With my hand still resting lightly on Robin’s arm, I swallow before turning to face Brandon fully. What is he even doing here? I try to form words but I am unable to. It’s not like I have anything to be scared of or to feel guilty for but I still find myself taking a step back from Brandon’s menacing stare.
“Come on, wife. Silence is no way to greet your husband. Especially in front of a stranger. I wonder, does he know that you are married?”
My eyes dart frantically to where Hailey was but I can’t find her. The realization of what this situation looks like suddenly hits me. But hey, Brandon is a rational man, isn’t he? Surely he’ll understand that I couldn’t possibly be out here cheating on him less than a week after our wedding.
“Hi, Brandon. What are you doing here?” I ask in a squeaky voice that I do not recognize as mine.
He looks me up and down with a smirk plastered on his face. “I own the place, Natalie. Now, how about you introduce me to your friend here.” His smirk takes on a hint of sarcasm as he extends a hand to Robin.
Just as I am about to make the introductions, Hailey bounces back towards us with two tickets in her hand. As soon as she sees Brandon, I see her wipe the smile off her face.
“Hello, Brandon. I didn’t know we were expecting company.” She says facing me.
He turns the same sarcastic smile in Hailey’s direction. “Hailey! Good to see you too. Have you met Natalie’s friend? They were hugging quite enthusiastically just now.”
Because I can feel Hailey’s gaze on me, I clear my throat and make the introductions. “Robin, meet Hailey, my best friend, and Brandon, my husband. Hailey, Brandon, Robin and I practically grew up together. I haven’t seen him since I left Cranes Island almost five years ago.”
Although Hailey’s sunny disposition smoothens the introduction process, I can still see the sarcasm evident in all of Brandon’s actions. After Robin and I exchange contacts, Brandon insists on going to see the movie with us. As expected, he and Hailey continue to make sly comments at each other. I would ordinarily be up for a fight, but right now, I just want to go home. Trust Brandon to ruin our MJ experience.
By the time we get home that evening, the chairwoman is already back from another of her charity events. She assumes that Brandon and I went out together and neither of us tries to correct her. At dinner, Brandon continues to give me odd looks until I finally ask him what the problem is.
“Nothing” he responds, “what’s the problem with staring at my beautiful wife?”
Of course, I don’t buy the act one bit. I stare him up and down and go on eating. The chef comes with a chocolate cake dessert whose sight alone makes me excited.
“Thank you, Aaron,” I say as he places a slice before me. “How’s your arm?”
“Oh, it’s getting better, Mrs Martinez. Thank you.” He says looking a tad bit flushed.
As expected, I feel Brandon’s and his mother’s look of surprise at my familiarity with one of the helps. I doubt that either of them even knows the names of most of the staff. I am friendly by nature, and seeing as I’ve never had anyone wait on me, I might as well make friends of the help. The chairwoman retired a little earlier than usual to her room that night. I follow suit and head inside as well.
With Brandon working on his laptop in the living room, I decide to indulge in a cinnamon scented bubble bath. Yes, this is one of the perks of living as a Martinez that I could totally get used to. When Brandon comes inside, it is late and I have almost fallen asleep. He steps into his closet and comes out clad in silk pajamas, and settles into bed. He jumps when I reach across to touch him.
“My God, Natalie! I thought you were asleep.”
“No. I was waiting up for you.”
“Well, why?” He asks, getting into a sitting position.
“Because there is something I’d like to ask of you.”
“Okay, go on.” He says with mild irritation.
“Seeing as neither of us seems to be interested in a honeymoon trip, I’d like to go back to work. This means that I’d like for you to speak with Mariah.”
“Okay.” He says, already settling back into his sleeping position.
“One more thing. Are you sure there’s nothing that can be done about this snoring problem that you have?”
Brandon gives me an incredulous look. “I do not have a snoring problem.”
“Of course you do. But that’s okay. I’m not judging you.” I say with a pretentious smile plastered on my face.
The look on Brandon’s face is torn between exasperation and frustration. “You’re impossible. I can’t believe my mom thinks you are an angel who can do no wrong.”
I chuckle and turn the other way as I place a pillow over my ears. Have to be prepared in case he sleeps before I do.
The look on Mariah’s face when Brandon introduces me as the new CEO of Giancarlo is iconic. She looks white as a sheet and clenches her fist over and over again. The smile on her face as she acknowledges me makes my blood crawl. I’m willing to bet the woman was a witch in her last life.
My new office has been cleaned and arranged. Although I have plans for rearrangement and redecoration, I leave the space as it is for now. With Brandon gone, I sit and reflect on my life. A little over a month ago, I was a regular girl working in this place with no exact hopes for the future. Now, I am suddenly Mrs Martinez, and I run an establishment like Giancarlo. Again, I wonder what my father would think if he were alive.
When I hear a knock at the door, I know exactly who it is. Hailey saunters into my office with the biggest smile plastered on her face. “Oh my God, Nat! Did you see Mariah’s face? She looked ready for the earth to open up and swallow her.”
“I did!” I say with a laugh. “I can just imagine how livid she must be. It is one thing for me to become Mrs Martinez, but to suddenly become her boss? Tough stuff.” I rise from my place behind the desk to wrap Hailey in a hug. “Thank you for always being there, Hailey.”
She hugs me back really tight and says, “Always, Nat.”
At that exact moment, there is a knock at the door. I recognize the girl who walks in as Stephanie, a waitress on Hailey’s shift. “Good afternoon, Mrs Martinez.”
I smile at the formality in her tone. Mrs Martinez? Steph and I have taken out the trash together. We’re not exactly close friends, but we’re cordial enough that she can continue to call me Nat.
“Really, Steph? You know you don’t have to be so formal.”
She fiddles with her hands and averts my gaze. “Erm, there’s something you might want to see outside.”