The Billionaire’s Blind Wife

Chapter 11

Matias

By Tuesday, reality had returned to reassert itself. Or rather, my father had."The company stocks are excellent, Matias, but the media is still hyper focused on the lack of a formal wedding reception for your wedding," Christopher Stone said, his voice flat as he sat across from me in my study. He didn't look at the rain outside; he looked at his tablet, analyzing the public relations metrics of my marriage. The "Kensington Global’s board wants to see unity between you two. A united front. A press release isn't enough. We need a dinner. A family gathering, covered by Vogue magazine or The Times."

"No," I said, my voice ice cold. I sat behind my desk, my fingers steepled. "My wife doesn't want a circus, and frankly, neither do I. The merger is finalized. The shares have transferred. The board can occupy themselves with their dividends." "It’s not just about the board, Matias," my father replied, his eyes narrowing as he looked at me. "It’s about perception. A blind heiress marries the most eligible bachelor in the city in a closed city hall ceremony? It looks like a transaction. It looks cold."

"It was a transaction," I pointed out, though the words tasted like ash in my mouth.

"Yes, but the public must believe it’s a love match. Otherwise, the ESG ratings.." The heavy oak door of my study suddenly swung open with a dramatic bang."Oh, look, Barney! It’s the Board of Education!" Juniper’s voice announced before she even entered the room. She marched in, wearing a pair of bright red silk pajamas, a matching robe, and her dark sunglasses. Barney trotting happily by her side, his tail wagging and carrying one of my highly expensive leather loafers in his mouth like a trophy. My father stiffened, his posture turning into a vertical line of pure, unadulterated disapproval. "Juniper. Good morning."

"Is it?" she asked, stopping in the middle of the room and tilting her head. "I couldn't really tell. The air in here feels incredibly dusty. Is Matias lecturing you on logistics, Christopher, or are you lecturing him on how to be a human being? Because I can tell you from personal experience, he’s a very slow learner." I cleared my throat, trying to hide the sudden, sharp amusement pulling at my lips. "Juniper, we are having a private business discussion."

"Oh, please. Business is so boring," she scoffed, tapping her cane as she walked over to my desk. She reached out, her fingers finding the edge of my mahogany desk, then she hopped up to sit on the corner of it, swinging her legs. My father looked as if she had just desecrated an altar. "Christopher, tell me. Why are you here? Don’t tell me you’re trying to force us to have one of those dreadful dinners where everyone eats raw fish and pretends to understand polo?" Christopher Stone adjusted his tie, his voice dripping with condescension. "We were discussing the necessity of a public wedding reception, Juniper. For the sake of both of our families image. I’m sure you understand the importance of... decorum."

"Decorum is just a word ugly people use to make themselves feel important," Evangeline said cheerfully, leaning forward. She reached out and accurately snatched the tablet right out of my father's hand. "What’s this? Charts? Graphs? Let me see." She held the tablet upside down, staring intensely at the black screen. "Hmm," she murmured, tapping the glass. "Yes. The line is going up. Very impressive. I particularly like how the grey pixels complement your complete lack of joy, Christopher." I had to press my fist against my mouth to keep myself from laughing out loud. My father’s face was turning a spectacular shade of crimson. "Juniper," my father said, his voice trembling with barely suppressed rage. "That’s a highly confidential financial report."

"Is it?" she gasped, handing it back to him with a flourish. "Well, don't worry. Your secret is safe with me. I can't read a single word of it. Mostly because it’s upside down, but also because of the whole... blind thing. It’s a great alibi for insider trading, you know. I should really start looking into that."

"Matias," my father hissed, standing up. "Control your wife." I stood up slowly, stepping around the desk. I didn't look at my father; I looked at my wife, who was currently grinning like a Cheshire cat, her red clad legs swinging happily against the dark wood of my desk. I reached out, wrapping my hand around her waist and gently lifting her down from the desk. She landed against my chest with a soft oof, her hands instantly finding my shoulders to steady herself. "I don't control her, Father," I said, my voice quiet, firm, and entirely devoid of the deference I usually showed him. "No one does. And as for the dinner... we will host it. Here. At our penthouse. But there will be no press, no photographers, and the guest list will be strictly family. If you want a display of unity, you can have it. But you will have to play by our rules." My father stared at me, his eyes wide with a mixture of shock and realization. He looked at my hand, which was still resting protectively around June’s waist. He looked at the absolute lack of coldness in my posture when I looked at her. "Very well," My father muttered, picking up his briefcase. "Next Thursday. I expect both of you to be ready." As soon as the study door closed behind him, June let out a loud, dramatic sigh, collapsing against my chest. "Oh, thank god," she groaned. "He is so damn exhausting. I felt like I was being lectured by a very expensive grandfather clock."

"You handled him beautifully wife," I murmured, my arms closing around her, my face buried in her dark hair. "Though I think you officially gave him a minor heart attack when you sat on my desk."

"Good," she giggled, her arms wrapping around my neck. "It’ll keep him young. Now, darling... about this dinner."

"Yes?"

"I’m going to sing," she warned, a wicked, brilliant smile spreading across her face. "And I’m going to make sure the menu consists entirely of things he can't pronounce. We're going to war, husband." I smiled, my heart so full it could burst as I held her tight against the rain outside. "Lead the way, wife. I'll buy the weapons."