𝟏𝟐

FENIX

Elsie.

Elsie has been on my mind more than I would like.

What was about her that made me think of her all the damn time? It has been four days since our wedding. I thought that after we get married and she settles into my home, we'll avoid each other and everything would be fine.

But I found myself leaving work way too early and going back to her.

I never had anyone to go home to and I never even thought of that. Now that she's in my house, I can't wait to finish with work and leave. Her and Ian have brought life into the house.

The car stopped and Kieran stepped outside and I did the same.

Today I had to meet up with one of my friends. He was visiting town and I had to check on one of the shipments that arrived last night.

"Ludovico and Juan made an alliance, their children are getting married. That boy is barely eighteen. I don't know how are they going to marry them. I assume the girl is the same age." Kieran talked while we walked into the warehouse.

The tall rusty doors were open and workers were moving in and out.

"They will be holding a party or something." Ludovico has always been a reckless man when it came to making business and I'm not surprised he would push his son into marriage this soon.

Juan was no better. Letting your daughter into that family must be the stupidest decision he has ever made.

"I'll have to confirm if you'll go." He said.

"I'll go with Elsie." I wasn't planning on dragging Elsie to any of the functions but I'm sure she'll appreciate going out of the house and attending something more glamorous.

Ludovico will definitely put a lot of effort into the party. She can use some fun time.

"How's everything going by the way? Have you told her already?"

"Told her what?"

"That you like her." Kieran pulled out a packet of cigarettes from his pocket and smirked at me when I turned my head to him.

I swear it's like he wanted to get in trouble. He placed the white stick between his lips and lit it. The disgusting smell of the smoke circled around us. "What?" He shrugged his shoulders.

I didn't have the nerve to talk to him right now about this because I know he will piss me off even more than he already has.

My friend Gorge was supposed to arrive in about half an hour so we used the time to go over the shipments.

My mind was constantly going back to Elsie and Ian and what they were doing but I tried to put those thoughts away.

Why did I have to even think about it? She was probably just home, waiting for the time to pick up Ian from school.

Leon has been informing me on everything and I was glad that Elsie was being comfortable with him and Winston.

When Gorge finally arrived, we immediately got into the important conversation. I didn't have time to waste, also I had to call Leon and ask him if Elsie and Ian are home safe.

Gorge was an elderly man who has been a business partner of my father for years. Now he was with me. He was a man of his words and definitely on of the few people I trusted.

When his wife passed away couple of years ago, he dedicated his life fully to his work.

Also he was on of the best poker players I have came across. We had game nights once in a while.

"Congratulations on your wedding son. I haven't been able to attend the wedding but I'll do my best to visit you and your wife." He placed his hand on my shoulder and smiled at me.

His hair was getting whiter with each day and the lines on his face showed his age. He was nearing seventy and sometimes made me wonder how was he able to put up with so much stress with his work.

"Thank you. You're welcome to visit us whenever you have time."

"It looks like the marriage is doing wonders to you." My eyebrows furrowed. I was the same man. Nothing changed after I got married so I didn't exactly know what he was talking about.

"You have been checking your phone the whole time. I was the same when I got married. I started hating work because all I wanted to do was gone back home to my wife." He smiled and a sad look flashed through his eyes.

"Anyway boys. I should go now. We'll talk about the meeting on the phone. We'll also see each other at Ludovico's party." He tapped my shoulder for the last time and walked past me and Kieran.

"I told you." Kieran spoke with his annoying voice.

"Get the fuck away from my face." I grunted and he chuckled while whistling. He finally walked away. That piece of shit.

I quickly dug into my pocket and took out my phone again. I opened it and looked for Leon's number. I pressed on his name and brought the device to my ear.

He immediately picked up and I heard his voice on the other side. There were also birds chirps in the background which meant he was somewhere outside.

"Yes boss."

"Where's my wife? Are they back home?" I asked and started walking outside of the warehouse.

"Yes they are back. They are in the backyard by the swimming pool." Okay so they were home, safe and sound. A weight was lifted off my shoulders and I let out a breath in relief.

"Okay." I said and we hung up.

I went to look into the cameras in the background as well. I pressed on the app and looked for the one that overlooked the pool.

They were far but I was able to see that Ian was dressed in swimming trunks and was plying in the shallow part of the pool.

And then Elsie...

She was dressed. Shit, she was dressed in a swimsuit. She was laying on a blanket and had a book in her hand. Her eyes were covered with sunglasses and the two piece bathing suit was barely covering her body.

What the fuck?

She was able to freely do whatever she wanted but the fact that the guards were able to walk over there and see her, boiled my blood more than it should.

I shut off the phone and placed it back into my pocket. I hurried to the car and got inside without waiting for my driver. Kieran and him and can leave with someone else.

The ride to the house was not far but it felt like forever.

Why did I even care so much?

The house appeared in my vision and I speed off to the driveway. I parked the car and quickly got out.

With long strides, I made my way at the backyard where the pool was stationed.

