Tell Me You Love Me

“Grandma, although I’m in love with Gio, I don’t want to force him to marry me.” Nicole said as she held the old woman’s hand while brows were slightly furrowed and her face expressed a small smile.” The old woman let out a chuckle. “Nicole, this old woman has been bedridden for almost ten years and about to die soon. I can’t leave my grandson knowing that he messes around with different women every day. Even if I want to see him settle down and have a family of his own, I can’t. So, My Dear Nicole, I want you and my grandson to marry. “Nicole placed her forehead on the woman’s hand and asked.” But…why me?” My mother died after giving birth to me whilst my father loathed me because I look exactly like my mother and disappeared. As a five-year-old kid, I thought my father only went out to buy groceries, but as three days passed by, he still hadn’t come home. Suddenly, I heard knocking on the door. I thought it was my father so I picked up my strength to stand up. Before I even got near the door, I passed out. As time passed, I began to hear muffled voices and slowly opened my eyes. I woke up here in Fraux Residence. I met Gio then and we became the best of friends and at the time we were in middle school, I began to develop feelings for him. Even as a child, I knew that feeling was love and I have loved him ever since. “Is that even a question, Nicole? Among every person I’ve met, you are the only one whose got the purest heart.” The old woman flashed a smile. “You and Gio are really close ever since you were children and you always play house. I’m pretty sure that your love will blossom and you will have the most beautiful children.” The old woman closed her eyes and pictured in her head the loving family that will bloom in the future. “Although you are nineteen years old at the moment and Gio is twenty-one, I’ll make sure that you get married.” “But Grandma, we should consider Gio’s feelings about this.” “He already agreed to marry you.” What? One year Later Five months since grandma died, Me and Gio got married. It wasn’t the type of marriage where we held a celebration and committed ourselves to each other. Rather, we just signed a contract that indicates our so called ‘union’. At our wedding night, I stayed awake whilst waiting for him, but he never came. On the next day, I was elated seeing Gio in the living room. I thought he was there to make up to me for leaving me alone in our wedding night. “Gio, when did you- “But before I could finish, he interrupted me. “We are only married in paper so don’t expect too much from me.” Gio Fraux said coldly. He turned around and met my gaze. “I don’t like being bound to one woman.” You and I haven’t talked to each other for years now! How dare you fool my grandmother into thinking that you have nice intentions so she made me marry you. How calculating! “I will fulfill my duties as a husband by giving you a life of luxury. Of course, you too have to fulfill your duties as a wife.” He paused.” Surely, you know what that means.” Ah…I have to give birth to his heir... Without even letting me utter a word, he stood up and left for the company. Four more years later “Mr. Fraux, stop it!” A woman said while giggling in a flirtatious manner. “What if your wife sees us and grabs me by the hair?” Looking at the man with anxiety in her eyes. The man chuckled whilst having his head buried in the woman’s neck. ”She won’t grab you by the hair.” “Ah...How can you be so sure, Mr. Fraux?” Glancing at the slightly cracked door of his office, he nibbled on the collar of the woman on his lap.” No need to waste our energy talking about something so useless. There are many more things we can use our energy on… things that are much more pleasurable.” “I agree, Mr. Fraux.” Placing her hand on his chest, she begins to unbutton his blouse. “I’ll make you feel good.” Having his arms around the woman, he tore off the woman’s dress. “I’ll buy you a new one.” He said hastily as if he couldn’t wait to pounce on the woman. The woman nodded in agreement. Tossing their clothes on the floor, he lifted the woman up and placed her on his desk. Not long after that, groans of pleasure can be heard inside the room. Since it was rainy season, and many people catch colds at this time of year, Nicole Reese felt uneasy. For her husband goes to work every day. Afraid that he will catch a cold, Nicole went to the kitchen and began cooking mushroom soup. She also began poaching fish, for it was her husband’s favorite dish. As the soup began to boil, she took out a thermal flask and poured it in. Coupled with the poached fish, she packed rice and other side dishes. Looking at the finished product, she felt proud of herself and hoped that her husband will like it too. “Mr. Jones, please start the car. I am heading to Fraux Enterprise.” The old man bowed to her in response and went outside to start the car, while Nicole took a shower and changed her clothes. Meanwhile on the road, Nicole sat on the backseat with her head leaning on the car window. She watched as raindrops landed on the window and fall down. She is feeling really ecstatic for she is bringing her husband food. But that feeling gradually dissipated for she knew that her husband is probably with another woman at this time of day so he may or may not be at the company. “Please wait for me here.” As she got off the car and entered the building, the receptionists didn’t even spare her a glance. Nicole walked up to them, “Good Afternoon, is Gio here?” The other receptionist ignored her while the other answered without raising her head. “Do you have an appointment with Mr. Fraux?” After a long time of silence, Nicole answered “...No, I’m his wife.” Hearing the word, ‘wife’, the receptionists finally raised their heads to look at her. Scanning her from head to toe, the receptionist asked the woman, “Are you one of Mr. Fraux’s past flings? If you are one, please leave the premises.” The room fell silent. “I can assure