Chapter 35

**Blue**


Once Artemis finishes packing he turns to me where I’m still sitting on the bed looking at our agreement like it might bite me if I touch it again.

“I need to talk to my business partner for a while. I’ll be in the office.” He glances my way and opens his mouth like he’s going to say something else but he walks out instead.

I can’t understand the guy. His moods change faster than the Seattle weather and I don’t like it, but that’s something to deal with another time. Right now I need to call Diego. Unfortunately, I don’t have his personal number but since the café doesn’t close until nine I still have time to catch him. I pull out my brand-new phone and open the internet browser. In my little experience I’ve learned to use a few apps, but this one is still iffy. I type the small section on top and type in MONICA’S CAFÉ, hoping it will lead me to her website.

Thankfully there is only one place under the name and from the pictures I can tell it’s right. I see the section where there is a number and click on it. Another box appears asking if I want to call the number so I click the number and it moves over to the call section of the phone. I wait for a second or two until the ring starts. Just to be safe I stand and close the door to the bedroom, so Artemis doesn’t overhear my conversation.

“This is Monica’s Café how can I help you.” I let out a sigh of relief when I hear Diego’s voice.

“Hey! It’s Blue!”

“Holy shit girl! What the hell is going on? Your face is everywhere! And since when are you engaged to Artemis freaking Rhodes?”

“Diego! I will explain everything later, but I need to talk to Liam.”

He thankfully doesn’t ask any questions about why. “Of course. I’ll give you, his number.”

He tells me the number and I try to remember them the best I can.
“You are an angel, Diego.”

“I know. Are you safe? Do I need to come rescue you? Because I know how to scale a wall.”

I laugh at the image of him trying to climb over a fence.

“No I’m okay for now, but I need some legal advice and Liam is the only lawyer I know.”

“He won’t hesitate to help you Blue you know that. He adores you.”

“Thanks Diego. I’ll make sure he passes my number on to you so we can keep in touch.”

“He better. I miss you like crazy Tinker Blue.”

“I miss you too. Talk soon, okay?”

“Absolutely. Love ya!”

“You too!” My voice cracks with unexpected emotions and I hang up before he can hear it.

Once I hang up with him, I immediately call Liam. The ringing lasts a little longer and I wonder if anyone is still at his office.

“Hello, Richard and Bentley Associates.” A woman says when the call is finally answered.

“Hi, I’m looking for Liam Anderson.”

“May I ask who’s calling?”

“My name’s Blue, he’ll know who I am.”

There is a moment of silence like she’s wondering if I’m joking but when I don’t say anything else I guess she gives up.

“One moment please.” She says and then I listen to music from the other side for about a minute before I hear Liam’s voice.

“Blue? Babe you okay?” I smile at him calling me Babe.

He’s always a little flirty. “I need your help Liam. A lawyer’s help actually and you are the only one I know. I can’t pay you much now but if you send me a bill I-“

“Are you serious? I won’t ever charge you. Now tell me what’s going on.”

I explain to him and try to read what the contract says the best way I can.

“This is a marriage agreement. I’ve never heard anything like this. It’s ridiculous. He can’t force you to sign this Blue. I’ll have to see the papers first though to get a better idea what we’re dealing with, but it’s a good thing you called me first. Can I meet you to pick them up?” He asks.

“I can’t tell you where we are right now but I’m going to try and find a way to get to Monica’s. I might tell Artemis that I left my guitar there and ask him I can pick it up. I’ll have bodyguards with me, but I’ll try to ask them to wait in the car. How does ten in the morning sound?”

“I’ll be there. Are you sure you’re not in danger? Is he hurting you?” He sounds desperate to help me and I’m touched by how much he cares for someone he’s known for a few months.

“I’m okay. He’s been obsessed with my security even if he’s a pain in the ass sometimes.” I grumble.

He laughs. “I could only imagine. I guess I’ll have to heal my broken heart. He convinced you to marry him when I couldn’t.”
I laugh and feel my chest warm at his words. “Maybe you can be my side piece.” I tease.

“If it means I get to have a piece of you to myself I’m game. Well Diego will try to weasel his way in but he won’t win. You’re my girl!”

“You’re crazy and unfortunately this marriage has an infidelity clause or I’d be all over you.”

“Don’t tease me Blue, it’s bad for my health.”

I break out laughing which makes him chuckle as well.

“Really though I wish you’d have picked me. Imagine being with a prestigious lawyer.”

“It would be quite the status boost, but I’m about to be a married woman. So, any affair between us is forbidden.”

“Blue?” I gasp and turn at the sound of Artemis’s voice.

“A-Artemis…I..” He storms over and snatches my phone away from me.

“Who the fuck is this?” He yells into the phone.

There’s a moment of silence and then his eyes fix on me.

“She’s not in danger with me, and I would appreciate you not calling her again.” His voice is clipped and clearly angry. “A lawyer?”

His eyes narrow to me and I start to squirm in discomfort.

“Fine. But if I hear you asking her for anything inappropriate again, I’ll have you disbarred.” Another silence. “Try me!”

He ends the call and I sit with my heart racing to see what he’ll do.

“What was that Blue? You aren’t allowed to be with anyone else! You are my fiancé, and I won’t have you joking around with another man like that! You. Are. Mine.

My speeding heart only grows more intense as anger flares up at his words.

“I am not your property Artemis! You can’t stop me from talking to someone!” I yell at him and stand so that he isn’t towering over me more than necessary.

“You are going to be my wife! I can tell you to stay away from any man trying to take you away from me!”

I growl in frustration. “No one is trying to take me away Artemis! He’s teases about being with me, but he has a boyfriend so calm down!”

That has his mouth snapping shut. “What?”

“He’s gay Artemis. It’s a joke between us. Okay? Will you calm down this caveman shit? It looks bad on you.”

He watches me carefully and I wonder if he’s about to go off on me again when he starts to close the distance between us. I flinch back when he lifts both his hands toward my face. Instead of hitting me though he rests them on either side of my face and along the sides of my neck. His head lowers so that our head rest against each other and I let out a shaky breath. His touch has a strange effect on me. It makes my body relax even when I want to smack the hell out of him.

“Blue…you drive me insane. I have never felt possessive over anything other than my business, but now you. I don’t want anyone else to have you. You’re mine and I don’t ever want to share you.”

I’m at a loss for words at his sudden confession, but I’m not sure what he means by it. Is he asking us to be…more than fake fiancés? Wanting more clarity I lean back and look up at him.

“What does that mean Artemis? I’m not great at reading into vague words.”

“Honestly, I don’t know. I’ve never given much thought to being with someone completely before. I’m not sure if it’s possible but I know that I want you so bad that it’s driving me insane. I wish I could keep a line between us so things can be simple, but I don’t think I can. Being near you is distracting and addicting. I can’t promise you anything since I don’t know how to be a boyfriend or even a husband but I do know that I want more than a contract between us.”

Not exactly what I want to hear. It sounds vague still and I don’t know how to respond. Do I give in and accept the minimum from him? Or demand more?