Lia woke up with a start, screaming and coughing. She had been drowning in her dream. Fernando had been standing there, watching her but he made no move to help her.
"Finally, you're awake." She heard and sat up quickly moving towards the head of the bed. She had fallen asleep in the wedding gown too tired to change.
Fernando was on the couch watching her. How long had he been there watching her? Feeling self-conscious, she pulled the gown closely to her body as memories from last night assailed her senses.
>>>>>>>
"It's our wedding night, Amelia." Fernando said as he walked towards her.
Lia wished the wall would magically grow a door so she could disappear and never show her face again. If wishes were horses….
"How should we celebrate it? I have don’t have to go to work tomorrow, since I’m the boss. So technically, I have enough time to spend with you.”
“Newly weds do have honeymoon after all.” He added chuckling.
Lia shivered and pushed back against the wall willing it to move an inch so she could put some distance between them.
"What did you make?" He asked and she had to think about the question twice before she could provide an answer.
His closeness was wreaking havoc on her senses. She wasn't sure what he'd do next or what he'd try.
He was talking about 'wedding night' and 'honeymoon'. What thoughts could be running through his mind?
"You must be wondering what I'm thinking." He continued and she wondered if he was some kind of psychic who could read minds. "It's my wedding night. It's supposed to be with your mother but you already know how that turned out. Anyway, you're here so what can you offer me?"
A wave of panic hit Lia and she staggered struggling to remain upright. Did he mean he wanted to have sex with her? Surely, he wouldn't do that to her. Right?
"I asked, " he continued and closed the distance between them, his breath fanning her face. "What can you offer me?"
"Spaghetti." She blurted out quickly and his hand that had been moving towards her face stopped midair.
Confusion danced in his eyes and Lia would have thought he looked cute if this had been a different situation. Now she mainly wanted to get away from him.
"Spaghetti?" He repeated and his next action shocked and surprised Lia. He laughed.
A real laugh, full belly laugh that forced tears from one's eyes.
Lia watched him shamelessly taking in his looks. He looked younger than he was before. Normally he looked his normal age of 40 but right now, he looked younger, like a young man in his thirties.
"What are you thinking Lia?" She chided herself and forced her eyes away from his face.
He wasn't hers to admire and besides he didn't deserve to be admired by her. He had forced her into a marriage for Pete’s sake.
"You should go while I have the strength to let you go." He said pulling her out of her thoughts and she stared at him, confused.
"What?"
"Run Amelia, run."
She had run just like he said and ended up in one of the other rooms in the house. She had planned to go downstairs to eat some of the food she made but her exhaustion won over hunger.
<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
"Do you always space out?" He asked and she looked at him, noting the tick in his jaw. He was getting pissed. Wrong move, Lia. It was too early to make him mad.
Last night he had generously let her go. She might not be so lucky this time around. "I'm sorry."
He nodded and was silent for a while making Lia's heartbeat pick up speed. When he was silent like that, it meant he was thinking and his thinking meant he was going to come up with a new way to torment her.
"You have the day off as well, right?" He asked and she remembered she hadn't called work to seek permission.
Shit, work! How was she going to explain her wedding to them? Even if everyone else bought it, Shane wouldn't.
"Is there something you'd like to share with me?" He asked and Lia gulped, meeting his eyes. She had spaced out again.
"I was just thinking about work. I didn't remember to take permission because…" she didn't finish her sentence, there was no need to. They both understood what she wasn't saying.
If her mother had been there, she'd be at work right now and not here in Fernando's mansion in a wedding dress.
"I will take care of that. You can keep using this room. The bathroom is over there. Let me show you how to use it.”
“It can be tricky." He added when she opened her mouth to protest.
Without another word, Lia got up from the bed and followed him, holding the hem of her dress so she wouldn't trip. She really couldn't wait to get it off her body.
They entered the bathroom and just like the rest of the house, it was excellent. It reminded her of the stall at the hotel. Who would have thought she'd be using one of these soon?
She looked up just in time to see him reaching for her. Startled, she pulled back and found herself trapped between the wall and him with nowhere else to go.
