Chapter 2 2.

I danced along to the music playing through my AirPods. I picked up my paintbrush and added a small stroke before stepping back. I twirled around to see an angry Tobias staring at me.

"Are you cooking grits?" He asked while placing the burnt pot of grits in the trash.

"I'm so sorry. I forgot about them." I placed down my utensils.

"You know, breakfast is prepared at seven in the morning. Maybe you should get up early so you don't miss it." He huffed.

He grabbed his briefcase.

"Or if you do cook, try not to get distracted."

"I was painting."

"Which you got all over my floor." He exclaimed. "You didn't think to put a mat down?"

"It scrapes off."

"You can't scrape off the paint on my floors. They were way too expensive."

"I'm sorry. Mr. Grumps. If they were so expensive, they wouldn't scratch." I frowned. "Here I'll clean up right now."

"I have people for that." His watch beeped. Tobias sighed. "We have to take engagement photos to release today, so be prepared for a million people in the house."

"I'm always prepared. I'm gonna rock these photos. You know, the tabloids say that I can model." I quickly struck a pose.

He remained silent before grabbing his jacket off the rack.

"Try not to mess up anything else, okay?" He asked before walking out of the door.

Tobias gave me the same cold vibes that my dad did. I honestly hated it. I escaped a miserable prison just to end up in another.

Within three hours, I was done with my painting. I had nothing else to do but binge-watch Netflix shows.

I need a job. Which was random to say off the dome, but maybe I was so miserable because I did nothing but stare at the same four walls.

Buzz! My phone went off and I quickly picked it up.

"Hey daddy"

"Hi Athena, just checking to see how everything is. I expect you to bring Tobias lunch to work." He sounded busy. I heard the chatter in the background.

"Um, lunch?"

"Yeah, did you read to contract? You're expected to bring him lunch."

"Right. Lunch. I'm preparing it now, daddy. Also, I have a question." I started while frantically cleaning up my work.

"Yes, Athena?" He sighed, clearly agitated that this conversation was going on for more than a minute.

"I want to work."

"Great! I have a position open at one of my branches."

"Not for you. Remember when I took an interest in fashion design? I want to open a boutique." I shut my eyes waiting for his response.

"That's great Athena. I'll gather a team for you. Remember that luxury designer brand I bought, they need a CEO. You can be that in the meantime."

"Really?" I smiled.

"Yes. I have to get back to work." He hung up the phone.

I bounced around smiling. Then I realized the time.

11:00 am

Shit! I looked at my phone for the schedule. His lunch started at twelve. I hurried to the kitchen and opened the fridge. It wasn't much but a bunch of fruit.

"Okay, think."

"No need to stress, Ms. Solana." I heard a voice and jumped.

"Oh! I'm sorry, I wasn't aware that you're here."

"I'm his private chef. I usually prepare his lunch and his assistant comes and picks it up." The man grabbed the sack and handed it to me. "I'm Kaleb."

"Athena." I held my hand out. He shook it and smiled. "Swarovski diamonds on your nails, I have to try that."

"It's expensive but it looks good." He smiled before analyzing it.

"I once had these long-ass nails for Halloween. They were silver." I pulled my phone from my pocket searching for pictures.

"Were you Edward Scissorhands?"

"I was!"

I showed him the pictures while slowly scrolling.

"Then I stabbed myself by accident and immediately took them off."

"Girl, I had these pointy ass nails once." He showed me his palms that had multiple bruises. "As you can see, I fucked myself up."

"Did you just cuss at me?" I furrowed my eyebrows.

"I'm so sorry-"

"I'm joking." I busted out laughing. "Be yourself around me. I'm not like that uptight prick."

"Speaking of. You might want to run this to him. It's a lot of traffic in the morning and he hates when things are late."

"Shit, right." I grabbed be a sack.

I called my driver, Anders and within minutes he picked me up and dropped me off at the tall sky scrapper. I hurried and took the elevator up to his office.

"It's one minute past twelve." Tobias grabbed the sack from me.

"I'm just one minute late. No big deal."

"Even if you were on time, you'd be late."

"It's just one-minute ass hole. This isn't the ninety-fifties, I don't have to wait on you hand and foot and bring you lunch." I crossed my arms.

He remained quiet and opened the bag.

"Are you gonna watch me eat?"

"Get over yourself." I scoffed before walking out of his office.

I took the elevator down and went outside to meet with tons of paparazzi.

"Athena! Where's the ring?"

"Athena! Is it true he knocked you up?"

I pushed my way through the crowd and hurried into the sleek black car.

"People can be crazy. Right, Anders?"

"Yes, Ms. Solana. By the way, your father has scheduled a meeting tomorrow for you."

"Gross, meetings. I hate them."

"You've hated them since you were five." He chuckled. "Where to, lovely?"

"Tobias' penthouse. Aka, my new home." I sighed.

~

"Beautiful. Your mother has taste." Mrs. Landon smiled while putting on the engagement ring. "Tobias, your father got me a ring similar to this."

