I glanced at my watch. Again.

If he didn't come out of the airport in two minutes, we were going to be extremely late. Not that I minded being late. I would gladly miss the whole event if I could; I hated big parties where the food was terrible and the people were even worse.

A few minutes later, the door opened – finally – and a tall, attractive man stepped into the limo. I squinted at the dark-haired man seated across from me. Is that what he looked like? I honestly couldn't remember. It's not like I had really seen him much since our wedding God knows how long ago.

"Hello," I smiled at him, wanting to be polite more than anything else.

I didn't know what I was expecting, but I knew I wasn't expecting him to ignore me completely. He didn't even look at me. Not a single glance.

Okay, then...

Well, two could play this game. I rested my head against the back of the seat and was asleep within minutes.

*

"Miss Talia? Miss, wake up. We have arrived."

I opened my eyes to find the driver crouched next to me, shaking me slightly. I sat up and rubbed my eyes, ruining the makeup Ella, the housekeeper, had helped me apply earlier this morning.

I stepped out of the limo, stretching and looking around for my 'husband'.

"He already went inside, Miss."

Great.

Thanking the driver, I grabbed my too-small-to-actually-fit-anything clutch and walked slowly into the grand hall. The moment I entered, I was attacked by a bear hug.

"Talia! Finally!" Jasmine, my best friend, exclaimed. "Always so punctual."

"Hey, it wasn't my fault this time. Someone decided to arrive 45 minutes late."

"Oh my God! Your husband is home! How is that sexy devil?"

"Still a devil," I grumbled. "He couldn't even be bothered to say hi."

"You guys will warm up to each other eventually. He still doesn't really know you."

"Whatever," I said and we headed to our assigned table. "I don't want him to get to know me."

I sat down by my name card, next to my 'husband'. I glanced over at the name inscribed on his.

Tobias Anderson.

So was I Mrs. Anderson now? That was something I had never really considered. I felt a twinge of sadness at the thought.

I watched the couples that were dancing in the ballroom, looking so happy and in love. I'll never be able to have that, I thought.

"Will you dance with me, milady?" a female voice asked, and I looked up to find Cassie, one of my closest friends and Tobias's employee, bowing slightly with her arm extended to me.

I laughed and placed my hand in hers – something I would later regret, as I had two left feet – which she then took and tried to make me twirl around.

I pulled my hand away immediately, laughing. "You know I can't dance, right?"

I would never understand how someone as cold and serious as Tobias could tolerate a goofball like Cassie all the time at work.

Over the past few months, I had spent exceeding amounts of time with Cassie because I was so damn lonely. Cassie was one of the few people who knew that my and Tobias's marriage was arranged for the purpose of merging two companies, and that made her a lot more empathetic.

Well, as empathetic as a five-year-old could be.

"You look super hot, Talia. If that husband of yours isn't doing it for you, there are about ten different men who have been staring at you ever since you walked in," she said, wiggling her eyebrows at me.

Doing it for me? That would imply that we've actually talked before. Other than the begrudging "I do's" we had muttered at the wedding.

"I'll take that into consideration." I smiled, rolling my eyes at her as we swayed awkwardly to the slow music, with me stepping on her feet every now and then. People were looking at us funny because we were two women dancing together, but screw them.

"He's just got a huge stick up his butt. If you manage to get it out long enough, you may actually enjoy his company."

"Thanks for the tip. Except I don't think he wants to enjoy my company," I laughed, stepping on her toe.

"Did you know that you are officially the worst dance partner I've ever had?"

"Did you know that you are officially the most annoying person I've ever talked to?"

"Do I get a trophy for that?" she asked, turning us around.

I saw her eyes latch on to something, and before I knew it I was alone on the dance floor and Cassie was seated at the table with her napkin tucked into her dress.

See? Five-year-old.

I headed over there slowly to mask the excitement I felt when I saw the servers come out with the dishes. I sat down as a server plopped a plate down in front of me, but I was extremely disappointed when I saw the portions.

"What is this, food for ants?" Cassie exclaimed, echoing my thoughts.

