The Convenient Wife

“That’s perfect,” I say, resting my hand on Starla’s thigh. “It looks beautiful on you.”

“It’s just too much. I really like that ruby one.”

“This one is perfect. This is it,” I tell her, taking her hand and bending her fingers to kiss them. “This is the ring my fiancée deserves, and the one my wife should wear for a lifetime.”

“I think it’s too much, Bolt, I feel like I’m wearing a fishing weight on my finger.”

“Starla,” I whisper into her ear, making sure my lips are almost touching her skin. “This is a ring that will show people we’re in love, it will tell people that we’re serious. No one will question what we feel for each other if you’re wearing this ring.”

A shiver scales down her body as the very edge of my lips brush the shell of her ear. “All right, this is the one I guess.” She doesn’t sound pleased, more just agreeing because what does it really matter?

This isn’t real. We can’t forget that.

The woman lets out a soft squeal as she claps her hands in front of her face. “Should I wrap it up?”

“No, she can wear it out,” I say proudly, wanting Starla to show off our engagement to the world. Because that’s what I need. I need people to see us, to start talking, to cement the idea that we’re a couple madly in love.

After I pay for the ring, we walk out of the store hand in hand. Starla is holding her left hand out in front of her and twisting it back and forth.

“What do you think?” I ask her. “Gorgeous, isn’t it?”

“You don’t think it’s too much, Bolt?” Angling her head, she looks up at me. “I mean this is fake, so what’s the point in something so big?”

“Yeah, you’re right. But I have standards to uphold, I can’t just buy any ring, not if I want this to be believable.”

“But what about me? What if I chose the cheaper ring? Why would that be so bad?”

“It’s not that it’s bad, but that’s not what would happen if this was real. If this was real, I’d buy you that ring, shit, I’d probably buy an even bigger one.”

“And this is what I’m talking about. This isn’t necessary, this…” she says, holding out her hand. “This cost more money than I’ll make in a year.”

“This—” Taking her hand, I run my thumb over the diamond. “Shows everyone else what you’re worth to me.”

“That’s sad, it’s sad that an object can have so much control in your world.”

“It’s not the object, Starla, that has the control, it’s me. The object is just the beacon for what I can do.”

“Is it really?” Pulling her hand free, she gives me a smile. “Do you really think you hold the power?”

Her words sweep through my mind and for a split second, she has me questioning myself. Is it the stuff or was it me? What really has the power when it comes down to it?

It’s me. I have the power.

Without my power, that ring wouldn’t exist.

Without my power, neither of us would be here.

Without my power, I wouldn’t be winning the war my father started.

I have the power because I’m here, with a woman who’s agreed to help me, with a woman who’s taking what I have to offer in exchange for what she needs.

She wants to question my power, and that’s fine, but if she looks really hard, there’s no doubt in my mind that she’ll see I’m the one holding all the cards.

“Come on,” I say, releasing her hand and wrapping my arm around her shoulders. “Let’s go play house for a bit.”

7

Starla

Standing outside the huge double doors to our suite, Bolt looks at me over his shoulder and asks, “You ready for this?”

I don’t know if I’m ready for any of it. So I smile and nod, hoping he won’t ask me too many questions about what’s going through my head.

I don’t want to care, I don’t want to be worried about the boulder sitting on my finger, I want to just go with the flow, but something is holding me back.

I just don’t know what it is.

Swiping the key card, Bolt holds the handle until the green light flashes. With a click of the lock, he opens the door, reaching back to grab my hand.

Pulling me in front of him, he lets me go inside first. The room is huge, with giant windows that overlook the ocean. I’ve never seen the ocean this close before.

“Oh my God, Bolt, look at that.” Walking right to the window, I’m stunned at how incredible it looks.

The water looks like it’s sparkling, like there are a gazillion little lights all twinkling just beneath the surface. Wave after wave rolls in, crashing onto the shore as the crest bubbles and turns white. The bubbly foam spreads across the sand, erasing any footprints or marks.