“Well, I am not accepting your resignation. You will die if you do nothing but play wifey,” he countered.
“What if you got a great job offer and you need Jacob to support you?” I sighed.
“I would never ask my husband to give up his dreams to chase mine, Cat. I
believe in win-win, hun. What does he expect you to do with your time?”
“Plan dinners. Workout. Keep the house well maintained and running… I
don’t know, Thomas. All I know is that Jeremy is my husband, and we have to
make it work.” I wanted to confess everything that had happened, but I knew it would not end well. Thomas would tell me I was selling myself, and he would’ve been right.
“Well, I’m still not taking your resignation. You’re on leave. Too many authors depend on you. When you come to your senses and want more work, you know it will be here for you.” Thomas pushed his chair back and moved to
the guest seat next to me. He wrapped his arms around me, and I fell into his embrace, hugging him back. “You would tell me if there was something wrong,
right?” He smoothed my hair back and kissed me on the forehead.
“I just don’t want to let anyone down.”
“Crazy Cat, you don’t have to worry about me. Like I said, you’re on leave.
If I need you, I know you will be there. Will you finish out Winter’s latest and
greatest before you go? You know he needs your finesse to smooth out his 007
edges.” He laughed and released me.
“Of course, I’ll keep my commitment,” I promised. Biting my lip, I
contemplated my next words.
“Spit it out,” Thomas ordered.
“Let’s not tell Jeremy. I don’t want him thinking I am distracted from his needs,” I blurted out.
“Fine,” he said, extending the word as if he wanted to ask more questions.
“I’ll keep it a secret. How will I pay you?”
“Don’t.”
He frowned and shook his head.
“Fine. Pay me cash, then? Save it for me? I’ll collect it when I come visit.”
“You know I really can’t…”
“It’s the only way to keep Jeremy out of it. He handles the money. He would
know the minute I got the tax return. I don’t need the money. Hold onto it for a
rainy day, ok?”
Nodding, he said, “Rainy day. I hope you aren’t expecting a flood and not telling me.”
“No storm clouds in the sky.” I smiled.
I would handle everything. Living with my mother had prepared me for a life
just like this. But, unlike her, I would control my future. Jeremy would never stray again. I wouldn’t let him.
Eighteen
Moving to L.A. was easier than expected. Jeremy handled everything.
He picked out the furniture. Made me a list of the local stores he
wanted me to shop at. He even signed me up for a gym and a spa.
My days were scheduled. Mornings were focused on Jeremy’s needs. No
matter how tired I was, I made sure he wanted for nothing. He had no reason to
search outside our bedroom. He woke to a beautiful wife with a healthy sex drive who cooked and kept the house in perfect condition.
When he left, I joined him in the chauffeured town car. He was dropped off
