From Bully To Beloved

Colton

“How much more?”

“About a thousand a piece, but they will ship it for free because of the inconvenience.”

Fucking hell. I’ve calculated the cost of everything down to the last two-by-four. I’ve worked in construction, and I’ve been a contractor before. “Stop bullshitting me. I know this business like the back of my hand, and there’s always a way to find what you’re looking for within your price range. Make sure there’s no further delay. If this job is too much for you, I’ll find someone else who can do it.”

The contractor, William Hunt, is a six-foot-two man in his early fifties. He came highly recommended by some of my colleagues. He tries to sputter a response. “Mr. Ashton, I’m not trying to-”

“I don’t wanna hear it. Just get it done-within budget.”

I leave him there, floundering, while Justin and I head inside.

“You’re nicer than I would’ve been,” Justin says when we’re out of earshot. “I wanted to can his ass the second he told me. Plus, didn’t you tell me you’ve got a new contractor already waiting who you can call in if Hunt can’t deliver? The Holland guy? He seems promising. Sure like to give him a shot.”

“Yeah. But I need to give him the benefit of the doubt.”

“You sure?”

I’m not planning to give anybody a second chance to fuck me over, but there’s nothing worse than having regrets over a dumb, hasty decision that you can’t take back. It’ll haunt you, and I have enough ghosts as it is. My gut tells me to let him go, but I know from personal experience that such decisions have a nasty habit of taking revenge.

“I’m giving him one more shot to make it right, and if he can’t, he’s gone. I bet he thought he could do whatever because we weren’t around, but he’s got another thing coming.”

I have several motorcycle dealerships throughout Cali, and my current project includes expanding into NYC. Justin and I love the East Coast, and it feels good to be back. There’s one thing I know for certain though: I don’t want to manage the new place. Justin’s the right man for the job. He was with me in California, and didn’t object to the change of scenery.

“Hell, yeah, when are we leaving?” were his exact words, if I remember correctly.

There’s no one else I’d trust to run things.

The motorcycle dealership is five times the size of my first dealership. It’s my crowning glory, the dealership I’ve been dreaming of building since opening the first.

I won’t let anything screw my plans up.

The exterior of the dealership is already almost finished. Everything is top tier. Most of the construction is now focused on the inside.

Justin and I do a walk-through, and he shows me around the spaces that are close to being complete. We talk about staffing, and he lets me know that the word is out that we’re hiring and that applications are pouring in already.

“Things are looking pretty great,” Justin says once we’ve taken a seat in the parking lot to watch the progress from afar. “I meant to ask, you never told me what your grandmother left you. Not that I’m being curious or anything, but I know you had to rush back for the reading.”

“Oh. That.” I never mentioned the details of the will to Justin, and I’m not surprised he’s wondering about the specifics.

“Sorry, bro,” he adds. “I know that’s a sore subject.”

“No, it’s not that-” I try to find the right words. “My grandmother had some interesting stipulations to her will.”

“Well, she was eccentric. She always had the weirdest rules. I remember once when we were eating dinner, she was adamant that we keep the salt and pepper together.”

I chuckle. “Yeah, or whenever I was on the phone, she would tell me I was supposed to smile because the person on the other line could tell.”

“Never got that.”

“Me neither. But, yeah, her testament takes the cake.” I grin, shaking my head.

“What do you mean?”

“To get my inheritance, my grandmother wanted me to get and stay married for a month.”

Justin slowly turns his head to look at me with wide eyes. “You’re shitting me!”

“I wish I was.”

“Wait, hang on. Is that even legal? Can she do that?”

“It is, and she did. She lawyered up, and it’s all above board.”

Justin nods with understanding. “Who’s the lucky girl? Wait, I’m assuming she had someone in mind. I doubt she didn’t mean you had to marry some random woman for the month.”

“Of course not. She had someone specific in mind, all right.”

“Who?”

“Seraphine Gray.”

Justin immediately knows who I’m talking about. His jaw drops. “The Sera we went to school with? The one your grandmother’s been trying to set you up with for years?”

“The very same.”

“Wow. Diabolical. I mean, I know your grandmother was smart and the sneakiest person I ever met, but this is a whole new level entirely. When are you supposed to go through with it?”

“It’s already done.”

“Dude, hold on. Are you saying you’re married? You actually went through with marrying Seraphine Gray?”

“Yeah. Last night.”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa! Why didn’t you tell me sooner? I would have gotten you guys a gift or something.”

“Chill. It’s not arealwedding or marriage. We’re not telling anyone about it. It’s just for the inheritance. After a month, we’ll go back to our own lives.”

Justin doesn’t speak for a moment. When I look at him, I find him shaking his head. “That’s crazy,” he says. “That’s…”

“I know.”

“Why did you even agree? It’s not like you need the money.”

“It’s not about the money. It was Gran’s last wish. I couldn’t be here when she passed away. I can’t ignore what she wanted. It wouldn’t be right. Plus, if I back out, some algae swindler gets all Gran’s stuff. That’s not happening.”

“If it were anyone else you were married to, I’d agree. I know you’ve never backed down from a challenge before, but I remember what you and Sera were like in school. I’m surprised you’re still alive right now.”

