Chapter 4: The small box

I left the study frightened, I hated him, I couldn't believe he put his hands on me, regarding me as his property. I felt sick standing outside that door, my wrist was hurting and the cut on my finger from the broken glass was already treated and covered. 

I didn't miss the terror in his eyes. Something is definitely wrong with that man, my gut feeling is never wrong, and right now it's stronger than ever. Something was wrong and I'd find out what even if it meant opening those doors he'd instructed me not to open. 

I made up my mind to find out what secrets he was hiding as soon as he leaves the house tomorrow morning.

 Retiring to the desolated room I got ready for bed, pondering on every possibility of what I'd find behind those hidden doors. 

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I was up at sunrise. The sun rays seeped in through the window and hit my eyes waking me from my uncomfortable slumber. I observed the room and of course, Sean did not sleep here. 

I stood from the bed and went into the bathroom to brush my teeth. Afterwards I went downstairs to the kitchen to find something for breakfast. I was checking the fridge when he walked in.

 He was still dressed in pajamas. Very unlike him, I expected by this time he'd be ready for work. Or was he not going to work today? 

As soon as I closed the fridge he went to pick a bottle of water. I watched as he drank it. His Adams apple jerking as the water went down his throat. Why was he so sexy even in PJ's? His muscles flexed and his tall figure blocked my view of light.

 He looked gorgeous standing there. Strands of that Sandy brown hair covered his eyes, looking at his eyes, I wondered how their color tone always gave off a different feeling depending on his emotion. I doubt this man was human. Maybe modern day Zeus?

"Goodmorning" I said in an attempt to start a conversation.

His eyes squinted as he turned in my direction looking at me like I was a ghost.

"I hate smalltalk" He commented.

"You're not working today?" I asked

"Yes, we have an event this evening. You should get ready, I was going to inform you but after I walked into my home and saw my wife with a lunatic, every other thought I was having disappeared." He admitted to my surprise.

" He's my bestfriend" 

"Yeah, right! I don't care" His nonchalance provoked me but I managed to stay calm.

"What event?" I asked stopping him on his track as he turned to leave. My voice came out in a whisper, I doubt he heard me.

"Business party, to celebrate the merging. Please Dress nice" He added, looking at my hair as the corner of his eyes crinkled.

"Did you plan an event involving my company without my consent" I countered in a low tone.

" Don't worry about it, the invites was sent out to your investors and clients. Might I add that the company's have become one and now a new CEO has to be chosen"

"what makes you think that this is okay? you forget that without my company, yours is nothing" I boasted and he shut his eyes trying to suppress whatever he was feeling.

"It won't be yours for long, Darling, you mark my words" His expression softened as he walked towards me. My eyes widened at his proclamation. 

This was the whole point of it? I knew something was fishy

"You're an asshole. A bitter arrogant asshole" I yelled in his face as he drew closer to me.

" Shut up. I don't want to hurt you again" he reasoned and I glanced at my wrist remembering it still hurt. The next words I said erased that grin from his face.

"I wonder if the death of your ex wife turned you into a monster or you were born one" I could tell my words sliced through something sensitive in him, because before I registered what was going on, his hands covered my throat pressing my back against the wall. 

His eyes blazed with raw anger that caused his forehead to crease.

"Don't you ever mention Mira in your stupid pathetic life. Do you understand?" He burst out.

" Y-yea…yess " I stammered, shaken to my bones. 

" Stupid bitch" His voice bellowed as he walked out the kitchen. 

My legs grew weak and I sat on the floor, arms around my knees trying to recover from the shock. 

What just happened? Why did the mention of his ex wife cause him to react so violently? What darkness lay within this man How did I get involved in this? 

 The question bubbled in my head and I felt dizzy. I'd been chopping vegetables to make pasta before he came in. I was in no mood to cook anymore. I just wanted to remain here.

 I was overwhelmed by fear and I felt a teardrop on my cheeks and didn't attempt to wipe it. I had no strength or courage to move an inch from here. 

 Minutes later I heard the front doors shut. 

This was my time, it was now or never so I found my strength and managed to stand. 

"I need the keys, to every room in the house" I thought out loud to myself as I walked into the room I'd seen him enter yesterday.

 I searched the drawers but found nothing so I headed to the closet but it was locked. His laptop sat on the side table. On the bed lay the slack I'd seen him wear yesterday so I picked it and immediately heard jingles of keys. 

Locating the pocket I took it out and put it in the pocket of my night dress. I grabbed his laptop and turned it on. I was disappointed when I noticed it had a password. 

"Of course, he's not a fool" I scolded myself and dropped it exactly how I found it, walking out of the room. I remembered I'd come across a room on the east wing of the house. It was significant because the doors were painted a creamy white colour, different from all the other Cocoa brown coloured doors in the house. I was curious so I took out the keys and tried every one till I found the correct key. 

 The door creaked open and I felt beads of sweat forming on my forehead like morning dew formed on leaves. I was scared. What if I find a dead body in here? My mind raced as I thought of the horrifying things that I might find.

The lights were off and the room was dimly lit. The windows and curtains were shut, preventing any form of light. I managed to locate the switch on the wall and turn it on.

"Oh wow!" My mouth fell open as I observed the sight in front of me. 

  The room was painted the same creamy white color of the door, it was the most girly themed room I'd seen in my life. In the middle of it stood a four-poster bed with pretty yellow drapes around it. It had a huge dresser, so I stepped in and gave myself a tour of it. This was the only part of this house that had life but somehow it felt empty and dead. I immediately concluded it was Mira's. I was going to come back but right now my gut was telling me to go back and return the keys. 

  I safely shut the doors and went to return the keys. As I stepped into his room my eyes sighted the closet door. I knew I should get out of there fast but I didn't care because curiosity overtook. 

  I went to the closet and started to try the keys, looking for the right one. I'd tried 5 different keys before I found the one that opened it. 

  Searching the closet and opening wardrobes and drawers, I saw dark coloured suits hanging in a wardrobe and long sleeved shirts ironed and folded in another drawer. They were arranged in order of colours and fabrics. 

"Fucking perfectionist, my clothes are not even this neatly folded."

I kept searching but only found drawers filled with clothes, shoes, expensive wrist watches, cufflinks and other men's accessories. 

There was a particular drawer where I found a small box.

I started to try the keys and noticed a small one that was similar to the keyhole on the box so I tried it and it clicked open. I was about to open it when I heard that cold voice.

"What are you doing?" my heart skipped and I dropped the box, scattering its contents everywhere.