*
*
"What did you do! Why did you say that back there!" Faith yelled, shock and disbelief coursed through her.
After Sterling had dropped the bomb, he'd led her more like dragged her out of the cafeteria, he didn't head towards his office, but rather, to his car which was parked outside.
"Where are you taking me?! You haven't answered me!
He led them to the back seat of the unmoving car, and she tugged her hand free.
Faith held his stare, still demanding an explanation.
His response came, but it wasn't the answer she needed.
"Did you always tolerate them speaking to you like that? You didn't appear very surprised, today isn't the first time, is it?"
"That's not what I'm talking about__" She started but was cut short when Sterling inched closer so their thighs were just brushing.
The entire car was too small. She was all but surrounded by his presence.
He grabbed her hand once again and she winced.
"Well, this is what I want to talk about, and you will answer me when I do ask you! Have you been bullied all this while and you neither said nor did anything about it?!"
Faith flinched at the coldness in his tone. He was furious. And it was directed at her.
Much to her mortification was when her eyes started to sting with tears. She didn't mean to cry, but her eyes had other ideas.
Why was she feeling too emotional?
She blinked to push the tears away, perhaps it was that time of the month.
Wait__
Faith's brows were deepened in a frown of concentration, wasn't it supposed to be some two weeks ago?
Why still yet, she had not seen__
Her thoughts were disrupted when she realized that Sterling was speaking to her.
The hand once gripping hers was now tenderly cupping her cheek.
"__damn it_ I didn't mean to yell, I'm upset, but not at you, I'm sorry, don't cry." He stared at her wrist, looking very anxious that he might have hurt her.
Faith didn't say anything when he started to massage the spot, and neither did she move when he settled her head on his chest.
They remained in silence until she spoke.
"I just thought that so long as they did their work right, it wouldn't matter what they said about me."
"I try not to be affected by their useless gossip. Even before there was anything between us, they were already talking, so I'm just kind of used to it." Faith shrugged, trying to play it off, but her eyes gave away how affected she was by it all.
"Then, you should understand why I announced our relationship status. I had to do it, You are my wife, and I won't make life easy for anyone who disrespects you!" His eyes bore every sincerity that tightened a knot in her chest.
He necessarily did it for her sake?
"Besides, the rumors are already leaked, everyone would have found out either way." Sterling spoke quietly, watching her reaction.
His wife was unsuspecting, she would never guess that the words about their marriage wouldn't have spread if he hadn't allowed it.
The whole world had to know that she was his.
She'd married a possessive freak.
Sterling was still pissed about the occurrence in the office. A normal person might have been content after firing both employees, but Sterling wasn't satisfied.
He could be despicable and unforgiving, especially when it was about matters concerning his wife.
He wouldn't let them off so easily.
"Back then, I told you that marrying me was only to ensure..that you didn't get away." Sterling murmured, stroking her hair.
Faith went rigid wondering what he was about to say.
Her heart was thumping nervously as she waited for him to continue.
"Well, that was a lie."
Her eyes flew to meet his intense ones.
"A lie?" She repeated.
Everything in her was keen to know.
Sterling was about to take another step, and he wasn't completely certain of she was ready.
"I was upset when you first left the company, especially after that first night. It was different and special for me, and I was hurt, confused, and angry that you hadn't felt the same way__"
Faith opened her mouth to speak but Sterling pressed his index finger against her lips.
"I couldn't stop thinking about you, about that, and I thought I wouldn't ever see you again." It was only a partial truth.
He'd known she would return and had ensured she did.
"Fate brought you back. You came back with that offer, and I couldn't resist. I'm no better than a man and fuck knows how much I've fantasized about having you again." He muttered.
Faith still didn't where this was going, but she was completely invested, her face felt hot knowing he'd wanted her that much.
"But then, I thought you deserved more than what you offered, you're more than just a body to fuck you, I wanted to make you mine, but I didn't want a sex doll, I wanted a companion___" He blew out a breath, trying to express himself to her was never one of his strong keys.
"Hell, I just knew that I fucking needed you in my life!"
Faith was shocked and speechless, he'd not married her because he wanted to ensure she fulfilled the contract?
But because he__
Wait, was this a confession?
She held his gaze, her heart beating faster and faster.
Faith realized it now, their marriage had always been real.
To him.
Did this mean that he felt the same way about her?
Did he love her?
Her heart pumped with excitement.
She wanted him to say more.
Sadly, he didn't.
Instead, he kissed her.
His lips crushed against hers, his hot tongue staking their claim on hers.
"I'm sorry." He whispered, then proceeded to deepen the kiss, Faith moaned softly when his hands caressed her hair.
She wasn't sure exactly what he was apologizing for, but she was forgiving him.
She wouldn't have to hide her feelings for him anymore!
They came apart for air, but his forehead remained leaned against hers.
His rhythmical breath caressed her face.
"Faith, let's meet our families officially?"
Faith could only stare at him dry-mouthed.
"Can you give us a real chance,
Allow both our families to know about us and be an actual couple without thinking that this is just an agreement?"
Instinctively, she wanted to shout a "yes", but for some reason, her mouth spoke something else.
"I_I need some t_time."
Sterling sighed inwardly, at least wasn't opposed to the idea.
A small smile curved around his lips as he kissed her forehead softly.
"Of course, I will be away on a three-day business trip, you can think about it until when I return."
"B_but__" Faith started to protest that it wasn't enough time but his lips swallowed all her complaints.