[Music: Reasons Not To Die By Demo]
I opened the refrigerator. Wow! That is a heavily stocked fridge. Despite that, I had no desire to make or eat anything.
I closed it, and my gaze veered to the glass wine rack stretched across the wall. I smirked broadly. That will do.
I grasped a bottle. "Tori would kill for this," I mumbled before popping the mouth open.
A shadow moved from the corner of my eye, and I jumped. "Jesus!"
It was a black cat, sitting on the counter and watching me with those yellow eyes. Ares King has a pet? That was the least shocking discovery of today, yet it was hard to believe.
How intriguing.
"Hey there, nice to meet ya."
He squinted his eyes only. I stretched my hand, but got no response, just a subtle growl. They say pets have the same personality as their owners.
"Well, you’re officially keeping me company. You’ve got no choice but to stay with me." I took a glass, sat on the high stool, and poured myself a drink.
"I’m Catherine, your owner’s wife, well, contract wife. It’s not like you can question that. There’s not much to know about me, I’m like the most boring person you have ever met, but I have a few charms."
I have a list of borderline things, but talking to a cat was not one of them. Well, animals were good listeners; I might as well rant all the way.
I chatted on until my alcohol tolerance wasn’t doing me any good.
"You know we made many plans. Granny loved him, too, like a son. It’ll break her heart when she finds out. I don’t know how to tell her. What do you think I should do? Mr. King?"
He licked his paws. I envied how nonchalant he was. No debts, no loans, no life worries, no broken heart, just pure freedom.
"I wish I were a cat. I wouldn’t have to worry about life, or exes, or all the shit I’m going through, but the world isn’t gonna pause for you. Is it?"
I laughed, and he snapped his head to me at the sudden sound. "Sorry for interrupting your bathing, but it’s just so funny, you know."
He went back to licking.
"Do you think I’m the problem?" I switched. "I’m so hard to love, or is it impossible to have just one good thing? Dan was my good thing despite the mess and everything. Dealing with your owner was hell, and now I’m his wife!" I laughed again, but there wasn’t a flicker of humor to it, just a tragic sound.
"I’m not sure which is worse." I rested my cheek on my palms and tipped my head. "I’m the problem, aren’t I?"
~
"Well, if that isn’t the most depressing shit ever?" I giggled.
"Did you see his face?"
"Yes, I did!"
"Catherine, you’re so impulsive, you took a swing at that dude. What am I supposed to do if my girl keeps stirring up a fight?"
"Defend me?" I said sweetly, wrapping my arms around him tightly.
"I’ll do my best. God! You’re getting heavy." He adjusted me.
I smacked the back of his head.
"Ow!"
"Never tell a girl that."
"I don’t think I’ll survive you."
We both giggled.
~
We went out for a night, and when Dan got in trouble, I took a swing at the guy and spun my ankle. So Dan carried me back home.
Dan was always the sofie, and I was the tough nut. But somehow we worked. I thought we did.
I broke down in tears again. It hurts so much, and I don’t know what to do. I felt destroyed.
Dan was always so sweet and kind. We both loved each other very much. What went wrong?
Was I so consumed that I couldn’t see the signs? I never knew he could do such a thing to me.
"Look at me crying..." I rubbed my eyes, and my glass was hoisted up. "Pathetic, aren’t I? He’s out there with his fiancée and unborn baby. Life sucks."
I poked the cat’s nose. "Moral lesson, become a cat."
Meow.
I giggled and went back to drinking, but I couldn’t finish as everything went dizzy and I slumped on the counter.
~☆~
I groaned deeply when I woke up, my head pounded like I had a dozen horses stomping on me.
I overdid it this time. The alcohol was meant to numb the pain, not make it worse.
"Kill me now..." I wince, gripping my head.
I tapped my hand on the nightstand and found my glasses. Wearing them, I sat up carefully as more hellish pain broke through me, but not for long when I saw the glass of water and aspirin at the side.
Oh, thank God.
I took them both, sighing in relief. I think the water helped more. I collapsed back on the bed.
My alarm hasn’t rang yet, so that means I can have a few more minutes.
I got comfortable, but the unfamiliar bed made it difficult to drift back. These sheets are far too soft, and the pillows are way too heavenly.
I opened my eyes again, sitting up. Right. I’m no longer in my apartment; this is Ares’ penthouse. I honestly thought signing my soul to the devil was all a bad dream.
"Idiot," I grumbled, taking the covers off.
How did I get back to my room, though? Don’t tell me I crawled my way up here. I shivered as an embarrassing image popped up in my head. Maybe I did, good thing no one saw me.
I yawned, striding out of my room into the lobby. I heard soft sounds, and I traced them to the terrace, where the gym was.
I halted my steps when I spotted Ares lifting weights.
Oh, myyyy....
With every lift, his muscles and abs tightened, sweat trailing through that mass of goodness like he had been here for a while. I knew Ares was muscular, but this? So help me.
I gulped, my throat going dry.
Nothing can ever prepare you for a sight like this. So I stood there, paralyzed, ogling as much as I could.
He dropped the barbell and stood up the bench, running a hand through his dark hair. I have only seen them slicked backwards, but having those strands fall like ink on his forehead, soaked in sweat, shouldn’t be... sexy.
This man can dress in a garbage bag and still get any woman he wants.
I veered my trembling gaze to the ink design of a snake moving within a skull covering the left side of his rib, well-drawn out and detailed. I caught words written in Latin, but I didn’t have time to read them because he came towards me.