"I asked if you understood but it looks like you spaced out again." He started but he didn't seem upset.
Lia started to apologize but he cut her off.
"Perhaps I should punish you anytime you space out. What do you think?"
Lia just stood there watching him, her undivided attention fixed on him. She couldn't dare look away at this point, what if he actually punished her?
"I am going out to handle a few things. Don't worry I won't be gone long. If there's anything you need, Liam will be on standby."
She nodded, not trusting herself to say anything reasonable.
"See you around Mrs. James." He said and walked out leaving a confused Lia behind.
Why was he being nice to her?
***
"Mrs. James." Liam greeted as Lia walked into the kitchen and Lia blushed.
Lia wondered if she'd ever get used to the name as she opened the fridge and brought out a carton of juice. A few days ago, she had been Amelia Lawson and there had been no plans to change it until…
"Mr James asked me to take you wherever you would like to go. Is there somewhere you need me to take you?"
Lia paused, the glass cup she had just taken from the shelf sitting between her fingers. She looked down at her clothes and sighed. Yes, there was somewhere she wanted to go. Her house.
She needed her clothes and the rest of her things. Even though the bathroom had been fully stocked with towels, toothbrushes, paste, bath gels of different flavors - that made her wonder if Fernando sometimes used the place as a hotel -, she still needed her things.
"Could you take me to my house? I have to get my things." She said and poured some juice in the cup. She pushed it towards him and reaches for another cup. "And I need to drop by my workplace too."
"I'm at your service, ma'am." Liam reminded her and she nodded pointing at the cup she had pushed towards him.
"That's for you. I just need to get my bag and then we can go." She downed her juice and spun around running out of the kitchen.
"Take your time ma'am." He called after her.
"Just give me a minute."
Two hours later, back at her house Lia stared up at Liam and sent him a grateful smile. "Are you sure you're not hungry? I could make something for you before we leave."
The only response she received was a grunt as he lifted a box of her things in his hands. It was a box filled with her books, bags and some other things she couldn't throw into the big travelling bag she was zipping up.
"Is that all?" Liam asked, reaching for the traveling bag and she nodded. She didn't want to take much. All she really needed were her clothes, her books, her toiletries. Her bags and her tiny makeup kit were an extra addition.
"That's all." She said and watched as he lifted the bag in his arms, the muscles hidden under his shirt rippling.
As she walked behind him, she wondered what it would be like to be with someone like Liam who was less intense. Fernando was a puzzle and she wasn't sure she had the patience to solve and figure him out.
He had threatened fire and brimstone on their wedding night and today, less than 24 hours later, he had given her his driver and car to go wherever she wanted to go.
Was this what the English called 'the calm before the storm?' Was he going to get very ugly soon?
"Ma'am?"
Lia shivered at the thought and wondered if it was too late to run away.
She could change her looks, wear her hair shorter, change the color and get as far away from America and Fernando as she could.
"Ma'am?"
Where would she go? She wondered and wrapped her arms around herself. She had lived her entire twenty-one years in America not going anywhere else or seeing anywhere else.
If she had a bucket list then traveling to somewhere else would be a good item on said list.
"Ma'am?"
Lia flinched at the touch and relaxed when she saw it was Liam. How long had he been standing there watching her?
"Are you okay ma'am?"
Lia nodded, slipping on a smile. "Yes. I have something else I must do before I go home."
"I am at your service ma'am." Liam took a bow and Lia smiled at his antics.
****
"I'm so glad to see you. I was so worried." Jane hugged Lia close the minute she walked through the door.
Lia laughed and returned the hug sniffing to keep her tears at bay. "I feel so loved."
"Sit. Juice, water, what do you need? Have you eaten anything or does that monster starve you?"
Lia gasped staring at her friend. "Jane, I appreciate the love dear but Fernando has been the perfect gentleman."
"What?" Jane shook her head as if the thought was too unbearable. "What do you mean? He forced you to marry him, Lia. He's a monster."
