Seraphim's POV:
When I got home, I met Nurse Riley cleaning the house. Nana was already asleep. She said Nana had called her to come help around the house.
"Thank you very much," I said.
"Oh, you're welcome—anytime," she replied with a smile.
Not too long after Nurse Riley left, Natasha came in. I immediately rushed to her, smiling, giggling, and jumping in excitement.
"Okay, okay, what's happening?" she asked, raising her eyebrows and jumping along with me so she wouldn't cut off my vibe.
"So, guess what?" I said.
She just stood there, waiting for me to spill it myself.
"Ugh, can't you just try a little bit?" I asked.
This time she just sighed, looking at me again with no effort to guess.
"Fine," I said, finally surrendering. A big smile lit up my face again. "I landed a contract worth ten thousand dollars!"
She immediately stood up in shock.
"OMG! How? Where? When? You have to tell me everything—details, right now! Start spilling it!" she said, her eyes wide open as she dragged me back to sit on the couch. She leaned forward, ready to hear it all.
I giggled, telling her to calm down for a minute.
"For a minute? Girl, start talking! Ten thousand dollars ain't no small cash—you don't get to tell me to calm down!" she shot back.
I stood up, still smiling.
"So, remember when I told you I asked my boss at the restaurant for a job with higher pay? She said she'd get back to me. Later, she sent me a message saying they needed someone to do something for them, and blah, blah, blah. Fast forward to today…"
I took a deep breath and continued.
"I got there, met some other ladies, and we were called in one by one. When it was my turn, they asked me a few questions, and to my surprise, I was picked for this. I don't even know why me, though."
"Girl, your prayers have been answered and you're asking why? Who the fuck are you?" she said.
There was a moment of silence. We looked into each other's eyes, smiled, and then burst into laughter.
"So, what did they say you're doing for the money, though? I mean, they aren't just giving it away, are they?" she asked.
"Well, I'm just supposed to act like someone's wife for some time so he can get his inheritance and stuff like that. It's like a win-win thing."
Natasha stood up slowly.
"Well, that's easy. And we know what that calls for now, don't we?" she said, nodding her head, raising her eyebrows twice, and heading to the drink shelf while laughing.
She came back with a bottle of alcohol and two cups. She handed me one, and we both smiled hard. She poured the drinks, turned on the music, and soon we were dancing and drinking. We got drunk and eventually slept off on the couch.
The next morning, I woke up in my bed. Natasha was gone.
Grey's POV
I wasn't a morning person, but today, I had a purpose. The contract was signed; Seraphim was bound to me now, whether she liked it or not. I wanted to see if she'd really follow through, or if she'd run the first chance she got.
So I drove down to the shabby neighborhood I had only been to once before. I didn't bother calling ahead; she would have no excuse.
The door swung open after my third knock, and there she was — hair messy, face still carrying the softness of sleep. Her eyes widened when she saw me.
"Wait—what the hell? How do you know where I live?" she asked, half-panicked, half-irritated.
I smirked. "You signed papers, Seraphim. Did you really think I wouldn't know the details of where my… wife lives?"
She glared. "Don't call me that."
"Fine," I shrugged. "Pack your things. You're moving into the mansion. Today."
Her lips parted as though she was about to protest, but then she stopped. Something flickered in her eyes — worry, maybe guilt. She thought of someone, I could tell. Then her gaze hardened.
"Give me five minutes."
When she returned, she had a small bag with her. "I already spoke to Nurse Riley," she muttered quickly, almost like she was justifying herself to me, though I hadn't asked. "She's looking after Nana while I'm gone."
I raised a brow. "Good. Now let's go."
Seraphim's POV
Why the hell would he just show up like this? I thought as I sat on my bed, heart racing. I couldn't leave Nana not now, not ever. But then a thought struck me: Nurse Riley.
I called her immediately. "I'm going on a job hunt," I lied, "and I don't know when I'll be back, but it won't be long. Could you stay with Nana in the meantime?"
Just as I expected, she agreed. Relief washed over me.
I stuffed a few clothes into a small bag and walked out to where Grey was waiting.
Then it hit me that I hadn't checked on Nana. I rushed back into her room and found her sleeping peacefully, wearing that same soft smile. My chest tightened. If only it could always be this peaceful.
I shook the thought away and returned to the parlor, where Grey stood with that ever-present impatience.
"Well, you know time doesn't just freeze and wait for you to be done with whatever you're doing, right?" he sneered.
I clenched my fists. Says the guy who barged in unannounced.
We got into his car and hit the road. Even the car smelled like money. These people are stinking rich, I thought, keeping silent the whole ride.
An hour later, we pulled up at the mansion.
The place felt unreal polished floors, glittering chandeliers, walls that probably cost more than my entire house. I froze, my mouth slightly open.
"Close your mouth," Grey said flatly. "You'll give yourself away before my parents even meet you."
"I'm not some clueless girl," I snapped, though my voice lacked conviction. Inside, my heart was hammered. What was I even doing here?
Grey walked ahead, his posture rigid. "We'll need to create stories. About how we met, why I chose you, where you're from. My parents will ask you questions,a lot of questions. If you mess this up, Seraphim, I lose everything. And if I lose, you lose too."
I swallowed hard. He was right. Still, his arrogance stung. "Don't worry. I'm a fast learner."
"Good," he muttered, though I could tell he didn't believe me.