Roman Vasquez's POV

"We need to talk."

My wife sighed as she cooked breakfast for me the following morning. "Really?" She snapped at me angrily. I could see from her pretty eyes the irritation upon hearing my voice. "Is that the new thing to greet people today? 'We need to talk'."

I, who had planned this whole thing last night before I went to sleep missing my wife sleeping next to me terribly couldn't help the quirk smile slipping on my face. "What I have done to be on the wrong side of you early this morning, Red?"

"Nothing," She said abruptly, but the way she stirred the mixture was quite alarming. "Emerald used those same lines to me yesterday. And now you."

"And that is my fault?" I asked with a smile while tying my necktie next to the kitchen counter where she was cooking. I like seeing her in my kitchen early morning and concentrating on her cooking.

"Did I say it was?" Green eyes flashed with annoyance.

She didn't have to voice it out loud, I mused silently. But it was high time to have this conversation. I know she's still pissed off that the person she's desperately trying to avoid now seems closer to her than she likes. The only person I could thank for this good fate was none other than her dear grandfather who turned out to be on my side in keeping my Red with me even after three months were over.

"We need to talk, Red," I repeated with firm determination in my voice. Daniel might help me in keeping my wife to my side but I need to do my part in this game.

A sigh escapes her again. "What do you want to discuss? As far as I am concerned we don't have anything to say to one another anymore, Roman. Everything had been said in the restaurant a few days ago, don't you think?"

"I beg to disagree. I think it's high time we discuss our arrangements, Red." I said conversationally, eyeing my wife's reaction. I hid my smile when I saw her expression darkened. "I cannot let our present situations stay the way they are."

"I think they're just fine, Roman." She contradicted firmly, the annoyance still fixed in her pretty dark green eyes. "Our current situation fits perfectly fine. We're practically strangers to one another. I am only here because I work for you—as your chef."

"What about our three-month marriage bargain?" I countered slyly. "Have you already forgotten about our deal? Do I need to remind you about it, love?"

"What about it?" She asked with a frown, but surprisingly she didn't meet my eyes this time. A sign that she pretending not to know our current situation.

"The days are passing by and I think I should collect what I bargain for," I told her offhandedly. Casually, leaning on the kitchen counter as I study her appearance. God, she was really beautiful even now her red hair was carelessly pinned at the top of her head. My hands itched to remove the pin that secured her hair and watched the flame-like strands of her hair fall.

Wary green eyes met mine, unaware of my growing thoughts about her. Good, she's nervous. I thought with satisfaction. It's about time to have this little firecracker something to be afraid of.

"What do you mean, Roman?" She asked guardedly. She turned off the burner and focused her attention on me. She placed her hand on each side of her waist as if preparing for some war right this moment.

I moved closer to her, closing the distance that separated us. I felt like every inch of a dangerous predator who was starving for her. "I think it's about time you should introduce me to your family and move in with me."

Her gorgeous green eyes widened considerably. "You've got to be kidding me! Are you out of your mind?"

"I'm afraid I'm dead serious, Red." I shrugged and looked sympathetically over her. "But I think it's about time I should claim my wife again. I didn't go all the trouble coming here in New York just to watch you dodge me like the plague every time, mi amor. I came here to win back my wife."

"If my grandfather learns that I am already married to you. He will do anything to make me stay married to my husband whatever it takes." She looked horrified at the thought. "He'd been hinting since I came back that it's about time me and my sisters settle down. What do you think he will do if he finds out that I am already married to you?"

But he already knew that you are married to me, mi amor. Didn't he step up this whole thing? I wanted to tell her that but I think my Red wasn't quite ready about that information.

"But—"

"There's no way in hell that I will move in with you, Roman." She said resolutely, as she focused back on the skillet on the burner. "I will not move in with you and that's final. I am quite happy sharing lodge with my twin sister."

I looked at her with a resigned expression on my face. Good approaches were wasted with my wife's fiery attitude. So I decided to be ruthless in dealing with her. I would not give her an inch this time. I would have her where I want her.

"I'm afraid that's impossible, my love," I announced sadly, pinning my gaze on her. "One way or the other I intend to have my wife here in my home."

"You're insane." She hissed at me with enough fervor. "I sorely regretted the day I met you! But what I regretted the most was the fact that I agreed with your scheme of marriage back then. I knew this will bite me in the ass soon or later."

"That's the deal, Red," I said with conviction in my voice. "I want my wife back to my side. You are moving into this house whether you like it or not. Because you will not like the alternative I have in mind, wife."

"No!" She opposed firmly, her pretty eyes snapped with fire. As if, she wished that she could burn me with her glare. "For the last time, I will not live here with you, Roman. Bad enough that Emerald wring the truth last night about our connection now you are plaguing me with this crap about living together. Have you lost your mind? What if my grandfather learns anything about this? Do you think we can escape this marriage even if we like it by then? You don't know my grandfather."

I hid my smile as I looked at her intently. My poor wife was the one who didn't know her grandfather that well. That American billionaire was always three steps ahead of his granddaughter when it came to scheming. "You think it's my fault that you spill everything to your dear twin sister?"

"Partly, yes." She admitted while the glare was still fixed in her eyes. "Because if you didn't show up in her penthouse she would not question anything. Now even my other older sisters are curious about our relationship. If this thing reaches Granddad's ear this is the end of us."

"You know, wife," I told her gently. "They will not be going to be so curious about your personal when you're not so secretive with them. What do you expect?" I asked innocently. "You've been away for quite long in the family now you suddenly turn up without warning. What do you think they will think of you?"

She shook her red head stubbornly. "It doesn't matter. They will lose interest in us soon, I hope. But for now, we should not do anything that might stir their interest again in our association other than the fact I'm just your chef. Are we clear?"

"Don't belittle your family, Red," I warned her gently. "I think they are more cunning than you think. It's like you can keep them in the shadow that long with regards to our association as you put it. Now one of your sisters knew your kept secret don't you think it will be a matter of time before the rest knows about this?"

"Emerald will keep her mouth shut about this matter. I am sure of it. We just have two months before we can file the divorce paper, Roman."

I smiled evilly in her direction. "Don't you think that in two months there are so many things that can happen, Red? Besides, you owe me until those months are up you are still my wife. And I want you to stay here with me until the final day of our contract."

When she didn't answer I pounced again this time I intended to have her corner so she couldn't escape my clutch again. "I'll give you twenty-four hours to decide. And by tomorrow morning I will pick you up at your twin sister's apartment."

Her eyes flashed with hatred and anger. "You arrogant, selfish bas—"

I did what I thought was the best way to silence the insult that wanted to escape her mouth. I grabbed her and crushed my lips against hers in a hot and torrid kiss. I'd been dying to do this since the moment I saw her again a few days ago.

Ruby fought me but I kept going. I braced my hands around her so she couldn't escape me ever again. Until by some miracle, she gradually surrendered wrapped her arms around my neck, and kissed him back.

We kissed and kissed as if we both starved to each other half of our lives. Until the long-forgotten soup in the burner created dark smoke and the smell of burned food floated in the air.

"Twenty-four hours, Red," I warned after I finally had the strength to pull away from her lovely lips. "After that, I'll pick you up.'

I didn't wait for her reply and marched out of my kitchen with a devilish smile on my face. By tomorrow my wife would be back at my home. And this time she would stay with my side hopefully forever.

I could hardly wait for it. Once I was in the living room preparing my leave. I fished out my mobile phone in my pocket and dialed someone. After a few rings, the man finally answered. "Everything runs smoothly according to the plan, Daniel."