A DEADLY NUPTIAL

20

"Technically I do," I challenged as I leaned against the door. Her face was turning red from her anger and her hair had fallen out of her bun. It actually made her look sexy. I smirked at the thought.

"Don't smirk at me Dark , like I said you don't own me. I'm only doing this for the money and you know it."

"Well you're still married to me, and you'll do whatever I tell you."

"Fine, but I will never love you."

"Who said anything about love? Like you said this is only business. I wouldn't stupid to fall for you." She flinched when I said the last line, but quickly recovered.

"I think we're done with this conversation. Goodnight Dark ," she turned around not wanting me to see the tears I could probably guess were forming in her eyes.

"Goodnight Mrs. ," I shut the door, and sighed when I heard her sob escape her mouth. It broke my heart to see her so sad. We were going to have to work on this, because what I had said there was a lie. I was starting to fall for her like crazy.

Josephine's POV

The Next Day

I woke up with the sunlight flashing in my eyes. I groaned and turned over in bed with my face in the pillow. I sniffed the pillow. This did not Smell like home. I immediately sat up. Now fully awake and alert I looked around. Lilac walls, wood furnishings, huge glass window to the left, diner style table connected to the table, small living room and bathroom across the room. This was not my room. Where was I? I groaned again as pain shot through my head. I plopped back down onto the pillow. My hand was covering my eyes when I felt something cool against my eyes. I looked at my hand and there was my wedding ring. Right. I was married. How could I forget? A knock interrupted my thoughts.

"Come in," I replied. In walked a woman who looked to be in her 60's. She had hair that was tied in a bun with streaks of gray almost overpowering her fading black hair. Her kind eyes smiled at me as she said, "Good morning Josephine."

"Good morning Yusi," I hoped that was her name. I didn't know why I had said it, but it seemed vaguely familiar.

"I brought you your breakfast," she said, presenting me with a cart full of plates with food, and a pitcher of orange juice, and coffee. I felt like I was in a hotel.

"You didn't have to bring it up here, Yusi. I would've gone to eat breakfast."

"It's fine dear. I imagined you wouldn't leave your room. I assumed you would wake up with a terrible headache."

I blushed. "I did." She handed me a bottle of painkillers and a glass of water. "Thank you."

"You're welcome. I'm going to go back down stairs. If you need anything I'll be in the kitchen." I simply nodded. Soon I was left alone in my room. I pushed the cart to the diner style table and sat down. I looked out the giant window. There was a balcony outside with a country style porch swing, but besides that all I could see were trees that stretched for miles. I sighed. We were probably in the middle of nowhere. As I ate breakfast I thought about what Dark had said last night. "I wouldn't be stupid to fall for you." Those words had actually hurt. I knew this was just business, but part of me wanted to experience love like Josepha and Louis did. Josepha. She had given me her number before she had left last night. I felt the urge to talk to her. I looked through my luggage and was shocked to see that none of the clothes in the suitcase were mine. None of my electronics were in there either. I must've gotten the wrong suitcase or...."

Dark 's POV

I sat in my office looking out the window when I should have been looking over some papers. Out of nowhere Josephine burst through the door.

"How dare you!"

"Excuse me?"

"I looked through my luggage and none of those are my clothes!"

"Well I didn't do anything, so don't point any fingers at me."

"None of my electronics are there either," she said coolly.

"Ah, well, those I did take."

"Well I want them back."

"No."

"What do you mean no?" I stood up and walked around the desk. I leaned against the front of the desk with my arms crossed. An idea crossed my mind.

"You know what? I'll let you have them-" A sign of relief crossed her face "-on one condition."

"What?"

"You give me a kiss."

"Ha. In your dreams."

"Oh. I do dream." She looked away with a hint of blush forming on her delicate cheeks.

"What happened to this being only business?" she questioned crossing her arms against her chest and still not meeting my eyes.

"Why not have a little fun?"

"Is that all this is for you? Fun?" she looked directly at me with a mixture of hurt and disgust. I couldn't make it out. She shook her head.

