CHAPTER 3

Zeke sat in his office as his phone rang. Mrs. Tan- The screen showed. His most trusted maid as he picked up the call.

"Good evening Mr. Zeke, Mrs. Lee has not eaten anything from the whole day.. So I though she was waiting for you, will you be back home late?" she spoke making Zeke sigh.

"I’ll be home shortly." He answered, ending the call as he clenched his jaw in anger.

Quickly getting up he walked out of his company and to his car as the driver quickly started driving to home.

DANICA POV

The door opened. I opened my eyes and saw Zeke standing there. I got up from the bed and stood straight, ready to listen to him. He looked really angry. I was scared.

"Why didn't you eat anything the whole day?" He asked me with his calm tone but anger was clearly visible in his eyes.

“I’m asking you something, Danica." He spoke again, gritting his teeth together when I didn't reply to him, making me shiver since there was warning in his voice.

"I didn't felt like eating anything..” I said faintly due to the weakness in me.

“Okay, then have your dinner with me now,” he said firmly holding my wrist in his hands and making me take some steps forward.

"Zek–" He glared at me before I could even continue.

"Do you have something to say?" He calmly ask making me shake my head.

"Good girl. And I want you remain that way. You understand me right?" He still holding my wrist tightly.

"Yes.." I said looking down.

***

He took bigger and faster steps out of the room and toward the kitchen as she afraid took small, tiny steps behind him.

The fact that he lost the deal today was already messing up with his brain and the news that Danica have not been eating since the whole day made him really angry.

He was angry not at her, well partially at her since she was not behaving well and obedient which for sure made him want to be rough with her but he couldn’t be, because she was his responsibility and he needed to keep her well and good. At least physically. But he was more mad at the maids. They were told to simply do their jobs yet they can not do one thing they were ordered to do, taking care of Danica.

She wasn't even someone who caused a lot of trouble, then why is it so hard for them to take care of her properly? Harshly, but royally he pulled out the chair for himself to sit as Danica gently pulled her, with her shaky hands.

She was strictly ordered to sit beside him and act like his wife since they were married tor almost 9 months. The maids quickly served them the dinner as Zeke and Danica started eating. The maids stood aside shaking, everyone feared Zeke. Of course why shouldn't they?

Zeke is a mafia boss. Being cruel, heartless, brutal and rough was what he was taught to. Everyone had to think multiple times before doing anything because they knew, one wrong step and they're gone.

Being his Wife did gave her some special treatments, from everyone and from him but that did not meant that he was extremely loving with her. Not at all.

The word and the feeling he hated the most back when he was a teenager. Though it didn't matter to him anymore. He was simply blank. He did care for some people but in his heart there was no love. He wanted to have no place for love in his heart and that's what he did.

"I’m done." A small voice spoke as Zeke looked at her plate making sure she ate all of it. Danica waited for him to permit her to go. He nodded, taking the last bite of his dinner as well, "Go to the room I need to talk to you about something. Do not fall asleep. Until I'm done talking to you." He said seriously as Danica kept looking down at her hands that rested on her thigh.

"Do you understand me?" He questioned when she didn't reply to him.

"Yes,” She answer faintly once again as he found Zeke quietly observed her.

"I'll be there in ten minutes." Zeke walk away from the dining area.

Danica quickly got up, smiling and bowing to the maids, "Thank you for the dinner. It was delicious." She thank politeness to some maids and walked back their room.

She always tried to be gentle and polite to everyone. She had to do that. She just couldn't think about hurting anyone the way she was hurt such a terrible feeling it was. To feel something clutching onto you tightly and not even let you let yourself free.

She sat on the bed, waiting for him to arrive as the door bursted opened revealing a straight faced Zeke.

Danica quickly got up from the bed standing in a straight, attentive posture. Zeke looked at her for a minute before walking to the bed and sitting in front of her.

“What happened today should never happen again. Do you hear me?” Zeke started to talk. Danica give him a small nod in response.

"Words." His voice spitting ice as she looked down not daring to look him in the eyes.

"I understand..” She spoke.

Zeke observed her for some seconds before speaking.

"Sit." Danica walked toward the bed with her shaky legs as she took a seat beside him but maintained a big distance in between.

"I want you to quit your job." Zeke said with his eyes blank making Danica look up at him.

"Why.." she asked him softly, hand on her hand as she rested them on her thigh.

"My enemies are planning dirty games against me. And l do not want them to drag you. I'm telling you this for your safety,” Zeke explained.

It was so rare for them to sit and have a conversation like this. So rare for him to answers her and so rare for her to question him.

"I can not just quit Zeke. I'll be careful but please don’t make me quit." She looked at him with pleading eyes but that never melted his heart as he just kept looking at her firmly.

"Why can’t you quit? I can take care of you. I earn more than enough for ourselves."

Danica looked away from him for a second before looking at him again.

"I need to send my salary to my mother, Zeke.. What I will tell her

when I quit? She will be really mad at me..."

Danica shivered as she quickly averted her gaze down when she saw

Zeke looking at her intensely.

She was scared. She couldn't oppose him obviously but what will happen if she doesn't give her mother the only thing she ask her for. She was abandon her. Her mother would never meet them, never let her visit them. She would cut off ties with her.

"So you're still sending money to your mother?" He asked her as she sat silently.

"She is my mother, Zeke. I need to help her if she nee-"

She tried to explain but Zeke cut her off, speaking harshly making her flinch.

"Didn't I tell a no? Do you not get what I said? I don't give a fuck if she is your mother and I suggest you better stop giving one as well. You know better than anyone she acts nothing like a mother."

Danica felt her eyes getting teary as she looked down, scared of him.

“You can lie to me but not your self. If I said you're quitting then you're quitting. Your mother gets to have no say in this. And it'll be better if you tell this to her sooner." Zeke glared at her.

"Do you understand me? Quit, your job."

"Okay." She whispered as a tear left her eye, sliding to her cheek as she closed her eyes, stopping anymore tear to shed.

Zeke blinked his eyes looking away as he saw the tear falling on the back of her palm.

"The sooner you understand this Danica, it is better. What I am saying is for your own good. Your mother clearly doesn't deserve everything you're doing for her. And if you're worried so much about losing your family, you need to stop. They no longer want to have any relation with you. Accept your present and your life. You have me as your family now and I’ll be taking care of you." He spoke trying to indirectly console her but that made her cry more as she bite her lower lip trying not to burst out crying in front of him.

"I’m sorry for arguing, I will quit my job.” she said holding her own hands tightly as Zeke nodded, looking at her.

"Sleep. I’ll be back in a minute ." Zeke getting up from the bed as he quickly walked out of the room.

He wanted to comfort her. But he wanted her to get up on her own. After all, he was not someone who was taught to be emotionally connected with someone.

Meanwhile Danica who laid down on the bed, closing her eyes as tears continued to fall out of her eyes, sighed softly. She was so scared. She knew everything will fall apart if she left her job. She sobbed quietly as she breathed heavily, trying to control herself.

She felt so weak and vulnerable as she was unable to give her mother the only thing she asks for. She eventually stopped crying after sometime as she just gazed at the wall blankly but soon enough closed her eyes as she felt them burning falling into the blankness she once again slept.