CHAPTER 7:THE AFTERMATH

I was standing in front of my mirror looking at my reflection,grimacing at the bruising around my eye and the bridge of my nose. This is what a night out resulted in,I wish I didn't bother now. It's going to take a lot of make up to cover up this mess. 

To my surprise,Jeremy rode home in the taxi with me last night,I guess he felt guilty. When we got home I grabbed some frozen peas from the freezer and went straight to my room,I haven't heard from him since. I know it was an accident,I'm not going to hold a Grudge over it. Although he really shouldn't have started that fight in the first place,the guy seriously has some anger issues. 

A knock came to my bedroom door."Vanessa..Come out here,we need to talk."

Speak of the Devil!! I sighed,I guess I better face him now. I remember him telling me the day I moved into this house,that he would make me pay if I got in his way. Seeing how sorry he seemed over something that was an accident,I had doubts that he would actually physically hurt a woman. Emotionally was a different story!! 

I opened the door to my bedroom and smiled."Good Morning."I walked ahead of him down the hallway towards the stairs. 

Jeremy followed behind me,curious as to why I was so chirpy"Your eye,it looks bad. I had hoped it wouldn't look as bad as that."

"Wouldn't want you looking like an abusive Husband,Now would we."I looked back at him as he walked behind me."I'll cover it up when I'm going anywhere,you don't need to worry."

I walked towards the kitchen,where Alma was stood making breakfast.Jeremy was still following behind me, dressed in casual shorts and t-shirt. 

"It was an accident..You know I never actually meant to hurt you."

"Relax,It's fine.I'm not that type of Girl who makes a thing out of nothing."I walked towards the kitchen counter and poured a fresh coffee. I noticed Alma's eyes on my bruised face.

"Dear,Your Face.."She extended her hand towards my face in concern. 

"It's fine..I'm okay."I smiled,trying to lighten the situation. It was nice to have someone so concerned for my welfare,I've missed that this past year. 

She didn't look like she believed me,but continued on with making our breakfast. Jeremy stood looking awkward and guilty,it was a look i hadn't seen on him up until last night.Mostly I just see Anger and Hate. 

The front door of the Mansion opened and slammed again."Jeremy..We need to talk..Jeremy."Tom's voice shouted through the halls. 

"Jesus Christ!"Jeremy sighed,moving his fingers through his dark hair."Yeah,In the Kitchen."He shouted. 

Tom walked into the kitchen and the first thing he did was walk towards me,lifted my face up and assessed the damage."Darling,Are you okay?" 

"I'm fine,Honestly. It doesn't even hurt that much."Clearly that was a lie,I couldn't even touch my face without wincing.

He looked at his son."You have some explaining to do,My Boy. Why in God's name did you hit that Gentleman in the middle of a busy nightclub?" 

Jeremy folded his arms over his chest."He asked for it. How did you find out about all of this anyway?" 

"I was informed about an Online Video early this morning."Tom pulled his phone from his pocket,fiddled with it some before handing it over to Jeremy.

There was indeed a video and it definitely didn't go in Jeremy's favour.He looked like a man out of control and the only taming of him was an elbow to my face.Someone in the crowd obviously took the video and posted it online,making Jeremy look terrible.

"Fuck!!"Jeremy shouted.

Tom glared at his son."I don't care what excuse you have for showing the Family up like this,this is unacceptable.When are you going to grow up and act responsible?"He shouted. 

Tension was High.Tom looked Furious and Jeremy looked like he couldn't listen to anymore. I was standing in the middle of it all, the arranged wife with no business being here. Yes,What happened last night was over me but I think the arguing right now has more to do with their Father Son Relationship than anything else. 

"What happened last night was just a misunderstanding,that other Guy didn't know that Jeremy and I were together and that's why things got a little heated.It's clear by the video that he didn't hit me on purpose."Ugh,Am I going to regret sticking up for him later? He's been a huge Dick to me,i don't owe him anything.

Tom sighed."People will make what they want of this. He looked at his son."You looked bad on that video,people are going to make you sound 1000 times worse."