"I'd rather die of boredom than kiss you." She turned around, but I grabbed her arm and pulled her towards me. One of my hands was still grabbing her arm while the other pressed her back, pushing her body towards me.

"Really is that so?"

"Yes it is." Our faces were centimeters apart. I looked in her eyes and saw a hint of fear. No. I didn't want to scare her. I let her go. She looked completely shocked then speed walked out of my office.

Josephine's POV

I ran back to my room as that was the only place besides Dark 's office that I knew. I closed the door behind me and sank to the floor, my back against the door. What had just happened? I was sure he was about to kiss me. I had actually waited for the contact of our lips but was shocked he let me go. He had rejected me. Was I that undesirable or was he only playing with me? I was so confused. Why did I want him to kiss me? This was the first time I had actually wanted a guy to kiss me since the incident.

After calming back down. I spent the rest of the day in my room. I didn't want to run into Dark . I laid on the couch and stared at the ceiling. Apparently what I had told Dark was happening. I was dying of boredom. There was nothing to do. He wasn't kidding about the no connection to the outer world. Eventually I fell asleep and started dreaming the nightmare that was so familiar. My dreams all started out the same, but this one was different. It was the day of the wedding. I was in my wedding dress running. From who? I stumbled over a log and fell to the ground. My stalker was now on top of me. It was the man that haunted my dreams. He was huge compared to me. He wore a mask that covered the top of his face. He started kissing me everywhere. I screamed for help while trying to push him off of me. He covered my mouth with his hand which had a rag drenched with something .My vision was getting blurry.

Dark 's POV

I was walking back to my room when I heard Josephine screaming for help. I ran vampire speed to her room and found her kicking and screaming on the couch. I shook her trying to wake her up.

"Josephine woke up!" I continued to shake her until her eyes immediately opened. Her breathing was fast which caused her chest to breathe in and out heavily. After a while she calmed down. She put her head in her hands.

"Are you alright?"

"I'm fine, it was just a nightmare." I knew exactly what she had dreamt of, but I didn't want to tell her that I knew about her incident. I sat down on the coffee table across from her.

"Do you wanna talk about it?"

"No," she shook her head, "I'm really fine just please leave me alone right now."

"Ok," I got up and walked to the door. I turned around and offered, "if you need anything my room is across the hallway to the right and the last door. You also know where my office is," I smirked remembering what had happened in my office.

****

That incident happened 3 days ago. It was now Tuesday. Josephine tried her best to avoid me. I knew she was avoiding me, so I gave her some space. The thing that worried me though was her health. She would hardly eat, and I knew she wasn't sleeping. After her nightmare that same night she had another one. She said it wasn't anything and prohibited me from opening the door. Every night I would check on her. I would climb to her balcony thankful for my vampire strength and ninja likeness. Through the glass I could see her perfectly clear. Sometimes she would be reading a book and dozing off, and other times she would be staring out the window unaware of me watching her. Even though she avoided me I sometimes caught a glimpse of her walking down the stairs. Her eyes had large Dark circles and make-up couldn't cover up. Josephine didn't even need the make-up. She was beautiful just the way she was.

I was sitting in my office sending my father an email over the next client we owed a visit to when someone knocked on the door.

"Come in," Josephine walked through the door. I was surprised she hadn't barged in like the last time, but this time she didn't look mad, so it made sense.

"I was wondering if you were busy?" she timidly asked. I looked at my screen before answering.

"At the moment I am, did you need something?" I asked without looking at her. I kept my eyes glued to the screen, my eyes desperately wanting to see her face, but I couldn't. I didn't want to get attached to her. This was only business. I didn't want to hurt her.

"No, not really. I just wanted to know if you wanted to have dinner together." My hands stopped typing. After a minute I continued to type and responded, "I don't think I Dark , I have a lot of work to do."

