Page 6 of The Imp Act

CHAPTER SIX

ENZO

Mrs. Grimsby is the proverbial thorn in my side. A crotchety old half-imp, she’s supposed to be our housekeeper. One Mother hired and promised would take excellent care of us. And she does her job well enough, I guess, but the issue is that her real job is something else: spy. Mother wants someone keeping an eye on us 24/7, which means Noelle and I never get to drop the newlywed act. Not that I particularly want to. I’m having fun. But still, it would be nice if we could .

Still, we’ve done our best to settle into some semblance of a routine. We get up and have breakfast, then I hit the home gym or the boxing ring while she gets started on her fashion work. We meet up for lunch, then she goes back to work while I wonder what the hell I used to do with all my time. Then it’s dinner and spending the evening together, which usually entails watching a movie or premium TV.

Noelle seems to be thriving. Every so often she rushes in to get my feedback on a design, and I couldn’t be prouder. My girl has real talent, and I’ll do whatever it takes to help her launch her line. Of course, Mother has already complained to me about Noelle working. In her opinion, Noelle should be a bored, rich housewife devoted to all the same charities my mother supports. And sure, Noelle supports charity in her own way, but she’s not about to give up her career to sit on a bunch of fundraising committees.

Something Mother bitches about at every chance. I’m at our family’s corporate headquarters today, debating whether I want to take on a job here. Honestly, maybe I should be the one to join a bunch of committees. I have the free time. But something about coasting along on my family’s money makes the place between my wings itch. Which is why I’m not wildly eager to start a job here, either. I’m sure I’d be ensconced in some spacious office with an executive assistant who could do all my work, leaving my business degree for show. Nah, that’s not for me.

I’m thirty-two, I’m married, and I need to grow up. So okay, I’ll agree to work here, for the experience, but only until I can find something else. Something meaningful. Something I can feel passionate about, the way Noelle does with her designs. Decision made, I’m about to head out when my mother appears from behind a closed office door, her heels clacking on the hardwood of the quiet hall.

“Enzo, how nice to see you here. Have you finally decided to claim your position in the company?”

I nod. “I think so. For now, anyway. I have a lot of free time I don’t know what to do with. Might as well work.”

She looks delighted, a rare sight. “That’s wonderful. And with you working, Noelle will be able to step away from her silly fashion thing and help with my committees.”

Great. Here we go again. I run a hand through my hair with a sigh. “Uh, well, no. Her fashion career is very important to her. She won’t stop working on it just because I’m doing… something here.”

My family’s company has multiple branches. I’m not entirely sure what all of them do, or where I would even be working. The privilege of it all smacks me in the face, and I blink. Imagine having a job waiting for you and not even knowing what it is.

Mother purses her lips, her normal dour expression returning. “Honestly, Enzo, I don’t know why you put up with that. It’s unbecoming. It’s bad enough you married a human without any status in her own society, but to let her continue working? It’s a shame.”

My brows shoot up. “Let her? Mother, I don’t own Noelle. I can’t tell her what to do. You, more than anyone, should know that women make their own decisions.”

She bulldozes right past the obviousness of that. “For imps, yes. We’re matriarchal. But humans are not. If you told her you didn’t want her working, she would listen to you.”

My mother doesn’t know Noelle at all, which is her own fault. She’s made literally no effort to spend time with my wife. It seems her only goal was getting me married for the sake of appearances—she doesn’t actually care about the woman in my life. Just as I figured.

“Mother, no. She absolutely would not listen to me, and moreover, she’d be furious. Just leave it alone, please? Things between Noelle and me are fine, and we don’t need you meddling.”

She sniffs and turns up her nose. “I never meddle. I’m simply concerned about my family.”

Sure. “Speaking of, I need to go. I’m meeting Noelle for dinner.” I escape before she can say anything else. My wife and I made plans to eat at a restaurant tonight. We wanted to relax without the watchful eye of Mrs. Grimsby assessing our every move.

Because of her, we’re forced to share a bedroom, but it’s more than that. The bedroom was never an issue. It’s the little things: Noelle constantly has to put fancy lingerie in the dirty laundry, to make it look like she’s seducing me at every chance. We have to make sure our sheets get changed regularly, and when they do, that they sport signs of…ahem, newlywed activities. Honestly, that’s how intense it is. The housekeeper is checking the bedding for cum stains.

We never disagree in front of her, though actually, we rarely argue. Noelle and I get along perfectly well, a fact that makes total sense to me and is probably a mystery to her. One of these days, I’ll have to tell her she’s my true mate. I just haven’t figured out how to do that yet.

