Love Me Back

Chapter 1

I sit up cradling my head, a headache settling in as I’d cried once again during the night, I look at the picture settled beside me and sigh heavily. How can you not see the love I hold for you?

I lift it up and settle it back on my nightstand, and climb out of bed ready to get on with my morning routine. Once I’ve finished showering and having my breakfast, I dress for work. And the person I work for is my husband who no longer remembers me. I’d noticed the way the employees look at me, they have pity pouring out of their eyes, whilst others usually smirk as I pass them. How could I answer them back when I don’t have my own husband on my side? What could I possibly say to defend myself?

I smile inwardly in sadness, the emptiness in my heart seemed to delve deeper, the depth increasing each day. How long till I break this façade of being ok? How long till I break down and cannot be repair myself? I shake my head not wanting these thoughts especially knowing the day before me was a long one, my eyes drew to our wedding picture, it wasn’t exactly a proper wedding but it was ours. On the beach with just our friends. I wish each day I could rewind your accident and remind you of us together, remind you of our love, remind you of our days and nights spent together.

I arrive at the office staring at the name, to you I am only Jessamine Williams but to everyone who knows me in there know I’m your wife. Jess, Jess Carter! The wife you no longer remember. I step out holding my head high grabbing my bag and files, a part of me is pleased I’d be going to the meeting today alongside you, a part of me dreaded how you’d react to my presence.

“Good morning Mrs Carter” Amanda greets me cheerfully as I walk through the reception area, she holds out a folder for me.

“Good morning, how is your son now?” I take the folder from her and recalling her son was ill some time back.

“He’s much better, he’s back to driving me crazy” she replies sighing heavily.

“Is Mr Carter here yet?” I question.

“Not yet. He hasn’t arrived” she responds looking down at something then stares back at me. “I got a call from his house, they said Mr Carter will be late as he had a late night party to attend to” she informs passing me the note.

I smile nodding and excuse myself, I knew the business ‘busy’ he had gone to on the insistence of his step mother, and she’d always hated me. Now that my husband no longer remembers me and loves me, I was sure she was most probably trying to look for someone for him. She’d been wanting him to get married to one of her high society friends’ daughter.  

“I don’t understand one thing Jess…” Sasha, Dean’s assisting project manager steps in front of me. “Why do you bother coming to work?” she questions.

“Why I come isn’t your concern, and Sasha I’m sure you already know my reason” I respond politely, she’d had it in for the day she learned Dean wasn’t interested in her at all despite her efforts my husband hadn’t spared her glance.

“Oh, I know” she smiles down at me, her eyes darkening with the hatred she’d held for me over the 2yrs. “Why bother though? Dean doesn’t look at anyone, not even you”

I smile proudly, he might not be looking at me but he wasn’t looking at anyone else either. “Glad you notice he doesn’t look at anyone else” I reply back. “Now if you’ll excuse me and I suggest you get back to work, because if I find you loitering I will show Dean the cctv of you spending your time chatting than actually doing work” I warn her as I walk by.

“You shouldn’t let Sasha speak to you like that” Caitlyn walks in to my cabin with a scowl marred on her pretty face. She’d been a friend to me as well a very helpful colleague. Caitlyn was just over 5 ft and had to wear heels around so she didn’t seem invisible to everyone else here. She’d been such a supporting friend when Dean had lost his memory due to his accident. She was the person who’d helped me move back into my small apartment since I couldn’t live with my husband as this was a risk no one wanted to take just yet. 

“You are still Dean’s wife you know, you could fire her”

“Lynn calm down, I can handle her and I am handling her just fine” I laugh seeing her ever so worried and concerned as usual.

“I don’t know Jess… I’m just worried” she shrugs settling in the chair opposite my desk. “Dean isn’t exactly overfriendly with you, he barely talks and here… Sasha is taking advantage of this”

“Doesn’t matter. I know Dean might not remember me but I know, the Dean I love is within him” I reply back softly. “I can handle this” What I’m not able to handle well is that my husband has forgotten me?

“There goes the warning” Caitlyn stands up chuckling referring to the alarm which goes off to warn that Dean was on his way into the building. My husband is quite a lot of things, one of them is a shrewd no nonsense businessman.

“Dean is now in the building, good luck with today. I heard you’re assisting him today”

“Yeah…” I nod. “Pray for me” I squeeze her hand as she moves for the door, she looks over at me nodding then walked out. I head on over to the canteen knowing he’d like his strong cup of coffee right now, I wonder who was making it at home for him? Was anyone cleaning up after him? He always did have a habit of leaving things trailing behind him.

I grab his coffee and make my way towards his cabin, he was already sat and briefing his assistants, feeling slightly reluctant I decided to knock. Old Dean didn’t shout when I walked in, whereas this new Dean always either glared my way if I did something he did not approve of or he’d inform me of my mistake in a bitter tone. I want my old Dean back I thought to myself.

I watch as he jerks his head towards the door and looks at me with his piercing eyes, he gives a small nod and I slowly made my way inside.

I place it on his desk stealing small glances of his profile, I felt my insides curl seeing him sat in his large desk chair, his ankle rested on his knee as he signs away on papers his assistant hands him, his hand movement sleek and quick whilst he continues to talk with another staff member about a completely different thing to what he’s signing on. One thing I loved was his multi-tasking, it came to use when it came down to our bedroom, I sigh inwardly longing for the warmth of his body pressed to mine, before I could dream any further I was brought back to reality with this new Dean’s harsh voice.

“Are you planning to stand by my side all day Miss Williams?”

“Uh… N… No Mr Carter, I was just leaving” I mutter quickly then bite down on my lip recalling I was assisting him in today’s meeting which is to take place in 15 minutes. “I mean…”

“I suggest you get your head here” he snaps the folder shut and passes it back to Andrew dismissing him along with the others with a wave of his hand. “In the office” he adds sharply.

“Mr Carter I w…” I try to come up with some excuse but before him, I couldn’t think of anything right now.

“Miss Williams, I don’t have time for your excuses, I want you to be prepared for the meeting coming up. I expect nothing less than the best”

The whole reason you married me. I comment inwardly smiling faintly however seeing the dark pair of eyes narrowing at me, I press my lips together trying to look as serious as he is at the moment.

“You can head to the boardroom” he gestures to the door, I knew it was time for me to leave and get my head into the game. I didn’t think today was going to go so well especially with the mood he’s in. He’s probably sexually frustrated, it’s been some time unless… Nope, don’t entertain that idea in your head Jess, your husband is loyal, Dean loves you, even if he doesn’t remember right now. He wouldn’t… Would he? 

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