Beyond the Contract

CHAPTER 3 An Unfamiliar Man

　　Abraxas's POV

　　The day was pretty normal so far. Things at the firm were slow at the moment, while I awaited the answer for a new deal. It would mean a lot of money for me and my family, and a lot of work for my employees.

　　Charlotte kept me company, as usual. Since she didn't feel comfortable at home lately, I've been staying at her place for a while. My mother kept calling with updates and complaining about Stace. She never did anything the right way, but I had to give her credit for trying.

　　We've been legally married for a little over six years already, how time has flown by. And she caught on early to never talk back to anyone or there would be consequences. Even then my mother never was satisfied.

　　I kept reminding her that she was the one to choose Stace out of all the women who sent an application to this nonsense.

　　I never did condone this marriage thing, but I had no choice. Stace would go out with me to anything where a date was required, much to Charlotte's chagrin, and she was my representation in town whenever a charity asked for it. Mostly my mother kept her at home, where she could earn her stay and took care of all public appearances, but sometimes it was necessary for Stace to go.

　　She is a timid and quiet thing, too thin and pale. But that probably has a lot to do with the diet my mother keeps her on. A fat house help can't get as much done.

　　Charlotte hated Stace from the moment she saw her. Hated in every sense of the word, and whenever I had been at an event with her, Charlotte would be extra needy for attention a while after. Not that it bothered me that much, but sometimes it did get on my nerves.

　　"Where is your head at, baby?" Charlotte asks, while stroking a hand up and down my arm.

　　"Oh, just thinking about the deal and whether or not they'll do business with us. The guy on the phone was pretty vague." I answer casually, but she looks at me suspiciously.

　　"You had that look in your eyes. That Stacy look." She accuses me. Damn this woman knows me well.

　　"I'm just surprised my mother hasn't called and complained yet? They should have had.." The phone ringing interrupts me. "Never mind, then," I say with a smirk before picking up.

　　"Hello, mother." I greet, but it's Celia who answers me.

　　"She ran away. That ungrateful little b***h actually had the audacity to not answer me calling her and she didn't even make breakfast! She came down with all her pathetic things, demanded me to move and walked out. She's gone." Celia says almost in one breath. I've put the phone on speaker, and Charlotte looks like someone who won in the lottery.

　　"Are you sure, CeCe?" She asks with her eyes dancing in sheer joy.

　　"Of course I'm f*****g sure. I checked her room afterward, dammit. She's gone."

　　 "Why are you yelling at me? I didn't do anything." Charlotte whines into the phone.

　　My sister takes a deep breath.

　　"Of course not, Char. It's not because of you, but she just irks me. Brax, you need to get her in line! Especially before mom comes home." Celia hangs up, and I shake my head. What is going on with Stace today? She actually packed everything? Maybe she's trying to force me to do more in our marriage. Well, too freaking bad. I won't!

　　I still remember that day six years ago, where my parents told me I couldn't marry Charlotte due to her mental state. She wouldn't be able to handle the limelight, and as a public figure, I needed a wife to be in the front. Then Charlotte could be as she were, my one and only in the shadows.

　　She had thrown a tantrum that night when I told her, but after some thought she agreed with my parents - much to my surprise. She even launched herself into the pricking of my 'wife' with my mother and sister. What they were looking for, I don't know. But something in Stace's papers made them choose her without incident.

　　Charlotte seemed fine, but on the day of the wedding she had one of her episodes. She wanted to be the only one to wear white - "I AM THE ONLY ONE YOU LOVE, RIGHT BRAX?" She yelled at me, and my mother swooped in to save the day. A black dress, black shoes and a black veil was bought at the last minute, and peace was once again settled. Until Stace walked through the door looking like a model out of a magazine.

　　It had taken me all the rest of the day, the night and the next day to get Charlotte to calm down enough for us to go home, where she knew Stace was now staying.

　　"I'll have to handle this, babe," I say to Charlotte, trying to hint to her I need some time alone. I don't want her to witness this, or stress her out but she is not moving.

　　"Alone," I say quietly, knowing this won't be acceptable to her.

　　"NO!" She shouts, before dissolving into more tears. Damn. Stace always does this to her. I let her be and dial the number.

　　*Ring, ring, ring.*

　　"This is the voicemail of Stacy Harlow, please leave a message and I'll get back to you as soon as I can." I hang up and try again - three times. The result is the same every time. At last I left her a message to call me back immediately. Why wasn't she picking up? Normally it wouldn't beep twice before her eager voice answers. Something is going on.

　　I pick up the phone to call her again - something about this had me worried for some reason, but before I could dial for the fifth time Charlotte crawled on my lap.

　　"Don't! She got enough of our time." She purrs and kisses me. I kiss her back, but my mind is not really in it.

　　A few seconds later the door opens and closes, and there stands.

　　Stace.

　　She seems so sure of herself, standing there and smiling. She presents me with a stack of papers. She wants a divorce - I can practically feel Charlotte glowing beside me. She thinks we can finally marry - but I can't.

　　When the papers are signed, someone else walks through the door.

　　An unfamiliar man, who calls MY wife darling, how dare he? AND she smiles at him. My blood is boiling, but I can't show any emotions, because Charlotte would get ideas, and I don't need that to happen.