Chapter 10

**Blue**


The view is amazing from Artemis's office. I don't think I haven't had the chance to see Seattle like this. It's breathtaking even with the dark clouds steadily rolling in.

His office on the other hand looks very...professional. There isn't a hint of anything personal anywhere in the room. No pictures of family or diplomas like you see in most offices. It's a lot of brown and black with a pale grey wall and wood accents. It sort of reminds me of what you would expect an old man's den would look like.

I'm not surprised, to be honest. He seems to like control and this room allows him to become the center of everyone's attention. The air around him screams authority and I guess that's enough to fill this space. Still, if I had a say he would at least have some colorful pillows. Even something like a soft cream color would do a lot for this place.

"Who decorated your office?" I ask moving away from the window.

I can feel his eyes following and soon I hear his footsteps as well.

"I did. Why?" Of course, he did.

When I turn to him he's a good five feet away but it still feels too close.

"It's so impersonal. Not a hint of color." I say and watch him as he looks at his office as if with a new set of eyes.

He probably doesn't have people saying things like that to him. They're probably too afraid to, but if we're going to be married I won't pull any punches. He needs a little shake-up in his life.

"I didn't see the need for anything personal since this is a place of work. Those sorts of things would only be a distraction."

I nod like I can see his point but of course, I think he's crazy.

"So you won't put a picture of us on your desk to look at every day?" I mean it sarcastically but he looks to be taking the request seriously if the way his brows furrow means anything.

"Would you like me to?"

Now that he asks I'm not sure. Do I want him looking at us pretending to be happy on a day when everything is fake? Sounds sort of awful.

"No. Like you said it would probably be a distraction."

He doesn't agree or say anything else on the subject. There's a knock at the door and he walks past me and pulls it open with force. Abigail is holding several bags in her hand and holds them out to him. She moves like she's about to join us but Artemis doesn't move to let her in.

"I need you to handle a list of things I'll email you. Thank you for the food." He closes the door in her face just as she's about to say something.

I tisk at him. "That was sort of rude honey."

He rears back and I bite back a laugh.

"What? You don't like honey? How about baby? No?" He starts to look a little flustered and I smile in triumph. "You don't like terms of endearment even from your fiance?"

"It was unexpected. Is it needed?" He seems genuinely confused.

"It's pretty normal for couples. Your parents never used them?"

He shakes his head and moves over to the coffee table.

"Really? Weird. I thought it was pretty common. Maybe I'm wrong." I shrug and sit on one of the couches beside the table.

It isn't like I've had my share of normal couples in my life.

He sits across from me and starts removing containers from the bags. By the smell, it's Italian food. I'm hit with the smell of butter, tomatoes, cooked pasta and so much more.

"This smells amazing!"

"It's from one of the best Italian restaurants in the city. The owner is an acquaintance of mine." He says as he removes some black plastic plates and sets one in front of each of us along with a fork.

"He's not a friend?"

"I don't have many friends." He doesn't exactly sound upset by that.

"Do you have any? I mean it must get lonely for you."

He lifts his head to look at me and the way he looks at me makes me feel like a creature he's trying to understand, but he answers me.

"My business partner and I have been friends for many years."

"Really? Can I meet him?" That might have come out a little too peppy.

He narrows his eyes at me. "Why? Infidelity will be a clause in our marriage arrangement Blue."

My mouth drops open and I gape at him. "What? I don't want to sleep with him! I've never met him first of all, and I'm not looking for a mistress...or whatever it's called when a side piece is a man."

He snorts and starts loading up his plate with pasta and bread.

"I believe he would be called a Manstress." He sounds amused as he says it.

"No way that's right!"

He smiles at me. "Look it up?"

How would he expect me to do that?

"I can't but I will when I get a chance." I reach for the container of Alfredo pasta and add a small amount.

As much as I want to gorge on the yummy hot treat I would get sick if I ate too much. Not eating much for all these years means I can only stomach so much at one time before I get sick.

"Why?" He asks a few bites in.

"Why what?" I stuff a fork full of creamy pasta into my mouth and try not to moan at the taste.

Maybe I could stomach a little bit more. Or maybe I'll have some more bread! Choices choices...

"Why can't you look up the name for a man mistress?" He asks.

"How would I? I don't have one of those fancy smartphones and I don't have a computer." Shame at that admission is hard to avoid.

With the way he lives, I probably sound pathetic. What happened to me being happy with what I had? Maybe it's because I never had everything I don't have sitting right in front of me.

"You do have a phone though right?"

I nod. "Yeah, one of those prepaid ones."

"We'll have to deal with that. I need to be able to contact you at all times." Sounds a bit odd the way he says that but okay.

"You don't need to. I'll just add more minutes to the one I have and I'll be good. Besides I only use it to contact the owner of my regular gig."

"Gig?" I forgot he doesn't know a thing about me.

"I play and sing at Monica's Cafe on the regular. She was the one who said I needed a phone. She was nice enough to get me one and told me to keep it filled with minutes so she could call whenever a last-minute slot opened. It's my main source of money." I explain while I eye another piece of bread.

It's so buttery with hints of garlic. I think I'm drooling right now.

"You're a musician?" He asks and I smile proudly.

"Yeah! I play guitar and sing a little." I'm not Mariah Carey but I'm not terrible either.

"I would like to hear you play sometime." I'm shocked by his admission.

Why would he want to watch me play?

"Sure you can stop by whenever I'm playing there."

"You can't play there anymore. It will have to be at home." He takes a bite of his red sauce pasta while I stare at him in confusion.

"What the hell? Why not?" I say a little too loudly, but it gets his attention on me.

"It would be too dangerous. Have you forgotten the fact that you're here because people are following you?"

"And whose fault is that? I was perfectly happy to be invisible in this world! You put me on blast and ruined all the peace in my life!" I stand and storm toward the door.

"You're not leaving without me." He says firmly.

I whirl around and shoot daggers at the asshole. "You can't tell me what to do Artemis. We aren't married yet."

"Speaking of, why are you not wearing the ring I gave you?"

Is he for real?

"We aren't talking about that!" I scoff at the ridiculous change of subject. "We're talking about you wanting to take away the way I've been supporting myself for weeks now."

I step back when he comes storming toward me and stops so close to me that I have to lean back to look up at him.

"You will wear my ring Blue. Don't test me or you'll regret it."

"Oh yeah? You don't scare me, Artemis Rhodes." Lies, but I won't let him see me sweat.

"Maybe not but it won't make your punishment any less uncomfortable."

Is he threatening what I think he is?