Chapter 3 A Very Long time
Matthew’s POV
I didn't expect my return to be this interesting.
Usually, walking into this mansion feels like stepping into a cold, empty museum. The air is always stiff, and Josephine usually spends her time talking about social events or her business deals. But when I walked into the kitchen last night and saw Jessica... the house finally felt like it had a pulse.
She wasn't the shy, awkward girl I remembered from the wedding years ago. She was a woman now, and a beautiful one at that. Standing there in the moonlight, she looked like a masterpiece carved from marble. Most people would have crumbled or screamed under my gaze, but she stood her ground for a long, heavy moment before finding the strength to run. I liked that. I liked the fire in her eyes even when she was afraid.
Now, sitting next to her at dinner, I can feel her heart racing. Even though she is trying to look at her plate, I can feel the heat radiating off her skin. She’s wearing a simple sundress, but on her, it looks better than the thousand-dollar designer gowns my wife wears. Jessica is terrified, yet she hasn't left the table. She is drawn to the flame, even if she knows it will burn her.
I leaned in closer, making sure she could feel my presence. My voice dropped to a low, smooth whisper. "Let’s keep it our little secret."
She looked at me then, her big eyes wide and searching mine. "Matthew, you shouldn't say things like that. You're married to my sister. This is wrong. All of it is wrong."
"Josephine is thousands of miles away in Paris," I said, my voice like silk. I reached out, my fingers grazing the soft skin at the back of her neck. She shivered, and I felt a surge of power. "And I am right here. You are right here. Why should we let a beautiful, quiet night go to waste because of rules made by people who aren't even in the room?"
I moved my hand slowly, my fingers tracing the line of her shoulder before slipping slightly under the strap of her dress. I wanted to see if she would push me away or call for help. She didn't. She was frozen, her breath coming in short, shallow gasps. I could see her pulse jumping in the hollow of her throat. It was an invitation, whether she realized it or not.
The dining room was silent, save for the ticking of the grandfather clock in the hall. I leaned in further, my face inches from hers. I could smell the faint scent of her shampoo—something like vanilla and rain. I was just about to close the gap when a loud, violent noise shattered the moment.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
The sound of heavy pounding on the front door echoed through the foyer. Jessica jumped so hard she nearly knocked over her glass of wine. I pulled my hand back, my jaw tightening in frustration. The spell was broken.
"Mr. Greg? It’s the emergency cleaning agency!" a woman’s voice yelled from outside. "We got a report about the burst pipes in the laundry room. We’re here to dry the floors before the water warps the wood!"
I let out a long, annoyed breath. "I told the manager they weren't needed until Tuesday," I muttered under my breath.
Jessica stood up instantly. She looked like a prisoner who had just been handed a key to her cell. She was shaking, her hands gripping the edge of the table so hard her knuckles were white.
"I... I have to go," she said, her voice frantic. "The noise... it will wake Ethan. He’s a light sleeper. I need to be in the nursery."
"Jessica, wait," I started, but she didn't listen.
She turned and hurried to open the front door before rushing out of the room with Ethan, her footsteps disappearing as she ran up the stairs. I stayed in my seat a little longer and heard the loud chatter of the cleaning crew as they entered with their mops and noisy vacuums.
A woman in a uniform walked into the dining room, looking flustered. "I'm so sorry for the late hour, Mr. Greg, but the leak was worse than we thought. We need to start in the basement and work our way up."
"Just do your job and stay out of the west wing," I snapped.
She nodded quickly and scurried away. I was left alone with my drink and the empty chair where Jessica had been sitting. I picked up my glass, the amber liquid swirling against the ice.
The "hushing money" I left on the counter earlier was just a test. I wanted to see if she was greedy. But seeing her tonight told me she isn't moved by money. She is moved by the tension, by the danger of being caught.
Jessica thinks those cleaners saved her tonight. She thinks that if she stays in the nursery behind a locked door, she is safe from me. She has no idea how wrong she is. I’ve spent my whole life taking what I want from the world, and right now, I want her more than my next breath.
Two months is a very long time. By the time Josephine returns from her trip, Jessica won't be the innocent sister anymore. She will be mine.
I took a slow sip of my drink and smiled into the darkness. The game was only beginning, and I always win.
