stared down at the text Adrian sent him a few minutes back saying Althea was currently in an interview with an news channel which was going live.

I unbottoned my suit jacket and removing it, draped it over the back of my chair and rolled my sleeves up to my elbows before sitting down and turned on the TV that was in my office and switched to the channel where my wife was giving an interview.

Dressed in a white blouse, dark blue jeans and a baby pink blazer, she looked fucking hot, sitting on a single white couch with the lady reporter sitting opposite to her, the same one who took our interview when I proposed her.

The interview was already going on for the past few minutes and Althea was smiling at something that the lady said.

"So, the question right now is...where are you both going for a honeymoon? I mean your schedule is free before the Women's World Cup starts in two months time."

Althea's smile faltered. "Um...we haven't decided that yet. At the moment we don't have any plans for the honeymoon either because as you said the World Cup is just around the corner and I need to train well and Calix himself has so much work, so maybe after the World Cup..."

Hmm... honeymoon. Sounds amazing. I am definitely going to tease her about this later.

"Oh, that's kinda sad. I hope you both get some quality time to spend with each other soon."

"Thank you..." Althea muttered.

"Okay, so, as everyone can see you totally have that glow on your face, the glow the new brides have and you are looking absolutely stunning as always." The reporter beemed.

Althea chuckled but I could tell it was a fake one. "Thanks, Cindy."

"So, I was wondering...I guess everyone has been wondering that how did you guys start dating? You guys kept it private till the last minute, we were so curious to know who asked who out first and how if you don't mind sharing."

Fuck. We never discussed about this, she must be planning my murder right now but at the same time I was curious to see what she would come up with.

Althea leaned back and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Well, actually, it was Calix who asked me out. A year back we were having our family dinner and umm..." The reporter or Cindy's eyes lit up when she continued speaking, "...we were out in the garden when he all of a sudden kissed me."

I did what?

"Did you kissed him back?" Cindy interrupted.

Althea contemplated for a moment before shaking her head. "No. I didn't. I slapped him instead."

What the fuck.

Cindy slapped her palm to her mouth to control her laughter and shock. "Really?"

"Yes." Althea smiled and nodded. "I ignored him for a week before he finally asked me out properly."

"Oh God, that's hilarious and cute at the same time. I can't believe you slapped him." Cindy laughed softly.

And I can't believe that she came up with that, like seriously?

At the same time my best friend, entered my office without bothering to knock. "What a cute lovestory you two have." He mocked with his signature smirk and he unbottoned his suit jacket before taking a seat opposite to me.

I fixed him with a cold glare before pressing the intercom to my assistant. "Mason! Who let this fucker inside my office? I don't know this man!"

A moment later, Mason peeked inside, looking baffled. "Sir... that's your best friend..."

Lucian was finding all this very amusing and lifting his leg, he placed his ankle over his other knee and waved his hand to Mason. "Oh, don't worry, Mason, your boss sometimes tends to get dramatic." And he gestured him to leave and Mason gave me one last look before leaving.

I glared at my so called best friend. "You literally disappeared, wasn't picking up my calls neither seeing my messages and you expect me to believe you are still my best friend?"

He picked up a pen and started to spin it on his fingers. "I was just busy. See, I came to visit you, didn't I?"

I rolled my eyes. "Why are you here?"

He ran his fingers through his dark hair, combing it back and his deep blue eyes twinkled with amusement. "Like I said, I came to see you."

"Fuck off."

He gave me a tiniest of smirks and swiveled his chair around to look at the TV screen, or at Althea. "Damn, she is looking fine."

I picked up a pen a threw it at his head. "That's my wife!"

I turned around, chuckling lowly and raised his hands in surrender. "Still possessive about her. I was just appreciating what I was seeing."

"You don't need to."

The smirk never left his face, he was enjoying getting a reaction out of me.

Lucian Astor is one hell of a cold fucker, he speaks less, observes more and if you get in his way, he fucking destroys you.

But we have been together for years, supporting each other through thick and thin and though we spend our time mocking and taunting, we love each other. We are just not very expressive about our love.

He spent another half an hour with me before finally leaving cause he have his own company to handle.

I decided to get some work done but it didn't take my brain long to distract me with the thoughts of my wife.

Fuck. I want to kiss her so badly. I have been waiting to kiss her for years. And when I thought I finally had the chance, the look on her face made me step back.

I might have forced her to marry me but I can't force her to kiss me. That would be wrong. Though forcing her to marry me is also wrong but anyway, I was never the one to follow the rules.

It will take time for her to soften towards me, she was never the one to display much emotions, never the one to show vulnerability. Always hiding her true feelings acting like she doesn't care but deep down she does.

The only time I saw her in a vulnerable position was thirteen years back...the only time she allowed me to be close to her, the only time she seeked comfort from me.

The school got over and I placed all my books inside my locker and locked it before I walked towards the washrooms to look for Lucian when I heard someone crying.

Outside the girl's washroom, sat Althea on the floor with her back against the wall and her legs drawn closer to her body, her chin resting over her knees and she was crying softly.

"Althea?" I stepped closer to her and called her.

She lifted her head and her eyes were glossy with tears and a pained expression was etched on her face. "Calix?"

My heart clenched on seeing her like that.

I crouched down. "Hey, what's wrong? Did someone say anything?"

She shook her head and lowered her eyes. I took off her glasses from her face and wiped away her tears. "Hey... it's okay...you can tell me. I will beat the shit out of anyone who said anything."

