Today was Ashley's first day at work. The first day of the rest of her life. She strode into Ashford printing press, a modest office compared to Julian's office premises that oozed luxury and money.
Today marked her first day at work, as the Chief Operations Officer, a position that was recently created to anchor her authority in the company, after its near collapse.
She mentally made notes of renovations she had to do, as the company had been on survival mode for so long.
Renovation and maintenance which had somehow gone way down, on the scale of preference. Not that she blamed them.
She waved to her assistant, offering a polite smile, as she moved toward her office. Every step was deliberate, professional.
Julian Blackwood, her new husband was only a means to an end in her mind. He existed only as a necessary evil in her head, not as the man who had haunted her thoughts since their cruise together. Nothing more.
Her first hour passed in a haze of meetings, memos, administrative tasks, emails, and phone calls, her focus sharp, almost therapeutic. In fact she relished in the welcomed distraction from her new reality.
She basked in it, until a discreet knock sounded at the door.
"Come in," she said absent mindedly, deliciously lost in her tasks.
Julian entered with measured grace, impeccably suited, his presence filled the room without effort. He carried the same controlled elegance she remembered and had come to associate him with. Calm, efficient and untouchable. A far cry from the carefree lover boy on the hatch. He was all business. No smirk, no teasing. Just sharp efficiency.
"Mrs…Blackwood," he began, eyes scanning the room. "I trust the transition into your new role is proceeding smoothly?"
Ashley lifted her chin. "Yes. She responded, still feeling weird whenever he called her Mrs. Blackwood. "The transition has been seamless. I intend to keep it that way."
He nodded, scanning her reports, proposals, and neatly stacked files. "Good. Efficiency is an asset. Especially since we can't afford to go back to where we came from."
She didn't find it funny or amusing, instead she willed herself to breathe steadily, reminding herself to be Civil. Professional. Nothing else.
The next hour was polished, professional dialogues, proposals, reports, forecasts, legal clauses, all conducted with precision. Not a single word hinted at the chaos simmering beneath the surface. Yet Ashley felt it in every subtle glance, every imperceptible shift in his posture. The tension wound tighter around her chest with each passing minute.
"Good work,Wifey," Julian said finally, rising, deliberately trying to irritate her.
"Let's maintain this level of cooperation, no complications. Personally… I trust you'll continue to honor our agreement."
Ashley's lips twitched. "Of course, Mr. Blackwood."
He looked at her feigning annoyance, " I don't get a nickname I guess, don't you think it's weird? How do we sell our marriage if you refer to me that way, the same way everyone else does?" he whispered in a conspiratory tone.
"You'll have to do better ma chérie" Without waiting for her response, he moved very swiftly and gave her a chaste forehead kiss.
Ashley was taken by surprise, this simple kiss was threatening to undo all her carefully erected walls.
She practically rolled her eyes at herself in half disdain at what a chaste kiss was almost doing to her. To add insult to injury she knew he was probably mocking her and trying to make her self conscious.
"The driver can take the rest of the day off ma Cherie. There are people I want you to meet." He wasn't asking for her permission, he was telling her. This annoyed her a little bit, but his mannerism was so manly and sexy, It was easier to overlook and forgive him, leaving her reservations ignored.
When Ashley finally left the building, she found Julian already waiting in a sleek black car. Her chest tightened, not from fear, but anticipation. She slid into the passenger seat, every instinct screaming stay alert, stay composed.
He was perfectly calm, perfectly composed, yet she could feel the subtle pull, the underlying tension that had followed her since the cruise.
The drive was quiet, after asking how her day went in a nutshell, like he wasn't there half of the day. She didn't dare ask him back, too afraid to care or show care. The hum of the engine, distant city sounds, and occasional soft music created a fragile cocoon of normalcy. Ashley focused on the lights streaking past, every neon sign and streetlamp reflecting in her eyes.
Julian spoke first again, casually, "Efficient day."
Ashley's lips pressed into a thin line. "Not bad, can't complain at all."
He glanced at her, expression unreadable, but she caught a glimmer of amusement in his eyes. That subtle challenge, so small she might have imagined it, made her pulse spike.
When they arrived home, the mansion was bathed in soft light, the gardens glowing, fountains whispering like quiet secrets. Inside, the staff, Chef, house manager, moved with their usual discreet efficiency. Dinner awaited, simple yet elegant.
"You may bathe, change and freshen up, if you wish," Julian said, gesturing toward the bedroom wing.
"Or we can dine here. Whatever you prefer, but remember we are supposed to be having dinner with my family."
Ashley exhaled sharply. The contractual obligation hung over her like a delicate trap. She would not yield to this comfort. She would remain professional and aloof. She would.
She was still struggling to understand his world. The driver, chef, helps, assistants, CEO, mansion and the husband that came with it all, was all so overwhelming she felt like screaming.
They'd declined dinner, and within minutes she was back looking all refreshed and rested. She was wearing a dark blue gown. As she descended the stairs, Julian couldn't help but admire her secretly. He married a beautiful woman and wasn't disappointed in himself at all. All was always good and fine, till she challenged and antagonised him.
"Mon Cherie, you look beautiful and positively radiant," he complimented her. Before he offered his hands, she linked her elbows with him, as they proceeded towards the door.
"Let's go meet your new family, Mrs. Blackwood".