adjust my hold on his hips so I was now grasping the leather belt of his trousers in both hands.

I had a feeling that everyone in the office was staring at us but I didn't care after today. They all knew I was with Carter and put the pieces together that we were married. We were in our own little world and stayed that way until we both felt like it was enough of everyone seeing our loved up sides in the office.

I pull back from Carter and rest my forehead against his. “I think it's about time we go home and continue what we're starting here.”

“I like the way your mind thinks,” Carter breathes in agreement.

I smile and release him from my hold before standing up to pull my belongings together to go home.