Page 25 of Always Meant To Be

She plays with the strap of her white top, and I sigh, closing the door, causing her to look at me with confusion.

I walk over and lean down, gently kissing her head, before sitting on the edge of her desk.

I place the contract down, causing her to furrow her brows, and look at me. I give her a small smile, gently cup her cheek, and rasp, “I want you to reread the contract,farfalla. I need you to, and everything will make sense.”

She shakes her head and asks, “Why? I don’t need to read it, Romeo.”

I soften my eyes. “Because then you’ll understand why we have to attend your sister's early birthday party. She’s demanding to have it on Saturday at Luis’.”

Her nostrils flare and shakes her head, stating defiantly, “I’m not going, and you can’t force me. I have no reason to be there.”

I wince. “I’m sorry, El, but you are. I have to be there, and I can’t go without my wife. Besides…she’s your sister.”

She shakes her head, anger radiating from her, and I sigh, knowing how that sounded. Her words confirm my thoughts as she states, "You'll be with her the whole time; why not just go as her date? Everyone knows your true feelings anyway."

Flaring my nostrils, I get off her desk. I lean forward and kiss her again, this time behind her ear. Then, I inhale her strawberry scent, and rasp, “Read the contract, Elena, and I promise everything will make sense.”

That said, I straighten and walk out without looking back, knowing I’ll just sit in the car and wait until she finishes her day,instead of going back to work, opting to answer emails on my phone.

I really fucking hope she reads through that contract, because I’m at my wit's end. I know she’s trying to figure out a way to leave me. I know she has no idea I swapped her contraceptive shot with water and could be pregnant, but right now, I’m ready to cuff her to our bed until she finally fucking listens to me.

I've spent four years watching over her sister, and I’m done. I want my wife, not anyone else, and she needs to realize that.

I fucking love her.

Seven

Elena

My eyes skimthe contract Romeo gave me a few days ago for the hundredth time, not wanting to process what my own family has written.

He’s bound to protect her.

He’s bound his life to hers to have me.

He’s bound to marry her if I leave him.

He’s bound to divorce me if she dies.

I’m supposed to be getting ready to go to my sister's early birthday party, a party I don’t even want to go to, but my mind is on this stupid contract, which means we’re running late.

It all seems too easy, you know, to believe what he’s saying, and what’s in the contract, but I just can’t.

I frown, my finger lightly tracing Romeo’s signature. All the looks they’ve given each other, the times I’ve stumbled on them, forcing them to jump a part suspiciously.

The fact he still signed the contract….

I just can’t understand why he’s trying to convince me this is why he’s always with her. I mean, it’s been four years; surely adon like my husband, who is extremely powerful, forceful, and damn right scary when he wants to be, could have found a way around this contract by now.

Something seems…off. I just can’t figure out what.

“Farfalla, you’re not ready yet?” Romeo rasps from behind me.

I don’t take my eyes off the contract as I hum nonchalantly, and he sighs before I feel him come up behind me where I’m sitting in front of my vanity mirror. He gently rests his hands on my shoulders, making me tense at his touch, and he sighs, before slowly moving my hair to one side.

“I think you should wear your hair down today,” he murmurs, pressing his lips to my head.

Without thinking, I instantly scoff, “Why so my sister can try and cut it again? No thanks,” but soon regret it when he squeezes my shoulders hard.