Chapter 3 Chapter: 3

NICKLAUS

“Boss, we're home,” Logan announces. My eyes sprang open to find him standing outside the car, holding the door open for me.

I grabbed my suit jacket before getting out of the car and heading to the two-story townhouse where my wife and daughter live.

My wife, the title tickles, and not in a good way. The black-suited gunmen working 24/7 nodded their greetings as I walked past them, and I barely spared them a glance.

The lights were off as I made my way up the stairs to my room.

I switched on the lights in my room and began to loosen my tie. I stripped out of my button-down shirt and started unbuckling my pants as I strode into the en suite bathroom.

My step faltered as I noticed the lit candles; red rose petals littered the tiles.

A muscle in my jaw began to tick as my eyes landed on the naked woman sitting in a full tub of steaming hot water with bubbles, holding a glass of red wine.

“Hi, honey,” Juliette greeted seductively, smiling at me. I put back my belt firmly in place and sighed.

“What are you doing here?”

“Waiting for my husband, of course. Why don't you strip and join me? Before the water gets cold,” she suggests, looking at me with hunger in her eyes.

“I'm tired. I've been in one meeting after another. I just want to go to bed. Enjoy your bath, though.”

“Nicklaus,” she suddenly yelled, her voice accompanied by the sound of glass shattering against the wall.

And here we go! I slowly turned around. I was unfazed by her tantrum.

Juliet was now standing in the bath, water sloshing to the sides, little bubbles clinging to her slim, toned body, firm breasts, and flat stomach.

I watched blankly as she began to trail her hands over her body.

“Baby, I need you, I need my husband. It's been so long, don't tell me you don't miss this?” She thrust a finger inside her pussy, her eyes holding mine, lips parted as she pushed that finger deeper and faster.

“That you don't miss me, I need you inside me, Nicklaus, please,” she begged, reaching up with her other hand, she cupped her breast.

I stared coldly. I'm already used to Juliette's mood swings, and I have no patience for them. I have more important problems than her trivial needs for sex.

“I just had a long day, Juliette, and I'm fucking exhausted. So I'm going to bed.” I turned and walked back into my bedroom.

“Nicklaus! Nicklaus!!” her voice ricocheted into the night as she followed me back to my room, still naked as the day she was born.

“We're fucking married, Nicklaus! When are you going to stop treating me indifferently? When are you going to act like my husband? I'm seriously getting tired of this. I need my husband. This can't fucking go on, you're always busy, always exhausted.” She was shouting.

“I work hard too! And I get tired, too, but I'm trying to get our family together and make this into a normal family. I don't see you at all. If you're not sleeping in the office, you're on a trip to other countries!” I forced down my irritation before I snapped.

“I'm a businessman, Juliette, you already know that. I'm doing my best to provide you and Natalie with a comfortable lifestyle. I don't have time to spend with you; I have a company to run. You already know that.” 

She leaned in to kiss me. I step back, my face hard. The thought of kissing her was abhorrent; I can't bring myself to do it.

“Why don't you go to bed. I have a couple of files to sign. I will come to bed when I'm done.”

“Nicklaus?” she called, confused.

“Go to bed, Juiette, I’m tired.”

“I need you right now, Nicklaus.” 

I walk to the bedside drawer and take out a red eight-inch dildo. “You’ll live here,” I put the dildo in her hand. “Take care of yourself with this.” 

Then I turn and leave her standing there naked with a dildo in hand. Something hit me in the back, and I turned to find her marching towards me. I didn't try to stop her as she raised her hand and slapped me.

“Are you even a man, Nicklaus?! Or is it that you don't find me attractive anymore?!” Her eyes suddenly narrowed.

“Are you cheating on me? I know you, I know how passionate you are, Nicklaus. And unless you're cheating on me, I don't understand why you won't have sex with me! I'm your wife, Nicklaus. I want you to fuck, kiss, and hold me! But you won't. Goddammit! Why are you doing this to us?!” She grabbed my shirt collar.

“You're destroying us because of another woman, aren't you? You have a lover?” her voice trembled.

“I can't do this right now, Juliet.”

“You can't do this? No, Nicklaus, I can't do this! So fucking answer me, do you have a mistress? Is she why you won't even touch me?” She screamed, shaking me as she sobbed. I grab her hands, freeing myself from her death grip.

“Stop this shit, Juliet. I'm already drained from work. I don’t have time for this. If you’re bored, do some shopping or take a couple of days off and go to the beach house. Take Natalie with you. I'm sure she will love it.” I let go of her hands.

“And you?” she asked as tears trailed down her face.

“I can’t. I have to attend a business meeting in Chicago.”

For a long, quiet second, she just stares at me with a look I know all too well. Bitterness, hate, and hopelessness, and I felt absolutely nothing.

No guilt, pity, nothing. 

A sound cut through the tense silence. She sniffed, wiped her tears, and then grabbed the phone.

She cleared her throat. “Hey, Andrea.” My ears twitched at the familiar name. “Is everything okay? You’ve never called me this late before.” 

They talked for a bit before she ended the call. Juliette opened the closet, grabbed some clothes, and started for the door, ignoring me. 

She glanced back from the threshold. “Everyone says you're a cold-hearted bastard, but they're wrong, Nicklaus, you know why?” I nonchalantly arched a brow.

“Because you don't even have a heart,” she sneered, before walking out of the room and slamming the door hard.

I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose before walking towards the little bar. I grabbed a bottle of scotch and poured myself a generous amount. I took a sip, then made my way to the balcony.

A slight irritation simmers beneath my tightly leashed control. I need to get everything sorted out before things spiral out of control.

Juliet might be hurt right now, but she's going to bounce back to her old self come morning like nothing happened.

With her temperament, at least she won't be coming to my room for a while. She can call me a bastard or whatever, but there are boundaries that even I dare not cross.