Abi's POV

It was my fifth day working at Foster Media, and I could confidently say that I was enjoying my time there. Although I initially struggled, I was getting used to the work. I had also made friends with my coworkers, Addison and Christian. They were in the same department as me and were incredibly nice and friendly.

While we were arranging some papers, Reyna, Mr. Foster's PA, approached Addison. "Addison, the boss is asking for you," she informed her.

Addison nodded and adjusted her hair. "I'll be right there. Thanks, Reyna." She turned to us. "Gotta go, guys. I'll catch up with you later," she said before leaving with Reyna.

Christian rolled his chair closer to mine. "So, what do you think of our boss?"

"What about him?" I replied, curious about his line of questioning.

"He's quite the catch, isn't he? God, I never get tired of looking at that sexy piece of eye candy," Christian remarked, shaking his head.

I raised an eyebrow. "Wait, are you..."

He rolled his eyes. "Ugh, I thought it was obvious, Abi! Yes, I'm gay, and I'm proud of it."

I burst out laughing, earning a glare from Christian. "I'm sorry, Chris. I'm not laughing at you. It's just... I swear I've seen Danielle drooling over you every time she sees you," I managed to say amid my laughter.

Danielle, from the marketing department, had been noticeably infatuated with Christian for the past few days. Anyone who saw her could tell that she had a crush on him.

Christian sighed. "I feel bad for her. She confessed her love for me a few months ago, but I told her I'm not interested in women. She thought I was just trying to let her down gently. She never believed me," he explained.

Poor girl.

During our lunch break, the three of us decided to visit a local coffee shop near the office. After ordering our meals, Christian couldn't resist gushing about how attractive our boss was. I couldn't help but chuckle at his infatuation. Weston Foster was undeniably handsome.

As I scanned the area, my eyes fell upon someone sitting on a nearby couch. The person looked oddly familiar. Then, as he turned his gaze toward me, I recognized his face. Wait, that's my husband! What was he doing here? Just luck, our eyes met, and he appeared surprised to see me. He stood up and approached our table.

"And I swear I could climb him like a..." Christian continued raving about our boss, unaware that my husband had joined us.

"Hey, sweeAbirt. I didn't know you were here," my husband greeted me with a smile, placing a hand on my back. Yes, we pretended to be affectionate in public. It was quite comical, witnessing Maverick play the role of a sweet-talker.

Christian stopped mid-sentence and stared at Maverick, his eyes sparkling. Not again!

"Hey, honey. Meet my friends, Addison and Christian. Guys, this is my husband, Maverick," I introduced them, playing along with our charade.

"Hello," Maverick greeted my friends, then turned to me. "We're going to my parents' house tonight. I'll pick you up at the office."

"Oh, okay," I responded.

He smiled and gave me a peck on the cheek. "I'll see you later," he said before walking away, leaving me pondering his whereabouts.

Silence enveloped us. I suspected that my friends, especially Christian, had no idea that I was married. Well, I had never explicitly told them.

"What the fuck!" Christian suddenly exclaimed after our period of silence. "You never told me you're married to a fucking sex god. Holy shit, is he good in bed?"

I spat out my drink in response to his question, catching him off guard. Christian looked at me, perplexed. If only he knew...

"Chris, it's none of your business to ask that," Addison scolded him, playfully hitting his arm. She turned to me. "Abi, you never told us you were married," she added.

I cleared my throat. "I'm sorry. It must have slipped my mind."

"But seriously, your husband is unbelievably attractive. I think I'm in love with him. It was love at first sight," Christian dreamily confessed.

I rolled my eyes. "He's alright, I guess. And no, Chris, you can't love him. He's married to me," I retorted.

He let out a dramatic sigh. "Unfortunately. Well, I still have hope for our boss, though," he said, earning a chuckle from me. Christian truly was a funny guy.

