I run my hand through my hair in frustration. I need to know, but her refusing means I get to keep her. I get to kill her for her sins once I get all my answers. And I still plan on getting this answer from her, no matter how long it takes.
“Ten months,” I say, letting her know how much time she has left, and then I end the call.
7
Liesel
I should be listening to Waylon’s speech, but all I can think about are Langston’s words last night.
I’ve done a lot of horrible things in my life, but I have no clue which specific monstrous thing I did that Langston wants me to explain.
“With my beautiful, intelligent Liesel by my side, we will win the race for governor!” Waylon finishes his speech.
I smile brightly as he lifts my hand up, doing my part. I didn’t have a speech to give today, but I will at future events.
I’m glad we’ve started the campaign in earnest. Waylon thinks it will stop us from being attacked with the amount of visible security he hired, but it will only slow Langston’s kidnapping attempts.
Hand in hand we walk off stage, waving to the crowd and smiling so wide that my cheeks begin to hurt.
As soon as we are off stage, Waylon is swarmed by his team of people.
“I need you to look over the prenup and sign it ASAP,” Nolan, his campaign manager, says to me as he thrusts some papers into my hands.
I sigh but take the papers.
Nolan is closer to my age than Waylon’s. I have never seen the man not in a suit. His blonde hair swooshes over his head in a perfect wave, and his blue eyes pop with brilliance.
I haven’t decided yet if I trust him or not.
“I already told you, the prenup isn’t the problem,” I say as I make a show of signing the damn prenup.
“You should have a big, extravagant wedding. It will bring in lots of donors and make a big splash.”
“We’ve always discussed having a small court wedding and not making a big fuss. That way, we can show that Waylon cares about the important things. Downplay how much money he has and show that he works for the people.” Also, if we have a big, splashy wedding, there is no way for me to hide it from Langston.
“Just make sure you’re free three weekends from now.” Nolan walks away in a huff.
I flip his back off.
I’m tired of men running my life. Waylon and I will decide when and where and how we have a wedding.
Waylon is busy talking with Nolan. I glance at the clock on my phone as I yawn. I didn’t get any sleep last night.
I need some caffeine to wake me up.
I search for cafes on my phone and see a coffee shop across the street.
“Maxwell, I’m headed over to get a cup of coffee while they finish up here. You coming?” I say to the brute man in an all-black outfit. This man has nothing on Zeke, who is basically a giant, so a man like Maxwell doesn’t intimidate me.
“Yes, Mrs. Brown. Wherever you go, I go.”
“It’s Ms. Dunn.”
Maxwell frowns as he walks next to me out of the event hall.
“I’m sorry, Ms. Dunn. Nolan told me to start calling you Mrs. Brown so I wouldn’t slip up when you get married, since it’s happening so quickly. He said I might as well start calling you Mrs. Brown.”
“I won’t be changing my name even after we’re married, so please call me Ms. Dunn. Or better yet, Liesel.”