Episode 16: He wasn't sure how he was going to approach her

―Take her in your arms and give her a long, passionate kiss. Some tongue action would help. ―Uncle Jonathan!

―Do you want to stay married to her or not? ―You already know the answer to that, he softly stated.

―Then you need to fight for your marriage. If you kiss her and you detect even the slightest bit of response from her, then you know that there's a hint of interest she is harboring for you. If that's the case, then you ask her for one month to be married to you.

At that time, let her have her bedroom and make it clear to the staff that you won't consummate the marriage so you can protect her reputation in case she insists on the annulment once the month is up. Take that month to court her. Romance her and show her that you honestly care for her. Give her lots of hugs and kisses. Treat her as if she were the most important woman who ever lived. I believe she'll come around.

―That's crazy.

―Is it? His uncle shrugged.

―If you try it, then the worst that can happen is she'll go through with the annulment. You'll be in the same position you are in now. However, if you try it and she changes her mind, then you will have the woman you love. Isn't it worth a month to find out either way? Leo considered his words. He was right, of course. Finally, Leo nodded.

―I'll try it.

*** **

When Leo returned home, he sighed when he saw that Jessica had instructed the maid and butler to leave her things by the front door. He was amazed at how she could take him to the heights of heaven at the wedding and drag him to the lowest depths of hell when he took her to the place he had planned to build their future together.

He didn't know what it was about him that she found so repulsive that she would rather spend her life as a spinster than spend it with him. He wasn't sure where she went so he had to ask the maid.

―She's at the gazebo in the backyard, Constance answered him. He thanked her and went out to the veranda. He paused for a moment. He wasn't sure how he was going to approach her. His uncle seemed to think this was a simple matter that would easily be resolved, but Leo realized that his entire world would fall apart if she left. He saw her as she sat on the bench.

The fact that she still wore her wedding dress seemed like one colossal joke, and he was the butt of it. He had stupidly assumed that she was happy to marry him. How could I have been so wrong?

He thought she had enjoyed dancing with him at the reception. He thought years of doing business with clients had prepared him to notice details, but he wasn't effective when it came to detecting her subtle cues. He was tempted to make her spend the entire night sitting out there, wondering what he would decide, but he couldn't bring himself to treat her that way. What was the best approach? What would he do if he had a client who was determined not to invest with his uncle's firm?

He thought back to a time when he had to work with several hesitant clients. He had to act casual about it. He couldn't allow them to see the fact that he stressed over their decision because as soon as he did that, he lost the account.

He had to keep a cool head. He took a deep breath and got ready to approach her. He was halfway across the lawn when she noticed him. She sat up straight and waited for him to reach her. He was struck by her beauty. It didn't matter that other men thought she was pretty but not worth pursuing. He thought she was the loveliest creature God ever made. When he stood in front of her, he held his hand out to her.