Heart of Gold

Chapter 22

The house was quiet when I got back home. I went to my room and prepared myself. I took a long bathe, washed my hair and brushed my teeth. I sat at the vanity mirror for a good while doing my make-up each time not pleased with how it was turning out. So I wiped it all away and went extra light. I dried my hair and put them in rollers.

I went over to my closet and lift the secret shelf taking out a pair of lacy but comfortable underwear and the bra to match. Yes I had them but I only wore them on special occasions and if what I was wearing required it. I slipped the underwear on looking at it in the mirror then my bra and I was satisfied. I shimmed into the dress it was snugger than when I tried it on earlier today. I pulled out the rollers and fixed my hair the curls bouncing when I moved. I put on deodorant and slipped on my stilettos. A knock sounded on the door.

"I'm almost ready." I said but he didn't reply he just walked away. I got my clutch and put all the necessary things in it and looked at myself one more time. I had on my wedding ring, but I let it stay on. I looked at the time and left my room. He was sitting downstairs. "I know I took long." I said coming up behind him. He stood and looked at me and I smiled. "Do I look okay?" I asked nervously.

"Perfect." He said. His tie wasn't tied as yet and I put down my clutch and tied it for him. "I can do it you know." He said.

"I can do it better." I said smiling.

"You're wearing your wedding ring." He pointed out.

"Yes. Shouldn't I?" I asked.

"No I'm wearing mine as well but I thought you didn't want people to know." He said.

"It's not that I don't want people to know. If people know they might bombard you with requests like they do to me. When people know you have money or married money they are suddenly your friend." I told him smoothing out his jacket. "They start spreading rumours and god knows what. I told my lawyers about you and they did background checks and the works." I fixed his cufflinks.

"Background checks?" he asked.

"They have to protect me." I said.

"From what? I don't want your money." He said.

"I know that but they have to do it." I told him. "So for me to have been able to marry you, you had to be clean and you weren't squeaky clean but they admired you and said okay." I looked up at him and smiled. "You look great." I said at last.

"Let's go." He said handing me my clutch and locking our fingers. He got to the car and we drove out of the community. My dress had rode up to mid-thigh and I saw him glancing at it. "So all you're trying to do is protect me?" He asked.

"Yes." I said.

"I understand so is there anything else like a private island and few yachts I should know about?" He asked.

"Hate boats since I watched Titanic and no private islands that I know of." I told him. "The house we live in I can't sell it." I told him.

"Why not?" He asked.

"It's a family house coming down from generations. So it has historical values. I could sell it but I don't want to." I said.

"I wouldn't want you to." He said. I spun the ring on my finger as we pulled up to the valet area of the building. Eric opened the door for me and I took his hand and tugged down my dress. We showed our invitation and was ushered inside. It wasn't a lot of people but enough to get lost in the crowd. "If people ask what should I tell them?" He asked.

"I'm your girlfriend." I said and he smiled.

"Okay." His voice low. We sat at a table that had Seattle General on it.