CHAPTER 10

The man left without me. How on earth did he expect me to find my way around this huge house? I went back into my room and shut the door behind me, then a thought crossed my mind; maybe the house isn't that complicated and surely I'll meet some maids and workers on my way, I'll ask them for directions.

I opened the door again and stepped outside the room, shutting it slowly behind me. I started walking with cautious steps admiring the hallways, the artwork on the walls, the sculptures, the paintings, everything just seemed to catch my attention. Adrian sure had a taste for luxury, we once lived like this until Samuel cameras into the picture and ruined everything with his reckless way of selling properties.

Suddenly, I realized I have been walking around the house for the past 30 minutes without getting to my destination. I also realized that I didn't even pass by a single maid or worker throughout this futile walk. I summoned courage and started again, guessing my way through every junction. After another 10 minutes, it dawned on me that I was lost, I have been walking around in circles all this while.

I couldn't help but let out a loud scream, I screamed so loud that I started feeling dizzy. I fell to the floor, weak. Soon, many people gathered around me, I could feel several hands carrying me. I thanked my stars because I thought I was being rescued and was in safe hands, only to be thrown on the hard marble floor like some pieces of trash.

His bouncers walked out immediately leaving me with Adrian. I landed on the floor with a loud thud, one would think that I had broken my bone

“Are you normal?” A familiar voice yelled, sending shivers down my spine.

I could barely open my eyes, my back was hurting badly and my dizziness tripled.

“I sent for you for the past two hours and all you could do was play around”. He yelled again.

I was beginning to get a hold of myself. I sat up and looked up at Adrian, our gaze meeting each other. I wanted to explain the entire ordeal to him but I dismissed the thought immediately it crossed my mind. What's the point of defending myself? It's not like it would change his perspective towards me.

“Why did you send for me?” I bolted out, looking away.

Adrian gave me a cold stare, I could still feel his eyes on me for some seconds. I knew a lot was burning inside him but he was unable to let it out. I silently prayed for him to say whatever he wanted to say and leave me alone. His presence was unbearable, I felt like I was going to suffocate.

“Jenny or whatever you call yourself, I didn't marry you for fun and I hope you still have that in your head?”. He said in one breath, halfway between yelling and speaking softly.

He paused for a few seconds. I knew he was expecting me to affirm what he said but I wasn't going to. He continued anyway.

“I married you strictly for business and as such, there are some laid down rules that would guide you through the period of this God-damned marriage”. He said his voice was more precise this time.

Adrian started moving around me with his two hands deep in his trouser pockets. He began listing the rules one by one, as though I were his daughter.

“Firstly, you dare not reveal to anyone the story surrounding this marriage, no one has to know. The contract we signed remains a secret. Is that clear?”. He asked with much emphasis on the “clear”.

I nodded in reply, still maintaining my sitting position on the floor. He cleared his throat and resumed his revolution around me as he continued.

“You know the duration of this marriage right?” He asked.

I nodded again. I wished he could just go straight to listing out the rules without stressing me with responses.

“What's the duration?”. He asked, stopping abruptly behind me.

I hesitated before muttering. “One year”.

“Throughout this one year, you are to follow me to all the necessary events and business trips that demand your presence”. He said and waited for me to nod before he proceeded.

“And lastly, so you know, you are just a mere figurehead so do not exceed your boundaries. You have zero right over me or anything that concerns me. This simply means that I need you to stay out of my business”. He said in conclusion, his voice was high and reverberated through the walls of the balcony.

I gave my last nod and he muttered “Good, you can go back to wherever you were”.

I couldn't believe it. We just got married and on the same day, he dispensed some sick rules on me. He made his way out of the room but I called him back.

“This house is too huge, I don't know my way back to my room”. I mumbled with a steady face.

Adrian turned around and looked at me with furrowed brows.

“So what should I do about that? Get the maids to direct you to your room” with those rude words, he strode back to his study.

I curled myself up into a ball. Just a few hours with him and I already feel terrible, what would the rest of the contract period be like? Adrian was domineering, rude and stern, I don't deserve to be with a man like him. I felt used and exploited. With so many rules to obey and a huge house to roam around, I doubt if I would last.

I rose up from the fall and walked out of the balcony, dragging my feet along. I met a maid immediately. I stepped out and she guarded me to my back. I ensured to take note of every detail, every turn we took and every door we went through. I didn't want to ask for anyone's help again.

Once in my room, I claimed the soft queen size bed and laid down. It was soothing and satisfying. A series of thoughts clouded my mind, particularly about Mom. I was not away from her for up to a day, there I was missing her badly. I felt like staying beside her.

I quickly jerked out of the bed and headed to the wardrobe, searching through the heap of clothes for my phone. When I found it, I dialed Samuel's number instantly. It rang twice but he didn't pick up, I tried three more times and there was no response.

“What's wrong?”. I whispered.