"That's beautiful, Mrs. Landon." I admired it.

"Goes along with this dress. I like what you've done with the hair. Nice and out of the way." She smiled.

She only likes it because I straightened it. I sighed before fiddling with the ring. Tobias was quiet. He was pent up again the wall while eyeing me down.

"What do you think Tobias?" His mother questioned.

"I'm ready to get these over with." He said before walking outside.

I nodded and followed after him.

"Let's get started, love birds." She perked. "Athena, stand here and Tobias stand here."

We did as directed. She positioned us so that my hand was on his chest showing the ring.

"Tobias, can you kind of lean her and give her a kiss on the cheek?" She questioned while walking back towards the camera.

Tobias nodded. He grabbed my lower waist and slightly tilted me over. His eyes locked with mine and immediately I heard the cameras click.

"These are beautiful! Kiss her on the lips."

"I'll kiss her on the cheek." He responded.

"That works too."

I turned my head to the side and he placed his warm lips on the side of my cheek. I could feel the stubble of his shaved beard brush against me.

"That's perfect."

The photoshoot wrapped and I admired the ring on my finger. The house was empty except for Mrs. Landon who gave me the rundown of being a 'fiancé'. I slipped it off and handed it to Mrs. Landon.

"Oh no sweetie, you have to wear it. Once these pictures drop, paparazzi, will want every photo of it." She smiled. "Make sure to keep everything tamed, okay?"

I remained quiet.

"Ciao." She said before kissing Tobias on the cheek. "By my future daughter-in-law."

She walked out of the door. Tobias went to lock it back.

"Kaleb should have dinner prepared in an hour. If you need anything, I'll be in my room." Tobias mumbled before walking up the stairs.

I sighed and walked into the kitchen while staring at my ring.

"I figured you needed a glass of this?" Kaleb questioned while pushing over the glass of wine.

"Just what I needed." I sighed and sat down in the kitchen. "It smells good in here."

"That's lobster bisque and my creamy noodles. It's his favorite." Kaleb smiled.

"I haven't eaten all day, that sounds so lovely." I chuckled before quickly chugging the wine. "I'm gonna take a shower."

Kaleb nodded. I sauntered up the huge staircase and passed Tobias' door. I heard him talking and immediately walked back.

"Don't worry, okay?" He said while unbuttoning his shirt revealing his stone-cold abs. "It's only for a year baby, then it'll be me and you."

No wonder he was so detached from me. He had a girlfriend.

"Don't be silly okay, we sleep in separate rooms. This space is always open for you." He chuckled. God was his laugh sexy.

Wait. Who was this chick? I was far from jealous given that there was no connection, but she must be special if she made him laugh.

"I love you too." He mumbled.

I quickly hurried to my room.

~

It was silent. All that was heard was our utensils hitting the plate. This was more lively than home with daddy.

My dad never ate dinner with me, so I sat in the huge kitchen, eating my food and wiping my tears. Tobias and I sat at different ends of the table.

"Top off?" Kaleb questioned.

I nodded. He filled the rest of my glass and walked away. Tobias placed his utensils down and sipped his water.

"How was your day?"

"Excuse me?" I furrowed my eyebrows.

He cleared his throat. "How was your day?"

"Oh, it was good. I finished my painting and then I watched Netflix all day. I also finished this show called, YOU. It was so good, although the main character was a bit weird." I stopped myself from

rambling. "Uh, how was yours."

"Good." He responded while using his fork to twirl his pasta.

"Work?"

"It's was good."

"So. They released the photos on our social pages. Five million likes on Instagram." I smiled while taking a bite of the pasta.

I could see why Tobias loved it. It was so good and light. The noddles almost melted in my mouth.

"Cool."

"I went through the comments. Mostly positive."

"I'm finished." He threw the napkins on the plate and stood up. "Goodnight."

Before I could respond, he walked off. He wasn't even done with his food. I sighed before taking a sip of my wine. Kaleb frowned and walked in.

"I'm so sorry darling. I know you're trying."

"I enjoyed that little convo. My dad and I never ate dinner together so this was new." I nodded.

"Well." Kaleb started and say a plate down at an empty seat. "I always make extra for me. Would you mind if I joined you?"

"Please." I smiled.

He sat down and grabbed his fork.

"So, what got you into cooking?" I asked.

"I started not too long ago. My husband said I had potential so I did my research and boom, hired by a billionaire."

"You're married?" I asked.

"Four years. We got married at twenty-one." He held up his hand showing me the huge rock. "So what's your story?"

"I don't have one. I mean, my dad's rich and forced me into a marriage." I chuckled.

"What does he do?"

"Well, his original moneymaker was his airline. He was an engineer and branched off to make his planes. Then he furthered his education and started working with NASA. He owns a lot of things though. An NFL team, a bunch of luxury clothing brands, and other things that I can't even remember." I shook my head.

"So all I heard was rich as hell."

"Exactly."