When His Wife Return

Chapter 10

(Aurora's POV)

“Yes, I'm here.”

I looked around the state-of-the-art spacious lobby of Kael's company, specifically, the HQ in this city. It was so high that people called it the Tower.

“Just remember your job there, Aurora. You will only do things related to office work, and if he starts demanding other things aside from that, you tell me immediately. Is that clear?” Lucas's voice was loud and clear against my ears.

I sighed.

He'd been telling me that nonstop. From the moment my parents left after that meeting until now. I'm not even sure now if it was Kael that he didn't trust or me.

I'm not like you.

“Is that clear, Aurora?” he repeated.

I saw a woman approaching . She was dressed in a navy long-sleeved polo shirt tucked into a black slacks. Her hair was in a neat bun, and she had those thick-rimmed black glasses you see in corporate-centered movies. An employee ID dangles on her neck like a medal. Of course. This company is the dream after all…for most of them, at least.

She stopped in front of me, a leather clipboard in hand.

“I have to go, Lucas,” I whispered against the phone, and since I was nervous, I didn't wait for his response and straight out ended the call. “Hi.”

She cleared her throat, looking unimpressed. “I am Violet Pendleton, the secretary of Mr. Russo. You must be Aurora Summers?”

Oh

“It's actually Aurora Saunders,” I corrected. It was an automatic response, given that I'd been using it for the past three years.

For the first time since I saw her, I saw a glimpse of uncertainty flicker in her confident and strict expression. She looked down at the clipboard in her hands as if to make sure that she wasn't wrong.

“Are you sure? Mr. Russo personally made your file, and it's stated here that you are Aurora Summers. Age 23, finished her business degree at Hudson University, born on the 7th of November, single, and currently unemployed—”

“Hold on…” My mind made this soft ticking sound as silence filled the air. I blinked, my nervousness slightly fading away. “Can I take a look at that?”

Her brows pulled together in confusion, and with an uncertain voice, she said. “Here…”

I took it and skimmed through the white paper with printed information about me. On the top left side was a small picture of mine from years ago, probably during my senior year in college, which I barely attended physically. While reading through the information about myself, I realized that they were correct…like three years ago when I was still not married!

“This information was not updated,” I said as I shook my head at her. “It's Aurora Saunders. I'm married.” I showed her my ring, and her eyes widened in realization.

“Oh, Mr. Russo must've made a mistake.” Even she didn't seem convinced with what she said. It's like saying that a fish suddenly forgot how to breathe in the ocean. That's just how impossible it is. Kael wouldn't be this powerful if he made mistakes on little things like this.

He did that on purpose.

“I will update your information in our data, but for now, please follow me.”

She led me to the elevator and pressed the highest floor.

68th

When we arrived, I noticed that there were only two doors, though there was a lobby with a girl standing behind a counter.

“That's Jessica Miller. She handles every client whose presence was required in Mr. Russo's office.” Jessica is a redhead whose hair is in a bob haircut. She radiates that kind of light and friendly energy, unlike Violet, who looked like she hadn't smiled in ages. “Just like her, this lobby is my designated post, so if our boss needs anything, you can just communicate with us through the intercom.”

I nodded absentmindedly, too distracted by the details of my surroundings.

So, this whole floor is for Kael only? What could he possibly do with a space like this?

We walked further towards the first huge double door until Jessica stopped Violet.

“He's busy.”

There was an edge in her voice that suggested a hidden message for Violet, which the latter immediately understood. They exchange knowing glances before sighing in unison.

“What's wrong?” I couldn't help but ask while looking at them both.

Violet shook her head. She walked behind the counter, and I followed her since I didn't know where else to go.

“As a new employee—” temporary employee, but I didn't correct her. “You must know the rules on this floor,” she started. “The first and only rule is that whatever you see and hear in or outside of Mr. Russo's office will stay on this floor.”

A weird sound resounded inside the office, making my eyes widen in horror. My lips parted as realization about that first and only rule dawned on me.

“Including the moans of our boss’s models from time to time.” Violet's face scrunched in disgust.

Jessica chuckled. “Don't worry. You'll get used to it…hopefully. Usually, they only last for less than an hour, and they'd been there for about thirty minutes, so they shall be done soon.” She even shrugged nonchalantly while my eyes were bulging each second that passed.

Is the man behind that door really the same man that I met three years ago? The same man that was practically begging for me to give him a chance and even went to my house late at night?

There's no way…

A few minutes passed, and the door finally flung open, revealing a very pleased model. She was still fixing the strap of her tight dress when she went outside, her heels clicking with each confident step.

She didn't even pay us a glance and went straight to the elevator, very pleased with what happened.

I think I'm going to pass out…

“That's your last smile, b/tch.” I heard Jessica mutter under her breath.

Despite the weird feeling in the pit of my stomach, I couldn't help but ask. “What do you mean?”

“Mr. Russo doesn't bring a woman twice. They were always different.” It was Violet who answered. “Now, come. His break is done.”

What? That was his break?

I hesitantly followed her, suddenly feeling the urge to run away from this place. What the hell did I just get myself into?

I let out a shaky breath, partly traumatized by what I witnessed, before giving myself a once-over glance through the glass wall across the lobby.

I was wearing a beige pencil skirt with a decent length of the slit. The tightness of the material hugged the curve of my hips that I didn't know existed. I paired it with a white tube top and baby pink blazer. Let's not forget the damn heels and high ponytail.

