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MAURICE'S POV

"How are you feeling this morning?" I asked Glenda as she joined me for breakfast.

Last night, I walked into a scene of her coughing and wheezing. It looked pretty bad. She said something got stuck in her throat. Brian just stood there watching her. He couldn’t even help the poor girl. I wonder where I went wrong with him.

"I'm fine. Thank you." She spoke shyly.

She looked tired. Her eyes were drawn with exhaustion. I could tell she barely got any sleep last night and it didn't help that she had gone to bed without dinner.

"Hope you worked up an appetite. You didn't eat last night."

She looked surprised and then bowed her head in embarrassment. I bet she didn't think I cared to notice. Of course, I didn't want her sick. It would ruin my plans.

"If you don't like the food, I can ask them to make you something else," Nana interjected.

This was one of the qualities I loved about Nana; her kindness. I was a firsthand benefactor of it.

Nana has always been very supportive of me. Like yesterday, when I brought Glenda home as my wife, she welcomed her with open arms, no question asked even if she knew in her heart there was a reason for me getting married.

"This is fine Nana, thank you."

She immediately began to eat. She ate slowly. I presumed she was a picky eater or she was being kind not to reject the food. I was glad she was eating either way.

"We need to talk," I said to her after she had consumed a great portion of her meal.

I could see her tremble with fear. I expected this effect and that's why I waited till she ate enough to tell her.

"Meet me in my study when you are done," I said to her and stood up to leave.

It was half an hour later before I heard the creak of the study doors. Glenda poked her head in, peeking into the room with scared eyes.

"Come in!" I hadn't meant to sound so commanding but her quirkiness was beginning to irritate me.

She took apprehensive steps towards my desk.

"Sit!" I ordered after her seemingly long walk to reach me.

She sat as though the seat burned her behind. She kept her head low and fiddled with her fingers agitatedly.

I sighed. I needed to calm down. This wasn't the effect I wanted to have on her. I want her to be relaxed and expressive. Not all the way, but to an extent. It wouldn't help my plan if she was in so much fear of me.

"You should relax. This is not a principal's office."

"It feels like it. What did you want to tell me?" She asked.

I couldn't help the smile that splayed on my lips. She talked. That's some progress I pride myself on.

"Yes. It's more like what we have to talk about." I emphasized the word 'we' so it didn't feel like I was handing her a list of dos and don'ts even though that's what it is.

I needed her talking. That was the only way I could get my hands on the shares; her shares.

It was why I married her. Fredrick had called me to make me another deal that didn't involve marrying his daughter. He was going to give me twenty percent shares and a seat on the board.

It was a good deal. But when I saw Glenda that day, I changed my mind. My investigation revealed that Glenda owned forty percent of the company's shares willed to her by her late mother but with a clause.

She could only access the shares on her twenty-third birthday. Her mother had been very discreet and Fredrick was oblivious to this fact. If he did, he would probably fast forward her aging, get the shares, and end the girl.

"I know you don't want to be married to me and you hate it here."

I was not sure why she seemed surprised. She was wearing it like a cloth. I was only stating the obvious.

"So let's make a deal. You'll be a good girl and I'll give you a divorce."

She looked confused. I explained further.

"I may need something from you and I could give you a divorce after."

"Divorce?" She asked, perplexed.

"Did your mom tell you anything, specifically, something about your family's company before her death?"

Her eyes grew wide at the mention of her mother.

"Did you know my mother?" Her small voice was laced with curiosity.

"That's not the point now." I needed to remain on track. Discussing her mother was a far cry from the reason why I called her here.

"Then why do you ask?" She spoke defensively.

"Yes, I knew your mom. She was a beautiful woman with a kind heart."

Her eyes moistened. I could sense she loved her mother and she missed her but that's the least of my concerns. I needed her to remain focused.

"Did your mom mention anything about your twenty-third birthday? You turn twenty-three next March, right?"

"How did you get to know about that?"

"Shouldn't I know my wife's birthday?" I answered with a smirk.

I was quick to notice the blush that crept up her face and disappeared immediately.

"Why is that important? What has this got to do with my mother?"

"A lot. There may be some mutual benefits to us, my dear." She seemed clueless. Or was she pretending?

"Benefits." She scoffs.

"Listen, I know you don't consider me a friend, but I'm not your enemy. I could help you in more ways than you could imagine."

"Like forcing me to get married and locking me up? That kind of help?"

I chuckled. She did have a sharp tongue.

"You're not locked here. Nana will take you out shopping tomorrow."

"I don't need anything from you!" She shot back defiantly.

"How bad do you want to get that divorce? How far are you willing to go? What could you give up for it." I asked, corking a brow.

"You'll give me a divorce?" She asked. Her eyes were full of doubt.

"Only if you're a good girl and do what I say."

She looked deep in thought, weighing my words. I needed to hear her thoughts. Knowing how far she was willing to go to get away from me would determine what approach I would need to get my hold on her shares.

The large mahogany doors of the study swung open disrupting us.

"Hello, darling!" Came the shrill of a female.

Damn! I muttered.

"Not now Lucy, I'm busy" I warned sternly.

She ignored my words and ran towards me excitedly, not noticing the woman I was with, she sat on my lap and latched onto my lips kissing me in front of a bewildered Glenda.

Damn! I should have warned my mistress I got married.