Chapter 19

**Artemis**


Something was wrong with Blue, and it had me worried. She seemed alright up until now and then it was like a flip switched and she looked…off. I was about to go with her to make sure she was okay but thought better of it. Maybe she didn’t want me to get involved or it was something she would rather talk to another woman about. So I let her go.

“Artemis have you lost your mind? What are thinking picking a girl like that?” My mother starts in as soon as Blue is gone.

“What’s wrong with her?” I ask as if I don’t know what she’s talking about.

In reality, I know exactly where this conversation is going to go.

“She looks like something you pick up on a street corner.” She hisses at me before glancing around to make sure no one hears her insult my fiancé.

My eyes snap at her and I let all the anger I’m feeling show. “Do not speak about her that way.”

I keep my voice low but threatening.

“If you speak about my fiancé that way again-“

My father slams his hand on the table making the plates and silverware shake. The whole restaurant goes so silent that all you can hear is the sound of people hitting balls on the green.

My father stands and locks his gaze on me. “Enough. You won’t threaten your mother. She is looking out for you.”

I scoff. “Really? She’s looking out for me by trying to force me to marry someone I can’t stand so that you can get the money grandmother left for you. How does it feel dad being trapped by someone else’s rules? How does it feel to have your choice taken away?”
I’m on my feet now too.

“Don’t you dare speak to me that way boy! Remember who holds the power in your business. You can lose everything with a snap of a finger.”

I laugh. “Really? Go ahead, but remember it’s the share of the money I give you from my business that keeps our family out of bankruptcy. My company has been holding your empire up for ten years! So go ahead and shut me down but I won’t need your money to start over, and you are the one who’ll lose everything.”

“Artemis!”

The sound of Rhea’s panicked voice has me breaking the stand-off with my father in an instant. When I turn to her I see fear and panic all over her face and Blue missing.

I rush over to her and she grabs my hand. “What happened?”

“It’s Blue.” Is all she says as she pulls me toward the bathrooms.

She pushes the door open to the woman’s bathroom and I follow her inside.

“She’s in there. Some people said horrible things about her and I heard her break down crying. I tried to get her to let me in but she wouldn’t open the door. Then it sounded like she was gasping for air. I didn’t know what to do.” My sister is panicking and that won’t help the situation right now.

“Rhea, it’s okay. I’ll take care of this, okay?” She nods quickly and glances at the door that Blue is hidden behind before turning and leaving the room.

As soon as she’s gone I hear the sound of Blue breathing hard and my stomach clenches with worry.

“Blue?”

“A-a-artemis?” She sounds like she’s out of breath.

“Yes, I’m here. Can you open the door for me?” I stop in front of the door and kneel to try and peek under the door.

I want to be sure she isn’t physically hurt, but her back is against the door blocking my view.

“I c-c-can’t.” She says before she gasps and starts crying again.

“What happened?” I try to soften my voice so she’ll calm down but it’s not easy for me.

I’m not a soft person and I don’t know how to handle other people's emotions well. This is all new to me.

“It doesn’t matter. I just…can we go home?” Her voice is so soft that I barely hear her.

“Yeah, lunch is ruined anyway. My father and I had a bit of a standoff. I’m sure my mother has shooed everyone out before the gossip spreads. At least that means she’ll go into damage control and lose interest in our wedding.”

“I guess there’s that.” She says.

Her voice sounds steadier and stronger now.

“Can you come out now? You had Rhea worried.” I’m too prideful to admit how worried I was too.

There is several second of silence on her end and then I hear shuffling. She opens the door and I get a look at the woman whose world I’ve broken forever. Her eyes are red and puffy and her nose is a bit red too but she’s pulled her hair back down. I have the urge to reach out and brush it away from her face, but I refrain.

“Sorry about all this.” She says and then tries to step around me but I don’t move.
She looks up at me with those sad eyes and I know at that moment that I will make all of this up to her somehow. I owe her a lifetime of apologies for what she has been through and will continue to face because of me.

“Artemis?”

There is so much I want to say but I don’t know where to start. I should just apologize and let this go, but I want to do more. I want to kiss her and pull her into my arms where she will feel safe. Then I wonder if she would feel safe. I haven’t proven that she can trust me yet. So what do I do?

In the end, I decide to step aside and let her pass. When she does I run my fingers through my hair and curse myself for not knowing what to do in this situation. I’ve never had to deal with this before. I never cared to worry about anyone before. It’s always been easy to put distance between me and everyone else so no one would expect things from me. They don’t expect closeness because I never give room for it. They never expect friendship because I don’t offer it. They never expect help because I make myself unavailable.

I’ve been selfish for so long that it’s hard to know how to show simple kindness to the woman I’ll be married to. I think it’s time I learn how to be more for her, and I know exactly who to ask. Rhea’s husband Max treats Rhea like she is his whole world. The way he looks at her as if nothing matters in the world but her. He does sweet things for her constantly.

I know all this because I see her posting all these things about him on Instagram. Yes, I keep up with my family on social media but I will never admit it to them.

If anyone can teach me the art of being a good husband it would be him. Maybe Blue and I don’t have a romantic relationship but I want to make her feel like I care. We could at least be friendly, right?

“I’ll have Bryant bring the car,” I say into the room, but not directly to Blue before I quickly leave the room.

I need to catch Max before he leaves if he hasn’t already. Thankfully I find him hugging Rhea in the lobby, no doubt waiting for an update on Blue. She sees me before I reach them and wiggles her way out of Max’s arms.

“Is she okay?” She asks and I nod.

“I think so. You can check on her if you want.”

She brushes past me and disappears inside the bathroom.

“She was really worried. I think she likes your fiancé already.” Max says reminding me that I had been looking for him.

“It seems so.”

“How is she?” He asks.

“Someone said something that upset her I guess but she didn’t explain. I wasn’t sure if I should ask.”

He makes a sound but I can’t tell what it means. Did I handle the situation wrong?

“Should I have asked her?” I decide to seek his advice since we’re both here waiting.

His eyes move to where Rhea disappeared and settle on me. He looks surprised I asked a question like that, but then he chuckles and squeezes my shoulder.

“You look lost.” He says and I shrug his hand away. “Don’t worry man. Relationships are a learning experience. All women are different, but it’s always easier to just straight out ask them what they want or need. Trying to guess is frustrating for both of you.”
“Can’t she tell me what she wants without me having to ask?”

That makes him laugh again. “You would think, but no. They want us to put in a little effort, but it’s worth it when it makes them happy. Happy wife, happy life man.”

Happy wife, happy life…Interesting concept.