Chapter Eight
1102 Words
Denise’s POV
Turning to see a guy standing beside me, the dark eyes were studying me far too intensely. He was tall and handsome, dishing out an almost unsettling confidence.
"Yes," I replied cautiously. "And you are?"
"Adrian Cole," he said, extending his hand toward me. "I'm a business associate of your husband's."
I shook his hand, feeling the firm grip. "Nice to meet you.”
He grinned, but something in his eyes made my skin crawl. "Well, you seem a little unlike the type to actually like these things. Forced to play the role of devoted wife, I presume?"
I went stiff, being unsure how to respond to that. "I don't know what you mean."
"Oh come on," he said with a whisper. "You don't fit into Lucas' world, and if everything I've seen tends to be true, he doesn't exactly treat you like you belong here."
As for all that he said, it cut just too close. But I managed to keep my expression calm. "Thank you for your interest, Mr. Cole, but I believe you are mistaken."
He chuckled softly. "If you say so. But if you ever feel like talking with someone who understands the feeling of being out of place in this world-make sure you know where to find me."
Before I could manage a response, Lucas came and snaked his arm about my waist. Possession nearly territorial oozed from the embrace.
"Adrian," Lucas said, his voice sharp. "What a surprise to see you here."
Adrian smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Lucas. Always a pleasure."
The tension was thick between the two of them, yet neither spoke. The silence for a while was only broken by Adrian excusing himself, leaving this pair to be again alone.
"What did he say to you?" asked Lucas in a low voice.
"Nothing important," I said, looking him in the eye.
Lucas took in my form for a moment before nodding. "Then let's go; we've had enough of this place."
The ride back home was uneventful, and when we finally made it back to the mansion, Lucas walked straight into his office without another word.
I was tired but determined as I went back into my room. Adrian's words played again and again in my mind-You don't fit into Lucas' world.
And he was right. I did not fit anymore. But maybe that wasn't such a bad thing. Maybe, just maybe, it meant it was time to start carving out a place in this world on my terms.
And that, I would do.No matter what it takes.
The door of my chamber burst open, sending me into a startle. My heart jutted into my throat as, turning my head at that moment, I saw Lucas standing there, almost like a silent storm promising to burst anytime soon. He entered, his wide figure occupying the doorway and with a loud click, locked the door behind him.
It was a rather little noise but it sent shivers down my spine.
"Lucas?" I asked carefully, stepping back. His eyes were like splinters of ice, fit to pierce the flesh and hold as steel as it fell.
"What was Adrian wanting with you?" he said, the last word wrapped in anger and uttered in a very low voice.
"Adrian?" I echoe, genuinely not having a clue. "He didn't want anything. He just introduced himself."
Lucas's jaw tightened and his hands bunched into fists at his sides. "Don't lie to me, Denise. I saw the way he was looking at you."
"I am not lying!" I protested. "He was just being polite. What do you think this is different from what it is?"
His eyes narrowed and he stepped closer, towering over me. His presence began to suffocate me. "Don't play innocent with me. I know your type. Women like you will latch onto any man who shows you the slightest bit of attention."
I recoiled as though being slapped. "Excuse me? Women like me? What does that even mean?"
"You know exactly what it means," he snarled, his voice rising. "You're just a w***e, Denise. And you think you can just flaunt yourself in my associates and make a fool out of me?"
The words may be said as haphazard and isolated, but they hurt more because of the sharpness of each. Part of me may seem to want to disintegrate; shrink, perhaps, due to the unrelenting assault. But what he did not know was that another part of me, a part not even known to me, bellowed in anger.
I gritted my teeth. "How dare you!" My hands were shaking with rage. "You don’t talk to me like that!"
"That word, 'respect'?!" he spat the words, his voice dripping with contempt. "You don't deserve my respect!"
That was it. I didn't think; I acted. Before I could stop myself, my hand shot up and slapped him across the face.
The sound rang through the room, like something loud I could not imagine. Just for that one moment, time seemed to freeze.
Lucas's head snapped to the side, cheek red from the slap. He didn't move, didn't talk. I stood there, my chest heaving, as the weight of what I had done began to sink in.
"I...I'm sorry," I barely said.
But it was too late. Lucas turned his head slowly, eyes blazing with fury.
"How dare you," he said, voice cold and deadly.
Before I could say a word, he gripped my wrist with a grip like a steel trap. "You've had quite enough of my disrespect," he growled.
"Lucas, let go!" I cried, but he was too strong, "Let go!" I demand while fighting against him.
He didn't listen. He simply dragged me out of the room and went down the hallway viciously. The staff members immediately stopped all activities at that moment, their shocked facial expressions revealing they had not seen anything like it before, but none dared intervene.
"Lucas! Stop!" I pleaded, panic rising in my chest. "You're hurting me!"
He ignored me, face steely as he stormed down the stairs and into the basement.
Cold and dark, it was the basement, starkly contrasting with the rest of the mansion. He dragged me inside, the concrete walls echoing our footfalls.
"Lucas, please," I implored, trembling in my voice. "What are you doing?"
He didn't say anything but shoved me into the small room at the back of the hall and slammed the door shut behind me. The very sound of the lock clicking into place made my stomach sink.
"Lucas!" I screamed, banging on the door. "Let me out!"
- Writer
