Chapter 8
1764 Words
Claire’s Point of view
Ugh, I have the worst headache today. That pain medication the doctor gave me wreaked havoc on my head. I step off the bed, holding my head in my hands, and realize I am still in my jeans.
What happened last night? I know I married Tyler. Then the doctor came and gave me meds. I filter through my blurry thoughts. I remember being in the car, focusing hard on the seat belt. Then it is blank until Tyler lays me on the bed.
The word is crystal clear in my head. Henderson. The Tyler Henderson. Ruthless businessman and billionaire. His company Henderson conglomerate funds and manages hundreds of smaller corporations. From a struggling start-up, he created a business empire in ten years. And I married the man.
I exit the bedroom, entering the bathroom. Once I clean myself up, I go back to my bedroom and throw on a pair of pyjama shorts and a tank top.
It is only when I head to the living room that I notice Tyler Henderson asleep on my couch. His suit jacket is folded neatly and his shoes are on my rack. He still wears his jeans and dress shirt.
I tiptoe into the kitchen and grab the coffee maker. Only one plug is accessible, it’s behind the couch. As I reach to plug it in, I don’t realize my butt cheek hangs out at the bottom of my shorts. It’s easy to forget these things when you live alone. Tyler opens one eye, then both, watching me.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you. Do you drink coffee?”
“Don’t apologize. I was enjoying the view. Yes, black.”
Cheeky bugger.
“You didn’t have to stay, Mr. Henderson. Someone on your team can prepare a contract for my review. Then we could resume our lives until Ana’s wedding.”
He stands up, his dress shirt somehow free of all wrinkles.
“I am your husband. Don’t call me Mr. Henderson.”
“Sorry Tyler.” I say “I didn’t know you were that Tyler Henderson when I married you.”
He steps closer to me. Silence, except for dripping coffee. My heart pounds in my chest as the scent of his stale cologne fills my nostrils.
“I did. It doesn’t change a thing for me and it shouldn’t for you.”
He places two fingers under my chin. “I married a smart, feisty woman who didn’t give a s**t about money. She isn’t afraid to take on a thug.” He pauses for a moment, not moving his fingers. “No one has ever kissed me like you did.”
The beating of my heart now flows down to my abdomen. I notice how his jaw tightens with anticipation.
“We had to sell it to your parents.” I say, convincing myself more than him.
The coffee maker beeps and I put the cups between us as a physical barrier. My focus goes back to pouring the coffee. Tyler realizes our connection and breaks it by moving backwards.
We both sip our coffee in silence, no words cross our mouths. There is nothing to say. The chemistry between us fills the air in my tiny apartment.
My phone buzzes on the counter. A single message that replaces the lust in the air with rage.
James.
I will bring the contract to your apartment. See you in ten minutes.
“Stupid fucker.”
Tyler takes a sip of coffee. “Your ex.” The casual tone in his voice does not match the nervousness that I feel.
The weight of my decision builds inside my stomach. It has been six months since I left and less time since my divorce and now my new husband stands in my livingroom, a stranger to me, and the most powerful businessman in the country. What did I get myself into?
Pushing down the knot building in my stomach, I steel myself for James.
“Yes. He coming here to have me sign the last of our divorce papers. It’s a power play move. He wants to see me struggling, and with this stupid hand, he will get what he wants.”
I toss my cup into the sink and head toward my bedroom. Tyler stops me.
“Where are you going?”
“I have to change. If he sees me with my hair a mess, in old clothes and a messed up hand, then he wins. I won’t let him win.”
The calm in Tyler’s voice soothes me a little. The air between him and I stops, stagnant, holding the tension.
“If he wants to manipulate you, then turn the tables on him.”
I ask, “how do I do that?”
He unbuttons his shirt, revealing the most perfect abs I have ever seen. His skin tightens against his bulging muscles.
“Put this on. Opening the door in someone else’s shirt will leave him speechless.”
I take the shirt, making a mental note of the smell. It is a strong, warm scent that feels like wrapping up in a warm blanket and sitting by a fire.
