CHAPTER 10

CANTANKEROUS SEAN

I should be very grateful that looks can't kill or I would probably be six feet under. Sean was gritting his teeth and running his hand through his hair every two seconds. He arrived at my place at exactly four in the afternoon and was welcomed like a trophy son by my mother. The idiot played along and actually seemed to smile genuinely for the first time since he set his eyes on me. When their little mother and son-in-law bonding time came to an end, I rushed upstairs to my room to get my purse and my phone. However, the moment I descended the stairs so that we could purchase our engagement rings, the smile that was on his face quickly vanished and was replaced by his infamous glare and it was all directed to yours truly.

I also didn't end up going to school. I chickened out and decided to just stay at home, and see if I could miraculously get the kind of confidence I was in lack of. Thankfully, no one seemed to care if I missed my classes or not because all their attention as of the moment, was directed to the engagement party. The moment Cindy texted to ask if everything was okay, my first instinct was to come up with another bullshit excuse. But after some contemplating, I decided to settle with the lie I had told them the day before and said I was still a little bit under the weather. She seemed to buy the story and that was good enough until I grew a pair and told them the truth. I spent the day doing what I always do when I get stressed. Binge watch kdrama and listen to sad music. Unhealthy right? I don't think so.

My serenity was cut short when I had received a small text from Sean saying he was five minutes away from my place. I had quickly put myself in order and taken a quick shower before marching downstairs in record time before my mother said or did something to make this arrangement more awkward for me.

"Why are you looking at me like that? I don't think I have done anything to upset you just yet, so calm your tits. You should start practicing smiling whenever you see me if you want to play the role of a husband perfectly, don't you think?" I said, smiling mockingly at him. He, in return, only intensified his glare before dramatically pointing towards the stairs I had just descended.

"No wife of mine is going out dressed like that. Don't you know that the paparazzi were already informed that I would be making an appearance by the shop we are going to? You should dress like someone the media will believe is my fiancee. Now get your ass up and back to your room and dress appropriately,"

I slowly looked at my chosen outfit for the day. I was dressed in a simple gray t-shirt and black skinny jeans. I had paired them with my white air-force sneakers. I had decided to put my hair in a messy bun since I felt a little bit lazy to put a comb in my hair. I looked good, so I didn't see the reason for Sean's little tantrum.

Sean was dressed in black jeans, a black leather jacket, with a blue t-shirt underneath. He also looked good but I was not going to tell him that to his face.

"What do you mean by that? You are also dressed casually, so what is wrong with my choice of dressing?" I rolled my eyes at him, sighing irritatedly.

"I dress casually when I don't have anything official to do. However, the women I usually go for wear designer clothes. If you don't have one, go wear a dress that hugs all the right places and you better hurry up because we don't have the whole afternoon," He said, turning me around and giving me a little push towards the stairs. I turned back around to face him and gave him the beat glare I could muster.

"I am not changing my outfit and I certainly won't dress like your many women," I said, giving the word air quotes before continuing, "I think the media will believe you fell for me because I am different. I should do things my way and not the way your many women do. Just like good girls fall for bad boys because they have a different aura to what they are used to, that is how you fell for me because I was different from what you are used to. I hope you are seeing my point here," I finished, clamping my hands in front of my chest.

"I don't know how my father expects me to marry you when you can't even follow brief instructions. You know what, do whatever you want, I don't want to fight with you," He said tiredly, before marching towards the door with quick steps. I took my time to say goodbye to my mother. He was already seated in his car by the time I was making my way to his car. I took the time to appreciate the design of the car. It was a beautiful black sports car, just like its owner's soul.

I opened the door and took my seat at the passenger side.

"Put on your seatbelt," He grumbled, starting the car. The soft vibrations of the engine went straight to my core. This car was absolutely magnificent. I put the seatbelt on when I felt his glare on the side of my head and we were off.

"Immediately we arrive at the shop, we have to act like a couple. That means we have to hold hands and smile like fools," Sean said when we stopped at a red light.

"I know how to act. I can play the part very well, it is you I am worried about. You look like you will blow our cover even before we get to the rings," I replied, looking outside.

"You don't have to worry about me. I can fake a smile. We are here," Sean replied, packing the car in front of an expensive-looking jewelry shop. I had been to this side of town before but just to window shop. How I had switched from window shopping to actually stepping in to buy a ring, I didn't know. My life was turned before I could even get a breather and if I said I had already processed it, I would be lying.

Sean exited the car and quickly came to open the door for me. I guess the game was on already. He held out his hand after locking the car and I carefully placed mine on his. He led me inside the shop and immediately the receptionist saw him, she rounded her station and came in front of us. I watched as she not-so-discreetly pushed her blouse down to bring attention to her cleavage. She was beautiful I must say, seemed to be in her early thirties.

"Mr. McCaffrey, it is an honor to have you in our shop. To what do we owe this pleasurable visit?" She asked Sean, who was currently going through his phone. The lady didn't even spare me a glance.

"I am so sorry Mr. McCaffrey. I hope I haven't kept you waiting. This way please." Said a man, coming from a door to my right, that I hadn't noticed before. "I will take it from here, Mary, go back to your attention," He continued, addressing the woman.

"We are here for the rings," Sean replied, keeping his phone away and just then did the man and the woman notice my presence. The man eyed me dispassionately from head to toe before diverting his attention back to Sean, while the receptionist just rolled her eyes at and walked back to her station.

"I thought you were supposed to come with your fiance?" The man proceeded to ask Sean, who now looked irritated.

"Yes. This is my fiance. Isabella meet Phillip, Phillip meet my fiance, Isabella. Can you now show us the rings I had told you to select?"

"Yes! Sorry, Isabella. It's nice to meet you," He said with a disgusted look on his face as he quickly shook my hand, "Follow me, please. My designers chose exquisite rings for you to look at. I hope you will love them," He said, leading us to the door he had come from. Sean gently squeezed my hand before leading the way, still holding my hand. Was that to assure me that all was still well or was it for his own comfort?