I walked along our split stair case and around the grand landing, looking at all of the doorways, six bedrooms. Why did we need six bedrooms? There was only the two of us and Henry was insistent that there would be no children in our near future. He wanted the next five years available to focus solely on his career and his company. I felt a little cold and lost in this big house. I reached the next staircase and climbed the fourteen steps to my loft room studio. This one single room was home to me. Colour filled the walls, memories of my life covering the canvases. The good and the bad. Images of frustration, emotional healing and lastly love. I sank into my chair, closed my eyes and let myself remember back to the happier times.

* * *

He looked at me with solemn eyes and cupped my face in his hands. I looked into his bright green eyes and my heart started to race. He had heard it, he must have, he must have known the reaction he was causing my body to have. Without hesitation he leaned into me, touching his lips with mine. His kiss was soft yet wanting. Every inch of me was alive with desire. I leaned into him pursing my lips and running my hands through his dark chocolate brown hair, the kiss turned eager, passionately sliding his tongue into my mouth and massaging mine with his. His breathing rhythm increased and without at first realizing it he was laying me back against his desk. For a moment he stopped kissing me and pulled his head away. Stepping back he looked at me, “I have to give you something” as he said it he reached into his drawer and pulled out a large brown envelope and handed it to me. Intrigued, I carefully peeled it open and pulled out the papers inside.

“Are you serious, my P45, your fucking firing me” I screamed at him. “What have I done wrong? I need this job.”

“No you don’t, not anymore” he said calmly.

His lips turned up at the corners smiling at me. I could tell he found my reaction humorous which enraged me further. Feeling confused and vulnerable, I opened my mouth to speak when he placed his index finger over my lips to silence them. Shit, I should have known there would be ramifications for sleeping with Henry, I just had not expected this. We were not official; we had just been having office fuckery fun for the past six months. There was no nasty break up of issues to work around, so why? Why was he talking my career away from me?

“I have a company policy to not date or fuck my employees; since you have ever so kindly let me delve into your sweet panties I now find it the suitable time to end your employment for my company. I do not expect my girlfriend to work in a workshop filled with men that want to have their wicked way with her.” I was dumbfounded, girlfriend? Henry and I had exchange mutual sexual relations but not in a million years did I expect him to want more of me than my body. What had just happened, all of these thoughts raced through my mind and then he kissed me again, sending the spiral of confusion completely out of my head. I let out a little squeal as the desire that ran through me was hard to control.

He smiled at me, “I have wanted you since the first moment I had laid eyes on you. You will be my wife one day Evie.”

A sense of euphoria surrounded me. I was twenty two, the man of my dreams wanted me, simple old me. Everything in my life was changing for the better, everything was perfect.

* * *

I awoke to the sound of the front door closing. I looked at the time and realized I must have fallen asleep, shit, it was 6.02pm and I hadn’t even started dinner. I was starving and my stomach agreed by letting out a rumble. I ran down the two flights of stairs as quickly as my legs would carry me. Henry was standing in the hall kicking of his black lace up loafers. That was the one thing I always found awkward about Henry, he never relaxed or wore sneakers, jeans were as casual as he got, but they were always teamed with a shit and loafers, always.

“Hungry baby?”

“Starving” he returned. I smiled and kissed him on the cheek. I walked into the kitchen and started to get the ingredients out of the fridge.

“Just jumping in the shower Evie” he called.

“Okay, I’m making a lasagne so it will be about half an hour,” Okay, time keeping isn’t my best quality, more like an hour.

“Okay baby” he called down the stairs.

I started to chop the garlic and onion, tossing them into the sizzling pan which was laced with olive oil. I flicked the stereo on and started to dance and hum along with the rasp of Ed Sheeran’s music, swaying and smiling.

I had just layered the lasagna and after a last sprinkling of parmesan, placed it into the oven when I felt his arms slide around my waist. The palms of his hands rested just above my pelvis.

“I love you baby”, he whispered softly into my ear.

“I love you too”, it came all too naturally, like a pre-embedded text which was returned all of his ‘I love you’s’.

