When the bowl was nearly filled, Matthew put it down on top of the table.
Kirsten stared at the bowl of soup before her. She wasn’t sure if the soup was really for her.
She didn't touch the bowl of soup in front of her and observe Matthew.
He took the empty bowl before her. Filled it with soup, then he placed it before him and started to eat.
So it was really for her. He didn't accidentally place the bowl of soup before her.
A smile broke through her face and she said, "Thank you."
But her happiness was mixed with a bit of dejection that he didn't make as much of a grunt to respond.
The meal was spent in a very uncomfortable note as Matthew just ate without glancing at her nor tried to make small chat with her.
As a law student, Kirsten was used to talking with people. She was trained to have a good skill in communicating with people because she has to talk to clients and she'll need it during legal counsels and legal proceedings such as court hearings.
But facing her husband, she felt like all her skills were useless.
If this goes on for a year, she was afraid that she would lose her eloquence in the future. His silence was also making her freak out.
She would do everything to persuade him to let her go home during the weekends so the frequency she would be spending time with him would be lessened. And it would be decreased even more when school and internship begins.
Good thing her internship will begin next week and school the following week.
'I have to tell him lest I'll be breaking the terms and conditions of the construct.' she thought.
Just after Matthew put down his cutlery and lifted the table napkin up to his mouth to wipe it, Kirsten broke the silence.
"I will be starting my internship next week and school will begin the following week," she has to tell him because it was part of their contract to inform him of her whereabouts and activities.
She didn't break the terms and conditions for going out. She informed Gemma that she was going out for a walk. She enjoyed the walk that she didn't realize that she walked away from the neighborhood.
She only noticed that she walked miles away from the penthouse when it started to rain. She forgot to bring her phone with her and there was no way for her to inform him where she was.
And even if her phone was with her, she wouldn't have the courage to call him as he rejected her call when he called him this afternoon.
She was more certain that Steven would come to look for her as he said for her to call him if she needed anything.
It so happened that she memorized her husband's good assistant's number.
"Your driver will drive you to work and pick you up after work." His reply made Kirsten jerk her head to look at him.
Matthew only gave her a 'You don't like it?' look.
"I'm not used to it and I don't like attracting attention." Her boss and friend Anthony Dumont knew her financial status and that would raise a suspicion if she comes to the firm riding a car and having a personal driver at that.
Kirsten observed that he disliked talking, so she stopped talking altogether when he got up on his feet and took the dishes to the sink.
Silently she helped him clear the table and rinsed the dishes before stacking them in the dishwasher.
'Is he really a silent type or he just doesn't want to talk to me?' Kirsten wondered.
While Matthew went straight to his study after they were done tidying the dining room, Kirsten went to their bedroom.
She went to the bathroom and brushed her teeth before going to the walk-in closet.
She frowned looking at the nightgowns hanging in her wardrobe. All of them were a little revealing.
She doesn't wear this type of nightgown. They were provocative and it wasn't her type. However, she could do nothing but wear them.
She'll just buy a few sets of decent pajamas when Matthew gives her monthly allowance.
According to their contract, Matthew will give her a twenty thousand dollars monthly allowance.
Kirsten was elated that from the allowance Matthew gives and her salary from her internship, she could save money.
In addition to her savings, Matthew will give her a five million dollars alimony after their divorce.
It will be enough for her to start her own law firm.
She was smiling like an idiot, daydreaming while she laid on the bed facing the ceiling. She couldn't help but giggle.
Matthew happened to see her smiling and giggling as she laid flat on the bed, frowned.
'Why was she giggling as she was being tickled? 'Did she think of someone? Is she thinking about that man?'
Bile of displeasure arose from the depth of his stomach, making his face turn sour, like he had drunk an apple cider vinegar.
He closed the bathroom door with a bang, startling Kirsten and taking her out from her dreamworld.
Kirsten rolled her eyes as she looked at the closed door of the bathroom.
