New Husband For My Wife

CHAPTER 6

“Mr. Gray, there’s a call for you….” Nora, his secretary, said after knocking softly on the door. Jackson frowned a bit. It was pretty unusual for him to get a call so early in the morning. Maybe it was his mom? He pursed his lips into a thin line before answering her, “Got it...Thanks, Nora.” He then said with a wink.

Nora smiled bashfully before she sashayed out from his room. Jackson shook his head after she left. Women are way too easy for him.

As soon as he pressed the button on the phone, a woman’s voice suddenly erupted, deafening his ears. “Jackson, baby… Why aren’t you picking up my call?” He slowly massages his temples. He should’ve told Nora earlier not to forward any calls from his flings.

By the sound of her voice, he could directly tell that it was Victoria. A woman that he accidentally bumped at the bar on some random night and have one night stand with. Jackson got annoyed by her clinginess…or basically her whole attitude. She just can’t get a clue, no matter how many times Jackson had turned her down.

“Vic…Right now is not a good time to talk.” He said, trying to sound calm while he was itching to scold her on the inside. “But, babe….” Jackson quickly cut the calls before she could say anything more.

Just when he was about to get back to his work, the phone rang again. He picks it up almost instantly. “Just get lost, you fuc*ing wh*re!?” He roared in anger. The person from the other side cleared her throat in awkwardness.

“Whoa…Jackson? Calm down. I don’t think I deserved to be addressed like that.” His eyes instantly widened in shock. It wasn’t Victoria.

That soft voice…He can’t be wrong. “Brooke…” he then said.

***********

Jackson saw Brooke waved at him cheerfully from the table not far from the window. Elliot was sitting beside her, busy on his phone. He swore he saw Brooke scanned him from head to toe for a brief moment like she was stunned. Elliot lifts his face as soon as Jackson stood in front of them.

“Bro…” he pulled Jackson, colliding their chest, and patted on his shoulder. It was their signature handshake since high school. Brooke couldn’t help but smile seeing their interaction. It seems like it was just yesterday, the three of them still attending class together.

“You still owe me an apology, Jackson,” Brooke said, half-teasing him. Earning a chuckle as he looked back at her. “I have no idea it was you…I thought—“ She immediately cuts him. “One of your meaningless flings…I got it. You still haven’t changed a bit…” Brooke said with a judging look.

She was fully aware of his reputation with women ever since they were friends with each other. He was shy at first, but somehow after Brooke got into a relationship with Elliot, he suddenly changed and hooked up with many women. She used to think that he was lonely.

“Of course I’ve changed, Brooke…Last time I’ve slept with a woman is when…last week?” Jackson replied with a smirk then took a seat in front of them. Brooke rolled back her eyes at him.

Elliot cleared out his throat. “Jackson…Let’s get straight to the point.” At his words, Jackson’s body gets tense. “We need you to do us a favor…” Brooke then said nervously. Jackson saw Elliot put his hand on Brooke’s hand, giving it a light squeeze to calm her.

Jackson raised one of his eyebrows as he crossed both arms in front of his chest. “I’m listening…” He replied. Brooke let out a deep sigh, “Elliot, you go told him…I can’t do this…” she said, turning her head towards her husband.

“I want you to marry Brooke,” Elliot said pretty smoothly, making Jackson choked on his coffee. “WHAT?! Are you sick or what? What kind of husband did that to his wife?” He replied in disbelief.

Brooke looked down, totally humiliated by the whole situation. She still can’t believe that Elliot suggested this crazy idea himself. “Jackson, please let me explain…This marriage would be on paper only.” He then said. Jackson frowned at his words. “But I can’t technically do that since she’s your legal wife.” He said with a confused expression. His eyes went from Elliot to Brooke and back at Elliot.

“Well, technically…We’re divorced,” Elliot said with a low voice. Jackson was totally flabbergasted. “W-What? Divorced? But how come?”. “He cheated on me…” Brooke cuts, and Jackson was shocked all over again.

“You did what?!” Jackson instantly got up and grabbed Elliot’s collar. He looked like he was ready to kill him anytime soon. Brooke held him back to stop the fight from starting. A lot of people in the café start noticing them. “Jackson, stop it! It was all in the past.” She said, pushing him away from Elliot.

