Meet My Wife
1336 Words
Naomi stared at Jaxon’s outstretched hand.
Her pulse pounded in her ears.
“This isn’t happening,” she whispered.
“I wish we had more time,” Jaxon replied.
Arthur cleared his throat.
“Mr. Hayes Senior doesn’t like waiting.”
Naomi looked toward the door.
“So your grandfather is already inside this house?”
“Yes.”
“And he thinks we’re married?”
“Yes.”
She let out a shaky breath.
“How long do we have?”
Arthur glanced at his watch.
“Less than two minutes.”
Naomi looked back at Jaxon.
“You expect me to pretend to be your wife after knowing you for barely an hour?”
“I know it’s unfair.”
“Unfair?”
She laughed nervously.
“This is completely insane.”
Jaxon took another step closer.
“I’ll explain everything after you meet him.”
“I don’t even know your favorite color.”
“You don’t need to.”
“I don’t know when your birthday is.”
“You’ll learn.”
“I don’t even know if you snore.”
A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
“I don’t.”
She blinked.
“That wasn’t the point.”
“I know.”
Silence settled between them.
Arthur spoke again.
“Sir.”
Jaxon nodded.
Then he looked into Naomi’s eyes.
“You can still walk away.”
She looked at the front door.
Freedom was only a few steps away.
If she left now, she would return to her tiny apartment, her unpaid rent, her empty refrigerator, and the suspension waiting for her.
Nothing would change.
If she stayed…
Everything would.
She slowly placed her hand in his.
His fingers wrapped gently around hers.
His hand was warm.
Steady.
Nothing like the storm racing inside her chest.
“Thank you,” he said quietly.
“I’m only helping you meet your grandfather.”
“I understand.”
Arthur opened the study door.
“This way.”
They walked through the long hallway together.
Naomi’s heart threatened to burst from her chest.
She leaned closer to Jaxon.
“What if I say something wrong?”
“You won’t.”
“What if he asks how we met?”
“I’ll answer.”
“What if he asks when we got married?”
“I’ll answer.”
“What if he asks where we went on our honeymoon?”
Jaxon chuckled.
“We’ll pretend we were too busy.”
She frowned.
“You’re enjoying this.”
“Not even a little.”
Before she could reply, they entered the grand living room.
An elderly man sat beside the fireplace.
His silver hair was neatly combed.
Despite the oxygen tube resting beneath his nose, his sharp blue eyes were filled with life.
The moment he saw Jaxon, his face brightened.
“My boy.”
Jaxon smiled.
“Grandfather.”
The old man stood with surprising determination.
Then his eyes shifted toward Naomi.
His smile widened.
“So…”
He looked between them.
“This beautiful young lady is the woman who finally stole your heart.”
Naomi felt every muscle in her body tighten.
Jaxon squeezed her hand gently.
“Grandfather, I’d like you to meet my wife.”
The word hit Naomi harder the second time.
Wife.
The old man walked toward her.
His eyes sparkled with happiness.
“You have no idea how long I’ve waited for this.”
Before Naomi could react, he wrapped her in a warm hug.
She froze.
Then slowly hugged him back.
“Thank you,” he whispered.
“For making my stubborn grandson happy.”
A lump formed in Naomi’s throat.
This wasn’t a man playing games.
This was a grandfather whose greatest wish was to see his grandson loved.
She suddenly felt guilty.
Very guilty.
The old man stepped back.
“My name is William Hayes.”
“It’s nice to meet you, sir.”
“Oh no.”
He laughed warmly.
“If you’re my granddaughter now, you’ll call me Grandpa.”
Naomi glanced nervously at Jaxon.
Jaxon gave a small nod.
She smiled.
“It’s nice to meet you, Grandpa.”
His eyes filled with tears.
“There.”
“That sounds much better.”
A housekeeper entered carrying tea.
William waved everyone toward the sitting area.
“Sit.”
Jaxon and Naomi sat beside each other on the large cream sofa.
William watched them closely.
“So…”
He folded his hands.
“When were you two planning to tell me?”
Jaxon answered smoothly.
“We wanted to keep it private for a while.”
William shook his head.
“I knew something was different.”
“You did?”
“My grandson smiles differently these days.”
Naomi turned toward Jaxon.
He looked completely calm.
Almost convincing.
William laughed.
“I knew there had to be a woman.”
Naomi forced herself to smile.
“I suppose he wasn’t very good at hiding it.”
“Not at all.”
William pointed at Jaxon.
“He started refusing blind dates.”
Jaxon sighed.
“Grandpa.”
“He stopped attending charity galas.”
“Grandpa.”
“And he actually ignored three movie stars.”
Naomi tried not to laugh.
William smiled proudly.
“I knew he had finally found someone special.”
The guilt inside Naomi grew stronger.
She hated lying.
Especially to someone this kind.
William suddenly reached into his jacket pocket.
“I almost forgot.”
He placed a small velvet box on the table.
“For you.”
Naomi blinked.
“For me?”
“Open it.”
She looked helplessly at Jaxon.
He gave the smallest nod.
Slowly, she lifted the lid.
Inside lay a breathtaking diamond bracelet.
The diamonds sparkled beneath the chandelier.
Naomi’s eyes widened.
“It’s beautiful.”
“It belonged to my wife.”
She looked up.
“I can’t accept this.”
“I insist.”
“But…”
“She always said our granddaughter would wear it one day.”
Naomi’s chest tightened.
This was no ordinary gift.
It was family.
Memory.
Love.
“I don’t deserve this.”
William smiled kindly.
“My dear.”
“If Jaxon chose you…”
“You already do.”
Tears threatened to gather in Naomi’s eyes.
She had known this family for less than an hour.
Yet this man had welcomed her without hesitation.
William looked at Jaxon.
“Help your wife.”
Jaxon carefully lifted the bracelet from the box.
His fingers brushed Naomi’s wrist as he fastened it.
For a brief second, their eyes met.
Something unexpected passed between them.
Neither of them looked away.
Until…
A sharp voice echoed through the room.
“Well.”
Everyone turned.
A glamorous blonde woman stood at the entrance.
She wore a designer dress and an expression filled with disbelief.
Her gaze locked onto Naomi.
Then to the bracelet.
Then to Jaxon.
She laughed coldly.
“So the rumors are true.”
The room fell silent.
William frowned.
“Victoria.”
“What are you doing here?”
The woman ignored him.
Her eyes remained fixed on Naomi.
“So…”
She smiled without warmth.
“This is the woman you replaced me with.”
Naomi looked at Jaxon in confusion.
He had told her his engagement ended a year ago.
Was this…
His ex fiancée?
Victoria walked closer.
She stopped directly in front of Naomi.
Then looked her up and down with open contempt.
“I expected someone… better.”
Naomi swallowed.
She wasn’t prepared for this.
Not tonight.
Not ever.
Jaxon stood.
His expression turned icy.
“That’s enough, Victoria.”
Victoria folded her arms.
“Is it?”
Her eyes flashed with anger.
“Or should I tell your wife why our engagement really ended?”
Naomi slowly turned toward Jaxon.
His jaw tightened.
He said nothing.
For the first time since entering the mansion…
She wondered if she truly knew the man standing beside her.
- Writer
