The Billionaire’s Bargain Bride

Space

SADIE

I got ready and called Devin to prepare the car.

I walked into the library, and Cenric was in a phone conversation. “Just keep me posted. I awe you big time.”

“Can we talk?” I started.

After noticing me in an outfit and a bag in my hand, he gestured for me to sit. “You don’t have to ask. Going somewhere?”

I forced a smile. “I need space.”

“Excuse me?” Judging by the look on his face, he wasn’t expecting it, but somehow, he understood.

I’d thought about it lately. This is the only way I could save our marriage if he wanted it to. I needed to clear my head because I wanted to build that trust again. I needed to find myself—where did I fit in all of this.

“I want to stay at the penthouse for a while.”

“And me?”

“Here.”

“And us?”

I looked at him in disbelief. “I said I need space, and that space—”

“I know what space means.” He cleared my throat and somehow thought if he would consider my request or not. “Are we okay? We didn’t even talk about the elephant in the room because every time I wanted to open the topic, you just blocked me off.”

“That’s why I am doing this. I need to clear my head. I need to be alone. I hope you will respect it.”

He threw his back against the chair with a sigh. “How long?”

“I don’t know. A week, two weeks. A month.” I shrugged. This could be longer. I didn’t know.

“That’s too long.”

I glared. “Well, I don’t exactly know.”

He glared back. “So you will be there, and I stay here. What kind of marriage is that?”

I stood up and said before I walked away, “Whether you agree with me or not, I am doing this. I need this. I just came here with respect to you and our marriage.”

I knew he was following me, but I did not stop. “That’s it? You’d rather think all by yourself than talk about us?”

“We’ll talk when I’m ready.”

He held the car door when Devin opened it for me. “Leave us.”

As stubborn as I was, I crossed my arms over my chest. “I want to save this marriage.”

His eyes somehow sparkled with hope. “So do I. I didn’t push you to talk because you are still going through tough shit and are not exactly a sharer. I just wish you would let me in.”

“The way you do?”

He pinched his nose. He was losing his patience. “I deserve that. But this? This is different. We’re talking about our marriage, Sadie. I don’t—” He stopped. “I don’t want you to go.”

“We both need a break. You need it, too. After a week, we’ll check it out. Maybe you’ll realize that you’d been suffocated and needed out.”

“I know myself, and I know what I want. I want you in my life. I want you as my wife. I don’t need days to think it over. Fuck, I don’t even need a minute to think it through.” He looked at me. He was hurting, but so did I. “I want you. I broke your trust. I made mistakes, and I will make more in the future. And I will do anything to gain that trust back, even if it takes years. I won’t give up on us because we both had rough days. It happens in marriage. We’ll go to counseling if necessary.”

I nodded. “We’ll do that. I have to go.”

He breathed out noisily. “Do I get to have dinner with you?”ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

I rolled my eyes.

“If this is really what you want.” He licked his lips. “You’ll call me if you need anything?”

“I will.”

“You’ll take care of yourself.”

“Cenric, I’m just in the penthouse.”

“But I’m not fucking allowed to see you.”

“Think of it as a retreat.”

“Jesus Christ.” He threw his hands in the air as he narrowed his eyes at me.

“I have to go.”

“Come here.” He gestured his hands.

I gave in.

He hugged me so tight. “I hate this.”

“Do it for me,” I said after he let me go.

“What the fuck do you think I am doing?”

“Thank you.” I smiled sadly.

He nodded, even if it was hard. I admired him for that.

***

Three days later, my office was like a flower shop. He sent flowers twice a day like clockwork. Another bouquet just arrived a minute ago.

“Maeve, maybe you can take one or two from these bouquets?”

“Sadie, they are from your husband.”

“Well, it’s better on your desk than in the trash.”

“He didn’t come here to visit you. It’s not a rocket scientist not to figure out that you two are in a fight or something. If you wanna make it stop, you should talk to him.”

“Thanks, Maeve. That’s all.”

I typed a text message.

SADIE:You should stop sending me flowers. I don’t have a plan to open a flower shop.

CENRIC:Then you should come back home to your husband.

SADIE:When I’m ready. We already talked about this. And we should not be talking right now.

CENRIC:You did not miss me? Us?

I closed my eyes before I typed my reply.

SADIE:I missed us. Stop sending me flowers or one bouquet, and I would add another week.

CENRIC:That’s fucking unfair.

CENRIC:Fine

One minute later…

Cenric:Babe?

Persuasive, weren’t we?

I was typing something on my laptop when Maeve knocked. “Upgraded. Here’s just delivered to you.”

“Oh, my God. I ignored his text messages, and now he sent me gifts.” I took it from her. “Thank you.”

I unwrapped one of the gifts. I knew what it was before I opened the packaging. It was a diamond bracelet from a jewelry designer brand.

“Wow!” It was a classic tennis bracelet.

SADIE:This is pretty. Three weeks.

I opened the huge box and smiled like crazy. It was another bag from Hermes—this time, it was lime yellow Kelly.

Jeez, he was upgrading his gesture.

I waited for his reply, but it did not happen.

***

I left the office early. I had an appointment with my doctor.

After the nurse took a blood sample, my doctor walked in.

“You’re here early.”

I smiled. “I’m delayed.”

“Did you try checking with the kit?”

“I know I’m not pregnant. When I’m under too much stress sometimes, I get delayed for a few days.”

“But you want to know it for yourself if you’re pregnant or not?”

“Yes.”

She nodded. “Would like an ultrasound?”

“If it’s positive in my blood test, yes.”

“When was the last time you slept with your husband.”

“Days ago,” I chuckled. “We got into a fight, and I told him I need space.”

“I see.”

“So?” I asked when the nurse walked in with my result.

My doctor checked the result, and the waiting was maddening. “You should take enough rest, exercise, and talk to your husband. You’re not pregnant.”

I sighed in relief. “Thank you.”

I was smiling when I got back to the car. Devin kept looking at me in the rearview.

“Stop it. Does he know?”

“Nope.”

“Then why are you smiling?”

“Is it good news?”

“Not your damn business, Devin.” I rolled my eyes when he was more excited than me.

“I know, but you just visited a gynecologist.”

“And? It’s a regular check-up. I did not visit an obstetrician.”

“You seemed too defensive, Sadie.”

“For the love of God, just shut up and drive me home.”

He just laughed at me. “Yes, ma’am.”

I was relieved I wasn’t pregnant because I didn’t know how to break it to Cenric. We slept together, enjoyed amazing sex, and he trusted me that I was on a pill. If I was positive, my life was over. I’d be damned.

“Hey, wife.”

I almost jumped. Groaning, I squeezed my eyes shut. “What the hell are you doing here?”

He had his legs crossed as he sat like a freaking king on the couch. “The last time I checked, I live here.”