Chapter Seven
1367 Words
“I’ll cover for you in class. Go.” Flavia who had sensed Annabelle’s frustration quickly whispered, pushing her into the middle of the hallway while she entered the class.
Annabelle immediately approached him, wondering why he was here.
“Mr. Morano,” she said quickly, her voice thin as she got to him. The memory of their encounter that morning still clung to her like a bad dream. “I didn’t think you’d show up here,” she said.
“And why is that?” Derek’s voice was cold, yet there was a hint of amusement dancing on the edge of his words.
She hesitated, scrambling for the right thing to say. “I just… I thought it’d be too much of a hassle for you.”
“Ah-ah,” he drawled, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. “Too much of a hassle because I’m blind? Or because you don’t want to be seen with me?”
“No!” Annabelle’s cheeks flushed as she stumbled over her words. “That’s not what I meant! I—I just didn’t expect you, that’s all.”
Derek chuckled softly, the sound low and smooth, yet oddly unsettling. It sent an unexplainable jolt through Annabelle, though she tried to shrug it off.
“Relax, Annabelle,” he said, his deep voice dripping with mockery. “I’m not here to ruin your precious school day. But you’re leaving. Now. We’ve got somewhere to be.”
“Wait, now?” Annabelle’s eyes widened as she stared at him, disbelief etched on her face. “I have a class, and—”
“Yes, now,” Derek cut her off with that same calm, cold tone, as if her protests didn’t matter. He tapped his walking stick against the floor once, a sharp sound that made her flinch. “Sebastian will walk you to the car. Don’t keep me waiting.”
Annabelle stood frozen, watching him turn and walk away with that infuriatingly steady pace, the click of his walking stick echoing down the hallway.
Her fingers clenched into fists at her sides as she muttered under her breath, “God, please give me patience. Or at least enough strength not to throw something at this man.”
Sebastian, standing awkwardly nearby, cleared his throat. “Ma’am, shouldn’t you pack—”
“No, don’t worry about it,” Annabelle interrupted him hastily. There was no way she was stepping back into that classroom now, to carry her bag and walk out back not with everything she had experienced earlier.
Her bag could stay where it was,. She wasn’t about to risk being roasted alive by her classmates again.
“You sure?” Sebastian asked, glancing at her with a raised brow.
“Yes, absolutely sure.” She shook her head quickly, her long brunette hair bouncing as she avoided looking him in the eye.
Sebastian gave a slow, knowing nod. “Alright then, but you might regret—”
“I won’t,” she snapped, cutting him off again. She straightened her neck pushing past him toward the hallway where Derek had disappeared.
As she hurried to catch up, she muttered again, “Why am I even doing this? Following a man who’s half ice and half...ugh. Just great.”
Behind her, Sebastian chuckled softly to himself. “Good luck with him, ma’am,” he said under his breath, but Annabelle didn’t hear him.
When she finally reached the car, Derek was leaning against it, his head tilted slightly as if he were listening to something in the distance. His expression was calm, but the sharp edge to his lips said he didn’t like waiting.
“Did you have fun dragging your feet?” he teased, his lips curling into a smirk.
Annabelle frowned. “I wasn’t dragging my feet,” she replied, but he was already opening the car door for her with surprising ease.
“Get in, Annabelle. And maybe try not to sound like the world is ending,” he added, his tone dripping with mockery.
She glared at him so hard it could’ve set him on fire, but she bit her tongue. Sliding into the car, she muttered under her breath, “I hate him. How does he even open the door so fast being blind?”
Derek, climbing in beside her, turned his head slightly as if he’d heard every word. His smirk widened. “Oh, you don’t hate me,” he said smoothly. “You’re just frustrated because you can’t figure me out. Admit it.”
Her head whipped toward the window, her cheeks burning. “I’m not giving him the satisfaction, and maybe he's just used to opening this car, that he could do it without help," she thought, ignoring him.
Derek leaned back with a low chuckle, clearly amused by her silence. “What’s going through that head of hers?” he wondered to himself, his smirk fading as his gaze settled on her.
Moments later, Annabelle had drifted off, her head hanging awkwardly in the air as she slept.
Derek stared, his expression unreadable. “She’s... beautiful,” he thought, his jaw tightening. He found himself leaning forward slightly, wanting to fix her posture, to make her comfortable. His hand was inches away from guiding her head onto his shoulder when her phone buzzed loudly.
Annabelle jolted awake, groggily fumbling for her phone.
“Flavia—ohhh—that's fine—yes—thank you,” she mumbled in a half-asleep voice before dropping the phone and falling back into sleep almost instantly.
Derek quickly withdrew his hand, his face hardening. “What am I doing?” he muttered under his breath, shaking his head.
The car hit a pothole, jolting everyone. Annabelle’s head snapped forward, nearly slamming into the window, but Derek’s hand shot out, supporting her neck just in time.
Her eyes fluttered open, confusion washing over her as she realized his hand was on her neck.
“Don’t you think you should rest your head properly?” he said coldly, withdrawing his hand sharply. “You’re not a child.”
Annabelle barely had time to adjust before her head bumped against the window. She hissed quietly, biting her tongue to keep from snapping at him. “Dickhead,” she thought, glaring out of the window.
Derek, ignoring her glare, adjusted his position. “Sebastian, where are we?" He asked his driver instead.
Sebastian spoke up from the front immediately “We’ve arrived, sir.” He stepped out and opened the door for them.
Annabelle stepped out and froze, her mouth falling open. They were standing in front of the most luxurious dress company in the country.
“Why are we here?” she asked, her voice laced with suspicion. “What’s this about, Mr. Morano?”
Derek didn’t even glance at her. “Do you really think you can represent me at the family gathering in that... rag you’re wearing?” His words cut like ice as he strode toward the building’s entrance.
Annabelle’s cheeks burned with humiliation and anger. She hurried after him, her heels clicking against the pavement. “Wait!” she called, catching up.
“Why do I always have to run to catch up with a blind man? f**k!” she muttered under her breath.
“What did you say?” Derek asked, his head tilting slightly.
Annabelle ignored the question. “We’re going to a family gathering, and you didn’t tell me?” she said, her voice rising.
He stopped and turned toward her. “What would you have done if I had told you? You’re just going to represent me there as a figurehead, Annabelle. Remember, you’re nothing more than a figurehead wife.”
Something in Annabelle snapped. Her fists clenched at her sides. “Derek!” she shouted, shocking even herself. “I’m not your figurehead wife. I’m your wife. You married me. You need me, whether you like it or not! So maybe you should start treating me with respect.”
For a moment, Derek stood frozen, his face unreadable. “What did you just say?” he asked, as he was shocked beyond measure.
- Writer
