Hi guys, I am so happy you liked the first chapter. Like I mentioned before it was just a thought I had yesterday so I really have no plans or idea as to where this story is going. I am writing as it comes to me. With that being said, since I don't have a set storyline some chapters are going to continue from the previous chapter or be a completely different moment. But all chapters are going to be about the same story, Luke and Penelope arranged marriage. Since it's the weekend, I was able to update back to back but during the weekdays its hard since I work but I'll try to update as soon as possible. I hope you enjoy.
✦XO✦
He was sitting with his back towards the headboard when she came out. He slightly glanced away from his laptop as she released her golden locks from the towel she had wrapped around her head. He loved when she stepped out of the bathroom after a shower because with it came a beautiful scent that filled the room. He smirked as he glanced back at the screen in front of him. He never asked what the smell was and the bottle that lined the side of the shower never gave him much. He first noticed the smell when they were running late for a dinner party his company was having. It was to celebrate the retirement of the oldest employee that worked there since the company had first started. She, as always, was taking one of her luxurious baths that took up nearly an hour. He had kept knocking on the door every few minutes for the last 15 mins telling her to hurry up. They should of already left by now to make it on time to the party. She finally opened up and he was going to say something when the smell embraced him. She looked at him with wide eyes asking him to move. As he moved out of her way, he heard her mumble 'l'âne'. He stretched out his arm in front of her making her take a step back to stand right next to him. He lowered himself to whisper into her ear, 'Mademoiselle ânesse' as he walked into the bathroom. When he turned to close the door he found Penelope looking at him wide eye with her mouth hanging open. He winked at her before closing the door. He had French clients so learning the language was very important.
He furrow his brows looking at the data of the import shipment. Good thing he was leaving tomorrow to London he would figure this out then. He often traveled a lot for work but he never stayed as long as he needed to. He had been to London several time over the past year but still had not been sightseeing. Nothing sparked any joy in his life. After his wife and his unborn child passing, he lost himself in alcohol. Almost every night for 6 month his best friend Matt would drag him out of whatever bar he was in and take him home. He had even lost his job. He had lost all hope. But when life wants to kick you into shape it will. It was one of the many nights he found himself at the bar, drunk. His calls to his trustworthy buddy Matt went unanswered. So before heading out he played his own sobriety test game. He would throw darts at the dartboard until he hit the bullseye. By his unfortunate luck, he hit the bull eyes in the first 5 mins. He grabbed his jacket and made his way to his car. He got in and drove off. He wasn't speeding or swerving but it was the stupidest thing he could ever do. As he was making a turn he pressed down really hard on his brakes. When he looked up his headlight illuminated the mother and child in front of him. The mother grabbed the child and hurried across the street leaving him in his darkness, alone. Images of his wife, of Scarlett, flashed before his eyes. The words of the doctor about his dead unborn child rang in his ears. Matt had found him sitting on the side of the road with his car unmoved. Matt had felt he had walked up to a stranger. Luke didn't shed a tear when he told him what happened. How the mother and child reminded him of Scarlett and his child. How his stupid reckless driving could of taken their lives just like the accident that took his wife and child. He promised him he would never be so reckless again. He wouldn't play with his life or anyone life again. Luke had found a position in the same company Matt worked in and threw himself into his work. Within a matter of 6 years he was on his way to being a managing director. He had also been through therapy for 2 years before he was able to find a solid foundation to stand on. But his constant pressure of getting remarried by his uncle drew him nuts. So he gave the responsibility to him. Almost every month his uncle visited him with a new family. He pretty much had gotten the story of his past down to a minute. Half of them left right there, his quiet and reserved natural scared them off. For the half that did stay ran off when he told them he couldn't love them. He honestly didn't want to get remarried but he couldn't break his uncles heart. He was the only family he had left. So he played this act every time his uncle brought someone to introduce him.
Penelope was different. It was Derek his college best friend that brought up the proposal. Derek told him how loud and rebellious she could be but she had a heart of gold. She did everything and anything for the people she loved. Without hearing anything else he agreed. He wanted to just get it over with so yet again he had to act. Wrapping up his past in less then a minute making it seem like it meant nothing to him. But when that didn't work, he had to hit them with the honest truth, he could never love them.
For he had vowed to her, '… to love and to cherish, from this day forward even after death do us part.'Scarlett never liked the change of words towards the end of his vow. But he meant every word of it. The night of their wedding, after bending his finger as far back as possible, she got him to promise to take it back. She dragged him to a nearby church and made him take his vows again. There both stood alone in the middle of the church, "I, Luke Alvez, take you Scarlett Johansson.." she slapped his arm. "Come on is this really necessary." She widen her eyes at him and he put his hand up in surrender before holding her hands again. "I, Luke Alvez, take you Scarlett Miller, to be my wife, to have and to hold from this day forward, for better or for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish; from this day forward even after death do us part…" Scarlett raised her hand to slap him but he grabbed it and placed it near his heart, ".. until… until this heart beats for someone else. Which we both know will never happen." He was quickly pulled out his thought as Penelope turned on her hair dryer.
