<h4>Chapter 61: 61 ~ Mira</h4>


    I felt out of ce here. I was sticking out like a sore thumb watching him drink and watch everything happening downstairs like a hawk.


    I had never been to a Casino before and my saving grace was the fact that I was married to the man who owned this ce.


    I was so relieved when Ariel was brought in after Jace stepped out briefly to deal with some ’business’.


    "Hi Mrs Romano." She waved at me.


    "Just call me Mira. I haven’t seen you in a bit." I said with a slight grin.


    "Yeah," she chuckled nervously. "I received quite a stern warning after the clubbing experience."


    "Oh," I shut my eyes, hating how horrible the oue of our night of fun was. "Sorry about that," I apologized.


    "Oh no it’s my fault. That video wouldn’t have leaked if not for my carelessness. Mr Romano had to pay quite a sum to get it cleaned up."


    "Wow," I sighed. I had no idea it was such a big deal. "Well, I’m d that’s over."


    "Me too."


    "Would you like to have a drink?" I asked, already beckoning for the waiter toe and take her order.


    "Anything soft would do. I’m not trying to lose my job."


    "You won’t." I found myselfughing even though I was quite surprised she still had it after what happened. My first instinct after she stopped reaching out to me was that she had been fired. To say that I was shocked to see her was an understatement.


    "He’s asked for me to take pictures and videos of you two."


    "I thought the media ploy was over."


    She shrugged. "I’m only following orders ma’am."


    "Alright then. He’ll be back soon."


    <fnf041> The rightful source is find{n}ovel</fnf041>


    Jace came in momentster, barely acknowledging Ariel as she saluted him.


    "Let’s get this over with." He muttered.


    My eyes trailed back and forth between them. It was obvious he was still mad about the clubbing incident while Ariel on the other hand was still walking on eggshells around him. I med myself for all of this. I was too reckless, enjoying too much of the freedom Jace had given me. I practically shot myself in the leg with that because now I was back to being held under his tight rein.


    Ariel guided us in our poses. She said we should look as natural as possible but all that meant was tension. Jace and I were never rxed around each other and tonight she saw it first hand. Maybe she had begun to see that this marriage was a hoax and there was no romance anywhere.


    At the end of the photo op, I checked out some of the pictures and videos she took and to be honest we looked like the perfect aesthetically pleasing couple even though we were nothing like that. He was a messed up gangster and I was his ything for whenever he wanted a release and even though I enjoyed parts of it, there were times I felt like washing his hands off me.


    I felt his eyes on me and I looked up. Our eyes met and that was the signal I needed to follow him to his office and get myself banged over his desk.


    A part of me enjoyed his this risque kind of sex but it would have been better to be doing all this craziness and exploration with someone I was madly in love with.


    I really hoped I would get pregnant soon, have his baby and be free from all of this.


    I shut my eyes waiting for it to be over. Once again, he released everything inside me and when he spanked me, I jumped, not expecting it.


    Picking up a wipe form god knows where, he cleaned me up and helped me arrange my dress.


    "Ready to go?" He asked me.


    "If we were going to leave, why didn’t you just wait till we got home?"


    He smirked. "Where’s the fun in that?"


    I didn’t find it funny. I simply swallowed and looked away.


    He had rang it in my ears that I was his possession. I was an object to him so he could obviously do with me whatever he wanted. I had no right toin or struggle. It was pointless doing that because he would never let me win.


    When got to the presence of other people, I stood up straight and forced a in face. No one needed to see how sad I was. It would give a wrong impression of the idea we were trying to sell to the public. So I kept it together and looked straight ahead as he guided me through the casino cing his palm on the small of my bare back. His touch felt like it burned. I was tempted to shake it off but I couldn’t.


    The stares that followed as we moved were countless. I felt the scrutiny and judgement as we walked. But I also felt the fear and respect they had for him as the boss. It was intense.


    I was so grateful for the fresh air that hit my face as soon as we stepped out of there. I felt so suffocated with the smell of strong liquor and cigarettes. It was choking. I never wanted to be in such a setting again but I id not have much of a choice if he decided to bring me here.


    I waved goodbye to Ariel as she got into her uber. I was not going to be seeing her often as Jace had officially stopped me from going to his office in Navarro constructions. I missed my chance at freedom. I really blew it.


    I was seated at the back of the vehicle with him. He obviously couldn’t drive because of his injury. Typical of me, I stared out the window as the vehicle moved.


    "You’re quiet."


    "I’m always quiet." I said, barely above a whisper.


    "Hmm." He hummed and said nothing else.


    Two years, I thought.


    I sat there, concluding in my mind that I had all I had to give him was maximum two years of my life before this shit show would be over.


    It was more than enough.