Chapter 5 No Intimacy
The pharmacy clerk didn't waste time. She handed Naomi a pill that cost several dollars—money Naomi could barely afford.
A dull ache spread through her chest, as if someone had driven a nail straight into her heart.
She was juggling the careers of two rookies with little more than the crumbs the company threw her way, so every dollar had to stretch until it screamed.
And whatever she'd made before had already gone to James—leaving her bank account gasping on its last three digits.
'Another month of skipping meals,' she thought grimly.
Staring at the oversized pill, Naomi swallowed it in one determined gulp.
Money could be earned back, but being controlled by a wealthy man would ruin her life forever.
"What are you taking?"
Jonathan's voice came from behind as he snatched the remaining pill from her hand. Naomi nearly choked in surprise, thumping her chest frantically. Thankfully, the clerk quickly offered her a cup of water.
She couldn't meet Jonathan's eyes.
What if he truly intended to use her as a surrogate? Wouldn't she be sabotaging his plans? The memory of their encounter made her scalp tingle with dread.
Now that they were legally married, if he forced himself on her, would it count as rape? Could she even report marital rape?
While her mind raced, Jonathan casually tossed the contraceptive into the trash. "You won't need these anymore."
He had no intention of touching her again. At least she had enough sense to protect herself. If she'd actually tried to trap him with a pregnancy, he wouldn't have hesitated to control her every move.
Naomi's eyes widened, her breath catching.
What did he mean? Was he determined to make her pregnant so his grandfather could see his child before passing away?
Jonathan didn't care what she was thinking. He strode out of the pharmacy.
"Mr. Cavendish, wait!" Naomi bit her lip and hurried after him. "I need to talk to you!"
The night air was cold, but Jonathan's icy stare made her shiver even more.
Thinking of her future, she forced herself to speak, "Mr. Cavendish, since we're keeping this marriage under wraps, I need to lay down some ground rules."
"Go on," he replied tersely, clearly not wanting to waste words on her.
Naomi took a deep breath. "First, you cannot force me into any sexual relationship. This marriage exists on paper only."
Seeing her solemn expression, Jonathan let out a derisive laugh. "Force you? Ms. Kennedy, you seem to have a selective memory."
Remembering their first night—when she had been the aggressor—Naomi's face burned.
James had chosen to marry someone else for money and status, and she couldn't accept it. That night, she'd only wanted to numb her pain.
If James could find someone else, why couldn't she? How was she to know she'd end up with someone as dangerous as Jonathan?
She cleared her throat awkwardly. "I was drunk that night. It won't happen again."
"I accept your first condition," Jonathan cut her off. "I have no desire for your advances either, Ms. Kennedy. I hope you'll keep your word."
Naomi glared at him. Was he really that arrogant? Just because she'd initiated things once while intoxicated, did he think she'd throw herself at him regularly? Did he believe that his good looks and wealth made every woman desperate for him?
"What's your second condition?" Jonathan checked his watch, clearly impatient.
Naomi froze. She hadn't thought beyond the first rule.
Seeing her silence, Jonathan turned to leave. "I'll be free tomorrow night to visit your place. Make the arrangements."
His commanding tone left no room for argument. Naomi nodded resignedly. "Understood."
After all, Jonathan had acquired Starlight Media. He was her boss. Arranging his schedule was part of her duty as both employee and secret wife.
Just as she was about to notify her family, her mother Luna Bailey called. "You little bitch! If it wasn't raining today, I'd come find you myself! Tomorrow you're coming home for that blind date, or I'll make a scene at your workplace."
She added, "I'm warning you not to play games with me. I don't care if you agree or not—I've already taken his wedding deposit!"
"Mom, I'm married," Naomi sighed. "Return the money. Bigamy is a crime, and if I go to jail, it'll affect your precious son's career. Think about it. I'm sending you my marriage certificate now. My husband and I will visit tomorrow night."
After hanging up, Naomi snapped a quick photo of the marriage certificate—blurred just enough to keep the names unreadable—and sent it to the family WhatsApp group. Even if it got passed around, Jonathan's identity would stay under wraps.
They'd agreed to keep the marriage secret, but since Jonathan had surprisingly agreed to meet her parents, there was no need to keep it from her family.
She braced herself for the inevitable explosion—her mother's barrage of one-minute voice notes, each packed with questions. But this time, the silence was deafening.
Naomi stared at the screen. Nothing. Not even a cheeky emoji from her brother Zack, who usually lived for stirring the pot.
With a small shrug, she slipped the phone into her pocket and started for home.
The Maybach remained parked at the curb until Naomi disappeared through the entrance of her apartment complex. Only then did Jonathan raise his hand. "Let's go."
"Yes, Mr. Cavendish," Terry replied, glancing toward Naomi's building.
Perhaps Jonathan had feelings for Naomi—why else would he wait to ensure she got home safely?
Meanwhile, the Kennedy family huddled around a computer, intensely studying Jonathan's profile.
"Heir to the Cavendish Corporation. Sole CEO. Youngest in the country at twenty. Tripled the company's annual profits..." Zack's voice slowed, each word heavier than the last, disbelief flickering across his face.
This sounded too incredible to be true.
By the end, Zack couldn't continue. "Mom, Dad, something's not right. How could Naomi marry someone like this?"
It seemed less likely than winning the lottery.
Luna narrowed her eyes at the screen. "Scroll down. Are there any photos? We'll know from the pictures."
Zack licked his lips and searched carefully, but found no photos of Jonathan. Even online, there were only blurry silhouettes—nothing showing his face clearly.
Jonathan despised having his privacy invaded. Whenever someone photographed him and posted it online, he ruthlessly deleted all traces, including the accounts of those who shared the images.
Over time, people who had seen Jonathan described him as breathtaking, but no one dared take his picture, let alone share it with others.
Zack frowned. "Must be someone with the same name. Everyone knows about Naomi and James. What wealthy man would want her?"
"What if it's true?" Luna stared at the photo on her phone, her lips curving into a smile. "Naomi takes after me—she's beautiful. Maybe a rich man fell for her at first sight."
"Tomorrow, everyone be on your best behavior," she warned. "Zack, your wedding fund and the house are both in your brother‑in‑law's hands now!"