Highlander Ever After

Not What I Was Expecting

Gregor

The town home looked like any other from the outside but when you walked in it was a cross between a funhouse, a haunted house, and a frat house. I looked at the specimen jars lined up in a lit cabinet, there were pinball machines against one wall.

Maisie caught me staring at everything and I let out a whistle when I saw the rainbow-colored chandelier hanging from the ceiling in the dining area.

Her cheeks turned pink and she led me up the stairs and into a sitting room that was almost normal-looking. If it wasn’t for the two large gargoyles by the window it would be cozy.

“Sit, do ye want anything to drink? Eat?” I stared at Maisie and she was fiddling with some tassels on a blanket.

“No, I would like to just get this over with.” She sighed and rolled her eyes.

“I am not the enemy here, Gregor, no matter what ye may think. In fact, I want this marriage even less than ye do. Especially after that luncheon with yer mother. No offense, but I would rather not call that harpy my mum-in-law.”

That was interesting and I couldn’t help but feel like she was testing me. She stood up and pressed a button on the wall. A voice crackled over the intercom and she ordered some drinks and sandwiches to be brought up.

“Ye may not be hungry, but I am ravenous. Let us get down to why I dragged ye here. First of all, I know yer little girlfriend is what they call one of those cam girls.” I looked down in shame and felt my cheeks blaze.

“Ye should not be ashamed of what she does. If she is good at it and makes money while still maintaining her integrity, it is great. I am getting the distinct impression ye dona want her doing that job.” I couldn’t help but flinch at the judgmental tone in Maisie’s voice.

“I plan on marrying her. I dona share my mother’s views, but I will admit I am not thrilled with her choice of career. When I met her, I was under the impression she was a life coach. Then I found out what she did and even subscribed to her site.” I didn’t know why I was telling her all this.

There was a knock on the door and a petite woman in leggings and a sweater came in. She glanced at me and narrowed her chocolate-colored eyes at me, and then sneered at me. Maisie snickered and placed a kiss on her cheek.

“Meet my girlfriend, Marisol. Thanks, baby, I will be down in a bit.” She practically slammed the tray on the table and stomped out of the room cursing in Spanish. Maisie let out her breath and sat back down.

“She is feisty and very unhappy about this situation. I don’t blame her. We have been together for fifteen years.” I blinked at Maisie and felt betrayed. I shouldn’t have but I was. Everyone seemed to have their secrets and thought it was best to not include me in them.

“Oh stop with the kicked puppy look. No one really knows about us. We met when I was in the Peace Corps. So this is what I propose. We get married, for all to see we are a happy couple. Ye can carry on with Dahlia and I will carry on with Marisol. After a few years, we can absolve the marriage and go our separate ways. By that time yer mum will be off yer back, about yer trustfund.”

She seemed so matter of fact like we weren’t playing with people’s feelings here, she sipped her tea and nibbled at a sandwich. I felt sick, it was all a game to these people. I was one of them and the realization made me want to vomit.

“I canna do it.” I stood up and she placed the cup down.

“Oh, I do believe ye can. I have been doing some digging and I have found out some interesting things about yer girlfriend.” She slid a folder my way and my mouth went dry.

“Are ye blackmailing me?” She shook her head and frowned.

“No, I am proposing a mutual agreement that neither one of us really wants to participate in. But for the greater good, it would be best if we just married.” I looked through the file and saw that she had been arrested for prostitution and there were other things in the folder that made my blood run cold.

“I need to think about this.” Dahlia was related to Vanessa or Claire or whoever she was calling herself.

Was she really dating me because she actually cared for me or was there some nefarious reason for it?