Deciding to drink milk before sleeping, she got up from the bed and at that time her phone rang. She picked her phone from the side table before heading to the kitchen.
Seeing the name of the caller, Kirsten could not keep her perfect white teeth from showing as she smiled. Swiftly, she swiped her phone screen to answer James' call.
"Hello James!" Her boisterous voice and wide smile were contagious.
James Lincoln who was on the other end of the line replied with a chuckle and his face was shining like a bright sun.
Kirsten opened the door and mosey on towards the kitchen to get milk.
"Are you free tomorrow night?" James had just come back from a business trip and wanted to see her.
"Don't tell me you missed me already?" Kirsten replied with a giggle.
"Why would I miss you, huh?" James said with a soft chuckle.
"Yeah, someone doesn't miss me that's why they were asking me to have dinner with them?" Kirsten said her comeback comically as she grinned.
"I won't come," Kirsten said with a serious tone but her face was far from being serious.
"Okay, I really missed you, let's have dinner tomorrow night at seven," James replied as he chuckled.
"I know it, you missed me!" Kirsten giggled like a teenager.
"Who are you talking to?" A cold voice came from behind her.
"Kristen? Did I hear the voice of a man?" James asked, a gust of anxiety and jealousy flurried into his heart. "I have to hang up, I'm still at work." Kirsten ended the call before any of the two men could speak again. Matthew was displeased to hear her lie. "Who is that and why did you lie?" Matthew asked, his cold voice made Kirsten tremble. However she quickly recovered and answered back. "A friend. And I wasn't lying, remember I am working for you. Am I right?" She responded and sidled away from him, completely forgetting her reason why she came to the kitchen. Matthew watched with a scowl as Kirsten walked out of the kitchen. He followed her to the bedroom and she was already under the sheet. Her eyes were closed and her back was facing his side of the bed. She didn’t move a bit even when she felt the sheet being lifted and he climbed onto the bed. All of a sudden, a hand was pressed against her shoulder and she was turned to face him. Too sudden, leaving her stunned
“She’s my –” Kirsten interjected, not letting him finish and greeted him nonchalantly. “Good evening, Mr Roosevelt.” “Good evening, Mrs Roosevelt,” Matthew answered, throwing Kirsten into confusion. Except Matthew, everyone was shocked. Taking advantage of Monalisa’s shock, he freed his arm from her grip and pulled Kirsten from James' side to his side. Now, Kirsten was standing beside him with his hand resting around her tiny waist, displaying a possessive gesture. “Hi, I am Kirsten's husband,” Matthew said to James, whose lips were pursed into a thin line. He reached out his hand for a handshake. James accepted the offer and shook his hand. Only the two of them knew how much force they used in the handshake. They were trying to crush each other's hand. None of them winced and the handshake was broken after a while. ‘No wonder why she was wearing a brand that only wealthy people could buy.’ James thought. James felt as if his heart was being wrung like a washcloth. He had b
Matthew looked down at the woman in his arms. His face looked even more lugubrious than usual. He wanted to open her skull and look at her brain. Isn't she a law student? Why is she dumb? Lifting her chin using three of his fingers, he spoke slowly with a low voice while keeping his annoyance at bay. "Did our contract say we are going to keep our marriage secret?" Considering her health he couldn't bear to scold or berate her. While they were in a contract marriage, still, she was his lawful wife. He must take care of her as he didn’t want to look for another pawn to marry. It would complicate things even more if another woman was involved. This time he would make sure that before this marriage was over, everything would be in its place as he had planned. "No, but since we got married in secret you want this marriage kept hidden." Her lawyer's instinct kicked up, defending her case. "I have no intention in keeping this marriage secret, my little wife." He has his reasons why he
