Mrs James

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.”