14. William

Jane and I had settled into a bit of a routine. Every morning we would drive to work together. We'd spend the day getting as much work done as possible. And when the day ended we'd drive home together. On weekends, we watched a movie or cooked something new. It was strange but it was our new normal.

There were some days when our routine wasn't so rigid though. Days when she met up with her brother or Skylar. I wasn't invited to her outings with Ryan for obvious reasons and I had no interest in hanging out with Skylar. The woman had never done anything particularly wrong to me but I just didn't like being around her.

On the days Jane spent with them, I found myself feeling lonelier than I normally would. Before Jane came into my life, I was used to being alone but now I hated being apart from her. It was such an annoying feeling and I hated it whenever it came up.

Tonight, Jane was having drinks with Skylar which meant I was alone again. I considered calling Louis but Friday nights were the biggest nights at his restaurant. He's probably chin-deep in customer orders.

Whenever I felt this way, I would always call Ryan but I couldn't do that anymore. I had only two friends. One was busy and the other one hated me. I sighed as I walked out of my home office. Burying myself in work was not helping to take my mind off things the way it usually does. The house felt so empty without Jane. Josephine had left today so the place was actually empty.

I was the only one in the penthouse. It had never bothered me before. I was used to being alone. I grew up surrounded by maids who doted on me but I still felt alone. I'd grown accustomed to the feeling and yet it still bothered me now. I couldn't understand why.

Before I knew what I was doing, I had entered my car and driven to the Maven Bar. The bar Ryan and I always went to. I needed somewhere familiar. I walked in and took a seat at our usual table. The old wooden table wobbled before steadying itself. I smiled as I remembered all the times Ryan had joked about it being like the two of us. He said life often shook us but we always found a way to steady ourselves. We always found balance.

"Should I get your usual, Will?" the waitress asked as she smiled at me. She glanced at the empty chair opposite me. "Where's Ryan?"

"He's not coming. I'll take the usual though and make it a double."

Before she walked away, the bar door swung open. Her smile widened. "There he is."

My gaze shifted to the entrance of the bar where I saw Ryan. Our eyes collided. He turned and walked out. I rushed out after him. "Ryan, wait!"

"Don"t speak to me, Aldaine. I want nothing to do with you," he said as he approached his car. I held the door so he couldn't pull it open and he glared at me. "Are you insane?"

"Yes, I am."

"Move out of the way."

"I can"t do that Ryan," I said, shaking my head.

Ryan stepped back. "What do you want?"

"I want my best friend back."

"Really? It's not enough for you to marry my sister, you also want to have me as a friend." He sounded like he despised me. I'd never heard Ryan speak with such disdain before, let alone to me. "Look, William. I know you're rich and you're used to getting whatever you want. You're used to everyone doing what you say. You expect us all to serve you but I'm going to have to pass on that. You had me but you wanted my sister. You cannot have both. You knew that but you pursued her anyway so don't you dare tell me that you want your best friend back."

"I understand that you're angry—

"Good. Remember next time you choose to stand in front of my car. Because next time, I might not be able to control my anger." Ryan reached for his car door but I held it again. "I'm doing my best not to send you back to my sister with a broken jaw, Aldaine. Don't piss me off."

Ryan had never been the type of person to throw punches. He viewed fighting as a waste of time. To him, it didn't achieve anything. Talking was far more effective and Ryan was all about producing results. He always chose the most practical path, the path that made the most sense. He was the logical one. But logic went out the window when his sister was concerned.

"Why did you come here?" I asked.

His eyes narrowed as he glared at me. In the dimly lit driveway, I could still see his fists tightening. This could end really badly. It would be easier to just leave but I couldn't. Ryan and I needed to work this out.

"Why did you come here?" I asked again. "Why come to this bar?"

"Because I needed to grab a drink," Ryan said. "Why else would I come to a bar?"

"There are several bars in the city, many of which are close to your apartment but you still chose to come here. You could have gone anywhere else but you came here."

"So what?"

"The fact that you chose to come here means something. It means you also miss our friendship."

"I see that you've been drinking long before I showed up. You're talking nonsense. Now, get away from my car. I don't want to hit you but I will."

I clenched my jaw and stepped aside. I didn't want to get into a physical fight with Ryan. I couldn't hit back because Jane would kill me and I would rather not get my jaw bruised. Ryan drove off while I stood in the driveway.

On any other day, I would be driving behind him or in the car with him.

Today I stood still and watched him drive away. It was a strange turn of events and certainly not where I saw things going when I asked Jane to marry me. I didn't expect Ryan to be thrilled but I thought we would work it out with time. That probability reduced with each day that passed.