"He's not a monster, Jane. He's just a man who has been hurt. He was saying those things out of anger." Lia said and Jane shook her head in disbelief.
"Why are you defending him?"
"I'm not! I promise you he hasn't done anything unusual. He gave me his driver today and the car. I went home to get my things, Jane. Would a monster do that?"
Jane didn't look convinced. "What if it's just a fluke? Maybe he's trying to seduce you and then when you least expect it, bam! He will reveal his true colors."
Lia laughed standing up and walking towards the television. "I think you've been watching too much K-drama. This is real life, Jane."
"I know it is and that's why I'm scared. I don't want you to fall in love with this guy and get hurt when he reveals his true identity."
Lia was by her friend's side in seconds. "It's nice to see that you care about Jane, but I promise I'm fine if I have to run away, you'll be the first I will call."
They both laughed and Lia reached for the remote. "Alright time for a movie."
"What movie?"
"Fantasy football is nice." Lia commented and Jane narrowed her eyes. "I'm serious."
"Fine. I'll go get us some snacks."
Lia nodded, picking up the remote. “Well don’t take too long or I might just start without you.”
Jane made a face and Lia laughed. “I love you, Lia.”
Lia nodded in understanding. “I know.”
"Are you getting that?" Lia asked raising her head up, Jane nodded scurrying off to the next section.Lia chuckled and looked down at her phone. She couldn't believe how much had happened and it was just 3pm.>>>>>>>>>>Jane had been all worried about Lia falling asleep at her house thinking that for sure, Fernando was going to raise hell.Lia had been scared too, no terrified was the appropriate word. Fernando was being way too nice for someone who had promised her nothing but pain and suffering on their wedding day."Why didn't you wake me earlier?!"Lia jumped off the bed and raced into the bathroom turning on the shower. Water poured from the shower head and she set her hands under it, splashing some on her face.She couldn't believe she had slept off last night. Fernando was going to have her head for it and she didn't blame him.He gave her the chance to spend the day doing whatever she wanted, and she misused the opportunity.She shivered turning off the shower, bending her hea
"How long has she been missing for?"Lia gave Jane a look and sighed. "it's been two days. Can you find her?"She was trying not to get upset at this man but he was testing her patience. He had been asking irrelevant questions. Wasn't the job of a Private Investigator to find the person? What did it matter how long the person has been missing for?"Can you find her, Brian? George wouldn't recommend you if he didn't think you could." Jane squeezeed Lia's hand as she spoke, trying to calm her down."I apologize for my earlier behaviour ma'am. I just wanted to be sure you knew what you were doing." At Lia's raised eyebrows, he sighed. "I have had clients who only wanted to use me. Anyway, I apologize.""It's okay. How long do you think it'd take to find her?"Brian adjusted his glasses and looked at her mother's picture sitting on the table. "It shouldn't take long. A month tops.""But I need to find her as soon as possible." Lia sighed and Jane sent Brian an apologetic smile."I'm sure
"Lia wake up!" Jane stormed into the room and pulled the covers off her friend's body. "Prince charming is here."Lia opened one eyes and groaned. "Too bright, it's too bright.""Get up woman, your man is here.""Please let me sleep." Lia begged, shutting her eyes turning on her back. Jane sighed and walked off mumbling under her breath."I'm so sorry, she's fast asleep and it's usually a pain to wake her up in the morning." Jane smiled apologetically. Fernando chuckled and rose to his feet."I don't want to disturb her. Let her sleep. I only came to see if she was awake so we could go for breakfast at the restaurant."'This idiot!' Jane thought and smirked as an idea slipped into her head. "Give me a second, I'll have her ready.""I don't want to.." Fernando tried to stop her but Jane was already making her way into the bedroom.He chuckled again, shaking his head as he took his seat. She was a character, he could see why his wife was friends with her.His wife. This was all crazy, i
