Jayden's POV

After making sure that the clown I call friend is gone with his silly wife, I turn back inside, ignoring the stab of anger in me.

How the hell did I become friends with Gabriel? Why can't he always be serious? Where the hell did he meet his wife who matches his exact type of craziness?

I expel a deep sigh and walk inside. I shouldn't have let them come. Isabella was embarrassed and I was too. She is only doing her job by saying all those things but I was a bit angry at her for not reading through the lines.

She played dumb. Just like she used to do when she was my Assistant.

Just before I get to the staircase, my phone beeps but I ignore it, thinking it is Gabriel. When it beeps for the second time, I dip my hand into my pants to bring the phone out as I take the staircase up.

Alejandro's name pops across the screen and I wonder why he is texting by this time of the night. I have an appointment with him tomorrow morning and he might be texting regarding that.

I tap on the message as I take the staircase up.

"Hola, compagno. I believe it will be inappropriate of me to call by this time of the night which is why I am texting. You are now a married man and not the bachelor you used to be. Regarding the appointment tomorrow, can it be rescheduled till noon, probably 2 pm?"

I shake my head and tap on the second message. "2 pm will be appropriate because my flight got canceled. If I don't arrive before 2 pm, I will let you know. Peaceful night, compagno."

I sigh.

Alejandro is another friend of mine and a business partner. We have a deal to close tomorrow and I really hope it works out tomorrow. If he doesn't come tomorrow, then it will be closed next week but I want to get it done by tomorrow so I can focus more of my attention on our robotics plans.

I get to the door and open it. I enter inside to see the room empty. Isabella isn't in the room and I glance around, wondering where she has gone when I hear the shower running.

She must be in the bathroom. I was thinking she had gone somewhere else in embarrassment of what she had done to humiliate me but it's ok.

I understand that she is only trying to help.

I am thinking of going out to give her enough time to come out and get dressed when my gaze falls on the book on the sectional sofa.

It looks like a novel so I pick it up.

The title is MAIL-ORDER BRIDE and it looks like a romantic novel from the 20th century. I can figure it out from the cover of the book which has a bride and a man in a frock.

I open it and my gaze flashes on her name handwritten on the first page which contains the author's dedication.

She writes; "Bella's Copy"

My lips curve up in a smile. Who the hell would do a thing like this? It looks like a new book and I wonder why she wrote her name on it this way.

The title of the book is captivating and I never knew Isabella read novels too. I am thinking of stealing it away when the door to the bathroom opens and she comes out without seeing me.

When she hoists her head to see me, she screams, lifting her two arms around her to cover nothing.

"Shit!" I curse beneath my breath and turn my back to her. "You can get dressed, I'm not looking."

She does not reply and I am tempted to turn back to see why she isn't responding. The book is still in my hand and I am waiting for her to finish dressing up so I can ask her to lend me the book.

My love for romantic books has been re-ignited with the sight of this eye-catching title.

It takes a long time before she finally says. "You can turn back now."

I puff out the air I don't even know I have been holding before flopping heavily to the sofa. I guess we have to get used to seeing each other half naked since we are to stay in the same room. I really don't have any problem stepping out of the bathroom in just a towel when she is in the room but I know she will be bothered.

Isabella is indeed a virgin and for no reason, I find it amusing.

"You like books too?" I hear her question. I jerk my head up to see her already dressed in a nightgown. A silky smooth gown.

"Yes", I drop my gaze back to the book. "Can I lend it?"

She does not say anything so I glance up again, raising the book. "Can you lend me?"

"Sure." She says after a moment of hesitation.

"Thank you", I flash her an appreciative smile.

I see her fidgeting with her hands. I am about to ask her what the problem is when she asks. "You are not angry with me?"

I shake my head and lean backward on the sofa. "No. It's nothing. I forgot to tell you they know."

"I'm truly sorry. I didn't mean to humiliate you that way…"

"I know."

Silence falls again and I find myself opening the pages of the book again. I see the name and question her. "Why did you write your name on the book?"

She laughs heartily, a look of embarrassment on her face. "I got used to doing that when I was in high school. Novels were my weak points and I value them so much."

"I never knew", I mutter, tilting my head and watching the twinkles in her eyes. She looks happy just by talking about books and it feels familiar.

This is one thing Helena and I share in common. Books. I love reading books and I learned how to delve more into romantic novels because of Helena. She bought lots of them.

Right now, I am having mixed feelings. I am happy I can read books again and I am sad about the fact that I have all my books locked up in my office here.

The one downstairs has no book in it and I started using it because I was avoiding the office in this room.

Isabella sinks to the other sofa, still smiling but now, it is more like she is smiling to herself in remembrance of something.

When she darts her eyes to my side, I quickly look away.

"Jayden?" She calls softly and I stare at her.

"Yes?"

"Why didn't you marry Sabrina's friend?" She asks out of the blue and my brows crease. "I'm sure her friend must be someone like her and she seems to be in your class. I was just wondering why you rejected someone like that and asked me to be your wife instead."

I don't know why she is obsessed with everything concerning this marriage and it upsets me anytime she brings something like this up.

She notices the frown on my face and before I can say anything, she quickly rises. "Don't worry, I will just go to bed."

She rushes over to the bed and places the pillows for the demarcation before climbing into her space and turning her back to me.

Within minutes, I hear her snoring.

****

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