The doors burst open to his study and Hayze cursed as his pen went flying over the paperwork he was filling out.

He looked up and his eyes flared with anger when he saw one of his thirsty business clients saunter into the study that he only let River into now. It was special for him and she had just ruined that.

"Hayze, darling! Its good to see you again. I'm back from Milan and i need another favor."

He rolled his eyes as she made herself comfortable in the chair in front of his desk, her legs folded over eachother and her dress annoyingly restrictive and short.

River's dresses were short sometimes, but that was only for Hayze to see. And they were never worn when he needed her to be professional.

"You look good," she smiled seductively.

"You look... tan. Welcome back Merissa." His voice was monotone and uninterested.

"Thanks. Anyway, i wanted to ask- Wait, hold on a second. Who was that little girl that i saw planting flowers outside your house?"

Hayze smiled unconciously. "That was River-rose."

"Well, tell her stop being so nosy. She was all up in my business, trying to ask for my name." She scoffed and Hayze clenched his fists under the table.

"That's called being polite."

"She needs to teach that dog of hers manners as well then."

He was about to shout at her in italian but then he thought against it. He wanted to keep the peace and get her out of his study as quickly as possible. "What is it that you wanted?"

"That charity event we do every year, i need you to come with me this time. I need the publicty for my next fasion show. I've got new amazing designs prepared, but i need more publicity for the show and people went crazy at my show three years ago after seeing us together."

Hayze frowned. "You do realize that the charity event is for raising funds for charity and not publicity."

She waved her hand around dissmisively. "It's killing two birds with one stone."

"I don't think i can bec-"

A knock sounded at the door and River peaked her head in the door. She looked a little sad. "Excuse me, Hayze?"

He perked up. "Yes, pretty girl? What is it that you need?" He asked gently, ignoring the pointed stare from Merissa. "Come here."

River walked in, her knee socks sliding over the cherry wood floor and her overall dress smudged with dirt from the garden.

As she walked by Merissa she gave her a shy, tight lipped smile but all she got in return was a blank stare.

As soon as River got around to his side of the desk, he grabbed her soft hands and pulled her towards him. She stumbled forward but he caught and steadied her before making her stand between his legs.

"Is there something wrong?" Hayze asked as he scanned her face. Her eyes were not as bright as they usually were.

She peaked over at Merissa out of the corner of her eye before huffing and shaking her head. "Can i sit in here, with you. I'll be quiet."

He nodded and led her around him and pulled out the bean bag that was under his desk. She plopped down happily before opening a side drawer and pulling out a moleskin sketchbook that Hayze had gotten her when he had gotten his for his architecural rough drafts. Hers were filled with drawings of trees, plants, flowers and birds while Hayze's were filled with sketches of old buildings and futuristic ones.

Hayze leaned down and pressed a kiss to her forehead before sitting up straight and looking Merissa dead in the eye. "As i was saying, i won't do that.

Merissa's face fell. "Why? You did it three years ago."

He could feel his anger bubbling up. "I shouldn't have to-" He stopped abruptly when he felt River's small hand rest on his thigh. It was most likely an innocent guesture to her, but for him it got him a little excited.

He looked down at River who was sketching away. She was trying to keep him calm at the same time.

"Look, Merissa." He sighed. "I am a married man n-"

Merissa's eyes bulged out of her head. "Married!? To whom?"

"To-" Hayze was cut off when River sprung up from her bean bag and wiggled her fingers around in the air.

"To me. Look at the pretty ring he got for me," she beamed as she held out her hand. Hayze chuckled and scooted up closer behind his wife.

"Is this a joke?" Merissa asked as she examined the ring on River's finger.

"Nope. Hayze, show her the ring i got you."

Hayze held up his hand and then just the ring finger. River gasped and folded his finger down quickly. It might not have been his middle finger, but he most definetly was hinting at it.

"Maybe your... wife, should step out for a minute," Merissa said in an overly sweet voice.

"No, she does-"

"Actually, its okay. I've gotta go check on Blue and theres some fresh bread downstairs thats just calling my name."

Hayze had to hold himself back from lunging to grab his wife. He wanted her in the room with him.

"Hayze." She stopped at the door. "Do we have butter for the bread you made?"

"Im sure we do."

"Okay. Bye Merissa! It was... good meeting you."

Hayze had to hold back a laugh. River always strived to be polite and proffesional with his clients but this was the first time it came out so forced. River rarely ever disliked anyone. In fact, he hadn't heard her talk bad about anyone before, ever. Not even Nico, even after all he'd done. She was Hayze's sweet girl.

"Hayze!" Merissa shreiked. "Are you seriously married to that... child?"

Hayze clenched his jaw. "She's seriously developed for a child then, isn't she. I'm married to a beautiful woman who is with me for who i am and not for my money," he hissed.

"So whats she got that i don't have?" Merissa pouted. He internally groaned when he noticed what she was doing. She was trying to act similar to River.

"Would you seriously like me to list them?" Hayze asked in a bored voice. "Because i might hurt your feelings."

"Yes."

"She's naturally beautiful. She's not money hungry. She's innocent. She's kind to everyone. She's got an immense amount of love in her heart. She works well along side me. She doesn't look for publicity in a-"

"Alright, i get it!"

Hayze smirked and looked down at his paperwork. "Why are you still in here than?"

"Well... does she please you like i have?"

His head shot up. "Get. out," he growled.

Merissa stood up from her chair and leaned over the desk. "Does she please you like i can?"

"I said leave! Go dammit!" He hit the desk with his fist as he stood up.

"Does she even know how much you like to have control or do i have to tell her about how mean you've been in the past?"

"The past was in the past. There's no need to bring it up to my wife if i've changed. I needed to be strict to keep my business from turning corrupt. I was an angry man back then; things have changed." He walked around the side of his desk and put a hand on her shoulder blades to coax her out of the room.

"Not everything has to be different," Merissa whispered as she turned to Hayze. "This doesn't have to change."

And then she pressed her lips to Hayze's just as River-rose walked in looking to share some of her warm buttered rolls.

Merda