Chapter Eighteen

**Genevieve**

I stir awake, the feeling of warmth around me I’m the most comfortable I’ve been in weeks. I stretch out and feel the weight of arms around me that’s when I open my eyes to see a sleeping Greyson spooning me.

I try to remember last night and then the taste of wine fills my mouth again the memory of waking up scared and taking myself to Greyson’s room and now here I am the day after my wedding day in bed with my new husband thinking about leaving before, he wakes up.

I look around and one of my own pillows on the floor, the same one I bought to create a barrier between us. It’s now on the floor by the door as if it has been thrown.

I pull slide out of the bed, replacing my body with a pillow praying that Greyson doesn’t wake up, this whole situation is embarrassing enough as it is.

Thankfully, he doesn’t make a move as I sneak out of his room and back to my own. Checking my phone, I see an abundance of messages and missed calls all from Alex.

Its 5 am and the thought of how he grabbed me makes me feel dirty again and I don’t feel like I could sleep, I head the bathroom hoping to wash away the feel of his hands on me.

The bath is hot, and I filled it with bubbles and calming oils, it seems to do the trick and an hour later I’m out and dressed for the day, I plan on going to work today.

Last night with Greyson replays in my mind, I had fun with him something I never thought was possible, but I’m also incredibly embarrassed that I was so scared I ended up in his bed.

I potter around the kitchen throwing together some pancakes leaving enough for Greyson on the side before I head out on the balcony with a cup of tea and plateful of strawberries and pancakes.

Watching the sunrise over New York I feel a weird sense of calm over me, I look down at my hand the solid diamond ring now glistening.

The realisation hits.

I’m a married woman and not only am I married, but I’m also married to Greyson Maddox the most eligible bachelor in the whole of New York.

But none of its real and the only friend I had tried to steal me on my wedding day confessing his love for me and not taking the rejection very well.

On top of that, I’m pretty sure I’m falling for the man whose contractually obligated to spend time with me.

In short, my life is a huge joke and it’s no one’s fault but my own.

The door behind me opens and Greyson comes out holding the plate I left for him, half-dressed for work his shirt still unbuttoned taking a seat beside me.

“Thanks for the pancakes”

Suddenly I’m all embarrassed so I don’t look at him when I respond, fearing he will now I’m thinking about how gorgeous he looks right now in this light.

“No problem”

I sit and stare off into the distance praying he doesn’t talk bring up last night.

“So, Gen, I see your dressed does this mean you’re coming to work today?”

“Yes, is that okay? I don’t need to come in with you if you don’t want I can walk”

I hear his fork hit the plate harshly and it forces me to look at him.

“Why would I want you to do that, there’s a crazy person obsessed with you and also my wife. It won’t exactly look good to the company if we show up separately”.

Ahh the company, the real reason why I hear it always comes back around like a speeding train in the middle of a storm.

“We will go in together, also if you don’t mind, I’m meeting Stephen and his wife for lunch today so it would be great for you to be there”.

“Okay sounds great”

I stand up from my seat and head back inside finish getting ready. I know that I didn’t want him to bring up last night, but I also think I did, I guess I just wanted to see if he enjoyed it as much as I did.

A short while later we are in the company elevator riding up to Greyson’s floor. Stepping inside he gives me an obligatory kiss on the lips before he heads to his office and I head to my desk.

When I get there my jaw drops, it’s been decorated with congratulations banners and balloons, but it’s not been done nicely. The balloons are half blown up the banners are half stuck up and there’s a card.

I take a seat and open the envelope, reading all the comments I feel my eyes well up with both anger and embarrassment.

**Congratulations on your sham wedding**

** won’t be long until your divorce whore**

**Ill bed him before you’ve been married a month**

“I see you have seen our little surprise; we hope you enjoy it the girls and I had a little whip around”.

Vicky’s voice is like poison when you’re already dying.

I look down at the ring on my finger, it may not mean anything really, but it does give me a certain amount of power.

I take a deep breath and hold in my tears standing from a chair to face her, her gang of office sluts behind him.

“Thank you all so much for the lovely surprise”.

They seemed shocked by my tone and I have to admit the look on their face’s eggs me on.

“I mean the comments were so lovely and heartfelt, I’m surprised you made any effort at all”.

Vicky turns to her friends and scoffs.

“Well, you know we do like the boss, so we had to do something”.

“I can tell you like him, so let me do something for the 5 of you”.

She steps closer to me invading my personal space but not before checking Greyson’s door.

“Oh yeah and what might that be”.

“You see being Mrs Maddox does have its perks, it allows me to take out the trash”.

“Oh yeah, what might that trash be?”

She looks around to her pals laughing but none of them seems to reciprocate all eyes fixated on me.

“Clean out your desk Vicky your fired”.

The words come out short, sharp and emotionless.

“You can’t fire me; who do you think you are?”

“Who do I think I am? I’m Genevieve Maddox and I can fire you, in fact, I just did and I’m not sure why you are still stood here”.