I sighed as I turned back to the bar. The sky began to thunder as if mirroring my sour mood. It was about to rain. For a brief moment, I just stood there and allowed the drizzles to cover my shirt. Then I jogged over to my car and drove off.

By the time I got home, the drizzle had become a full-on downpour. I found myself worrying if Jane had made it home safely or if she was still out with Skylar. I parked my car and took the elevator to the highest floor.

"Jane!" I called as I walked through the house. I couldn't find her anywhere. I called her name again as I pushed her room door open. She wasn't there.

Outside, the rain grew more intense. Lightning followed thunder in quick succession. It was building up to a storm. I ran a hand through my slightly damped hair, my trepidation growing as the rain continued to fall.

Why wasn't she home yet?

Jane hadn"t given me a specific time when she'd be back but it was almost midnight. How much fun could she possibly be having with Skylar? Were they still at the bar or had they left already? Are they trapped somewhere because of the rain?

The worst possibilities flooded my mind.

What if she had slipped and fallen somewhere and no one knew where she was?

I reached for my phone but I paused when I heard the ding of the elevator. I walked to the dark entryway and turned the lights on. Jane stood before me, her arms tightly wrapped around herself as she shook violently.

She was freezing.

I wanted to yell at her for being so careless. For not leaving immediately the rain started. For not calling me so I could pick her up with an umbrella. But I swallowed everything I had to say. I knew Jane wouldn't be glad to hear it, especially not right now.

She looked up at me and I noticed that her teeth were chattering. She looked like she'd stood in the rain for hours. I walked over to her and wrapped my arm around her. I led her down the hallway and into my room.

Jane didn't protest when I tucked her under the blanket. She pulled it closer as her shivering started to reduce. I walked over to the closet and pulled out another blanket. She needed as much heat as possible right now. I threw the blanket over her and tucked it under the first one. Jane didn't move. Her eyes were squeezed shut and only her slight shaking told me she was still awake.

The only light in my room was the lamp by the bedside. It brightened up the room but it could only do so much. Still, I chose not to put on the main lights. I left Jane in bed so I could run her a hot bath. That was the quick fix she needed.

"Jane," I said as I rubbed her shoulder softly.

Her eyes fluttered open. "W-William."

I pulled the blanket off slowly and lifted her into my arms. Jane clung onto my chest, her hand bunching up my shirt as I carried her into the bathroom. When the bathroom lights came on, she blinked rapidly to adjust to the change before shifting her gaze to the bathtub of water.

"W-What are y-you doing?" she asked.

"You need a hot bath."

"I'm n-not taking a… a bath in front of you."

I chuckled slightly as I set her on the floor. Trust Jane to imagine the most outrageous possibility. I planned to help her to the bathroom and then leave so I could get her a cup of something warm. There was no way I was going to sit here and watch her take a bath. But now that she brought it up, I couldn't imagine leaving without messing with her a little bit.

Jane threw a thick towel over herself while I leaned against the door frame. "And why not?" I asked, keeping my tone casual. "We're husband and wife, aren't we?"

"You know very well that we are not a regular married c-couple." Jane had mostly stopped stuttering now. She dipped her hand in the tub and picked up a rose petal. "Really?"

I shrugged. "I was feeling romantic."

"Leave. Now."

"But wouldn't it be nice if—

"William!"

"All right. All right," I said with my hands raised. "I can't believe I'm getting yelled at by two of the Hart siblings in one night."

Jane's head snapped to me. "You saw Ryan?"

"I would answer but my orders were to leave. Now."

"You're incorrigible."

"It's part of my charm."

Half an hour later, Jane and I sat on the kitchen stools with cups of hot chocolate in our hands. She took a sip of hers and a nostalgic smile played on her lips.

"It tastes like the one my mom used to make," she said. She was smiling but her voice was sad. I knew the topic of their parents was a sour subject for the Harts and for obvious reasons. I felt the same way about my father. Losing him was devastating. I couldn't imagine what it felt like to lose both parents. The worst part was that Mr. And Mrs. Hart died on the same night. It was a tragic car accident that robbed Jane and Ryan of their parents.

"I'm glad my amateur work can be compared to that of a pro," I said in an attempt to lighten the mood. It worked but only momentarily.

Jane's smile disappeared and she stared forward with a lost look on her face. I knew that look. I'd seen it on my mom whenever anyone brought up my father. And I'd seen it on myself several times as well.

