JONATHAN'S POV
I stopped my mom with a hand to her arm. "What's the problem, mom? I thought you liked her."
She scoffed. "There were people in the room. What did you expect me to do? I don't like her."
I shrugged. "Well, there's nothing you can do about it. I like her and that's why I got married to her."
"Fine, I'll make sure never to mention her again." She said as the elevator dinged for the garage.
That wasn't exactly why I had followed them out, despite the fact that I knew that was what she wanted, even after telling me not to see them out. I looked at my parents. "Don't ever mention Ethan again, especially not to her."
My mother gasped. "I shouldn't talk about my son? From you? Why the hell not?"
I shook my head. "Just don't. I don't want her to know about it, especially since she has also lost someone."
My mother searched my face and, with no other word, she and my father came out of the elevator. "I'll see you later."
I nodded and waved as they got into their vehicle and their driver drove out and pressed the elevator for the penthouse. I couldn't exactly mention the fact that I was looking into Ethan's murder and I knew my mother still spoke with Julia about Ethan, which was where she had possibly gotten the boldness to pull the stunt she had. Thankfully, it had been agreed that no videos were to be taken in the wedding hall, and I was very close with the media in charge, so it hadn't taken anything to tell him to make sure none of what happened ever come out. I wasn't sure about the people that were there, but with my threat and my reputation, I was sure none of them would be stupid enough to talk about it. Plus, the video that was playing as we left the hall would probably be enough to show what a lying manipulator Julia was. As nonchalant as I was known for, I couldn't sit back and watch my reputation be destroyed with that kind of lie.
I came out of the elevator and unlocked the door, not surprised that my wife was not waiting for me to return. I briefly glanced at the shoes and purse she had left by the couch. I didn't know her but from the little I'd been able to glean both from her job as my secretary and our interactions in preparation for the wedding, I could tell she was a diligent woman and one that wasn't easily intimidated, which was a character trait I really appreciated. She was perfect for what I needed, except for the secret she believed she was hiding from me.
I heard sounds from the kitchen and headed there, and there my wife was. I glanced at the cups she had washed.
"You should have left it. There's someone that comes to do the dishes." She was still in her wedding dress.
She turned to me with a smile. "It's just two cups and a tray. I can do it myself."
I nodded and waited as she cleaned the countertop. She finished and moved to the living room, leaving me in the kitchen, and appeared shortly with her shoes in one hand and her bag in the other. "Do you have something you want to say? I would like to retire to bed now."
I shook my head. "No. I don't."
She nodded. "Alright. Good night."
"Goodnight. Remember what I said about here when you first came?" I asked and she turned to me.
"That the place is mine for the next year. Yes, I remember."
I nodded. "That still remains. If you get hungry, you can help yourself with anything from the fridge or the pantry."
She smiled. "Of course. You don't have to worry about me."
I didn't mention that I wasn't, simply nodded and entered the kitchen to grab a bottle of water. I tried not to remember the things Ethan's friends had shared before I'd been gratefully saved with the ridiculous rumor. I opened the bottle and gulped the entire thing down and dropped the bottle. I needed to get myself cleaned up.
DANIELLE'S POV
I grimaced as I put on the light in my room. As much as I loved black, I didn't care for it to be a color I saw before I went to bed and woke up, but there really wasn't much I could do about it now. I guess I would have to live with having a black wall. Other than the color of the wall, the room was very spacious and generally not bad.
A king-sized bed sat at the center of the room, with a tall and textured headboard. Dark wood nightstands sat on each side of the bed with lamps that looked perfect for reading in the night. Across the bed, a built-in wardrobe with sleek, handleless doors lay. I opened the wardrobe and my jaws dropped, there was no way my things would make a dent in the wardrobe with how spacious it was. Even my shoes, a collection I was proud of as I loved shoes, wouldn't be able to make a dent in it. The one thing that had captured my attention from the moment I'd stepped in was the huge shelf filled with books I couldn't wait to start on and the cozy reading nook by the floor to ceiling windows. The absence of a vanity or a mirror was a little let down, but that was before I opened the bathroom.
I opened the bathroom door and used my fingers to cover my mouth because I was sure I was looking like a materialistic bitch, but I removed it soon enough, anybody and everybody that saw this bathroom would behave exactly like me. The room was okay, but the bathroom was perfect.
The bathroom floor and wall were covered in large tiles, but the parts that had my heart were the natural lighting where a soaking tub lay under, as well as the enclosed walk in shower with a rainfall shower head. I turned on the shower and squealed at the hot water that immediately came pouring out. Just imagining standing under that shower head was making the knots in the shoulders begin to loosen. One more thing that I loved about the bathroom was the large vanity that featured sinks I could reach. I could fit my entire face into it and water didn't drip out. I opened the cupboards that were fitted to the vanity and smiled. It was spacious enough, I could fit more than a quarter of my clothes into it.
I groaned as I removed my gown leaving my underwears and I had to shake my head. I'd worn the gown for over twelve hours. Even though the gown was simple and functionally light, it was still a material I wasn't used to and had gotten uncomfortable at the reception. My heels were a different matter. The back of my legs had peeled just like I'd imagined it would be. On second thought, I should have worn ballet flats or something more comfortable, the gown would have covered it.
I came out of the bathroom in a very soft bathtub and a towel on my wet hair, a satisfied smile on my lips. With how comfortable I had been and the thought of all the products that had been put in my hair, I'd washed my hair with the nice smelling shampoo I'd splurged on, and I wasn't regretting that decision. The bathtub had also effectively washed away all my fatigue away, and now I was ready to sleep until the next year. A knock on my door stopped my thought process.
I tightened my robe around me and opened the door for Jonathan, who was standing there with a bag in his hand. I cocked my head in confusion. I knew my things were still in the car and the bag he was holding wasn't a part of it. I also wasn't tempted to believe he had gotten me anything. He had been the one over emphasizing the fact that it was an arranged marriage.
He handed the bag to me and I collected it even though I was still confused.
"There are band-aids there for your heels, as well as a plane ticket. Get your passport and pack a few things. The plane will be leaving for Greece in the next hour for our honeymoon." And with that, he was gone. I looked at the bag and my empty doorway in rage. Plans effectively destroyed. What would it have cost him to inform me about this before now. The asshole.