you that I am his wife.” Nicole said with slightly furrowed brows. Despite that, the receptionist didn’t believe her, “Please leave now and don’t cause trouble.” Afraid that she will cause a scene, Nicole stepped out of the building and took out her phone to open her contacts list. Since there was only one person in her contacts list, she pondered for a moment before pressing the call button. Ring…. Ring…! After two rings, the other person picked up the phone. “What do you want?” Gio held the phone with his other hand as his other hand was busy pinning the woman down whilst pounding into her. “Ah! Mr. Fraux, it feels so good!” Nicole went silent. Heh. My assumptions were right again. He is with another woman again. Nicole sighed in her heart. As the other side of the phone was silent after a long time, Gio began to feel annoyed. “If you don’t tell me what you want, I’m going to hang up.” He threatened.” …I made you lunch. I want to give it to you but they won’t let me in.” The latter hang up. After a while, the receptionist that chased her out, began walking towards her and bowed to her, “I’m very sorry, Mrs. Fraux! I only heard rumors about Mr. Fraux’s marriage but I didn’t know that it was true.” Nicole smiled slightly, “It’s alright. You were only doing your job.” “Thank you, Mrs. Fraux!” As Nicole walked in the hallway to her husband’s office, she can already vaguely hear their moans. As she stands in front of the slightly cracked door, she could see the scene unfolding in front of her watery eyes. She felt her heart begin to hammer. It’s not like it’s the first time this happened, why does it still hurt? She rubbed her eyes and dried her tears before knocking on the door. Knock…Knock... “Come in.” A man’s hoarse voice could be heard on the other side of the door. Lowering her head, she gathered her courage and pushed open the door. Seeing a clearer view of the woman and man having an intimate session. Hearing the door open, the woman that was emitting sounds of pleasure, froze. She turned her head to the person who entered the room. Nevertheless, Gio still keeps pounding into her with no intentions of stopping. “Ah!...ah...Mr. Fraux, there’s a woman standing by the door.” “Ignore her.” Nicole averted her gaze and walked towards the coffee table in the middle of the room and began to take out the delicacies that she packed. Lowering her head to avoid her tears form being seen, she said in a raspy voice.” … Since rainy season just began, the weather is getting cold. I made you some mushroom soup and poached fish.” Seeing as there was no response, and that she can only hear them groaning in pleasure, she stood up and quickened her pace to avoid hearing the sounds that they were emitting because it suffocated her. As her hands reached the door knob, she said. “I’ll be waiting for you at home.” She turned the door knob and left. Meanwhile, the two people finished. The woman picked up her torn dress from the floor and looked at it.” Mr. Fraux, my dress is ruined how can I go out know?” The man answered without looking at the latter.” I got my secretary to send over a new dress.” “While we wait for your secretary, should we go for another round?” The woman said as she sat on Gio’s lap and tracing her fingers from his chest to his waist. But before she could seduce him more, the latter pushed her off his lap. The woman fell on the floor and cried out in pain.” Ouch...” the woman looked at him with a somber expression on her face.” Mr. Fraux, why did you push me?” “You’re dirty.” The man said coldly. “I- I’m sorry, Mr. Fraux,” Having no response from the man, the woman grew embarrassed and walked towards the sofa, but before she could sit. The man interrupted her. “Don’t sit on my sofa. Since you still haven’t showered, you’ll dirty it.” He said while imposing a domineering aura. After a while, Gio Fraux’s assistant, Justin, entered the room with a red box and an envelope. He glanced at the woman who was standing stiffly before his eyes landed on Gio. “Make her sign the contract.” “Yes, Mr. Fraux.” Mr. Fraux didn’t need to remind me about making the woman sign the contract. After all this happens frequently so it’s basically my routine everyday to keep these contracts ready if ever, he has a fling or messes around with women. Justin walked towards the woman and handed her the contract and a pen.” Please sign this contract.” When the woman saw that she was about to receive a check for half a million dollars, she didn’t hesitate to sign the contract. She didn’t even read the whole thing. Greedy woman. Well, she is easy to deal with considering the fact that she already signed the contract. Justin thought to himself. After the woman finished signing, Justin gave her the red box containing the dress.” You may leave after changing.” Leave? “What do you mean by ‘leave’?” the woman asked with a confused expression.” The contract states that you are to receive half a million check as compensation and in exchange, you have to never show your face in front of Fraux enterprise and Mr. Fraux. However, if you refuse to sign the contract you will have to pay fifty times more than the compensation you were offered and that you will never be accepted into anything that is work-related. In short, you will be jobless.” The woman was speechless and afraid that even selling her organs wouldn’t be enough to pay the price if she chose to stay. She went outside and changed her clothes in one of the bathrooms there. After that, she left the building with the check in her hands. After reporting to his boss about the meetings scheduled today, Justin left the office. Back in the Fraux Residence Nicole is lying in bed while holding a cloth with ice in it to soothe her swollen eyes. With the scene, replaying in her mind, she couldn’t help but feel downcast. She took out her phone and sent a text. Before Gio could start working again, his phone vibrated. He took out his phone and read the message. ‘Have you eaten lunch yet?’