Chapter 20

Lynn POV

It's been a sad few week for Shaquille, after the funeral, all he does is stay locked up in his room, and drink, how do I know this? Because I see an empty bottle of vodka every morning, and I know it wasn’t the maids who were drinking. They weren't brave enough. I should go to the office, but I have decided that enough is enough, and I will speak with him, so I told Susan to call me if there's anything. As for Floyd and Tanya, they have learned to respect me, or maybe they haven't, maybe they have gotten better at keeping their hurtful comments to their selves, I am basically their boss who is married to the boss, so... who knows, maybe they want to keep their jobs, after all. As for my brother, I can see that he is really trying, but I still keeping a close eye on, Shaquille wants to expand the store so, maybe I could employ him as a security guard or something, but as I said, baby steps.

Mr. Jensen wasn’t kidding when he told Shaquille that he didn’t change the will, he didn't. The only two beneficiaries he had was, Shaquille and the former Mrs. Jensen, his first wife, Shaquille's mother and since she is dead, every goes to him. It's sad, and I feel for him, but he time, I know that. He did keep his end of the bargain though, but instead of four million dollars, he gave me ten, something I didn’t expect and something I wasn’t excited about. Because if he still sees me a business partner, that means I can never tell him how I feel, how I really feel. He’s probably staying married to me because the public was still watching us, and it will raise a lot of questions if we divorced right after his father's death. Taking a deep breath, leaned against the kitchen counter, pouring myself a glass of red wine,

"I see we have something in common," I heard his voice behind me,

"And that's what?" I veered around, seeing him gulping down a bottle of water, "We both drinking again our pain,"

"This is my first taste of wine since our first date," I mumbled, taking a sip,

"How are you?"

"I am good... how are you?"

"Apart from torturing my lung with alcohol poisoning, I… I am doing better,"

"Okay." I wanted to say something more, but what more could I say? What do you say to a man who you are in love with, but has also lost the only family he had left? Do I blurt it out? Do I sit him down and talk? Or do I say nothing at all and wait until he has healed, but will it be too late?

"Lynn..."

"Shaquille..."

We both spoke at the same time.

"Sorry, you go first," I smiled, "I know being locked up in this big house can’t be fun... in fact I know it no fun and I have been really fucked up lately, and I started to feel better, my heart is still a little broken but... I want to go out and have some, and... what I am asking is... would you go out with me... it not like a date or anything, I—"

"Sure."

"Okay, cool, what were you going to say?"

I knew the decision I was making when I told Shaquille to let's get married, I knew I would be stuck in a marriage with a man that drives my emotions wild, a man I couldn't have, a man who just friend zone me. So, the question is, should I tell him? Should I tell Shaquille Jensen how I really feel, or should I let it go?

"Um, " I stuttered.

"I wanted to tell you that..." I gazed into his curious eyes,

"That..." but I couldn't do it, I could tell him that I was falling in love with him,

"The store, it's doing great, everyone has sent their condolences, and wishes you will stop by more often,"

"Oh, tell them thanks, I guess."

"I already did, this was from weeks ago, but—"

"I was locked up in my bedroom, not eating, sleeping, or talking to anyone, wow... I feel like a jackass,"

"You're not... you are just going a tough time, you're human,"

"Yeah," he mumbled, "I guess so, umm... I will see you," he threw the empty water bottle in the bin, grabbing another sealed on from the counter, walking away "Yeah," I turned around, sipping the wine. What a waste, I thought. I had the perfect moment to tell him, and I chickened out. I am certain I won’t get a chance like that again.

"Hey Lynn," my heart began to pound in my chest when I heard his voice behind me,

Turning around to face him, I cried the corners of my mouth with my fingers, "Hey... Did you forget something?"

"Yes... Yes I did,"

Pulling me closer to him, he pressed his lips against mine, kissing me hungrily as he ripped my dress open. I wanted to stop him, and confess my feelings for him, set the record straight before we create a big mistake, but it been so long, and I wanted it... I wanted him. Hoisting me on the counters, he pushed himself between my legs, moaning into my neck.

"Fuck," I moaned out, all my walls opened up around his cock, it pained a little less with each stroke,

"Shaquille," I cried out his name, I was close, "I do have something to tell you... that day when her father tricked us about the dinner invitation, everything... fuck! Everything I told him... was true that's how I really feel, I love you,"

If he didn’t hear anything else, I am sure he heard those last three, because I think it broke the mood, or made it better, I didn’t know yet, he just kept staring in my eyes, "Lynn, I feel the same way, I don’t know when it happened but, I know I love you, and I want to stop pretending, I want to be a real couple, I want to stay married."

Smiling, I kissed him lightly on the lips, caressing his cheeks.

"I want to stay married too Jensen, I do."

Laying my shoulder, I ran my hand through his hair, I could feel his hot breath on my chest, "I am a billionaire, still I don’t find peace in riches like I did before, you are all I have left, Lynn, please don’t leave me,"

"I won’t... I promise,"

And I meant it, in fact there is no way he could get rid of me now, he did start out as hire purchase, paying down on my services to pretend to be his girlfriend, but now I am his wife, and as much as I own him, he owns me, we have paid the price in full.