Bound by Duty
1023 Words
Arielle walked around the counter anxiously waiting for the arrival of her brother. She had managed to convince Logan to help her get her brother out of police custody.
"Miss Arielle?" She raised her head up and saw the police men with her brother.
Arielle was elated, and she ran over to him with a warm hug, excited about his release.
"Goodness, you smell like money" Adrian expressed as they walked out of the police department.
"I know I have a lot to explain, but we have to reach home before we can properly discuss"
When they walked into the car, Adrian had made a worrying comment about the car they were using, but Arielle remained calm. She wanted her brother settled before they could talk about anything.
Hours later they arrived at their apartment and Arielle made her brother his favorite dish. She could see the satisfaction in his eyes as he latched onto the meal, a testament that he had not been eating a lot.
"Care to explain now?" Adrian broke the chain of her thought.
"Adrian, eat your food. "There is so much time for us to talk about it." She said.
"No! We have to discuss it now," he insisted.
Seeing that her brother is not ready to let the topic go, Arielle takes a deep breath and begins talking.
"Well, I got married..." She began.
"You got married? "To whom?" he asked.
"Logan Lutherhold, billionaire and CEO of the biggest fashion industry in the world."
"Wait a minute..." Adrian said, adjusting his thighs on the chair and paying full attention to his sister.
"Logan Lutherhold is your husband?" Adrian asked in disbelief.
"I did not ask for the marriage, okay?" Arielle tried to be strong, recalling the events that had transpired in the past.
"You were in jail. Grandma needed an operation. Our house was almost sold to the same man. "He offered me a marriage contract and I took it, looking at the benefit I stood to achieve," she explained, and a drop of tears falls down her eyes.
Adrian, who had been paying close attention, moved over to the couch and embraced his sister in a warm hug.
"I know you went through a lot...I am here now" he assured, and kept taping her back in comfort.
Their moment is short as the door opens and Logan walks into the house. He laid eyes on Adrian before shifting his attention to Arielle.
"Why did you fail to show up for the last photo shoot?" he asked with a scowl on his face.
"I went to get my brother from the police. I told you about it."
"Your brother over our photoshoot? "How interesting" he said, chuckling.
"And what is that supposed to mean?" Arielle asked, standing up to her feet. "I will not have you disrespecting my brother like that."
"It is okay sister." Adria tried to calm her down.
"Are you not ashamed of yourself? Allow your sister to stand for you. Such a fearful boy..."
Logan's words caused Adrian to snap. He got up and walked over to Logan, despite Arielle holding him back.
"Say that one more time and I will punch you in the face", Adrian threatened.
"Listen to yourself..." Logan replied still with a smile on his face. "Did your sister not tell you how I saved you from a life sentence? It is such a disgrace that you show appreciation this way."
Logan shook his head in disappointment and, with one more look at Arielle, he walked out of the room.
"Logan Lutherhold is nothing like he is portrayed in the media", Arielle pointed out as Adrian walked back to his sit.
"He is such a disgrace!" Adria spat.
"Even though we don't like him, I will suggest we don't push his buttons. He has the tendency of do the most irrational things when he is angry," Arielle explained.
She checked her wristwatch and realized she needed to go and meet Logan. They had talked about a dinner date and she couldn't miss it.
"Where are you going?" Adrian asked the moment she got up and grabbed her purse.
"I am still under contract and what it means is that I need to perform my obligations as his wife." Arielle explained and head for the door.
"Just so you know, this contract will end one day and I will gladly punch him in the face for being a jerk", Adrian said, and his words earned a smile from Arielle before she left the house.
By the time she arrived, the evening was setting. Arielle was anxious as she walked into the living room and found Logan on the couch, watching the evening stock market.
"You are late..." He said and turned towards Arielle.
"I had to stay with my brother for a while and catch up with him", Arielle replied.
"The criminal? How good of you..."
This was one problem Arielle had with Logan. He always chooses to be sarcastic with his words.
"Do you have parents?" Arielle asked, hoping to speak some sense into Logan. "If you had parents, you would not be rude. "They would have instilled discipline." Arielle lashed out.
"That is where you get it all wrong, my dear. "I actually have one of the best parents. "They love me" He turned his entire focus to Arielle.
"Now let us have a serious discussion about how you haven't been sticking to the clause of your contract."
"But I have been doing my best", Arielle argued.
"Your best is very poor. You have been disappointed, and today you failed to show up for the photoshoot. You also failed at coming for the date we planned."
Logan got up to his feet and approached Arielle who had looked away. He ran his hand through her hair.
"You have not been a good girl." He leaned closer to her ears. "Do you know what I do to people that disobey me? I make sure to take everything away from them."
As he stepped back, Arielle found her breath. No one has ever placed her in such a condition before.
- Writer
