MIDNIGHT Bride The CEO's TEMPTATION

"I'm just going to the washroom," Crystal replied. "I don't understand why you want to watch me do my business..."

"Fine," Nathan grumbled. He went into the bedroom, and he saw an unfamiliar bag on the bed. Inside, he found sewing materials, and he thought - From this, Crystal will make my puppet! - and he was overjoyed.

A few minutes passed, and then Crystal emerged from the bathroom. She had a smile on her face, and she was carrying a water-filled foot massager. Nathan stood up and offered to help, but she stopped him. She said, "Stand still, with your back to me."

Nathan ignored her instructions. He held up the bag of materials and said, "I thought you forgot. But you remembered."

"How could I forget something that you said?"

"You can't forget what I said...?" Nathan stared at her for a moment. "About what?"

"About anything," Crystal replied. "Be it good or bad, if you said it, then I remember it." 

Nathan frowned. "Have I ever said anything bad to you?"

Crystal smirked. "Of course, you have. You have said more bad things than good things."

"That can't be true," Nathan argued. "Give me some examples of bad things that I do or have said or done."

"No thanks." Crystal sighed and said, "I don't want to play that game. That way lies madness. She shuddered at the thought of a back-and-forth war of grievances. "Just let it go. Put your feet in the tub, and I'll turn the massager on."

Nathan nodded, and he was about to put his foot in when Crystal said, "Wait a minute." She bent over and folded the bottom of his pant legs. Then she guided his feet into the water and turned the massager on.

Almost immediately, the water began to turn and bubble.

Crystal sat down beside him and kissed his cheek. "Does that feel better?"

"Much better." Nathan moaned to show his appreciation. He gave her a hug, and as they embraced, he noticed that her temperature was low. I can fix that - he thought, and he guided her feet into the tub. "Do you like it?" he asked. "It's nice, isn't it?"

"Mm-hmm."

"I'm comfortable, too," he whispered. "Crystal, we are inevitable. You know that, don't you?"

"What do you mean?" Crystal wondered. 

"You have been so good to me," Nathan replied. "We are destined to be together."

"But what about all of the bad things that you said about me?"

Nathan's brows furrowed, and he seemed to be genuinely confused. "What do you mean?"

"You can't be serious!" Crystal exclaimed. "You have said many bad things about me. You said that I couldn't do anything and that I am no match for Helen."

Nathan was shocked by her words.

"I thought that you liked girls like Helen!" Crystal continued. "According to you, she knows everything, and she is good at taking care of people. Is that what you expect from me; to act like Helen? Because if that is what you are looking for, you're in for a rude awakening. I can't even cook!"

"Whatever you cook, I will like," Nathan argued. "It is the thought that counts. Besides, I like you the way you are. I don't care about Helen. She was a phony, but you are the real deal."

Crystal sighed. "But that's not what you said."

"Every bad word that I've said to you has been false," Nathan said. "They were said out of anger, pain, and jealousy..."

"Is that so?"

"It is," he replied. "You can only trust the good things that I say and do. So forget the bad, okay?"

Crystal nodded. She gave him a big hug and said, "I'm glad that we have worked this out."

****

Crystal kissed Nathan again - this time on the lips, and then she said, "I am afraid that one day I will do something so bad that you will not be able to forgive me..."

"That could never happen." Nathan kissed her ear and whispered, "I have certain rules that I never break."

"Is that so?"

"It is," Nathan replied. "Rule Number One: My wife is always right. Rule Number Two: If my wife is wrong, refer to Rule Number One."

Easier said than done - thought Crystal. She did not believe that he would forgive her for the agreement that she had made with Eric. Nathan hugged her and asked, "So, what did you do wrong?"

"I didn't do anything," Crystal replied. "I was just asking."

Nathan sight. "Just tell me. I promise I won't be angry."

"I really didn't do anything."

Nathan did not believe her. Crystal had been nice to him today, so he knew that something was up.

Crystal got a towel to help Nathan wipe his feet when the water began to cool, but he stopped her right away. "Never touch my feet again," he hissed.

"Why?" Crystal was taken aback by his tone. "What's the problem?"

"You know what?" Nathan shook his head mournfully. "I can wash your feet, but you will never again wash mine!"

Crystal said nothing. She put on her shoes and went back into the bathroom.

Nathan heard the water running, and he thought that she was taking a bath, but when he went inside, he saw that she was washing his socks. He squinted his eyes and asked her, "Why are you washing my socks?"

"They are dirty," Crystal replied. "It is not a big deal."

Nathan frowned. "Don't we have servants?" Crystal smiled meekly and said, "Please allow me to show my love to you occasionally. As I said, I will be doing your laundry and cooking, shaving, and ironing and tying your ties."

"Whatever." Nathan sighed and walked away.

Once he was gone, Crystal insisted on ironing his clothes, and occasionally he checked on her. Something is not right with her - thought Nathan, and the more convinced of it he became, the more anxious he was.

While he was checking on Crystal, she held a coat out and asked him, "Will you wear this coat when you go out tomorrow?"

Nathan stared at her and asked, "Why?"

"I think you look great in this coat."

"Don't I look great in all of my clothes?" 

"Of course," Crystal replied. "It would be cool if you wore this one, though. I will iron it out, and you will look just dashing. What do you say?"

"I would prefer it if you took care of your hands," Nathan replied.

"I will do both." Crystal sighed and said, "You worry too much."

Since Crystal was determined to be a housewife, Nathan did not object.