Married To A Duke

You have no right

Amelie

I looked up at my reflection in the mirror, my eyes looked huge on my pale face but no… it wasn’t just pale now, was it? Two splotches of bright pink were there high up on my cheeks. I shook my head of all the strange feeling and this awkward energy that he had left behind in the bathroom, making me long for something that I shouldn’t even think about.

I left the bathroom and slowed as I saw a couple of bags waiting for me on the bed. I picked up the first one, there wasn’t any logo that’d tell me about the brand or anything but when I took out the dress from it, I knew it was anything but expensive. Going through all the bags, three of them, I found two pair of bra and panties, two dresses, a t-shirt and jeans.

I quickly locked the door and donned the clothes, feeling more like myself and less vulnerable. The dress was a little loose but it looked nice, the material sliding along my body smoothly. Once clothed, I went to the bathroom to look at myself. The light blue wasn’t my favourite color but looking at myself I wondered why had I never favoured it. I looked pretty. And the blue reminded me of the light in his, when they weren’t darkly narrowed at me. I didn’t find any comb so I just used my fingers to work through the visible tangles.

Finally feeling a little better, I walked out into the bedroom and my eyes went to the food trolley Jesse had brought. It was still waiting there by the door. Although it had been some time, but the food still looked better as I lifted the dome and surveyed the waiting french toast with a glass of orange juice and scrambled eggs. I ate the toast and gulped down the juice, and it felt amazing to my starving stomach. Then my gaze fell on the mess I had made on the bed, when I had come out of the bathroom it was made up and I wondered who did it. A smile tugged at my lips as I imagined Gabriel doing it but I knew he wouldn’t. Sighing, because I was a guest and I shouldn’t leave it like that, I quickly folded all the clothes as much as I can and stuffed them back in a bag. “That’s better.” I murmured to myself as I turned to the door, ready to go out.

I took several deep breaths before I opened the door and made my way out. I have so many questions to be answered and no doubt a furious father who’d be looking for me all around the city, or if he was smart enough he’d already know where I’d run to. When I got out of the bedroom, the corridor outside was quiet and I didn’t see anyone. I knew from where I was standing two doors down to my left was his bedroom. Not only his, Ami, Summer’s too.

With that thought echoing in my mind I climbed down the stairs. My footsteps were loud in the silence and I saw not even one soul as I wandered through the entry hall and kitchen. I filled a glass of water for myself, drinking it I went out to the main door.

It was open and when I came to stand on a threshold, the two men that were standing on either side of me regarded me with critical eye only for a mere second before they turned back to look at the front. But when I took another step forward, they both jerked around to face me like I had stepped on a mine. “Miss, you are not allowed to go out.”

I was sure my eyebrows went up high on my forehead. “And, who said that?” But I already knew the answer. “Never mind.” I muttered as I turned back around. I drank the remaining water and put down the glass on the small table as I went in search of him. There weren’t many rooms to look into at the ground level. The first room I looked into was a laundry room. The second door I opened was a bathroom. And the third didn’t open as it was locked. I was down to two doors in front of each other, and from one of them I could hear the voices.

So, I pushed the door open and entered, only to face a hulking man with a barrel of a gûn at my face. I froze in the spot, even though it took only a second for Jesse to slip the gûn away and take a step sideways, away from me.

“For the hundredth time, Jesse, there’s security all around the property.” I heard Gabriel saying but I was still in shock.

Raphael

“Everyone knows that Mrs Wolfe and she are friends. It won't be much long before her father comes here.” Z was saying and Jesse was glowering at me in disapproval. He knew my mind was still upstairs. On her. I had to physically remove myself from near her before I did something that shouldn't be done, like caress the side of her neck or kiss the slope of her shoulder.

“Let him.” I said in response to Z.

“She is his daughter, Boss.” I supressed the smile, knowing Z only called me boss because he can’t call me by my given name here and he never called Gabe by his.

“But now she is here.” I replied. “Which means she’s mine.” I felt Jesse stiffen, but I didn’t pay him any attention.

A fleeting smile crossed Z’s face as he said, “You are just like him. I don’t know why ever thought you weren’t.”

I tsked. “It’s okay, Zurich, mistakes happen.”

“So… what are you going to do?” He asked.

“Wouldn’t you like to know…” I was saying when the office door was flung open and she strode inside, only to halt with her eyes huge and unblinking as she faced Jesse with his gûn pointed at her. For fûcks sake.

“For the hundredth time, Jesse, there’s security all around the property.” I said in exasperation, but even as he tucked his gun away she still stood there frozen. “Leave, and take him with you.” I said to Z, who only shook his head at me and mumbled for my ears only. “Don’t forget you’re married and she’s Summer’s best friend.” Hmm… Pity, that.

She skittered back as Z tugged Jesse out with him and then looked back at me when he closed the door. “Do you need something?” I asked, my eyes taking her in. She looked better than before. There was a little color in her cheeks. And the light blue color of her dress suited her, if only it was a little darker, she’d have looked exquisite. I will tell the designer Z will call for her beforehand to include royal blue and… red, she’ll look exotic in red. Or the vîrginal white. Hmm.

“Are you even listening to me?” I blinked and focused back on her. She let out a breath as if searching for patience as she said, “I asked why am I not allowed to go out?”

“Why do you want to go out?” I questioned back.

“Because…” She stopped at that with a little shrug.

“Because? Is that it? That’s your reason?” I asked as I stood up from my chair, her brown eyes dropped to my legs, following me with her eyes as I walked around the desk. “As far as I know you came here searching for a safe place, now you got it. So, once again, why would you want to go out, now?”

“I— I just want to know if I have that option or not.” Her eyes flew to my face. “And from the way that man out there told me that ‘I was not allowed to go out’ I think I don’t.”

“Then, you are right, you don’t.” I answered, leaning back against the front of the desk, just a feet away from her.

Her nostrils flared and she said through clenched teeth, “You can’t forbid me that.” She paused as if looking for words and then flung them at me with relish as if it’d make a difference, “You have no right.”

Damn. No wonder my brother likes to play with his food. I wish I could go on like that with her for hours, I’d enjoy every minute of it. “Don’t I, Miss Amelie Sinclair?” I pushed back from the desk and she stiffened as I closed the distance between us but she didn’t take a step back. So brave. “Let me remind you once again, I’m the Gabriel Wolfe. And not just this house but this city is mine and every person in the city is accountable to me.” If her eyes could shoot arrows I’d be wounded right now. “That includes not only you but your father also, which by the way is looking for you…” I tilted her face up with just my index finger under her chin. “Now, tell me do you want him to find you while you’re roaming around the city or would you like for him to come here when you’re safely guarded where no man can even touch a hair on your head.” Except me.

To Be continued...