He took a deep breath and returned back to him work. His heart felt heavy but he promised to no one in particular that he wouldn't break. He was prepared for Penelope when she came that day. He didn't follow her when she walked into the middle of the room. He knew none of them lasted long enough for him to have to step a foot away from his door. When he gave the horrible one minute speech about his past, he was surprised. She didn't look at him like all the other, disgusted or shocked. He only phased his past that way to make him seem heartless. But when she looked deep into his eyes, it was like she could read him and it scared him. When she lowered her head, he felt like she respected his pain and understood it. He hadn't even said it yet but he was already feeling guilty. 'I wont be able to love you." He lowered his head feeling lower then scum. He never felt this way before. But when she laughed and told him she was expecting love in return, it hurt him. Everyone deserved love, unfortunately for him he had already given his share to Scarlett and didn't have any left to give.
They both agreed to the marriage but he wasn't prepared for the boxes of color and glittery things she was bringing with her along with a 'don't mess with me attitude.' Her home office look less then an office and looked more like a child playground. Fluffy pens, different figurines, different variety of stress toys. When he asked who gave her all these things, he didn't except the truth to be so cruel. She quietly stood there looking down at the table. One was given by her Dad and one by her sister but she had gotten all the other herself. No one really cared enough to gift her any. As sad as she sound, the next second she was her cheery self, pushing him out the door telling him he was taking up her space and time.
She quickly rearranged his house to her liking. He didn't have any problems. He was hardly home and if he was he had a routine and she arranged her life around it. The fear of her ruining the foundation he built his life on was gone. The only problem for him was sex. Even if he was incapable of loving anyone he had needs. Before marriage, he would go out with Matt to the club and would only have a one night stand as long as the girl agreed to it too. He was married now and even if he didn't love her he would never step foot outside of marriage. He wasn't going to force himself on her. So he took care of his business the only way he knew how, jerk. But often he found Penelope staring at him when he came out of the bathroom. Of course she knew what he was doing. So more cold shower took the place of his personal time. Work was getting stressful as his company was trying to land a huge contact and he was working longer hours. Rushing out every morning and coming home late. Leaving no time for cold shower or personal time. He became cranky and she confronted him about it. He tried his best to ignore it but she sat so close to him, he could smell her. The smell was intoxicating. He couldn't help but pull her into a kiss. Every kiss after Scarlett felt dry. But this was something different. He pushed her away in shock. How could he kiss her, he apologized but what happened next surprised him. He couldn't open his mouth but again it was like she could read him. She started unbuttoning his shirt and he couldn't hold himself back any longer. He didn't love her but he didn't want her to feel used for that he paid extra close attention to her needs. It was weird but the understanding they had that all it took was a simple touch for the other to know they were needed.
She placed his coffee cup on the coaster next to him pulling him from his thoughts. Her coffee. He didn't know what she did to it but her coffee always tasted delicious. He used the same ingredients she did but was never able to make it like hers. He didn't want to bug her by having her make his coffee since all she drank was tea. So he tried but never succeeded. One day in frustration, he asked how she made it so well. She smiled and took the job of making his coffee even after him refusing several times.
He took a sip as Penelope went into the bathroom. He melted in his spot, 'perfection.' He went back to work on his laptop. He mumbled a 'hmmm' as she asked about the clothes in his suitcase. Damn he forgot again. But at least he left a little gift for her. He hoped she liked it. He heard the squeak and smiled, she did. The only time he roamed the city on his trips was to find her a little gift like this. It was his was of apologizing for not emptying his suitcase. Next time he promised himself that he would empty out the suitcase or else he would clean the clothes himself. With that thought he jumped up from his bed 'the lipstick stain.' He thought.
The night before Matt and Luke walked towards the exit of the restaurant with they jackets in hand. "No Matt, I have to get up early for my flight. I'll see you back.." a lady bumps into Luke accidentally pressing her lips against his arm. She was tipsy "hey are you ok?" Her friend came and apologized as she took her away. Luke looked down on his arm upset, "Great." Matt laughed as they left the restaurant towards the parking lot, "Luke I would get that cleaned before I go home." Luke started to put on his jacket, "why?" Matt smiled at how native Luke could be sometimes, "Because if Penelope sees it, your couch would be your new best friend." Luke raised his eyebrow at him. Matt sighed, "affair! She would think you are having an affair." Luke laughed, "you are funny. She would never think I would step outside our marriage." Matt grabbing the car door "i don't know JJ saw a strand of Emily's hair on me and.." "the couch was your new best friend" Luke stated as he looked at Matt over the roof of his car. Luke laughed as Matt shook his head, sadly. Both got into the car. "You know everything about our marriage. Nothing has been hidden from you. She doesn't love me to feel jealous." Luke said as he started the car. "I don't know, if she loves you or not but you are her husband and a girl is invading her territory. Trust me" Matt smiled at Luke as Luke shook his head driving off.
He stood with one knee bent of top of the bed as he was on his way to get up but stopped as he saw Penelope looking at the lipstick stain. Luke ran his finger through his head, nervously. He was expecting Penelope to turn around and yell at him. How was he suppose to explain that. 'A tipsy girl bumped into me and accidentally kissed my arm.' Ridiculous. He watched Penelope run her finger over the mark before throwing it in the hamper and walking out. He smiled, Matt was stupid. He didn't know Penelope like he did. With that he went back to working on his laptop.
✦XO✦
