Loveless Arrangement

Chapter Three

I had carefully and successfully avoided Xavier the whole weekend. I didn't want a repeat of our last encounter that still made me cring in embarrassment whenever I thought about it.

How could I have let my guard down so easily? Why did I allow him to come so close? But the truth of the matter was that, no one could say no to him. He had even said I wasn't a challenge to him, did he mean I was easy?

I made sure to only leave my room to eat when I knew he already had his meal and that he was done eating.

He usually retired to his study after every meal and I knew those periods were my safe time. It was those few hours I had to do as I pleased without judgment or complaints from anyone.

Today was Monday though and it was time to go back to work. I was nervous about going to work today, probably because I knew the whole office would have heard about my wedding to Xavier Kingston.

It was bad enough that some people already thought I didn't deserve the position in our office. They claimed I should allow someone who really needed the job to have it, instead of me who already had everything.

Only if they knew the truth.

I shook off those comments immediately and focused on getting dressed. I was a computer technician at a small firm that recently hit the market.

When I was finished dressing, I knew the possibility of running into Xavier this morning was high, so I composed myself and went downstairs.

I had to come downstairs earlier than my normal time today because I didn't want to be late for work and I met Xavier at the dining table.

He didn't look at me before asking, "Were are you going?"

"Good morning Xavier, I'm going to work today." I told him.

He suddenly slammed his hands on the table, making me jump back in fright and he pushed back the chair he was sitting in and stood up.

"You're not going anywhere." He said as he looked down on me.

"I have to go to work please, I might lose my job if I don't show up, especially since I didn't give prior notice." I begged him.

"Do you have any idea who you are now?"

"I'm Isabel Connel." I answered without thinking.

"You're really dumb aren't you?" He sneered harshly at me, "You're a Kingston now and believe me, I wish you weren't, but you have a reputation to uphold and whatever you do right now affects me and the entire company."

"I know, but I wasn't supposed to be the one to marry you, I'm just here till Blair comes back." I mumbled, looking down at my shoes.

He scoffed in disbelief, like he couldn't believe the words coming out of my mouth, "You really don't get it do you?"

He asked and giving me no room to answer, he gripped my wrist firmly and harshly and started pulling me in the direction of what looked like his study.

"Please, let me go. I'm sorry, I won't go to work, please just let me go." I sobbed out, begging him.

I was scared because he had this expressionless look on his face and he seemed to be lost in a trance in that moment. When people were like this, they were very dangerous.

He opened the door to his study when we got there and he flung me inside with an extra force. I fell to the ground and slid on the floor, I stopped when my back hit the large oak table in the room.

I screamed out in pain, and when I started coughing, I noticed I was coughing out blood. Xavier didn't even bat an eyelash in my direction.

He just turned around and closed the door behind him, I didn't know what he was about to do, till I heard a click in the door. He locked it.

I pulled myself together and although, I couldn't get up, I tried to crawl to the door.

"I'm sorry Xavier. I won't say anything about going to work again, please, open the door. Don't lock me in here, I'm sorry." I cried out and weakly pounded the door.

"Nobody should open this door till I'm back." He shouted and I knew he was talking to the staff that were obviously hearing our exchange.

"Xavier please." I begged quietly again and I heard as his footsteps walked away till I couldn't hear it again.

He left.

And I released my tears. What have I done to deserve this cruelty? First from my own family all my life, and now from my husband? Although I was married to him out of condition but this was no way to treat a human being, and that human was still his wife.

"Mrs Miller!! Kate!! Please come and open the door please." I called out to the housekeepers but I knew it was futile, they would never disobey Xavier.

I gave up trying after hours of knocking, it was of no use. No one was going to let me out. I heard as my phone was ringing in the dinning room where I had dropped my bag but there was nothing I could do.

I sat, crouched beside the door, in that position till it was evening. I even fell asleep there. I woke up when I heard voices engaging in a conversation.

"Has she been there since?" I heard Xavier's voice and I sat upright immediately, crawling away from the door.

"Yes Mr Kingston." Kate answered him.

"Good. Serve my dinner before I come back downstairs." He instructed her.

"Should I let her out then?" Kate asked him again.

"Did I say you could let her out?" He snarled at her and I could hear Kate whimpering.

"No sir. I'm sorry, I'll mind my business from now on."

Xavier didn't say anything again and I heard his footsteps as he went up the stairs.

He came downstairs again and I heard a chair scrap the floor as it was pulled back, he was in the dining area. My guess was confirmed when I heard cutleries making contact with a plate.

My stomach growled out, I hadn't had anything to eat since last night. Dinner went on for a while longer and he pushed his chair back when he was done and I heard his footsteps coming in the direction of the study.

The lock clicked open and the door was slowly pushed open. I didn't look up even as I heard him come in.

"Have you learnt your lesson yet?" He asked in a cold voice and that's when I looked up.

And when I did, I became more scared for myself. He still had that same look in his face.

"Yes I have." I mumbled quietly. I just wanted to leave this room.

"Prove it." He said and crouched down to my level.

I looked up to him and saw my phone in his hands, "Call your workplace yourself and tell them you quit." He demanded and tears welled up in my eyes again.

I had gotten a job in that company through my hardwork. I didn't get it through any connections whatsoever. I took my phone and dialled the CEO's contact.

He picked up immediately, "Isabel, what the f**k? I've been trying to reach you all day. So you suddenly marry Xavier Kingston and our small firm isn't good enough for you anymore?"

"I'm sorry Steve, but I quit." I whispered into the phone.

"You know what, you can go f**k yourself Isabel." He hung up the call and Xavier started laughing. He was laughing at my misery.

He didn't say anything again and wordlessly left his study, with the door wide open. I slowly rose to my feet and started taking small steps out of the room.

My back was still hurting, I suspect I might have broken a rib when my back hit the table.

I went to the dining area and collected my belongings. They were in the same position I had left them in this morning.

I slowly climbed the starirs, careful not to move too fast and injure myself more.

I finally made it back to my room and sat in front of the vanity. I assessed myself, my eyes were red and puffy from all the crying I had been doing since and my hair was disheveled.

I stood up and decided to run myself a hot bath. My phone started ringing again and I thought it was Steve but when I looked at the screen, it was an unknown caller.

I was about to pick it but the call ended abruptly. Strange. I made a move to stand up again and my phone started ringing again, the same number that called before.

Wasting no time, I quickly answered the call this time. I placed the phone to my ear and there was silence. I wanted to rule it out as a prank call but I stopped when someone quietly whispered my name.

I recognized the voice immediately, "Blair??"

I asked but the person didn't say anything again.

"Blair? Please answer me if that's you. Please come back, I can't do this anymore Blair. Listen please, I had to marry Xavier so the deal they made wouldn't fall through, but you have to….." I didn't finish my sentence because my phone was yanked away from me.

I turned around just in time to see Xavier smash my phone on the floor. "Are you crazy? Did you just reveal the details of our contract over the phone to someone you don't know? Now I'm really going to make your life a real he'll." He yelled at me and started walking towards me.

I gulped harshly.

Iwas doomed.

And only God knew what he'd do to me this time around.