This wasn't my style. This was what Keila would usually wear, but of course, my mother had to interfere.

Too much of my skin was exposed. Heck, my cleavage was visible! I don't even know if this is appropriate since most of the employees wore long-sleeved polos or turtlenecks. Even Lucas disapproved of it. It makes me feel uncomfortable.

Violet knocked on the door, and my spine automatically stiffened. I let out a breath to release the tension forming in my nerves, but that attempt failed greatly when I heard his voice.

“Come in.”

His voice alone sent my mind straight back to the past. Unlike before, he sounded more gruff, annoyed even that my doubt of his identity grew. Surely, this man here wasn't the Kael I've met before.

Violet looked back at me and gestured for me to follow her as she pushed the door open. I could hear the loud vibration of my heart against my ears. It was so loud I could hardly hear, let alone focus on anything else.

I didn't know how, but somehow, I was standing in front of Kael's desk just a few meters behind Violet.

“She's here, sir. I've already given her a brief orientation about the rules of the company. I'll leave her now so you can speak to her regarding her job, as you've instructed from our previous meeting.”

I was burning a hole behind Violet’s back since my eyes could only stare at that particular thing, but I was very much well aware of the dark and heavy presence in front of me. I could see a glimpse of it from my peripheral vision, which I chose not to give focus to at the moment.

“Hmm…” was his only response.

I gulped.

Violet continued. “Where do you want her to reside? I could supervise her in the lobby with Ms. Miller—”

“She'll stay here.” I could feel his stare on me—scorching and fiery that my palms unconsciously tightened into fists. He was staring at me from head to toe like a predator assessing its prey before attacking. “You can go, Violet. I'll have to give Ms. Summers a very quick briefing before she starts with her work.” He added grufly.

My spine straightened.

Violet cleared her throat. “About that, sir, I think you've made a minor error regarding that. You see—”

“Have I not made myself clear?” There was a dangerous drop of the temperature in the atmosphere that made the hairs in the back of my neck rise.

He obviously knew what Violet was talking about, but he shut her off, which meant that he was indeed doing it on purpose.

“Of course. I'll leave her now to you.” When Violet turned around to leave, her expression was of a monotonous robot. It was as if she was unfazed by her boss’s stringent behavior.

Her job is clearly not for the weak. I salute her for that.

“Ms. Summers.” Kael called in his husky yet formal tone right after I heard the door shut, leaving me with him.

I took a deep breath before finally looking at him…straight in the freaking eyes. Green yet dull and void of any emotions. Just like before.

Guess something hasn't changed.

“It's Mrs. Saunders,” I gritted.

He ignored my remark and leaned back against his expensive leather seat. He caressed his jaw with his left hand, which tightened as if by instinct.

“You will work as my personal assistant since you clearly lack the work experience to be given any position in any department here,” he insulted.

I clenched my teeth, feeling an overwhelming sense of defiance and irritation, but despite the quirky remarks swirling inside my head, I couldn't seem to find the words to voice it out. I couldn’t even lift my lips.

Say it, Aurora. Speak up for yourself.

But the same terror I felt whenever I was in front of my mother felt stronger than ever.

He waited but then shook his head as if disappointed, then sighed.

“Don't you have anything to say? I'm even surprised that you agreed with this.” He let out a sarcastic chuckle. It almost sounded insulting, not that he hasn't been doing that since I arrived. “I guess you'd do anything for your dearest husband, huh? What a perfect wife you are.”

Heat pooled in my stomach from such anger so foreign to me, but at the same time, I felt ashamed. He was right, though. I'd do everything, not because I was Lucas's wife and he was my dearest husband, but because I have no choice.

I couldn't seem to have any freedom at all, no?

“If you are done insulting me, can you tell me what I will be doing for today? Since that's all what I came here for in the first place anyway.” My voice was surprisingly calm, almost meek.

Of course, it was. I couldn't lash out, I couldn't act out of character, and I couldn't say anything I wanted. Just swallow whatever feelings and emotions are rooting deep inside me until it eventually becomes the reason for my death. That's all I could ever do.

His eyes softened a fraction, and I almost thought he felt guilty, but then, they hardened again, just enough to prove me wrong.

He stood up, and I unconsciously took a step back, a little surprised by how tall he was. Has it really been three years since that night?

He must've taken that action the other way because he raised a brow, looking slightly irritated.

“I'm not going to touch you if that's what you're thinking.”

“That's not—”

“Anyway, about your question, do you see those shelves?” He interrupted me and nonchalantly pointed towards the wall next to the coffee table and sofas across his own table. The wall was turned into a huge shelf that covered the entire wall, and in those shelves were books—dozens of them. They were in thick and expensive covers, which tells me that they are worth more than any of my belongings. “I want you to clean that and arrange the books—classify them by the authors’ last names and separate the non-fiction and fiction. I want them to be done before lunch because you'll have other things to do by then.”

My lips parted.

Is he insane?! He could give me three days, and I wouldn't be able to finish all of them. I have to take all the books out of the shelves, clean them, look at the books’ authors’ last names to classify them, and then put them back after separating them as per his order.

“B-but that's—”

But he already walked past me, not taking any complaints no. His decision is final.

“I have a meeting. I'll be back before lunch, so I expect you to be done by then.”

And the door was slammed shut.

I slowly turned around and faced the bookshelves with my knees already wanting to give out.

That's…His demand is beyond my capabilities! Heck, it's beyond anyone's capabilities.

How welcoming can my job get? How welcoming can he get?