When Mrs. Grimsby is around, we’re careful to be extra affectionate, always touching each other and using pet names. It’s silly, and I know it sometimes grates on Noelle, but I don’t mind it. I like that I’m allowed—compelled, really—to touch her every chance I get.

This arrangement is working out perfectly for me. I just need to make sure it’s the same for my bride.

When I reach the restaurant, Noelle is already there and waiting. She’s wearing a short purple-and-black lace minidress with insanely high heels, both of which show off her legs to stunning perfection. The dress hugs her curves and her tumbling black hair is long and shiny. She really is a gorgeous woman, and the men at the bar have noticed. When she sees me and smiles, strolling over to hug me, pride and possessiveness surge through me.

She’s mine. Not just for a year. Forever.

I shoot the men at the bar a smug look and take Noelle’s arm in mine, shifting her hand so that the diamond on it is prominent. Just in case there was any doubt that she’s taken.

“Hello, husband,” she says, shooting me a grin. It still feels odd when she calls me that, but not in a bad way. More like…I’ve been waiting my whole life to hear it and now that I have, something inside me has settled. “How was your day at the office?”

I shrug. “Hard to say. I realized I don’t even know what my family’s company does half the time. To just waltz in and collect a paycheck feels a little…gross. But if I ever want a job with any meaning, I feel like I need to do it. Figure out what the hell I’m doing, you know? Where my talents might be best used?”

“But you don’t have to work, right?”

I shake my head. “No, we could both live off my trust fund for the rest of our lives. But hanging around all afternoon, sitting on my thumbs while you pursue your dream? It’s making me feel unsettled.”

We take our seats and she leans in, taking my hands. “I can understand that. Whatever you decide to do, know I’ll support you. If you want to be a sexy house husband, that’s fine. If you want to model my menswear, I’ll hire you on the spot. If you want to go work at a coffee shop, it’s fine by me. I just want you to be happy.”

“Thank you,” I tell her. “I hope you know I want the same for you. If you’re ever unhappy, I want you to tell me.”

She nods, watching me and waiting. She can tell I have more to say.

There’s something I’ve been struggling with, something I wouldn’t have dreamed I would admit. But Noelle makes me feel so at ease, telling her seems like the most natural thing in the world.

“Here’s the thing,” I say, squeezing her hands. “I’ve been wrestling with some guilt. I’ve spent my whole life riding my family’s coattails, while at the same time complaining about my mother’s ways. I’m in my thirties and I’ve never had a proper job. Sure, I went to college—on my family’s dime—but once I had my business degree, I resorted to my previous ways. Partying, dating unsuitable women that would annoy my mother, and testing out every club in Monstrocity. Relaxing at the beach house. Just…being a fuckup, basically. A thirty-year-old man-child. And now that I realize how silly and privileged I’ve been, well…I’m ashamed. Embarrassed. I kinda get why Mother insisted I get married. She wanted me to grow up. And in her own way, she was right.” I shoot Noelle a wry look. “I hate admitting that.”

The waiter stops by our table to fill our wine glasses and drop off a bread basket with dipping oil. Noelle glances at him warmly. “Thank you. We’ll need a few more minutes before we order, please.”

“Of course, ma’am.” He steps away and she turns her attention back to me.

“First of all, your secret is safe with me. We will never tell her that she was right. About anything. Secondly, you can agree with the outcome your mother wanted without agreeing with her methods, you know. Just because her ultimate goal was the right one doesn’t mean she went about it in the right way.”

I know how careful Noelle is when she talks about my mother. She clearly dislikes her, but doesn’t want to hurt my feelings by insulting my mom. Not that it would.

“I saw her today. She was thrilled that I’m considering finally taking my place at the company. She saw it as a great opportunity for you to give up your career and join her committees.”

Noelle makes a face. “Um, please tell me you disabused her of that notion. I know she has no respect for my career goals, but I’m not about to give them up. You get that, right?”

I slide my thumb along hers, comforting her. “Of course, I do. And I made it clear to her that you have no intention of quitting your job. She’ll get it through her head eventually.”

Noelle shrugs and grins. “It hardly matters. She’ll only be in my life for another nine months.”

I’m pretty sure she’s not counting down the days until she can escape, and yeah, she’s only referencing the deal I proposed, but her words make my stomach sink. I’ve known from the moment we said ‘I do,’ that I’d never let her leave me. I just…how can I tell her that? That we’re mates? That we’re meant to be together forever?

All she’s thinking about is clearing her debt and launching her line. I don’t want to distract her or make her worry that I’m not going to hold up my end of our bargain. I know she enjoys my company, and our sex life is…intense, but is that all it is for her?

How do I make her fall for me, once and for all? How do I get forever with her?