“You, Tyler, are brilliant. It is going to drive him mad. Oh. I could kiss you.”
Tyler steps closer to me. His hands in his pockets as his dark brown eyes bore into my soul.
“So kiss me.”
“Tyler, we need to have a talk about the physical aspect of our contract marriage. Now is not the time. That is a conversation for later. I need to go get changed.”
I brush by him. A small part of me sinks. Maybe I should have kissed him. He is my husband, after all.
I rush to my room and pull off my pyjamas, dressing in Tyler’s shirt. His scent fills my nostrils and I breathe it in, enjoying every moment. My reflection in the mirror catches my eye. I decide to mess up my hair, make it look like I was rolling around in bed last night.
As I step out of the bedroom, Tyler is waiting for me. His jeans sit low on his hips. He runs his fingers through his hair, messing it up, and making his pecs tighten. Pretending that I am attracted to him will not be hard.
“Wow. I knew you’d look good, but not that good.”
As I undo one of the top buttons on the shirt, I bend down, to show off my breasts.
“how’s my cleavage?”
Tyler pulls the air through his teeth.
“Fantastic. The only way it would look better is if you were wearing nothing.”
I roll my eyes at his comment. How can I look good? I have a bandaged hand, messy hair, sleep-filled eyes, no makeup, and a throbbing headache.
Before I can answer, there is a firm knock at the door.
Tyler and I make eye-contacting communicating our ruse through a look.
“Open up Claire. I know you are in there.” James’ voice grates through the door.
I open the door, cracking it just enough that he can see I am in a man’s shirt, but not in to my apartment.
“Give me the papers. I’ll sign them and then you can leave.”
He looks me up and down, his eyes squinting as he assesses my situation. It takes a moment for it to register, but when it does, he pushes the door open.
“WHO THE f**k IS HE?” he screams, stepping past me.
I put myself between Tyler and James.
“None of your f*****g business. That’s who he is. Now give me the papers so you can leave.”
I reach for the documents, but he holds them high above my head. Tyler reaches across and pulls them out of his hands. He reviews them.
“What is he doing?” James demands. His face is red, and his mouth scrunched with anger.
“I’m reviewing these to make sure that you have put no clauses in that will screw over, Claire. This will be the last interaction you have with her.”
James fists ball and he breathes deep.
“And just who are you to decide when I see my wife? You are already sleeping with her.”
I step closer to James, trying to keep a cool head.
“I am your EX wife. You no longer control my life, James. Deal with it.”
Tyler examines the last page of the document and hands it to me.
“Sign this baby, then get this despicable creature out of your life for good.”
I go to find a pen, and the moment I step away, James pushes Tyler. It is a failed attempt as Tyler is much larger and doesn’t move. That is it. I am sick of James and his manipulative ways.
The pen makes a scribbling sound against the counter, and I shove the papers back at James. Putting myself between him and Tyler again, I herd him back to the door, slamming the papers into his chest.
“Get the f**k out of my house and never come back.”
I slam the door shut. James, not to be outdone, screams, “see you at work, wifey.”
A wave of tension releases from my body as I collapse onto the floor. Tears pour out of my eyes. My body shakes from the sobbing. Tyler joins me, wrapping me in his powerful arms.
“Let it out, baby, let it out.”
We sit there in silence while I bawled my eyes out. The pure sense of relief that washed over me filled every ounce of my body. It’s done. No more ties to that man.
Once I calmed. Tyler turned his whole body embrace into a side hug. I rest my head on his chest and wipe the tears from my eyes.
“What did James mean when he said ‘see you at work’?”
“Oh nothing. He’s a VP at the company I work at. Speaking of work, I should get ready or I am going to be late.”
“Where do you work?” Tyler asks. It’s about time we get to know each other.
“Nix Dox technologies. I work in the payroll department.”
Tyler takes out his phone and texts someone while I walk to my room, ready for the next step in this new adventure.
- Writer
