CHAPTER 26

“Hey”. A voice sang after the door was opened.

I raised my head and saw Kira. She walked in dressed in our usual hotel working hours uniform. Before I could say anything to her the door flung open.

“Why are you not dressed yet?” He asked, his voice reverberating in the room.

“I thought we still had about two hours to get there? I stuttered in reply.

“Rubbish! Get ready now.” He roared and turned around to leave but stopped abruptly.

“And you, what are you doing here?” Adrian asked, looking at Kira.

“I am sorry sir. I will be on my way”. She stammered and hurried out of the room.

He turned to glare at me coldly, making me quiver.

“Who is she?” He asked intently with his eyes still glued on me. “I have observed her around you more often than proper.”

“Is it not obvious? She is a worker in this hotel.” I replied.

“What was she doing here because her uniform tells that she is in charge of the hallway and not rooms”. Adrian pressed on.

“I think she is the one in the best position to answer that question”. I replied, looking away.

“I don't know what you are doing but I don't want to see her around you anymore”. He said, his voice laced with authority.

“Noted,” I muttered.

“For crying out loud, you are a fucking wife to a reputable billionaire I will not tolerate you messing around with peasants.”

“Like I said earlier; noted”. I mumbled in reply.

“Very well then, dress up. We ought to be on our way by now.” He said matter of factly.

I nodded, standing up, and trudged to the wardrobe. I removed a white short gown from the wardrobe when I turned around to drop it on the bed. I saw him still in the room.

“I want to dress up.” I shuttered visibly confused.

“Go ahead.” He replied, making a face.

“I can't dress up when you're here,” I said with furrowed brows.

“Are you asking me to leave?” He asked, raising an eyebrow.

I took a step backward trying to wrap my head around what he was aiming at. He just stood there without moving an inch, glaring at me weirdly.

“Billionaire Adrian Sterling, with all due respect, please excuse me. I want to dress up”.

“I'm not going anywhere. I am the only one to give orders here, and you have to follow it, not the other way around. Also, this meeting is very important. I don't want you to ruin it like you did yesterday which landed you in the hospital. I can't take the chances, I'm going to wait for you and when you're done, we will leave at once.”

I inhaled and exhaled. He wasn't trying to do what I was thinking right? I picked up the gown from the bed and headed to the bathroom, I could still feel his curious eyes on me. I opened the door and went in, our eyes met before I closed it behind me. I made sure the door was completely locked before I started taking off my clothes.

I did not fully understand what Adrian was up to, but I knew one thing for sure: he shouldn't exceed his boundaries. I was only married to him for business and that he has upheld from the start. He is very arrogant and I am still trying to cope with that. But he has to respect my privacy.

When I was done wearing the gown, I took a glance at the mirror to admire it. It was perfect on me, I smiled. My shoes and other stuff were in the room and I had to go out to get it. I heaved a deep sigh and opened the door to go out of the bathroom trying as much as possible to avoid Adrian's eyes.

I walked quickly to the drawer and pulled it out grabbing the first pair of shoes my hands reached. I slid my feet into it and it was very comfortable.

“Are those not the shoes you wore back then when we went for an interview?” Adrian asked suddenly.

“Yes, they are”. I muttered wondering why he asked.

“So you want to repeat those same shoes to a very important event with me?” He asked at the top of his voice.

“I'm sorry, I forgot.” I groaned, returning the shoes.

Honestly, I was going to freak out. Dressing up was one of my best moments, but with Adrian there, it was so boring. I brought out a pair of red heels which I had never worn before. After doing my hair and applying a little makeup, I turned around and muttered.

“I am done.”

He stepped aside making way for me to pass. When we got to the receptionist's table, he asked for a checkout.

“What! Are we going back to America?” I asked.

He nodded absentmindedly in reply.

“Better”. I murmured. I mean, it's been hell since we came to California, so I think it's better we just went home. But did he have to lie about it all this while? Our ride came and when we got into the car, the driver wasn't taking the route to the airport.

“Driver, I think you are going the wrong way. I said sitting up.

“No, ma'am, this is the destination I was given”. He said, showing me his phone screen.

I turned around and looked at Adrian confused.

“Stop looking at me like that”. He said, looking away.

“You said we were going back to America,” I mumbled.

“Well now you know we are not”.

I leaned back on the car seat and heaved a sigh. I could feel Adrian stealing glances at me. I pretended to ignore him and turned around to look through the window. Maybe I didn't want to leave California after all; I mean, anywhere outside Adrian's sick mansion was a big yes for me.

We arrived at the meeting venue after a 30-minute freaking ride. I literally dozed the whole time. When I stepped out of the car, I couldn't help but gasp for breath. Just like other people did when they arrived Adrian stopped me from going out. He turned around and opened the door for me offering me his hand to stand up. I gave him the most confused look of my life, and he winked in reply. I knew I had to play along.