We danced around the kitchen for what seemed like an eternity. Twirling and spinning, laughing and smiling. We were not the most co-ordinated pair of dancers but it was entertaining to see Henry try and move to the music.

“Oh wait, wait, wait, dinner!” I exclaimed.

I nearly forgot, my stomach would not be pleased if I managed to burn it. After the small salad at brunch and then forgetting to get my pain au chocolate I could not risk losing this dinner. I rushed over and grabbed the oven gloves, swung open the door and pulled out the tray.

“Phew”, I sighed.

“Disaster avoided baby?”

“Yes, thank goodness.” I make a mean lasagne and did not want to have to feed it to the bin tonight!

We sat around the table enjoying each other’s company, good food and a little tipple of wine.

“How was tea with Mother today?”

“Oh, um fine I suppose, she um, said I had put on a few pounds and ordered me salad”, I grimaced remembering her bitter tone.

“I am sure she didn’t mean it darling.”

“Perhaps”, I sighed. “Do you think I am fat?”

I knew picking with him about his mother was a losing battle. I would never expect him to choose her over me; she was of course his mother. It would however be nice if he happened to realize how much her comments upset me and considered discussing her remarks with her.

“Don’t be ridiculous, you know Mother, she doesn’t understand that it is nice for a woman to have curves.”

“Is that your way of saying I am fat then, you just happen to like it?”

“Evie, I am telling you this once only, you are not fat, end of conversation.”

The atmosphere felt dense and Henry’s eyes were focused down to his lasagne not willing to break the silence. I suppose I was being a little ridiculous, I didn’t have to ask him again when he had already said I was not fat.

“Lucy popped over this morning and then I cleaned the house.” I lied about the cleaning, but the house was always so impeccable that it barely needed doing. He wouldn’t have noticed.

I also purposely left out the details of the chance meeting in car park with the man who quite simply seemed to make my body quiver at the thought of.

“Oh yes, of course, Lucy is back, how was her expedition?” Henry seemed to relax, his body loosened and things were comfortable between us again.

“She had a fabulous time. Met a guy at the airport on the way home, of all the places. Oh that reminded me are we still ok for Alexis’ party tomorrow night? Luce is going to come to with her new flavour of the month.”

Alexis was my beautiful younger sister, she was fun, outgoing and exuded confidence. I hadn’t seen her in almost two months. Not since the last time Henry was away on business. He and Alexis are not exactly best of friends so Henry prefers me to spend time with him when he is in the country, rather than her. It is only on a rare occasion they will be in the same room as one another.

“Yes still ok for tomorrow night”.

“Great.”

I finished my meal and looked across at Henry I couldn’t help but smile and take all of him in. His very beautiful features. His autumn green eyes dusted with flecks of gold. His mop of unruly wavy dark brown hair, he was mine. I fell in love with him, I do love him; surely I can want to make love to him.

I finished off my glass of wine, and decided that I would make a conscious decision to make Henry know and feel as if he was wanted. I stood up and walked over to him and sat on his lap wrapping my arms around his neck. Leaning down I placed my lips against his and kissed him. His tongue entered my mouth instantaneously. Brushing and stroking mine with his. An eager groan erupted from the back of his throat. I kissed him back, running my hands through his hair. He cupped the back of my head with his hand and tilted my neck to give him better access. This was the first time we have kissed passionately like this in weeks. Something was missing. His tongue was swamping my mouth, barely allowing me any movement. Abruptly he pushed me back. He was still panting. I leant my head to the side, confused. He looked lovingly into my eyes and smiled. I followed his gaze and he brought it down to his hands. In it there was a box. Oh my god, oh my god. I am going to hyperventilate, shit, am I ready? Oh God, don’t do this, not yet, yes do this, this is what you need, what I need. A mixed array of questions and thoughts pouring through my mind.

“Baby, I love you, I have loved you from the moment I met you and I want to love you from now until eternity. You are my world, my sun, my universe and I couldn’t imagine one day without loving you,” he paused, building up the courage, “will you be my wife?”