"Oh-that 's totally fine. I'll just leave you to work." she sounded defeated as she walked out of my office. After she left I sat there thinking about what just happened. She had actually asked me to have dinner with her. Ugh! I had been so stupid! I thought as I scattered papers all over my desk in anger. I looked at my watch and it was 7:30. She could still possibly be eating. I walked out of my office in a hurry and down the stairs. I looked in the dining room, but no one was in there. Has she finished? I went to the kitchen to find Yusi, but instead I found Josephine sitting in one of the highchairs of the four person table. She looked bored as she pushed her food around on her plate. My breath got caught in my throat as I took in her beauty. Her smooth skin, brown wavy hair, the way the dress fit her curves. A sudden realization hit me. She had dressed up for this dinner.

Josephine's POV

I sat on the tall chair in the kitchen. There was no point in me eating in the dining room by myself. Dark had actually rejected me again. These past days I had stopped sleeping. I did not want Dark or Yusi to worry about me, but I knew that if I closed my eyes I would see him. I didn't have the appetite for anything either. Each day I lost the hope to see my family, friends, and escape this prison he had me in. I knew he kept the doors locked so there was no point in trying to escape. At least not while he was in the house.

"Ahem," someone cleared their throat. I looked up. It was Dark with his chocolate eyes staring directly at me. I could feel the blush creeping into my cheeks. Why did this always happen when he was around? "Is it alright if I join you?"

"Yeah, I guess," I mumbled. I knew he heard me. He served himself a plate and sat across from me. I took a bite of my unappetizing food not wanting to be awkward.

"So how was your day," he asked, trying to start a conversation.

"It was...fun." he actually chuckled when I said that.

"If by fun you mean staying up all night and partying then I would totally buy that by the look of your face." I knew he was talking about the Dark circles I tried to mask with make-up.

"You caught me," I threw my hands in the air signaling defeat. He smiled showing his pearly whites. "I was dying of boredom like I told you I would be."

"You know we Dark always change that," he smirked.

"I don't think so," I said while taking a sip of wine.

"Aren't you a little young to be drinking?"

"Dark , we're Italians, we always drink at the dinner table," I rolled my eyes, "I've been drinking since I was 15." He started laughing. I realized how bad that sounded.

"Ok I did not mean it that way! You know it!" my outburst made him laugh harder. This is so embarrassing. I buried my face in my hands waiting for him to control his laughter and my face to stop burning. After what like seemed forever he stopped laughing. I peeked through my hands and sure enough he was just sitting there watching.

"Are you finished?" I asked.

"Yes, don't worry it won't happen again it was just the look on your face..was priceless." Sitting here I realized how this moment actually felt. It felt like this was a normal day as a normal married couple enjoying dinner and joking around.

"How about we play twenty questions?" he asked, breaking the silence.

"Sure," I smiled, "you first."

"That's not fair,"

"It was your idea," I stated.

"Fine, first question, what's your favorite color?"

"That's easy-lilac. What's yours?"

"Hmm.. I'd say blue. Ok next question. What did you think of when you first saw me?"

"When I first saw you? Well..."I thought back to the day at the company, "I was surprised to see you at my dad's company. I didn't know who you were, then at the wedding. I was shocked to see that you were the one I was marrying. I was glad you were actually quite decent looking."

"Decent? I would hardly think that's the correct word to use with me."

"What would you use?"

"I would use something along the lines of handsome or sexy." It was my turn to burst out laughing.

"Arrogant much?"

"Not really. My turn."

"But that was my turn!"

"You asked if I was arrogant."

"That doesn't count!"

"Yes it does, now for the next question. What career are you or should I see were you interested before you met me?"

I had to think about this. There was so much I had wanted to do. I hadn't gone to college because I hadn't made up my mind. I traced the top of the wine glass with my fingers going in circles. It helped me not have to look at his face.

"Ok," I began, "promise you won't laugh?" I had to look up and be certain he was serious. He nodded. "I wanted to be a model," I had looked down again at my wine glass waiting for him to start laughing. As my ears waited and waited I looked back at him. He wasn't laughing. He was staring at me intently as if what I had said fascinated him.

"You're not laughing," I pointed out.