After lunch, we returned to the office and resumed work. My mind wandered to the evening's plans. It had been a while since I last saw Brooklyn and Landon; I believe it was on our wedding day. I couldn't help but wonder what would transpire tonight.

Finally, it was 6 PM, and everyone left the office to go home. I stood in front of the building, waiting for Maverick to pick me up. Usually, Bennett, our driver, would handle the task, but Maverick insisted on picking me up today.

15 minutes had passed, and I was still standing alone in front of the office, waiting for my husband to arrive. Frustration grew within me as I pulled out my phone and dialed his number. After what felt like an eternity, he finally answered my call.

"What?" He snapped in an irritated tone.

"Hello to you too, dear husband," I sarcastically replied, imagining him rolling his eyes.

"What do you want?"

"Oh, nothing really. But didn't you promise to pick me up from my office? Where the hell are you? I've been waiting for 15 minutes, and these heels are killing me!" I ranted, letting my frustrations pour out in one breath.

"Geez, woman, you talk a lot," he sighed with annoyance. I rolled my eyes and stuck my tongue out, even though he couldn't see me. "About that, I can't pick you up right now. I'm still busy."

I shook my head in disbelief. "I can't believe you, Maverick. The least you could have done is let me know, so I wouldn't have to wait. Geez, I'll call Bennett to pick me up."

"No, you can't. Bennett is with me right now, and he can't leave yet. Just grab a taxi or something," he responded dismissively.

I groaned in frustration. "You're impossible, you selfish prick!" I snapped before ending the call.

I couldn't believe that he had promised to pick me up and then failed to do so. And I couldn't rely on Bennett either. That selfish asshole.

"Abi?" Someone called out my name. I turned around to find my boss standing behind me. "Why are you still here?"

"Oh, I was waiting for my husband, but apparently, he's needed for a meeting and can't pick me up now," I explained with a tinge of disappointment.

He nodded understandingly. "Okay, let me drive you home."

"Oh no, you don't have to. Thank you so much for the offer, but I'll just grab a taxi," I politely declined his offer.

He smiled warmly. "Nonsense, taxis can be dangerous sometimes. It would put my mind at ease to know you're safely home with me."

That was the sweetest thing someone had ever said to me.

"Alright then, if you don't mind," I acquiesced.

He simply smiled and led the way to his car. He stopped by my side and opened the door for me. I thanked him and got into the car, and he closed the door before taking his seat. As he started the engine and pulled out of the driveway, I couldn't help but feel a little awkward being alone with my boss, especially since I was still new in the office.

"So, how do you feel about working in my office? Have you gotten used to it yet?" he asked after a few minutes of silence.

"It's been okay. I had some initial struggles, but I'm getting used to it," I replied honestly.

He glanced at me, concern evident in his eyes. "Nobody's giving you a hard time, right?"

I shook my head. "No, everyone has been really nice and welcoming."

He nodded with relief. "Good. I make sure all the employees treat each other like friends, avoiding any unnecessary hardships for newcomers. A harmonious team is crucial for running a successful business."

I smiled appreciatively. It was incredibly generous and considerate of him to care about his employees. Initially, I had expected him to be arrogant and cold, but he turned out to be genuinely friendly.

"Turn right here; my house is at the corner of this street," I directed as we approached my home.

He simply nodded and made the right turn. I pointed out my house, and he parked in front of the fence. Opening the door for me, he stepped out and gestured for me to exit the car. I thanked him again and closed the door.

"Thank you so much for the ride, Mr. Foster," I expressed my gratitude.

"Please, just call me Weston. Mr. Foster sounds too formal for me," he replied with a warm smile.

I nodded in agreement. "Okay, Weston. I'll head inside now. Thank you again for the ride."

"No need to thank me. I'll see you at work tomorrow," he said before getting back into the car. Rolling down the window, he waved at me.

"Bye, take care," I waved back as he drove away.

Sighing, I turned around and pressed the bell on the fence. The security guard, Jordan, opened the gate and appeared surprised to see me.

