CHAPTER TWO
836 Words
“Leave me alone!” Ariana shouted, removing her arm from Ethan’s grip as they walked into his penthouse .
The glass walls, furnished interior, and silence gave off power. Ariana’s wedged heels tapped against the marble floor .
“Would you rather let the media drag you through the mud?” Ethan’s voice was calm and dangerously low, but his eyes burned with anger. “You’re already my wife on paper, Miss Hart. At least try not to look like you’ve been kidnapped.”
Ariana froze. The word “wife” slammed into her chest like a bullet. Cameras flashed from outside Ethan’s penthouse and reporters came around shouting questions that made her stomach twist.
She blinked fast, forcing back her tears. “You think I wanted this? You think I’d choose to marry a man who treats people like properties? No!.”
Ethan’s jaw tightened, revealing his strong jaw. “You’ll continue being my wife until my team clears the mess your signature created, and let me tell you, I don’t care what you wanted .”
Ethan leaned a little closer and said, “You’ll do whatever to keep your bakery business still running and standing. Isn’t that why you signed in the first place?”
Ariana’s lips couldn’t utter any words , she trembled, but her voice rose , “ Then you’d better hope your team is faster than my temper, Mr. Cole!.”
Ethan gave a faint smile , commanding and unreadable.
The automatic doors opened as they stepped inside .
Immediately Ariana stepped inside, her heart pounded but a voice in her head coldly said, “He may own the papers , but he will never own me.”
The glass-marbled floor stretched before her . Air conditioners filled the room making it freezing cold. Whispers swept across the room. “Who’s she? Is she Mr Cole’s mystery girlfriend or wife?”.
Ariana straightened her face looking at the new faces around. She wanted to run, but Ethan held her hand tightly.
“Please walk with your head up. You are now Mrs Cole, so act like it!”. Ethan said in a whisper .
Ariana frowned, her upper lip pressing down against her lower.
In anger she answered, “You better not tell me what to do or how to act. You’ve already forced me here.”
Ethan did not respond but gave a light smile at the corner of his mouth as they stepped inside the private elevator. The higher the elevator went up, the more trapped Ariana felt. Her blood boiled at very glance Ethan gave.
The numbers blinked past 10th floor, 20th, 40th…and when the doors finally opened, she froze.
The penthouse was a world of glass and gold. Ariana saw the entire city of London, the lights in the city shone bright in her eyes. But it didn’t feel beautiful, only suffocating. This wasn’t her world.
Ethan took off his coat and dropped it in the sofa close to his bed , loosening his tie, he called Ariana for a drink and said, “Well well well. Welcome home”, pouring a drink for both of them.
“I don’t want anything. And don’t call this home for me because this isn’t home for me!. I do not belong here Mr Cole!”, she said furiously .
Ethan sipped his beer slowly , his eyes still fixed on Ariana . “Miss Hart, people always believe reality and the reality is you’re now playing the role as my wife and the world believes it now . Relax, I will let my lawyers fix this .”
“And now what if I refuse?”. Ariana asked. Folding her arms across her chest .
Ethan placed his glass of beer gently on the coffee table and answered , “Then your bakery shop will collapse . Your name will be mentioned everywhere in the news, even in the city. Plus your debts will multiply. Now the choice is yours”.
Ariana’s throat went dry . She couldn’t say a word.
“Try me,”. Ethan said in a cold voice.
“Okay. I will stay but let your lawyers fix this mess “. She said in a trembling tone.
The air in the room felt heavier as silence settled between them.
“Good. I like women who understand business”, Ethan said, crossing his legs on the sofa .
Ariana took one last look at him and walked past. “I think you will hate me soon, Mr Cole, because I am not in for business I am here for survival”. She said, slamming the door behind her as she walked out .
Ethan was taken by surprise as he stared at the drink. His reflection on the liquid . “Survival?” he said to himself. “ Then let’s see how long she survives in my world”. He whispered under his breath.
- Writer
