6. Concealed

SADIE

As much as I’d like to plan an escape, he, I mean my husband, had not given me any reasons to do it. In fact, to start my freedom from my family, he gave me a phone. If he wanted to lock me up in his dungeon, he didn’t have to give me anything, did he? And small gestures should say something beyond this stupid arrangement.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” His dark brow arched.

“To Mr. and Mrs. Wollf.” I raised my champagne. To my surprise, he did the same and sipped it before he went back to reading whatever was so important in that folder.

“We’re on a business trip, aren’t we?”

He didn’t even raise his gaze from that thing. “Both. Besides, I can’t force you to sleep with me, and I’m not the kind of man who raped women for pleasure.”

My jaw-dropped. I wasn’t sure what to say or how to react. I sipped my bubble drink. “How can you be so sure that you have to force me? I don’t even know if you wanted to sleep with me.”

Now I got his attention. He put down the stack of papers he was so engrossed with. His brow arched quizzically.

“Isn’t it one of the reasons why you bought me?”

“What? To fuck you?” He sounded offended. “I can buy girls younger than you, the kind who don’t question my purpose, but I don’t need sex slaves or fuck buddy. I can get women into my bed. As easy as snapping my fingers.”

“Of course.” I shut my mouth, feeling my face flame.

“You are still my wife. And I would respect you as my wife. Not as you cost twenty-five million in my bank account. All I want from you is to respect me as your husband.”

I shifted myself in the chair. I was totally speechless. I didn’t know how to respond or what to say anymore. Should I say thank you instead?

I grabbed my new phone instead. I took a selfie and ignored him as he was back to whatever made him so busy. I also took snaps of the entire luxurious jet.

“What’s my limit?”

“None. Just don’t be a pain in the ass. No males. No going to your family without my consent. We have a lot of things to discuss, but let’s not ruin this trip.”

“That’s a lot for none, but okay.”

“Hungry?”

“No, I’m good. I don’t wanna steal your attention from that. Looks so important that I can’t even steal your attention.”

He let go a deep sigh. “This bothers you?” He pointed down at the pieces of paper in the folder. “This will give us 10m a year if things go smoothly. My brother is supposed to be the one who seals the deal, but I suggested catching birds with one stone since we’re going to the same country.”

“Which?”

“Jamaica. Have you been to GoldenEye?”

“Bond fan?”

“The classics, but that’s not the reason why I chose GoldenEye of all the resorts. Bali is great, Bora Bora, Maldives, but it was where my parents spent their honeymoon.”

My heart sank. “Wow. Sorry to hear about your parents.”

“Thank you.”

I lost track of time. I wasn’t aware I had already dripped off. I found myself in bed and was also tucked in nicely under the softest duvet, and the first smell that assaulted my nose was the fresh scent of flowers on the nightstand.

I got off the bed. I realized that I was still in the jet. The light cabin pressure and the humming of the engine proved it. I went ahead to the small door, which was probably the bathroom. I brushed my teeth and washed my face. I also cleaned off my makeup and tore off the false lashes I used during the wedding. My bruise was still visible, still purplish, but a little yellowish on its side.

I changed to comfy high-waist jeans and a dusty pink high-neck tie-back blouse. When I got back to the earth tone lounge, Cenric wasn’t there anymore. I pressed the button for the attendant.

She came right away with a professional smile until it faded in a second.

As a defense, I touched my bruise and shook my head. “Oh, he didn’t do this.”

“Of course, ma’am.” She then smiled again. “He supports the campaign of elimination of VAW.”

“Oh.” My mouth formed an O-shaped. At the same time, a twist formed in my stomach. She seemed to know my husband very well, while I, the wife, knew nothing about him. How did they meet?

“Anyway, do you need anything, Mrs. Wollf?”

“I’m starving.” My stomach just grumbled. Awesome. I chuckled. “Do you have snacks?”

“Mr. Wollf hasn’t had dinner. He said to wait for you until you woke up. I’ll prepare the dinner.”

“Thanks.”

I pulled up the window shield. I saw nothing but dark clouds. I leaned my arms over the table, my palm against my chin. Several thoughts came to my head. I may be free from my family, but I needed to plan something for my life. Since I got my degree in business management, I have never applied it. I needed to work.

I nearly jumped in my seat when a strong hand touched my shoulder. But I knew exactly who it belonged to as I felt my skin warmth against his fingers.

“Sorry. I don’t mean to startle you.” He took a seat beside me.

“No. I’m just jumpy.”

“Why?” In an instant, his gaze pinned into my eye. That was how he saw my bruise.

His expression darkened, his nose flaring. His jaw set.

I thought I heard him groan. “It doesn’t hurt anymore.” I touched the area to show him that I meant it.

“Still. No one deserves that kind of mistreatment. Who did that to you?”

“It doesn’t matter. They can’t touch me anymore. Unless you will give me back to them.”

“Not in my lifetime.” His lips firmed.

“Do you always save women in distress?”

He stared at me. Suspicions lingered in his dark eyes. “No. What made you say that?”

“Your attendant said something about ending VAW.” I bit my lip. I was actually fishing for information and hoping it wasn’t juicy as I thought.

He snorted. “I didn’t sleep with her. If that’s what reeling in your pretty head, Sadie.”

I arched my brow, denying it. “I wasn’t.”

“You’re not a good liar and not good at hiding your emotions, mia.”

“I suck at Spanish, but I know what it means. And you also called me something like— ” I snapped my fingers.

“I’m not gonna tell you.” His smile was contagious.

I smiled back. “I’m gonna figure that out soon unless you won’t call me by that word again.”

Thankfully, the food arrived. My stomach grumbled again, and my mouth watered at the sight of our dinner.

My brother controlled the food I shoved into my mouth since I was engaged to Cenric. He forbid me from eating what I wanted, afraid that if I gained weight, Cenric would call off the engagement, and they had no choice but to return the money. I also went to the gym at least four times a week. I had never tasted chocolate or sweets of any kind for almost three years. And this was a relief that I didn’t have to starve myself to death anymore.

I smelled my food first. Before things happened, I loved to cook and eat, but I wasn’t fat either. I loved to cook more.

“You’re really hungry, huh?”

“I missed the meat, the fats, and sweet.” I sliced my steak. It was medium-rare, just the way I liked it.

“They also starved you?” Cenric literally growled.

“They didn’t want me to get fat before our wedding,” I told him the truth. “Afraid you might take your money back.”

“Your father is full of— ” He pursed his lips. “No more fucking diet, Sadie. I don’t care if you become a size of an elephant. You won’t starve yourself again. Do you understand me?” He held my wrist, waiting for my answer.

“You know I love food, right? I lost weight, but I also gained muscles and abs.” I pursed my lips, making sure not to laugh.

“Do I get a chance to see your abs?” He smirked. A sexy smirked. Damn, this man. He was striking and stunning.

“Time will tell, Wollf.”

“Good thing it won’t be too long. I packed your swimsuits. You should use them. Now, eat up.” He checked me out before he went back to our dinner. “I would still like you even if you weigh two hundred pounds.”