"Mrs. Turner? I-I thought you were with Sir. Mr. Turner just came back not long ago," he said, widening the gate for me to enter. I noticed that the car was already parked in the garage.

Asshole. I thought he said he was still busy.

I turned to Jordan, addressing him by name. "Well, your master told me to grab a taxi instead."

Everyone in our house, the maids, security personnel, and the driver, knew that our marriage was not based on love. They were well aware of how Maverick treated me at home, so I didn't have to pretend to be happy within these walls.

Jordan frowned apologetically. "I'm sorry, Abi."

"Nah, it's not your fault, Jordan. And by the way, what have I told you about calling me by my name?" I reminded him gently.

He smiled sheepishly. "Sorry, Abi."

"Please remember that. I don't want you to call me 'Mrs.' anymore, understood?"

"Okay, Abi."

I returned his smile. "Thank you. I'll head inside now. Good night, Jordan."

Walking toward the front door, I pressed the bell, and Harper promptly opened it, welcoming me in. I kicked off my painful heels and removed my blazer.

"I made some apple juice, Abi. Would you like some?" Harper offered as she took my blazer from my hand.

My eyes lit up. "Oh, yes, please! Harper, you know, I love apple juice. You don't even have to ask."

She giggled. "I just wanted to tease you, Abi."

Chuckling, I followed Harper to the kitchen. As soon as I spotted the apple juice on the table, I grabbed a glass and eagerly took a sip. It was pure bliss.

"I don't understand your love for apples, Abi," Harper remarked as I finished my drink in one gulp.

"Apples remind me of my mother. She always made me apple juice whenever I came back from school," I shared, a tinge of sadness creeping into my voice. It had been two years since my parents' passing, and the pain still lingered.

Harper looked guilty. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to remind you of your parents," she apologized, sensing my longing for them.

"It's okay. I'll always miss them. They were my only family, and now I'm all alone," I confessed, tears welling up in my eyes as the realization of my loss hit me.

As she spoke those words, I found myself enveloped in a heartfelt hug. "Abi, darling, you are not alone. This is your family. Everyone in this house is your family. Mr. and Mrs. Turner is your family. And you have me too, Abi. We are family."

Tears welled up in my eyes as her words sank in. I clung to her tightly, allowing my tears to flow freely. She was right. I wasn't alone. Despite Maverick's animosity towards me, the Turner family was still my family. And Harper, she had become like another mother to me.

Suddenly, someone cleared their throat, interrupting our moment. Harper and I hastily pulled away, and I quickly wiped my tears, trying to compose myself. I glanced at my glass, avoiding eye contact with Maverick.

"I-erm, I'll take your blazer and purse to your room, Mrs. Turner," Harper stammered, clearly sensing the tension in the room. She promptly left the kitchen, leaving me alone with my so-called husband.

Maverick's POV

When I arrived home, Abi was nowhere to be seen. It turned out she hadn't come back home. I closed my eyes and realized I should have never told her to take a taxi. My mother would kill me if she found out. She had specifically instructed me to never let Abi use a taxi, especially at night. My mother loved Abi and was always concerned about her safety. That's just the kind of person my mother was.

I had just finished taking a shower when I heard the doorbell ring. That must be Abi, thank God. I quickly put on a white top and black sweatpants before heading downstairs to the kitchen to grab some water. As I descended the stairs, I heard sniffles. I stopped in my tracks and listened to the sound of someone sobbing.

"I can never miss them. They were the only family I had, now I'm all alone," I heard Abi's voice, filled with sadness and grief.

I don't know why, but hearing her cry pained me. It felt...strange. Perhaps because I was used to her annoying side, not this vulnerable one.

Abi always irritated me with her behavior. She pretended to care about me, asking how I was, cooking me dinner even though we had Maria, our chef, waiting for me at night when I came home late, and trying to engage me in conversation.