Per instruction by her husband, in the afternoon, Kirsten went for a walk but this time she asked Tony to drive her to the park. With Tony here, she wouldn’t have to worry when it rained. Kirsten had been walking in the park for about fifteen minutes when her phone buzzed and she took out her phone. "Where are you?" Kirsten held her chest when she heard Matthew's voice as her heart began to beat more rapidly. "In the park, walking," she replied. A few minutes of interlude went by before Matthew spoke again. "Open your camera."'Is he having doubts about me?’ She made a face as this thought came across her mind. At the time she opened her camera, Kirsten had no idea that her face was revealed on the big screen in the conference hall. Her blue eyes made a beautiful contrast with her wavy auburn hair and her cheeks a shade of pink complimented by her luscious red lips. Matthew laid his back on his swivel chair, staring at the woman on the screen. "Did you bring an umbrella with
Norman's wrinkles got even deeper as he narrowed his eyes and frowned. This grandson of his was getting more and more out of hand. He could no longer control him. "Bring her home tonight. I want to meet my granddaughter-in - law." Norman couldn't do anything but to compromise at this time. When Matthew was still working at the family's company, Matthew had to bend to his will. With force he managed to persuade Matthew to get engaged with Monalisa but after five years Monalisa broke free from the engagement. Monalisa went to Hollywood when the opportunity of making a name in the film industry was presented to her. She had no qualm when she called off her engagement with Matthew. Monalisa was a whimsical woman and Matthew accommodating her capricious attitude was a testament of his great love for her. He thought that Matthew learned to love Monalisa as he pampered and spoiled Monalisa for the five years they have been together. However, it's been three months since the engagement wa
Kirsten was consumed by her own thoughts and did not pay attention to gasps and whispering in the lobby. She entered the elevator and pressed the button to where the law firm was. Within a minute the elevator halted with a chime and opened. Kirsten ambled towards her designated table. She had been interning in this law firm for three summers, this was the only time she will be interning here while having classes at law school. It was a paid internship as she and Anthony Dumont, the firm's boss, were friends. Anthony was also her teacher at the law school. Comparing her salary from the firm and Mr. Rossi's Restaurant, the law firm, offered her a better salary but it was too far from the university. Hence, she could only come here for an internship every summer. A litigation attorney asked her to research relevant laws and legal precedents that apply to their client’s case. She was also told to review all the evidence related to the case which included witness statements, medical
“What’s the matter here? Why are you all surrounding Kirsten’s desk?” Anthony’s low voice filled the air and all at once they turned their heads to look at Anthony. Standing tall a meter away from them, was a handsome man, sending some of the single ladies a giddy feeling while looking at him. “Er, Mr. Dumont, we are asking Kirsten who –” Kirsten interjected and said, “It’s lunch time, you better go. We have only one hour lunch break.” Everybody knew that Anthony didn’t want tardiness so they dispersed and rushed outside to grab some lunch. Having been able to dodge the question about Matthew, she sighed in relief at the thought that she didn’t have to make another lie. At one glance, Anthony recognized the paperbag that was seated on top of Kirsten's desk. He understood why the staff surrounded her. "You have a very rich admirer this time," Anthony teased her. It wasn't new for Anthony to see Kirsten receive gifts and lunches from admirers. Kirsten was the campus belle.
“Do you have a problem with it?” Matthew answered coldly and put his arm around Kirsten’s shoulders in a protective manner. Donna smiled and then pulled Kirsten to give her a bear hug. “I am happy that you are the woman my brother chose to be his wife.” “How are you doing, Donna?” Kirsten said after she recovered from her shock. Kirsten at some point wanted to ask Matthew if he knew Donna as they have the same last name but gave it up because they might not be related as there were many who have that last name. Matthew looked at Donna and Kirsten. “Do you know each other?” “She’s the tutor I was setting up as your blind date but you refused,” Donna chuckled. “You are really destined for each other.” Donna had been setting him up for a blind date with her tutor in law school. Whenever she got a chance to be with his brother, she always told him about Kirsten as the most beautiful woman in the campus. And she was not only beautiful but she had a brain and a body too. Infuriated th