"There's no reason to laugh. I think it's a spectacular idea. You would make a beautiful model." My cheeks were burning yet again. I looked down at my food. I hadn't finished, but there was dessert. What a good idea. I got up, but Dark 's hand stopped me.

"Where are you going?" he asked. He must've thought I was offended.

"No where," I smiled reassuring him. "Wait right here." I walked to the refrigerator feeling his gaze on me the whole time. I walked back with two plates of cheesecake decorated with strawberries. I set one plate in front of him and the other in front of my seat. I sat down again.

"Do you like cheesecake?"

"It's my favorite," he assured, "did you make it?"

"I actually did. I decided to work on my culinary skills while I have the time." I said taking a bite. The cheesecake practically Rejected in my mouth. It was actually really good. He also took a bite, and I watched him fearing what he would say next.

"This is amazing Josephine," I smiled lovingly to hear him say my name. I felt satisfied with my work. I had put a lot of effort into making this dinner for us to work. The past few days I had been thinking about our marriage. A part of me actually wanted this to work and be like Josepha and Louis, so I decided to try.

"Do you really think so, or are you just saying that so you won't hurt my feelings?"

"I'm serious. It's the best cheesecake I've ever had."

"Ok now you're just over-exaggerating. "

"I'm 100% serious Josephine," he said with a serious face, placing his hand on top of mine. His thumb rubbed circles on hand as he asked his next question. "Was this dinner supposed to be a date?" For the hundredth time that evening my face heated up.

"What makes you think that?"

"Well, you made this incredible dinner, dessert, and a little birdie might have told me that you had set up the dining room earlier." I couldn't believe Yusi had told him.

"Maybe it was," I said, removing my hand from underneath him and placing it in my lap with my other hand. I saw a look of regret on his face.

"You should have told me. I would have come down earlier."

"You were busy,"

"I had a lot of work which reminds me. I'm leaving tomorrow for a business trip. I'll be gone till Friday."

"Were you only looking for me to tell that, and pitied me when you found me here. Is that why you sat down? Not because you wanted to have dinner with me, but because you pitied me?" No wonder he looked like he had regretted not coming earlier. I must've looked stupid sitting here by myself. I was starting to get upset, and I hated when that happened. Tears would soon start spilling out. I had to get away from here. I pushed myself from the table once again. Dark 's arm stopped me. He held onto my wrist.

"That's not the reason. Well-part of it is but-"

"Don't lie Dark . You just said it. It was one of the reasons." I yanked my arm from his. "Goodnight." I quickly walked away regretting wearing my stupid heels. I had dressed up for him, made dinner, dessert, and it had been true. I had set up the dining room with a romantic feel just for him. I reached my room and slammed the door frustrated with myself. I would never do this again. I felt so stupid. I took a long bath trying to drown my tears. As I lay in bed afterwards, someone knocked on my door.

"Who is it?" I asked since I had locked the door and was not in the mood for talking to anyone.

"It's me Dark , Josephine we need to talk."

"No we don't. There's nothing to talk about. Like you said, it's just business."

"Josephine-please."

"Dark please go away."

"Fine, but you and I will talk sooner or later. Don't forget I'm leaving tomorrow, but I will be back. I'll try to come back Thursday."

"Don't bother," I murmured to myself.

***

The next day I heard the front door open and close. I rushed to my glass window doors that opened to the balcony and watched as Dark stood talking to Yusi in the driveway. As he gave her a hug he looked up and caught me looking. I didn't even blush. I was still hurt. Instead I walked away from the window.

Dark 's POV

I sat in my office at the company remembering Josephine's hurt look she had given me yesterday. I had been so stupid to let her think I had only sat down with her because I had felt bad for her. While we had dinner I learned many things about her. She blushed immensely, fidgeted when she was nervous, and various other things. She was an amazing person. When she had said she had wanted to be a model. I was shocked at first and surprised. I had never thought of Josephine as a model until she had expressed herself. But she had everything to be a model. Especially the looks. She is beautiful. Nice and simple. My phone buzzed.