Bedmates Soulmates

Austyn's lips curved into a smile.

He changed into the slippers and headed into the living room.

Behind him, Kira facepalmed.

"What a knucklehead I' she thought. 'It was such a perfect opportunity to bring it up. He asked me what I wanted. I could've just told him. Why did I say no? Aaahh, I can't believe I just shot myself in the foot!" Kira trudged after Austyn, crying over spilt milk.

Roff at The Red Carpet

She bucked up again once they were seated at the dining table.

'Honey, try this,' she filled his plate with a heaping serving of pan-fried tilapia fillet. 'It's so tender, it melts in your mouth. Here, have some sautéed veggies. Bok choy is rich in vitamin K, good for your bones." Kira buzzed around the table busy as a bee. 'Are you thirsty? I'll fetch you some tea.

"How about another serving of rice?" Before Austyn could answer, she was already refilling his bowl with a small mountain of jasmine rice.

While Austyn ate, she hovered over his shoulder like an overeager waitress angling for a tip.

Her saccharine voice filled the dining room filled with 'honeys' and 'please-have-some-mores."

Austyn showed no visible reaction to his wife's unusually solicitous attitude, though he kept his eyes trained on her.

He sat regally at the head of the table, not a hair out of place and not a wrinkle on his bespoke suit.

Kira, on the other hand, felt like she'd just run a marathon.

She had a newfound respect for restaurant workers.Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

Austyn pushed back his chair and stood up after he was done. I have some business to Take your time."

He went up the stairs to the second floor.

Kira slumped in the chair, bone tired.

Alas, she just missed her second chance.

She gently knocked her forehead against the table, wishing she could rewind the clock.

heare of.

'Why can't I just say it? It's just four little words. "I need your help." How difficult can it be?

After spending an appropriate amount of time wallowing in self-reproach, Kira raised her head.

'Come on, you can do this!' she clenched her fist.

Spotting the plate of sautéed veggies near her, she grabbed her chopsticks.

She had been too busy fawning on Austyn to eat much food herself.

Kira wolfed down a big serving of spinach and prayed to the Sailor Man, "Popeye, give me strength!

She knew she'd just flip-flopped on her own word.

One second, she told Elsie she didn't want Austyn's help.

The next, she was falling over backwards to ingratiate herself with him.

But it was the only way.

The M Group was famed for its generous pay and benefits package.

She would be able to make ends meet after a stint with the Fortune 500 company.

The Internship would also be a feather in her cap.

She stood a better chance of catching the eye of her future employer when it was time to pound the pavement upon graduation.

Her heart set, Kira polished off the rest of her dinner.

Come hell or high water, she was going to get the job.

She would kiss ase, grovel, beg-whatever it took

It was too important to let her self esteem get in the way

Five minutes later.

Come in, Austyn said as a knock came from the door

Kira took a deep breath before heading into the study

Lights were dimmed inside

Austyn was sitting behind a huge mahogany desk with his shirt sleeves rolled up, revealing two sinewy forearms

Documents littered the surface in front of him.

He looked up, pen in hand.

Kira was surprised to see him wearing a pair of rimless glasses

They made him look less like the formidable president and instead, gave him a scholarly, professorial vibe Kira's heart skipped a beat.