Page 42 of The Wrong Husband

"So, you'll move in with me?"

"Yeah."

When was the last time Bianca had been this excited when I offered her something? The answer was, never. She'd never been this giddy with joy as Emilia was to get space to paint that wasn't even exclusive to her.

"Do you want me to convert one of the rooms in my apartment into a studio?"

"No. I’d worry about making a mess and…," she shook her head, "you don't want to deal with that."

"Okay."

Archer Galleries was only a ten-minute walk from the Four Seasons, so she could easily get to the studio whenever she wanted.

"Anything else?" she asked, looking at her watch. "It's my first day and I already have taken a long lunch break."

"That's okay, your boss signed off on it."

She arched an eyebrow. "Who's my boss?"

"I am."

Chapter 11

Emilia

Iwas not really an Archer. That much was clear to me.

The Archers met for Sunday lunch, and I was not invited. How did I know about the lunch? Because Bianca and my parents were regular guests.

Even though a statement had been released to the media and Archer Galleries' employees about the union of Damian and Emilia Archer; my last name at the company was still Winters. This wasn't an issue for me, I preferred it since who wanted to go through the hassle of changing their last name for a temporary marriage?

Since she hired me, Marcela hadn't acknowledged me. If she saw me in a corridor, she walked by like I didn't exist. Same with Damian's father Tate, though he wasn't in the office that much.

Duncan, who still scared the hell out of me, usually dropped a gruff hello but nothing more.

And then we came to Damian Archer, my husband.

He was never home.

He moved me into his place a week ago and since then I'd barely seen him once.

"Here." He handed me a jewelry box at breakfast.

Liza didn't make breakfast and he usually did the whole cereal or Muesli with milk or yogurt thing. I didn't eat breakfast, so it wasn't an issue for me.

Liza made sure there was dinner, which I ate alone when I came back late in the night. I worked in the department of restoration at Archer Galleries and then spent hours in the studio. The other artists were actual artists and had their work shown in galleries and museums. They looked at me with disdain. It was obvious that I had gained access to the sacred studio on my back—after I stole my sister's man.

I opened the jewelry box and found a slender gold chain with a diamond ring and wedding band hanging on it like lockets. The engagement ring was simple. One stone, nothing fancy. I liked it. I also knew it wasn't expensive and not that I wanted something that cost a lot of money—but it made me feel less.

"This way, you can wear the ring and still paint."

I smiled. Said thank you prettily. I was never going to put the damn thing on. He wouldn’t even notice cause he was never around.

I had no idea where he was sleeping—because I knew he wasn't sleeping in the apartment.

Was he with Bianca?

As your green-eyed monster to vamoose, Emilia. It's none of your business who Damian does whatever he wants with.