When Astrid heard silence on the other end of the line, she wondered if she’d already managed to upset Magnus Marshall on day one of their marriage. Their arrangement didn’t exactly come with the usual marital perks, but they still had to share a roof and interact on the regular. So how was she supposed to play this?
"Do I look like the kind of boss who'd make you work late and then have you crash in the office?" The voice didn’t come from the phone—it came from the doorway.
She looked up, shocked to see Magnus standing there, a smirk tugging at his lips.
Astrid hung up in a hurry, disbelief written all over her face. "Have you been here the whole time… waiting for me?"
He walked toward her, and she instinctively took a step back.
He let out a low chuckle. "Relax. Everyone else is gone. It’s just us. I texted you earlier, and when you didn’t reply, I figured you’d probably dozed off."
Astrid checked her phone—sure enough, Magnus had messaged asking when she’d be heading home. She’d clearly said she’d leave once she wrapped up her work. When she didn’t get a response, she just assumed he’d taken off. But he’d been waiting?
"You… waited for me?" she asked hesitantly.
"I had a few things to finish up. By the time I was done, I wanted to see if you’d left. When I saw you hadn’t, I figured we could ride back together."
Astrid felt a wave of relief—it wasn’t purely about waiting, which made her feel less guilty. She handed him back his jacket, packed up her stuff, and followed him into the elevator.
Still, she couldn’t shake the unease. Even with Magnus assuring her everyone else was gone, what if someone spotted them leaving together? How would they even explain that? She was so tense that she nearly tripped stepping out of the elevator—it was only Magnus’s quick reflexes that saved her.
Feeling like a total klutz, she mumbled, "Sorry… I got distracted."
"No worries. Just watch your step," Magnus said, but his hand lingered on hers.
Realizing it, he quickly pulled back. "Sorry—I just didn’t want you to fall."
"It’s fine," Astrid said quickly. "I get it."
Oddly enough, his touch felt… reassuring. Nothing like River Knight’s—that always felt distant.
Magnus headed to the car first, and just as Astrid was about to get in, her coworker, Katalina Larson, called out.
"Hey, Astrid! Heading out now?"
Startled, Astrid turned and tried to play it cool. "Yeah—had a mountain of work to get through. Before I knew it, it was this late."
She tried to flip the conversation around. "What about you? You weren’t still working, were you?"
Katalina sighed. "Ugh, I left my heating pad in the office. Cramps are killing me, and I can’t function without it. Figured it wasn’t worth buying another since I live close by."
"Right. Go grab it, then. I’m heading home," Astrid said, eager to get out of there.
As Katalina passed her, she added, "Oh, by the way—I thought I saw Mr. Marshall."
Astrid tensed. "Really? Didn’t notice. I figured I was the only one left."
Katalina gave her a curious look. "You seem… off tonight."
Astrid forced confidence into her voice. "What do you mean?"
Katalina frowned. "I don’t know—you’re acting like you’re hiding something."
Astrid let out a nervous laugh. "Me? No way. Just exhausted."
Katalina finally backed off. "Alright, get home. It’s late—you need rest."
Astrid waved her off. "You too. Get home safe."
"Sure thing."
Astrid watched Katalina disappear, then quickly slipped into Magnus’s car. She opened the back door, but that small move seemed to irritate him.
"Sit up front with me. I’m not your chauffeur," he said coolly.
Only then did she catch the slight annoyance in his tone. She scrambled to the front passenger seat, frantically searching for something to say.
Magnus suddenly leaned in, and Astrid froze. Was he going to kiss her? She’d suggested they put on a show of physical affection, but she wasn’t ready for a sudden move like this.
When she realized he was just reaching for her seatbelt, embarrassment washed over her. What was she even thinking?
"I—I can do it myself," she stammered, reaching out—only to brush his hand and yank hers back like she’d touched fire.
Magnus finished buckling her in. "Buckle up. Let’s go."
All she could manage was a flustered "Okay."
Magnus drove smoothly. Since their home was conveniently close to the office, the drive took less than twenty minutes.
Before she got out, Magnus handed her the car keys. "I remember you can drive. You can use this one."
Astrid stared at the keys, surprised. It was a sleek, practical SUV—perfect for her needs. Since their place wasn’t anywhere near public transit, having a car would be a lifesaver.
"But I can’t accept this," she protested.
Magnus pressed the keys into her palm. "It’s part of our arrangement. I’m not doing much for you, but you’re doing a lot for me. Think of it as compensation."
Astrid opened her mouth to argue, but he cut her off before stepping out. "Unless you’d rather throw it away."
She stood there speechless, realizing she might have rubbed him the wrong way again.
After a moment, she decided it wouldn’t hurt to use the car while their agreement lasted. She could always give it back later.
Following him inside, she called out, "Magnus—"
Catching herself, she tried again. "I mean, Magnus… I’ll accept the car."
Magnus finally looked pleased, a smile creeping onto his face. "It’s late, so don’t stuff yourself. I’ll make us some pasta."
"I can cook too," Astrid offered, liking the idea of starting fresh in a new home.
She’d stayed at her family home up until now—left to her, her stepmother, and her brother—but she wasn’t eager to stay there, too haunted by memories of her father.
"I’ve got this," Magnus said, heading to the kitchen.
Astrid was curious—could someone with a demanding job like his actually manage to cook? She was pleasantly surprised by his skills.
He made a simple yet delicious pasta with tomato and egg sauce. As she ate, she couldn’t hold back the praise. "Magnus, you’re amazing—both at work and in the kitchen. Whoever marries you is seriously lucky."
A slow smile curled his lips. Didn’t she know? There was more to that saying—something about being a skilled lover.
Astrid cleaned up after dinner and headed to her room.
The next morning, she woke up rudely—hit by a wave of nausea. She bolted to the bathroom retching, but her stomach was already empty, so there was nothing to bring up.
She lifted her head, staring at her disheveled reflection, and spotted Magnus standing in the doorway, concern etched on his face. Her face flushed with sheer embarrassment.
