Chapter 2
The first test came at an abruptly arranged family dinner. “You would marry in haste? To this secretary? This must be one of your schemes to secure your place as my successor, and I will not stand for it!
Loki sighed deeply. “I am aware of how this must seem.” His fingers entangled with Eva's on the table. “I assure you. It is not. This is the result of your meddling, your attempt to spy on me. We've grown close over these past few months. I know it seems quick, but we had no desire to wait. Even you can admit that love is not always patient.”
His father scoffed at his words as he watched his son kiss the hand of his new bride. “She is my better half, and I needed to make her mine before she would realize how much better she could do.”
Frigga laughed a little. She knew her adopted son had little patience for much of anything, but she could sense there was something not quite right; however, she said nothing, opting to see how this would play out, believing Loki would come to realize he’d met his match. Yes, Eva was a quiet girl, but Frigga saw a strength deep inside her. It just needed to be let out, and Loki was the perfect man to do so.
“I wish we could have been at the wedding, but Loki is not known for his patience. Please, Eva dear, tell me about it?”
Thankfully Eva and Loki had spoken about it, but not in great detail and was both surprised and relieved when Eva answered but didn’t quite stick to the agreed upon story. “We never said anything at the office. We didn’t want to bring attention to ourselves, stir up rumors and such. So we kept it a secret. He didn’t care for me at first, when Odin first assigned me to Loki, but over time, Loki and I became close. We’d started dating before we even realized we were doing it, only hanging out as friends at first. I can’t speak for Loki, but I fell hard and fast. It was like the missing part of me had finally been found. A couple of weeks ago, we were walking about on an extended lunch and ended up in front of the courthouse. Next thing we knew, we signed papers and came out as husband and wife. I couldn’t be any happier, and I have Odin to thank for it.”
Loki had to keep from choking on his food when she thanked Odin. That was not something he’d thought of putting in their story, but it was a nice touch. Reaching over, his hand found hers, fingers intertwining. “It was like magic.”
Odin turned a few different shades of red as Eva spoke, but when she thanked him for the two getting together, he lost his shit, standing up and storming out. There was nothing he could do because he was the one pushing Loki to find a wife, and Loki took great pride in this as his father had always given him a hard time. He’d have to remember to get his fake wife a thank you gift.
“Don’t mind him. Business has been crazy lately, and it’s left him quite stressed. Eva, I don’t see a ring on your finger. Loki, you have to get that fixed very soon.”
“I agree, mother. It was very spur of the moment, and I’d planned on taking my dear Eva to Harry Winston this weekend so she can select the ring she deserves.” Eva nearly spat out her food. She’d heard of Harry Winston but didn’t dare think she could ever even afford to step in the store, much less get an engagement ring from there. She could practically buy a car for what Loki would spend on a ring there!
“I think that is the best place to take her. You’ll have to let me know what you select.” The three of them concluded their dinner a few moments later.
Once in the car and on the way back to Loki’s place, he gave a startling laugh. “What’s so funny?” Eva was confused, but Loki continued to laugh. “I have to thank you, darling girl. I’ve never seen Odin so angry! You played your part very well, and I thank you for it.” He lifted her hand up and kissed her knuckles as he continued to drive, leaving her a bit mystified. Why would someone want to upset their father that much?
“Loki, why in the world are we going to Harry Winston for rings? They’re absurdly expensive!”
All he did was smile when responding. “Because, dear Eva, you deserve the best and should also look the part. This is part of what we agreed upon.”
“I don’t need some giant, gaudy ring on my finger!” He patted her thigh. “Relax, Eva. When the contract is over, you can keep the ring or sell it. It’s up to you.”
There was no arguing with him, and that’s how it remained when he practically dragged her to the Harry Winston store that weekend. There was one he tried to get her to agree on, but she was adamant it was both too much, and too gaudy.
She looked around, trying to find something they could perhaps agree on until she saw one particular ring.
“Madam has an excellent eye. This is part of our bridal couture collection. This particular one,” he spoke as he pulled out the ring, “has a 5 carat center diamond with 36 pear and round shaped diamonds surrounding it.”
“No, no. I was just looking. That’s much too nice for me,” she tried to protest. The gentleman behind the counter carefully removed the ring from it’s soft pillow and gestured for her to try it on. “Really, I can’t.”
“Yes, you can.” That man was going to be the death of her. “That ring is perfect for you.” Loki took the ring from the salesman in one hand and picked up her left hand with his free one, sliding the ring on the fourth finger of her left hand. “It’s like it was made for you.” The gentleman behind the counter wholeheartedly agreed. “It’s a perfect fit.”
She couldn’t find it in her to disagree with him. This ring was like something out of a cheesy rom com where the handsome millionaire fell in love with the dog walker. ‘Holy shit! That makes me the dog walker!’ She kept that thought to herself.
Before Eva knew it, they were walking out of the store, that ring remaining on her hand while Loki selected a simple platinum band. “Why do you get the simple ring, and I get this giant one?”
Loki shrugged. “I’m not much of a jewelry guy, but I couldn’t not wear anything. And that ring is perfect for this charade.”
When they arrived into the office Monday morning with a ring on her finger that she swore could be seen from space, the news of their marriage spread like wildfire and ended with the ladies of the office planning a post wedding engagement party, wanting to hear all the details and celebrate her ability to ring in the notoriously emotionally stunted, intransigent man who didn’t believe in marriage.
Little did she know that Loki was receiving similar treatment from the gentlemen in the office; however, he politely told them to mind their own business and fuck off. Eva wished she could do that.