Just Before My Wedding: Trapped By My Ruthless Boss novel Chapter 101

Chapter 101

OCEANS.

The door opened into my living room, and the first thing I noticed was the smell of something slow–cooked – it smelled like the combination of butter, garlic, spice, and too much effort. And the smell was so out of place in a house where I usually ate standing at the kitchen island with a glass of scotch and a folder in my other hand.

My jaw tightened.

I stopped in the foyer, my hand still on the cuff of my coat.

For one unreasonable second, irritation moved through me.

Who the fuck was cooking in my house?

Then I heard movement from the dining room… Soft footsteps, a quiet hum, and the faint clink of cutlery being adjusted against porcelain.

I took off my coat slowly and handed it to the nearest staff member without looking at him, and he headed upstairs.

I walked toward the dining room, and Moon was there.

She stood beside the table, arranging a bowl of something steaming beside a plate she had already set. Her hair was down, falling over one shoulder in soft waves, and she was wearing one of my white shirts.

Mine.

The sleeves swallowed her wrists. The hem stopped above her knees. She had left the top few buttons open.

Fuck.

I should have been irritated.

Part of me was.

But I forced myself

to

stay

still and remind myself that this woman was supposed to be my future.

And I was supposed to learn how to stop detesting her. So I loosened my shoulders. Unclenched my

“Moon?”

She turned when she heard my voice, and her face brightened immediately.

“You’re home.”

And tried.

‘Home…

The word sounded strange in her mouth, almost like she was testing how much of my life she could fit herself into.

“Yes, I am.” I said.

Her smile faltered for only a second before she recovered. “I made dinner.”

“You cooked?

“I tried. She looked down at the table with a small laugh. “Your chef helped for a while before he ran away because I kept asking too many questions.” Her smile broadened. “He also said you hardly let him cook.

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Chapter 101

Despite myself, my mouth almost moved. She saw it and s

“I didn’t know you could cook,” I said.

“There’s a lot you don’t know about me.” She walked around the

further.

as if she had found a crack in my armor

and reached up to help me with

Her fingers brushed my collar. She smelled like my soap again. Everything about her was becoming mine clothes, my scent, my space.

I let her take the tie. I let her hang it over the back of the chap

“You haven’t eaten, have you?”

“No.”

“I knew it.” She stepped around the table and pulled out a chair. “Sit.”

I looked at the chair before looking at her again.

“Moon.”

“It’s dinner, Oceans. Not a trap.”

That was exactly what a trap would say, but I sat anyway.

tie.

my house, my

Not because I was hungry. I wasn’t. My stomach had been locked the hospital. I sat because she was watching me like

my refusal would bruise her, and I was tired of being the man who hurt every woman in his orbit simply by existing near them.

She moved quickly after that, almost too pleased with my obedience. She served braised short ribs, garlic mashed potatoes, roasted carrots, and a small bowl of soup she claimed would help with stress.

She sat across from me and watched me take the first bite.

It was good, but I didn’t tell her that. I just kept eating.

She leaned forward a little. “Is it okay?”

“It’s fine.”

“Fine,” she repeated, narrowing her eyes. “That’s billionaire language for either terrible or acceptable.”

“It’s acceptable.”

She smiled. “Progress.”

I took another bite because she looked too happy over one word, and because some ugly part of me wanted to prove I could sit across from my fiancée and do something ordinary. Eat dinner. Speak calmly. Let the future I had agreed to have a pulse.

Maybe this was how it started.

Maybe love was not something that crashed into you and wrecked your spine. Maybe it was mere discipline and small habits like a chair pulled out, a meal eaten even when appetite had abandoned

you…

Little

aningless things.

Maybe I could learn.

Moon rested her chin in her palm, studying me. “You look exhausted.”

“I had a long day.”

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Chapter 101

“I know.”

For a moment, she let the silence sit. Then she reached for her wine

“The wedding dress fitting is tomorrow,” she said. “Hope you haven’t forgotte

I set my fork down. “I have meetings planned for tomorrow. Important

ones

I can’t travel right now.

Her shoulders lowered a little. “You said you would come.”

“I know.”

“It’s just one day.”

“I can’t travel. My voice came softer than usual because I was trying. have the jet ready for you.”

help

me,

I was trying. “Take whoever you want. I’ll

She looked down at her plate, and that small silence worked on my conscience.

I exhaled through my nose. “Moon.”

“I’m not angry.” She smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes. “I just thought… never mind.”

“Say it.” I pushed.

“I thought you might want to see me choose it.” Her fingers traced the rim of her glass. “Your bride’s dress.”

I forced myself not to look away. “Send me pictures.”

She laughed once. “That’s what men say when they want to be spared.”

“That’s what men say when they have billion–dollar meetings,” I replied, and she smiled.

“I really hoped we’ll do this together,” she finally said, “I already told my friends about it.”

“I wish I could,” I replied.

Her face slowly lit up, “That’s fine. I can

go with Jorinda.”

Jorinda.

My appetite vanished completely.

Moon must have seen the shift because she rushed gently into the space before I could answer.

“I know you fired her,” she rushed. “But she’s my best friend, Oceans. And she’s anywhere because of what happened.”

through a lot. She can’t find a job.

She placed her hand on mine and squeezed my wrist, then withdrew her hand when I looked at it.

“She was childish and cruel. I told her that. But she has been miserable. Her debts are drowning her. Her apartment is at risk, and she’s not a bad person. She just… she made a mistake.”

I leaned back slowly. “I don’t take back those I let off, Moon. And you know that.”

“I know. I do.” She placed a hand to her chest. “But I’m asking you to forgive her.” Her voice softened, and her eyes turned Teary. “For my sake.”

Fuck.

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Chapter 101

That phrase.

She fucking used it.

My fingers tightened around the fork.

“Please, babe. I don’t want to do this alone.” She pleaded. “And I want her to be happy while we are

My jaw tightened.

I looked at her across the table and tried to find the right answer. No

else.

But what kind of man could not give his fiancee one small thing?

“Fine,” I said. “She can resume.”

Moon’s eyes brightened.

“And she can go with you,” I added.

Her whole face brightened. “Really?”

“Really.”

She came around the table and hugged me from behind.

on the trip.

was simple, and it was what I would have said to anyone

I went still as her arms wrapped around my shoulders, with her che

pressing against mine.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

I raised one hand, placed it lightly against her forearm, and made myself not pull away.

She drew back enough to look at

Then she kissed me.

Odd.

1. me.

That was the only word my mind supplied.

Odd, because I knew I should want the kiss to deepen.

Fucking odd, because I let it happen and still felt like some part of me was standing elsewhere, watching the performance and refusing to clap.

Thank fuck, she finally pulled away after a few seconds. And double thanks, she wasn’t sad that I hadn’t kissed her back.

I reached into my pocket, took out my wallet, and removed the black card.”

She stared at it.

“Take this with you tomorrow.”

Her lips parted. “Oceans…”

“For the dress fitting.

She reached for it slowly, like it might disappear if she moved too fast. “Are you sure?”

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Chapter 10T

There’s no limit.”

“Can I use it for other shopping too?” she asked exciterth

“Buy whatever you want.”

“Thank you,” she said again.

“You don’t have to keep thanking me.” I sipped my wine,

She smiled and giggled.

“You know what?” Her fingers reached for my chest,

my responsibility.

a

finger over the buttons.

to stop her. And I fucking wanted to. But, I couldn’t.

She moved slowly enough like she wanted to see if I’d tell her

“What?” I asked.

She gave a small, innocent smile. “I’ll run you a warm bath.”

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