chapter 7: MOVING IN & SECRET
655 Words
The key felt heavy in my hand.
"Pick a room," Jake had said. "Make it yours."
I was still standing in the hallway of the penthouse at 11PM.
There were 3 doors.
Room 1: Jake’s. Big. Dark. Smelled like him.
Room 2: Guest room. White. Empty.
Room 3: ...
I pushed it open.
Sunlight. Even at night, the curtains were open to the city lights.
A king bed. A desk. A closet bigger than my old room.
And on the desk, a note.
*For Isabella. -J*
Underneath were toiletries. New clothes. A laptop.
And a hospital bill. Paid in full.
Tears again. God, I was tired of crying.
A knock.
"Can I come in?" Jake’s voice.
I opened the door. He was in sweatpants and a t-shirt.
I’d never seen him so casual. He looked... younger.
"This okay?" he asked, nodding to the room.
"It’s perfect," I whispered. "Thank you."
He walked in. Looked around. "Good. Because starting tomorrow,
you’re coming to work with me. 9AM sharp."
"My assistant job?" I asked.
"My wife job," he corrected. "The assistant part is just to annoy my mother."
I laughed. The first real laugh I’d had in months.
---
The next morning was chaos.
Stylist. Makeup artist. A driver waiting downstairs.
"Jake sent them," Mrs. Ade said, handing me coffee.
"He said you can’t go to Sterling Group looking like 'a student'."
I wore a navy dress. Heels. My hair was done.
When I got to the car, Jake did a double take.
"You look..." he trailed off. "Professional."
"That’s it? Professional?" I teased.
He looked away. "Don’t push it."
Sterling Group was different with me on his arm.
People stared. Whispered.
"That’s the new Mrs. Sterling?"
"She looks so young."
"She’s pretty."
Jake’s office had a second desk now. Mine.
"Emails. Schedules. Board reports," he said, pointing.
"And if anyone gives you trouble, you tell me."
The day went fast. Too fast.
Until 3PM.
My phone rang. Lagos General.
"Ms. Adebayo? This is Dr. Okonkwo.
Your mother is asking for you. She’s awake."
I stood so fast my chair fell.
"I have to go."
Jake was already grabbing his keys. "I’m driving."
---
The hospital room smelled like flowers now. Not disinfectant.
My mom looked small in the bed. But her eyes were open.
"Isabella?" she whispered. "My baby?"
I ran to her. "Mom! I’m here. I’m so sorry—"
"Shhh," she said, touching my face. "You look beautiful.
Are you... are you okay? You look different."
I glanced at Jake by the door.
"Mom, this is Jake. My... husband."
Her eyes widened. Then softened.
"Oh," she said. "The one who paid the bills?"
Jake stepped forward. "Yes, ma’am. I’m Jake Sterling."
He took her hand. Bowed his head. "I’ll take care of her.
I promise you that."
My mom started crying. "Thank God. Thank God."
On the way home, neither of us spoke.
Finally, Jake said: "She’s strong. Like you."
"Thank you," I said. "For everything."
Jake stopped at a red light. Turned to me.
"Isabella. Can I ask you something?"
"Anything."
"Do you... regret it? Marrying me?"
The light turned green. But neither of us moved.
Cars honked behind us.
I thought about the contract. One month. No feelings.
Then I thought about the key. The note. The hospital.
The way he held my hand in front of the press.
"No," I said quietly. "I don’t."
Jake exhaled. Like he’d been holding his breath.
"Good," he said. And drove.
Back at the penthouse, he walked me to my door.
"Get some rest," he said. "Big day tomorrow."
"Jake," I called.
He turned.
"Thank you," I said. "For choosing me."
For a second, something flashed in his eyes.
Something warm. Something real.
"Always," he said. Then he went to his room.
I closed my door. Looked at the key on my nightstand.
One month.
But I was starting to hope it wouldn’t end there.
- Writer