“I can handle her. Don’t worry about me.”

He raises his eyebrows. “Areyou handling her?”

“No handling has happened, nor is it going to happen,” I assure him. “Although I will say that Sera looks different now to what she did back then.”

That piques his interest. “Oh, yeah, different how?”

I think about her in that thin nightie, and it makes my heart rate spike. “Hot enough for me to think about going there.”

“Well, why don’t you?”

“Nah, that’s not what this is about.”

Justin shrugs. “I don’t know, man. I’ve slept with a couple of women I didn’t exactly get along with, and it translated into some really kinky sex.”

The thought of Sera and kinky sex makes my mind wander for several glorious seconds. I picture her lying on my chest on the bed we share. This time, I’d rip that thin nightie off her, taking away that flimsy fabric that separated her hot body from my eager hands. I’d make her moan, make her writhe and beg before I’d give her what she wanted. What she needed. I’d fuck all the hate and resentment she seems to harbor against me right out of her.

Whoa there. Pump the brakes.

This is starting to get out of hand.

I’ve got to work off some of this steam. “I need to do something with my hands,” I say. “Come on, let’s go make ourselves useful.”

“Heck yeah.”

For the next few hours, Justin and I join the construction crew. I always loved working with my hands. It’s why the cushy office job drove me nuts. Nothing beats physiColtonlabor. I like staying fit and working out-working construction, or working on bikes helps that.

My body is aching when I finally stop. The good kind of ache that comes from solid work. As I down some water, I check my phone and notice that Sera’s texted me, letting me know that she’ll be wrapping up her shift in about an hour, at 7:15 p. m. I shoot her a quick response before slipping my phone back into my pocket.

Justin looks up. “Wanna grab some dinner?”

“Yeah, that sounds great. But first I’ve got to pick Sera up.”

“Aww, how sweet. Going to pick up your wife from work.”

“Don’t call her that,” I say sharply. “I told you we’re keeping it on the down-low.” It’s one thing when I tease Sera about it in private, but Justin calling her my wife when other people are within earshot is not the same.

“Right, sorry. You want to meet us at the bar later?”

“Yeah, but first I want you to keep your eyes on Hunt and see how he wraps things up for the night. Get an update on those parts. I know he was on the phone most of the day, but over the last hour, he’s made himself scarce. Text me if there are any problems. Don’t get the showroom pieces and Hogs in until the room is painted, and the display glasses have been put in.” I’m not eager to have bikes sitting in the dirt in case there’s another delay.

Justin rubs his hands together excitedly. “Dude, I can’t wait to get my hands on those pretties.”

“You’re going to have to get in line. Get in touch with Osborn and all that shit. He already left me a message, saying he can’t wait to meet to discuss his investment.”

“As if youneededan investment.” Justin scoffs. “You’re nearly as rich as he is, and your businesses are booming.”

I chuckle. “Yeah, no, I’m nowhere near as wealthy as he is, and you know how stupid fucking corporate politics are.”

“I got this.”

I slap him on the back and head to my car.

There’s enough time to stop by the apartment for a quick shower and change of clothes before jumping back on the road. On the ride to the diner, I think about what Justin said about me and Sera wanting to kill each other, and he’s right. We’ve been at each other’s throats since she let herself into the apartment, and if we’re going to get through this month, something has to give.

Granted, when we parted this morning, it seemed like there was an understanding, albeit a shaky one. It’s probably only a matter of time before we get on each other’s nerves again.

It’s just the way we operate.

Knowing how stubborn she is, it looks like I’m going to have to be the bigger person. I don’t mind extending a truce if it means the next thirty days will be easier to handle. I’m willing to admit that it’s going to be hard.

No one gets under my skin as much as Sera does. She always has.

But I’ve been able to handle her plenty of times in the past. I’ll do my thing, she’ll do hers, and we’ll come away from this without killing each other.

I pull alongside the curb, and Sera is already waiting. She climbs in, and I immediately notice how exhausted she is. Her messy bun from earlier is sagging and loose strands frame her tired face.

She lies back against the seat with a heavy sigh. “I have to admit, it feels so good to sit down.”

“Sure does.” Glancing to my left, I pull back into traffic after ensuring it’s clear. “I helped at the construction site, and I’m ready to sit back and relax.”

“How’s the work going?”

“Good. How long have you been working at this place?”

“It’s the same place I worked at in high school,” she says.

“Damn, that’s a long time. You must really like it.”

“I do.”

Hmm. There’s something in her curt answer and tone of voice that tells me otherwise. “That doesn’t sound promising.”

Sera doesn’t answer right away. Glancing at her out of the corner of my eye, I note she’s staring out the window at the streaking rain. “No, it’s a great place to work. Really. I love being a waitress. Marie, my boss, is cool. I get paid pretty well and have a lot of authority because I’ve been there for so long.” She pauses, almost as if she doesn’t want to voice what she’s thinking.

“But?” I ask, encouraging her to keep talking.

“But…it’s not exactly what I’m passionate about. My heart’s not totally in it, you know?”

“Then why are you still there?”

She shrugs. “It’s complicated.”

“Try me.”