She snifled and finally looked at me. "I...I am... bleeding..." And she gestured down to her legs where a drop of blood was trickling down her legs as she was wearing a skirt.

I frowned. She was twelve years old and I realised that she must have started with her periods.

"And my stomach hurts so much. I don't know what's wrong with me, Calix. How can I bleed from between my legs?" And she sobbed.

I almost laughed at her cuteness. Almost. She didn't know what periods were.

I cupped her cheeks. "Hey... nothing is wrong with you. You are okay, Al. This is normal, you just started with your periods. Did your parents not tell you?"

She shook her head. "No...how do you know?"

"It's what every girl goes through once she hits puberty and that's what's happening with you. It's completely normal."

"Why...? Why am I bleeding?"

Um...how was I supposed to explain everything to her?

"First, stop crying. It's nothing to worry about, okay? You are completely fine."

This is going to be an awkward conversation.

I made myself comfortable as I sat next to her and took her hand in mine and she kept staring at me curiously as I wiped away her tears. "Listen, you will probably learn about this later in class. I will tell you what all I know. It's called a menstrual cycle or periods and it's what a girl goes through every month. It means that now you have become a woman."

"But it's hurting so much..." She admitted in a small voice, on the verge of crying again.

"Yeah, I know...you are experiencing cramps...mom has them too and she says they are very painful."

I guess she needs a girl right now who can explain everything to her more clearly.

"Wait here. I will be back." I told her and getting up, I started to search for someone.

Soon enough I found Layla, a blonde girl with whom I share a maths class. "Hey!"

Closing her locker, she turned around and smiled. "Hey, Calix."

"I need your help." And I proceeded to tell her everything about Althea and a minute later, she pulled out a tampon from her locker and nodded.

"It's okay, I can help. Where is she?"

Grateful for her help, I took her to Althea and she was still there sitting in that position and Layla introduced herself before taking her inside the washrooms and I waited for them outside.

Five minutes later, they both came out and I noticed that her legs didn't have any trace of blood anymore and Althea's cheeks were red.

Layla stepped closer to me and started to laugh. "I explained to her about everything and she freaked out thinking she is going to have a baby right now. Oh God."

That was amusing but seeing Althea's red cheeks and the way she shot a glare to Layla, I stopped myself from laughing and I thanked her before she walked away.

"Are you feeling better?" I asked her.

"I don't know..." She muttered shyly and I was about to touch her hand when she retreated back. "Don't...I am feeling so dirty right now."

"Shut up. Just because you are bleeding doesn't mean you are dirty. You are a woman now."

All of a sudden, her eyes lit up. "I am a woman now? Does that mean I can have a boyfriend?"

What the fuck. "No." I snapped. "No boyfriends. You are just twelve."

"But you said--"

"No boyfriends." I stated firmly once again.

And her eyes glossed with tears. "Stop scolding me."

"Fuck. I wasn't scolding you, Al. I was just trying to say that boys are stupid."

"Like you?"

I shot her glare and her lips twitched.

"Okay, now, would you like to eat some ice cream?" I changed the topic.

"Are you paying for it?"

"Yes."

She grinned. "Okay, let's go eat ice cream!"

It was rare to have a normal conversation with her, to not argue and I was fucking loving it.

I started to walk down the corridor with her beside me and slowly, her hand touched mine before she held my hand firmly, stepping closer to me.

I looked down at her and she pretended to look here and there instead and my lips curled up into a smile.

I tightened my hold on her hand and we walked out of the school and to the ice cream shop that was nearby.

Inside the shop, she ordered a vanilla ice cream for herself and ordered the same and we took a seat near the glass walls.

"So...um...that girl earlier...is she your girlfriend?"

I was about to take a bite of the ice cream but paused. "No. She's my classmate. Why?"

She shrugged, licking her ice cream slowly. "I was just wondering."

I slowly smirked. "My dear, Althea, are you asking me if I am single?"

Her eyes snapped to me. "N-no!"

"You stuttered."

"I didn't!"

"Yes, you did. By the way, I am single and available for you." And I winked. "Would you like to go on a date with me?"

"No, you idiot." She refused but I didn't miss the way a tint of pink coated her cheeks. "And you only said no boyfriends."

"Well, I didn't include myself in that list. I can be your boyfriend."

"Eww, shut up. Plus dad will kill you."

"Your dad loves me."

"You think too highly of yourself. Now, shut up, idiot." And she licked at her ice cream, looking out instead.

It took everything in me to not kiss her right there and then ask her out properly again, in a more serious way. But she clearly wasn't interested in me.

I stopped myself from sulking and ate my ice cream.

After we were done, we came out of the shop and walked back to the school where her driver was waiting for her inside the car and I walked her till there and opened the car door for her and she slid inside and I closed the door for her.

I turned around to leave when I heard her call me, "Hey, idiot?"

"What?" I turned and watched as she poked her head out of that window.

"Come here."

I raised a brow at her but walked to her anyway and I bent down to her level. "Yes?"

She looked nervous and I was about to ask her when she grabbed the collar of my t shirt, pulling my face closer to her and pressed a lingering kiss on my cheek. "Thank you for today. You are not that bad after all."

I stayed frozen there and she released my collar and pushed me away and I watched her roll up the windows as the car drove away.

I grazed my cheek where she kissed me with my finger. She kissed me. Oh. My. God.

When I recovered from the shock, I punched the air in happiness.