I looked down at the dish. It looked beautiful, but I could probably eat seven of these without blinking an eye. I dug in immediately, trying to look as prim and proper as my mother had taught me while still enjoying the food.

When I was done, I was even hungrier than before I ate, and I stared at the plate, willing it to refill itself.

Soon enough the plates were cleared and replaced with dessert: a beautiful, warm, gooey, oozy chocolate cake topped with vanilla ice cream. I all but drooled looking at it, and couldn't help moaning in pleasure when I took my first bite.

In my peripheral vision, I saw Tobias give me a weird look, but I couldn't care less. I devoured the cake like no one was watching, ignoring whatever conversation was happening around me.

When I was done, I peeked over at Tobias's plate and saw that it was untouched.

Great. He was one of those people. That was just icing on the cake that he wouldn't eat.

I was about to reach over and switch our plates when Cassie swooped in and grabbed the beautiful cake, managing to stuff the whole thing in her mouth in one time.

I sighed in annoyance, watching Cassie swallow the highlight of my day. But I also couldn't help laughing at the look on people's faces.

Jasmine stood up and grabbed her purse. "I'm going to the bathroom." She turned to me. "Want to join?"

"Sure."

"So, Tobias may be the hottest man I have ever laid eyes on," Jasmine said nonchalantly once we were in the bathroom.

I gave her a look. "Where did that come from?"

"I'm just saying, maybe you should start looking at your marriage as a blessing rather than a curse."

"You sound like my mother, Jas."

"You've been moping around for months."

"Well I thought I had the right to mope, considering I gave my life for this stupid marriage."

Jasmine raised her hands in surrender. "I get it, Talia, I do. But if my husband was that hot..."

"Oh shut up!" I laughed. "Jake is gorgeous and you're in love. You couldn't be any luckier."

"I know." Jasmine grinned. "I just want to see you as happy as I am."

"Thanks, Jas." I gave her a hug. But that's never going to happen.

We headed back to our table, where Tobias's chair was empty.

"Tal! Tobias wanted me to tell you that he was in the car and for you to go right away because he's 'busy and doesn't have time to wait around all day'," Cassie air-quoted.

"Perfect," I groaned, grabbing my clutch and saying my goodbyes.

I found Tobias in the car looking bored and pissed off. He didn't look up when I entered the car; he just kept tapping away at his phone.

The ride home took much longer than the ride there, and I suffered through the awkward silence for much longer than I would've liked.

I glared at him, sitting there, typing furiously on his phone. He carried himself like he owned the world, something that probably came from being spoiled by his billionaire parents his whole life. The light from his phone reflected in his dark eyes, making them glow in the most attractive way possible. His clean-shaven face was chiseled with high cheekbones and a jawline that could cut glass.

It didn't seem fair that he had money, brains, and looks.

We arrived a short while later, Tobias jumping out the moment the driver held open his door. I slid out after him, but he was already halfway across the unnecessarily long entrance way. I scuffled after him, the cold making me not pay attention to where I was stepping. A moment later, my heel got stuck in the drain.

I looked back to ask the driver for help, but he was gone.

I was now faced with a choice: ask for Tobias's help, or stay here until someone came out.

I gathered up all my courage, and, steeling myself, I called his name.

"Tobias!"

He stopped and turned around.

"Um... I'm sorry, but could you help me out here? My heel got stuck in this drain."

He looked at me a moment longer, then turned around and walked into the house.

I breathed out in astonishment and anger. Who the hell did he think he was?

A moment later, Ella ran out.

"Miss Talia! Are you alright?" she exclaimed, immediately trying to yank my foot out. When it didn't budge, she started undoing the complicated buckles of my shoes, letting my feet go free.

We headed back into the house, leaving the heels stuck in the drain.

I went up to the master bedroom I had claimed, shedding off my dress and pulling on the first t-shirt I found. I hopped into bed and snuggled deep into the soft covers.

What an asshole, I thought. Couldn't even help me out?

Well, at least he had sent Ella to help me. He could've disregarded me completely and left me to fend for myself in the cold.

He was still an asshole, though. A stuck-up rich boy who didn't eat cake.

All the things I hated in a man.