I placed a hand on hers, causing her to look at me. A single tear drop fell down her cheek and I used my thumb to wipe it away. Jane closed her eyes and took a deep breath. I could tell she was trying to pull back her grief. She didn't want to break down in front of me. I wanted to tell her it was okay. I wanted to tell her that I'd hold her all night if she needed me to.

The words hung on my throat. I couldn't bring myself to say them. We were slowly crossing into uncharted territory. This level of intimacy was never a part of the contract. My hand slipped from Jane's face as she turned away.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to—

"Don't apologize," I said, cutting her off.

She nodded. We lapsed into silence for a brief moment before she spoke again. "So Ryan yelled at you, huh?"

"He almost broke my jaw."

Jane winced and laughed. The sound loosened the tightness in my chest. I wasn't even aware that something was squeezing my chest until that moment. Until the soft melodic sound of her laughter washed over me. It felt like I was breathing again after holding my breath for several minutes.

It was a confusing feeling. One I'd never felt before in my life. But it wasn't the first strange feeling I'd felt since Jane moved in here. And like all the others, I stashed it away in a part of my mind where I didn't have to analyze it.

It was safer that way.

The old geezer huffed and puffed before settling into his seat with enough force to make the chair creak. His tight shirt fought for freedom as his large belly pushed against its buttons. The hair on his head had abandoned him years ago, leaving behind a few strands of gray hair. And the grimace on his face added to his overall menacing demeanor.

Mr. Bolton was quite the sight.

I stared at him for a moment. My standing position gave me a proper view of his bald head. It was too wrinkly to shine, just like the rest of him. I settled into my seat and waited for the tirade of complaints I knew was coming.

Mr. Bolton had stormed into my office on a Monday morning and demanded my attention. Jane ran in after him and apologized for not being able to stop him. She looked worried. She was well aware of my contempt for the old man. It was not something I hid from anyone, not even the man himself. He'd told Jane to bring him a glass of water before turning to face me.

He spent a good ten minutes boring me with his usual rant. He was an expert at delivering underhanded comments about my capabilities. It was the only way he could express his grievances about not being promoted to CEO. Mr. Bolton had served as the company's COO for years. He expected to be promoted to CEO when my father passed but his dreams were promptly crushed when I came into the picture. Ever since then, he'd done everything he could to make my life difficult.

"What brings you to my office today, Bolton?" I asked without sparing him another glance. I knew men like him thrived on being acknowledged. Ignoring him was a small way to bruise his ego. It was petty but it worked.

"I have something important for us to discuss."

"Then you could have made an appointment like everybody else."

A low groan escaped his throat. I could tell he wanted to say something that he would probably regret. Fortunately for him, Jane walked back into the room. She placed the glass of water on the table with a small awkward smile. Bolton's lecherous gaze shifted to her legs and remained there for several minutes. The sight made my blood boil. I wanted to strangle him for looking at her like that but I held myself back. I hated the man but physically assaulting him would create a variety of problems.

I cleared my throat and he brought his eyes to me. "This is Jane, my wife," I said, enunciating the last two words.

It felt strange to boldly call Jane my wife but it also felt right. She was my wife and a sleazeball like Bolton had no business looking at her.

"Oh, so you're the infamous thieving bride?"

That, I could not overlook. I rounded my desk in seconds. Bolton was about to get his wrinkly face pummeled in. By the time I was done with him, his face would be in worse condition than his tight shirt.

Jane's hand caught my wrist. I turned to her and she slowly shook her head. My gaze collided with Bolton's again. My finger itched to wrap his cheap blue tie around his neck and squeeze the life out of him. That would teach him to mess with my wife.

"Get out of my office," I said, through gritted teeth. It was taking everything in me not to follow through on my basic impulses. It wouldn't be wise to punch him in the face but I wanted to do it again and again until the very thought of looking at Jane terrified him. I'd never felt so angry before. This wasn't the first time Bolton was doing something to piss me off but this was the first time he'd actually gotten a reaction out of me.

He realized that. I could tell from the small smirk that pushed up his wrinkly cheek. He knew he had found a way to get to me. Bolton stood up and walked to the door, that irritating smile never leaving his face as he stepped out. I wanted to go after him and smack that smile right off.

Jane's hand slipped from my wrist to my palm. She interlocked her fingers with mine and squeezed. It was almost as if she heard my thoughts. She knew I was seconds away from going after that man.

I turned to her and the storm in my head quieted when I saw her eyes. The light blue color reminded me of a clear sky on a sunny day. It was peace and calmness. It was all that I needed.

I pulled Jane to me and claimed her lips. She moaned as I tilted her head and deepened the kiss. We shouldn't be doing this at all let alone in my office but I couldn't stop myself.

I needed her.