Her friends mutter among themselves behind her, I glare at them and they quickly disperse leaving her stood alone.
“You. you can’t do this, I’ll tell Greyson”.

“My name is Mr Maddox Vicky and I think you’ll find my wife has given you a request”.

He wraps his arm around my waist and picks up the card from the desk, his eyes scan over it and I feel his body tense.

“Mr Maddox I can explain, it was just a joke we all love Gen”.

He ignores her and turns to look at me.

“Genevieve, could you pass me the phone?”

I hand over the phone and he press one.

“Security, please could you come to my floor. We need immediate removal “

He puts the phone down and turns to her again.

“Now Victoria, I’m not sure what part of this is supposed to be funny but this is a direct insult to my wife and therefore a direct insult to me. As per the terms of your contract, you will receive no back pay from the company and your benefits will cease seeing as you have been dismissed for disorderly conduct”.

The elevator dings and 3 security guards come through.

“Mr Maddox, who are we removing”.

He points towards her and then speaks his voice deep and almost seductive with authority.

“There are also more, Victoria will give you their names please ensure they never step foot on Maddox property again”.

He Grips my hand and pulls me into his office, I smile sarcastically at Vicky as I do feel proud of myself for staying strong when she again tried to break me, we get inside, and he closes the door causing it to slam.

“Look Greyson I’m sorry I fired your assistant; I’ll pick up and work she won’t be able to do and I’ll find you another one “

He sits down in his seat listening to me ramble on apologising over and over until I throw myself down in the seat opposite him.

“Are you done?”

His tone is kind of firm and it makes me sit-ups straight.

“Gen, you don’t have to apologise. I saw what they did to your desk and the way they confronted you, I’m proud of you for standing up for yourself”.

Wait did he just give me a sort of compliment.

“You mean you are not mad?”

“No, I’m not mad, Vicky has been trying to get in with me since I hired her and to be honest it was sort of hot hearing you use my last name”.

My cheeks flush bright red, I feel them burning and even with my darker skin, I know that it is completely obvious.

“I erm … well thank you”.

He nods looking back down at his screen for a moment.

“So, we have this lunch soon and I just wanted to check we are on the same page”.

“Okay, what do we need to be on the same page about?”

“Well, we did get married yesterday and I imagine they will have a few questions about our future plans “

Our plans, in my mind I always imagined getting married and going on an amazing honeymoon then relaxing into married life with a house and maybe some children way of into the line, but I am not going to share this with Greyson he is not my real husband.

“How about we just focus on the Honey moo? We will pretend we have something elaborate planned like the Maldives or Hawaii ?”

He raises his eyebrows.

“Okay, well talk about our honeymoon plans and maybe future company plans together, it’ll Segway nicely into the deal with him.”

We spend the next hour talking it over getting our plans straight when finally, we are both the same page.
A silence falls between us and we just stare at one another.

“You know I haven’t had fun like last night for a while”.

So, he did have fun, I can’t let him know that means something to me.

“I too never did I think I would watch scary movies with a man I loathe so much “

I wink at him in an attempt to break the ice.

“I have to admit the movie you chose was also pretty good, I was impressed.”

“It really is a great movie I told you that!”

“Yeah, and the kiss goodnight wasn’t so bad either”.

He winks back at me and I do not know whether he is joking or not it seems like something he would joke about but also, I don’t remember getting to my bed only going to his.

“Kiss, what are you talking about we didn’t kiss”.

“Oh, Gen, I think you’ll find we did. Maybe the bottle of wine you had has clouded your memory”.

He stands from the desk and heads to the door.

“Maybe you can think about it over lunch, but for now this conversation has to end we have somewhere to be”.

He moves his arm toward the door.

“Mrs Maddox, if you would be so kind your car is waiting”.

I stand up racking my brains over and over, did I kiss Greyson last night?

We get into the lift and Greyson’s phone rings in his pocket.

“Yes. Okay. No problem. Are you out front? We will be there in 2 minutes.”

He turns to me his jaw clenched.

“Gen I don’t want to scare you but there are a lot of paparazzi outside waiting to get a glimpse of us “

My heart sinks, I hate the cameras flashing in my face.

“Why are they here?”

“They want to get the first shot of us married Gen”.

My breathing gets heavy and my clothes feel tight. He grabs my hand in his.

“Hey hey, calm down Gen, security is outside and Jack as the car out the front I won’t let them get to you”.

I try to respond but this panic attack is coming on thick and fast. The lift stops and I stare outside dumbstruck.
The next thing I know Greyson’s lips are on mine and a wave of calm washes over me, his kiss is soft and sending tingles down my spine, I close my eyes and lean into him kissing him back as his hand grip my back.

He pulls away suddenly and we start walking, I am in complete shock as the cameras flash in my face. He leans down into me.

“See I guess you needed a little distraction and now we are even”.

We continue the walk to the car as people shout our names and ask how the wedding was, but I can do nothing but smile in my state of shock.

He just kissed me.