"I didn't know you were such a child." Lia commented, taking a bite from her ice-cream.Fernando brought them to the park after leaving the restaurant. She still couldn't wrap her head around this side of him. It was quite strange.He got them some sugar doughnuts the minute they walked in and now they were eating ice-cream and having small talk.All through the time he dated her mother, Lia had never spent more than a few seconds alone with him.Not because he was too scary or too boring, she just never saw any reason to. But now, life was presenting her with so many firsts. It was incredible."What's on your mind?" He asked, pulling her out of her thoughts and she took a bite of her ice-cream again."Just thinking about how life is full of unexpected twists and turns." Her ice-cream was melting fast.Fernando noticed and he brought out a saviet. "Here. That's going to leave a mark."Lia watched wordlessly as he used the saviet to wipe her chest where the ice-cream was starting to le
"I kissed him." Lia confessed and covered her face with the pillow. She still couldn't believe what she had done.Jane's expression showed that she couldn't believe it either. "You kissed him? As in on the lip?"Lia rolled her eyes but didn't remove the pillow from her face. "You know what a kiss is, Jane Austin.""Of course I do I'm just shocked that you, Amelia Lawson, the shy 21 year old actually initiated a kiss."Lia took the pillow off and frowned at her friend. "I don't know if i should take offence or.."Jane shook her head. "I didn't mean it like that, I'm just shocked. What did he say then?""Who?"Jane rolled her eyes. "Fernando, stupid."Lia sighed and buried her head in the pillow again. "I didn't wait to see his expression."Lia raised her head from the pillow and found Jane's mouth was hanging open. It was so funny Lia wanted to laugh but she couldn't. Embarrassment was eating her up big time and she had no one to blame but herself. Why did she have to go and kiss him
Apparently even walking up the stairs took a lot of work.Lia winced as Fernando pressed the cotton wool on her bruised knee. She could die of embarrassment in that moment and no one would blame her. Who couldn't walk up a couple of steps without tripping and falling on their faces? Since when did that become a chore?Liam was probably having a good laugh at her expense after all he had offered to help her up but she had turned him down stubbornly."It's not so bad. It doesn't hurt so much, right?" Fernando asked and Lia could see he was trying very hard to hold his laughter."It's okay." She sighed, her shoulders sagged. "You can laugh at me because I'm so stupid. I mean who falls on the stairs?"Fernando shook his head as his face turned serious. "A lot of people do, babe it's called an accident.""I'm not.."Fernando shook his head cutting her off. "Don't do that. You tripped and you bruised your knee. Who cares if others don't? I'm just angry that you got hurt not because you wer
"What are you doing here man? You should be with your wife." Adam said as Fernando walked into his office.Fernando rolled his eyes as he took his seat, hanging his coat on the hook behind the door."Well? Where is your wife?"Fernando shrugged and ran a hand through his hair. "She left."Adam frowned, not understanding anything. "What do you mean she left? You said she came over to watch a movie with you.""That's because she did. We watched a movie together but she left as soon as it was over."Adam gasped fighting back a laugh. "Damn man, what did you do?"Fernando frowned, struggling not to be offended by his friend's words. "Why do you think I did anything? Couldn't she have done something?"Adam shook his head and hands with a smile. *No man, they're never wrong and it will do you well to remember that."The frown on Fernando's face deepened. "She didn't actually do anything and neither did I.""Well?""She just said she had to go back to her friend's place." Fernando filled Ada
"When are you going back to work?" Jane asked, throwing some of her clothes on the bed.It was a Saturday and every Saturday the girls cleaned up the house, and then cook a big meal since none of them were going out.Lia looked up from her phone and tried to hide her smile but Jane noticed. "Uhn, I don't know if I even have a job anymore. With everything that happened, the wedding and these changes, I've been so occupied and I didn't even take permission.""Well have you reached out to Shane then? He's going to be so disappointed when he realizes you're off the market."Lia rolled her eyes and looked down at her phone with a frown. Why was it taking him so long to reply her message?"Trouble in paradise?" Jane asked in sing song voice as she rose to her feet. "I'm almost done packing."Lia looked up from her phone. "Fernando is ghosting me." She huffed and tossed her phone on the bed. It landed with a thump sound against the bed.Jane dropped a pair of jeans on the bed and looked at h