“Tell me you didn’t fuc*ing cheat on her, Elliot!? That was such a d**k move.” Jackson shouted out. “Hush, Jackson! Are you planning on telling all these people about my broken marriage?” Brooke said, throwing him a glare. Jackson took a deep breath then back to his seat.  

She silently prayed that Jackson would turn down the offer. “I’m sorry, Brooke…It’s just…It’s too much to process,” Jackson said as he straightened up his suit back again. She then grabbed his free hand, and it took him by surprise.

“Jackson, please don’t judge Elliot and our marriage…We came here as a friend, asking for your help,” Brooke told him with a concerned look. s**t! It looks like he’s going to say no to this. “Listen…Jackson, I need to save our business. And our investors hated my husband. He desperately wants me to meet another man before he transferred the fund.” Brooke pleaded.

Jackson was silent for a while. “No…This is crazy.” He then said and got up from his seat, buttoning his expensive suit before turned around to leave. Elliot followed after him while Brooke looked down, feeling ashamed. She crumpled the napkin on her lap as she hated herself. She sacrificed a lot for her business.

She already told Elliot that this idea won’t work. She’ll figure out about some other way, maybe put on some ad to be her new husband on the internet and embarrassed herself even more. She shook her head. What is she thinking?

Soon she saw a pair of shiny shoes stopped in front of her. He came back. She looked up to see Jackson’s handsome face. Since when he became this attractive? He looked more mature and manly because of that light stubble on his perfectly squared jaw. “I’m going to do it, Brooke.” He suddenly said.

Brooke can’t believe her own ears. She got up from the chair, dropping the napkin on the floor. “W-What?” She asked in disbelief. She saw Jackson smiled at her. “I’m only doing this for you…I know how much your business meant to you.” Brooke saw Elliot stood behind Jackson, raising both of his thumbs.

“Let sit back and talk, okay?” Elliot then said, putting his hand on Jackson’s shoulder. Jackson nodded, and they both went to their previous sitting position.

Jackson shifted uncomfortably on his seat. “So…um…How are we going to do this thing?” Jackson asked with his usual deep voice. His grey eyes went to Elliot, waiting for his answer.

“It’s only on the paper… Brooke will still live with me. You’ll only be seen in public with her.” Brooke watch his expression, and she saw a hint of disappointment on Jackson’s face…or maybe she was just imagining things inside her messed up brain.

“Okay…” he replied curtly. “And one more important thing…” Elliot pointed his fingers to his face. “You’re not allowed to touch her,” Elliot said with no humor in his voice. He actually meant it, he would kill any man who dares to touch his wife.

Jackson’s reaction was pretty unpredictable. He burst out laughing after hearing that threat.

Brooke looked back at him. What so funny about it? Is she that unattractive to Jackson, and he found this highly amusing? As soon as his eyes catch her glare, he stopped laughing.

“I’m sorry, it’s just…” Jackson felt guilty as he saw her pouting. “You know what…Just screw all this, Deal…” He said with a wide smile as he stretches his hand for Elliot.

Brooke watches Elliot took his hand and shook them friendly. “I know you would help,” Elliot said with a proud smile.

They talked for a long hour, reminiscing the old times they’ve spent together during high school. They all lose track of time. It’s been so long since they catch up with each other before Brooke yawned. “I think we should probably go back now. You know Brooke needs her beauty sleep.” Elliot said, draping his arm over Brooke’s shoulder. He landed a small peck on the side of her cheek lovingly, and Jackson unconsciously clenched his jaw, but it went unnoticed by the couple.

Jackson followed them back to the parking lot. “So we’ll meet you again tomorrow?” Elliot asked him, and he nods in answer. Elliot went inside his car. “See you tomorrow, Jackson,” Brooke said with a smile. He suddenly leaned forward to her and planted a kiss on her cheek. The same spot that Elliot had kissed her earlier, but the difference is Jackson’s kiss felt burning in her skin.

“See you tomorrow, wife…” he said, almost whispering just so Elliot wouldn’t hear him. Making Brooke’s stomach churned in anticipation. She stood there frozen as she saw Jackson walked towards his black Mercedes.

Oh, God! Please have mercy on her.