During our initial agreement, I made it clear that our marriage was just a pretense. I made it clear that I didn't want any form of communication with her, unless it was necessary in public. But she continued to pretend to care, and I didn't appreciate it.

"Abi, darling, you are not alone. This is your family. Everyone in this house is your family. Mr. and Mrs. Turner is your family. You have me too, Abi. We are family," I heard Harper comforting her.

It also pained me to know that she no longer had her own family, aside from mine. I knew she came from a small family, and now that her parents had passed away, I felt sorry for her. However, she never expressed her loss and sadness in this house. She always smiled and appeared happy, which was probably the only positive thing I saw from her. She was strong, there was no denying that. From the moment I saw her at her parents' funeral, I knew she was a resilient girl.

But still, she was clingy and annoying.

Not wanting to listen to her sobs any longer, I walked into the kitchen and cleared my throat. She immediately pulled away from Harper, who excused herself to take Abi's belongings to her room, leaving me alone with her.

She didn't look at me, her gaze fixed on her empty glass. I walked over to the kitchen table and took a seat across from her, grabbing an apple juice that Harper had prepared.

"So, you managed to make it home," I initiated a conversation, knowing it would annoy her.

Finally, she looked up, her eyes red from crying. "You selfish prick, I could have just gone home earlier instead of waiting for you!"

I took a sip of the juice. "I was busy."

"Yeah? But you were already home before me, so I'm not sure what you were so busy with," she hissed, crossing her arms. I could have sworn she looked cute when she was angry.

Wait, what the fuck did I just think?

"Well, you're home now, so there's no need to bitch about it."

She rolled her eyes. "Well, thanks to my boss who drove me home," she mumbled to herself, but I could hear her.

"Your boss? He drove you home?" I asked sternly, an unexplained unease settling in my chest. I didn't know why, but I didn't like the thought of her being with another man. Perhaps it was my mother's concern for her safety that had influenced me.

She raised an eyebrow. "What's the matter? You refused to pick me up, and he happened to be there and offered me a ride."

How cliché.

"Of course, he offered you a ride. You probably saw him and asked him to drive you home, just like the opportunist you are. I bet you tried to use him for your benefit," I sneered without thinking.

Bad words. Bad, bad words. I shouldn't have said those things to her.

Her eyes widened, and I swear I saw pain and sadness flicker in her gaze. I expected a sharp retort, but instead, she shook her head in disappointment and turned around, leaving me alone in the kitchen.

Abi'S P.O.V.

Asshole. How dare he speak to me like that? Just wait for my revenge, dear husband.

An hour after that kitchen incident, I got ready to go to my in-laws' place. Maverick hadn't mentioned any parties or special events, so I assumed it would be a simple family dinner. I dressed in a white floral V-neck dress that fell to my mid-thigh.

I didn't want to wear too much makeup, opting for a natural look. I left my hair down and slipped on a pair of heels. There was a knock on my door, and I knew it was Maverick.

"Are you ready? We'll be leaving in 5 minutes," he said from the other side of the door. I simply hummed in response, still mad at him. "I'll wait downstairs," he added, and I heard his footsteps receding down the stairs.

I grabbed my phone and purse, giving myself a final check in the mirror before heading downstairs. As I descended, I spotted Maverick on the phone.

"Yeah, we'll be leaving soon... I know, I'm sorry, Mom. Yeah, okay, bye," he said, ending the call.

When I reached the bottom of the stairs, Harper approached me with a smile. "You look stunning, ma'am."

I smiled back. "Thank you, Harper."

Maverick, on the other hand, just stared at me for a solid minute. He didn't blink, and I couldn't quite read his expression.

"Shall we leave or what?" I snapped.

He blinked and cleared his throat. "Let's go," he said, then walked toward the car.

That's it? No "you look beautiful" or anything? Well, this was Maverick we were talking about. He wasn't the type to give compliments.