Chapter 8

Mia

“Do you guys want something?” I ask my two new bodyguards, who shake their heads in response as I order a matcha latte from this cutesy place we drove by for my first outing. I waited two weeks to call them and go out. I guess I needed time to recover from my episode, and since seeing the doctor, who was super nice and actually looking more like Father Christmas than anything else, I knew I had to rest a bit. It’s not really in my nature to dwell on things but that night was pretty intense for me, maybe the biggest episode I’ve ever had, so staying in wasn’t that bad.

Ares gave me space too, coming home late and leaving early like he used to, but this time, he didn’t act like he was avoiding me. It was intentional as if he knew I needed it. And when he was here, he didn’t try to connect with me or invade my space. I would just notice him watching me from the corner of my eyes every now and then when I was in the kitchen, reading on our bed or doing my pilates in the living-room. For the last fourteen days, he kept leaving me small notes on his pillow for me to wake up to.

Have a good day, princess.

Painters coming in the afternoon, stay away from inhaling the paint.

Sun is out, Maria will make your lunch on the terrasse.

Good first outing, princess. Stay close to Shadow and Ash.

Never thought this broody, cold criminal would ever take the time to write me notes. It feels strangely…nice. But I'm not forgetting what he did to me four days ago. So I’m not impressed. Not at all. He can keep his notes and his nicknames and shove them up his-

“Mrs Malone, here,” says the young, ginger one, giving me a black Amex card. “Boss said it arrived this mornin’.” The card shimmers with my new name on it.

Mrs Mia Malone .

“I already have one.” I shrug, showing him the one that was on my night table the day I moved in.

“Boss said this one is better, think it’s a no-limit kind of card.” He’s still holding it in the air for me to take, while the other one, a good looking older blond guy, shakes his head with a knowing smile. Yeah, this one has experienced women in his life. He’s not clueless like his younger partner.

No limit.

Oh.

That’s sweet.

I take it, pay for my matcha latte and head to the mall next to it. “By the way, guys, you can call me Mia. Mrs Malone sounds so, um, old.” They nod and follow me as I enter the first store. After days of pure hatred over my fake husband, I decide it’s about time to take things in hand. And I guess this little black card is going to be my anger management outlet. I look around and spot the lingerie department at the back of the expensive store.

Perfect. Let’s start with it and work my way up to one grand. The buzz of my phone vibrates in my purse.

“Hey, sis!” says Kiara with her sweet voice.

“Kia! I was waiting for your call, so tell me everything. How was the ball?”

Ares

My phone rings while I’m in the middle of checking the last accounts Vox sent me. The name of my banker appears. Strange. The guy never calls me unless there’s an issue.

“Mr Malone,” a slight trembling voice says.

“O’Connor,” I grunt, hating to be disturbed for no reason.

“Hello, sir. I’m, um, I’m calling you to check if you are aware of the rather large purchases that have been made today.” His voice sounds strained and awkward.

“Large purchases, nope.” I grin, knowing exactly what’s going on. “I don’t have all day, shoot.” I shake my head, bankers and their fucking paperwork and long ass talk.

“Ninety thousand dollars has been used in different types of clothing stores, another fifty thousand in a jewelry shop, and another hundred thousand on a new car in the name of Mrs Mia Malone…” His voice is now almost inaudible, as if the guy was afraid of me bursting out of the phone to grip his throat.

“What about it?” I deadpan.

“The expenses, sir. They are… It’s a lot for only one day, compared to your usual—”

“Have you blocked the card?” I grunt.

Why the fuck is he making a fuss with this?

“No, sir.”

“Add more funds to it, make sure my wife can spend as much as she wants. And don’t call me for those fucking small matters.” Then I hang up ‘cause I may be softer with my wife, but I’m still a fucking asshole to everybody else.

I sit back in my chair, crossing my arms behind my head. Of course she’s going with the angry shopper kind of way. It’s alright with me. I have deep pockets, and spoiling my wife is alright with me as long as I’m the one who gets to see her smile at the end of the day.

She’s feisty, and that’s probably the first step on her to-do list of how to make me pissed. Only she doesn’t know I’ve been dealing with enemies waiting to put a knife in my back for years, so staying cool during a fire is kinda my thing.

Let’s see what she has in store for me next.

‘Cause I’m determined to win her over.

Bring it on, baby.