Leon was by the front door and nodded his head when he saw me. Winston was near as well.

Then I spotted another guard who was new. He was in his early twenties and just started his job. He was turned around, his back facing me.

He was slightly facing the pool which was pretty far away. Still it fucking bothered me.

I grabbed his jacket and turned him around. As soon as he saw me his eyes widened.

"What are you doing?" I asked him and his face morphed into panic.

"Um..." He stared to stutter. It was visible that he was young and fucking scared of me.

"Were you watching my wife?"

"I'm sorry boss."

"You should apologise to her not to me." I pushed him back and watched him lower his head in shame. "Get out from here before I do something I'll regret." Like shoot him between his eyes.

He nodded twice and hurried away, practically running. I didn't like tormenting my employees or act reckless. But I was pissed.

I ran my fingers through my hair and made my way over to Elsie and Ian.

I evened my breathing and tried my best to calm down. Ian noticed me first and waved.

"Fenix look." He lifted up the toys he had in his hands.

At his voice, Elsie dropped the book next to her and took off her glasses. She then stood up and wrapped one of the towels around her.

Her hair was up in a messy ponytail and she smiled at me when I closed the distance between us.

There was red blush scattered across her cheeks and nose from the sun and there were few strands from her hair, falling over her forehead and the side of her face.

She scrunched her nose as she looked up at me and squeezed her eyes from the sunlight.

Her lips moved but I wasn't able to hear what she was saying. The only sound I was able to hear was my heart. What the fuck the as my heart doing by beating so fast and loud?

Her smiled widened and she sank her teeth into her lip. One of her canines was slightly crooked and made her look even more adorable.

Adorable? Really? What has gotten into me?

"Fenix?" Her voice finally reached my ears.

"Huh?"

"I was asking you if something happened? You look a little bit... tense."

"Nothing. Just work." I don't even know what I was saying. I heard movements behind me and it was Ian.

Elsie crouched down and dried him off with a towel.

I ran my hand over my face and excused myself. They started picking up their things while I hurried inside and went to my office.

ELSIE

I opened the door and walked out of the bathroom. Fenix was sat on the bed, his back resting on the headboard. His phone was in his hands and his eyes were glued to the screen.

It was past 10 pm and Ian was in bed sleeping. I just got ready for bed and dressed in my pyjamas.

Fenix and I decided on sharing the bed. He was sleeping on the far end of the bed and so was I on the other side.

He wasn't going to sleep on the bed while I was on the couch and we finally agreed on both of us sleeping on the bed. I mean it was a big one, fitting for more than two people.

Also it was really comfortable so I couldn't really complain.

I sat down on my side and slid under the covers. I took the scrunchie off my hair and let it fall around my shoulders.

I turned to him and rested my head on the back of the bed as well.

"Fenix."

"Yes?" He said immediately and placed the phone on the nightstand before shifting his body and facing me.

He had a black tank top on which looked dangerously good on him.

"Why couldn't you just get the house for yourself. I mean you seem like a guy who doesn't really care what other people say. Was it that important for you to get married to take the house?" It looked like Fenix didn't need anyone's permission to do something.

Not even his parents. He took over his dad's place and yes everything he inherited was previously his parent's but still, I didn't understand why couldn't he just take the house or at least tell his parents.

"My mom and dad are very stubborn people. When my grandma left the will, she did basically command me to get married and start a family." I listened carefully.

"If my parents know that this marriage is fake or if I told them that I want the house without marrying, the estate is going to be passed down on my sister." I still haven't meet Alannah but I heard Fenix talk to her on the phone once.

"And if Alannah gets the house she will never give it to me. She's even more stubborn than my parents. If she gets something there is no way she will give it away." He smiled at that.

"She was like that since we were kids. So yeah even though I'm in charge of my family business, in some things I can't really take the lead." I nodded and focused my eyes on his hand.

He was still wearing the wedding band on his finger. I really thought that he was going to take it off.

"What are you going to do after... after our divorce?" What was I going to do?

"I just want Ian to be okay. The rest of it will fall into place. He's the most important to me. Maybe... maybe in the future I'll find my person and get married for real." Okay I probably shouldn't have said that.

His jaw clenched and his lips rested in a straight line.

I haven't really thought about marriage before that much but I did want to have a family together with Ian.

"And what kind of man do you want?" The question caught me off guard because I had no idea.

What kind of man did I want?

In Aspen words the best man would be a fictional one but of course I wasn't going to say that out loud and embarrass myself.

"I don't know. Someone who's a good person. And I don't mean someone who's only pretending to be nice. But someone who really has good intentions." He just started at me, his beautiful green eyes gazing into mine.

"I also want to maybe start my own business. And then move into a small house with big windows and a cute garden filled with flowers." It's what I always wanted since I was young.

"You'll have everything you want, Elsie." A warm feeling settled in my chest at his words.

I hope he was right.

Thoughts??

🤍🤍🤍