Jeremy braced his hands on the kitchen island,looking down."What do I need to do to make this right?" 

"Anything that you need to attend from now on you attend together, look the part and look like a happily married couple. If the Press get enough Happy moments they'll forget about the rest."

Jeremy turned around and looked at his Father."Spend every waking moment with each other..Well isn't that just great."

Wishing i threw that Dick under the Bus now,instead of saving him from his Father. I wasn't too keen on spending all of my time with Jeremy either..But I knew when I married him that business dinners and entertaining guests were part of the deal. 

"There's a fancy dinner this Thursday, it's imperative that you both attend and put on a display."Tom looked in my direction."Is that okay with you,Darling?" 

"Sure,Of course it is."

"Good to hear."He exhaled a long breath looking between the both of us."Right,I'll be going then. I'll see you both during the week."

Tom walked down the hall,We stood in silence until hearing the sound of the front door open and close. It was just Jeremy and I alone,Alma had disappeared somewhere but the table was set for breakfast for two. 

"Well isn't that just great."Jeremy sighed in frustration. 

"Actions have consequences,Jeremy.Maybe you should watch where you're swinging your fists next time."I walked towards the island and sat down in front of my plate. 

"Don't get smart with me,Vanessa."He walked my way and stood beside my stool,looking down at me."This isn't a game..This is my life we're talking about."

"This is my life too!!Like it or not we're stuck together for another eleven months so just grow up and get on with it."

He leaned in close,so close it wasn't the bacon on my plate I was smelling anymore it was his scent of Virginian Cedar and Sandalwood."Trust me,I'm counting the days."

"Why?" 

He glared at me."Why what?" 

"Why are you like this? You have everything you could possible want from life.. Family,A Business,A Home,Money..Why are you so full of hate?" 

"I'm full of hate towards you!! You're here day in day out living in my home,married to me for money."He moved out of my space."How the Fuck do you expect me to feel?" 

I turned on my stool."I think this whole Bad Guy Act you've got going on is just a front."

He shook his head."Watch yourself,you're getting a little too brave talking to me like that.I warned you not to mess with me,Vanessa."

"I'm not scared of you,Jeremy. Not anymore!!"He's not going to hurt me..Maybe my emotions but not actually physically hurt me. 

He looked livid as he walked my way,he stood in front of me as I sat on the high stool."You're not scared of me,well that's a mistake.You should be scared..You don't know what I'm capable of."

"Who knows the real Jeremy Austin?"

His hands circled the leather arms of either side of my stool."You sure as hell don't."

"You're wrong about that. I might not know you all that well,but I think I know you a lot more than anyone else.I'm your wife,Jeremy. I live here and I notice things."

"Wife."He scoffed."Right,Well since you're my wife let's go to the bedroom and do things a Husband and wife should be doing."Jeremy grabbed my arm and pulled,across the open space and up the stairs. 

"What are you doing?"I shouted.

"We're Husband and wife,let's start acting like it."He opened the door to his bedroom and pulled me inside before letting go.

I looked around the room that I had only seen the inside of once before today, it was everything that Jeremy was..Rich and full of Darkness.The Grey satin sheets on his bed were unmade,with the clothes he had worn last night throw to the floor.

It was obvious that he had some alcohol when he got back last night,a bottle of his Favourite Macallan whiskey stood on the dresser 1/4 full.

Was he still drunk? He was acting like it!! Maybe I just did a good job of getting under his skin.

Jeremy pulled his fitted workout t-shirt off over his head before throwing it at me. I was shocked by the sudden wack to the face and the sight of him without a shirt.Of course he has the Fittest body I've ever seen..I hated him even more for it.

"What are you waiting for?"

I looked up at him,now feeling the fear that I didn't feel before."I'm not going to sleep with you,Jeremy.You're insane if you think I am."

"Just as I thought!"He walked towards me and shoved me out of his room."I bet you're scared of me now..Keep it that way." 

He slammed the door in my face and I was left standing in the hallway, pissed that my standing up to him backfired.He got the better of me..Again!!