LAURA'S POV
"Laura!" My husband, Elijah Reed, yelled the moment he burst into the kitchen while I was making dinner. His face was contorted in so much anger that my stomach sank. "Did I do something?"
My heart pounded against my chest loudly. I stared at Elijah, wondering what he wanted to say. I hoped it wasn't about last night.
"I gave you strict instructions on what to do. Last night at the business conference, I told you to do your job as my secretary only. I don't expect you to start acting up or seducing me with your slutty dress. Did you drink or something? Unbelievable!" He scoffed.
If you think I would do anything with you or fall for you, you must be fooling yourself, Laura," he barked. "I told you, my heart only belongs to Astrid!" His eyebrows drew close, a serious look plastered on his face.
That's right… Astrid had always been the love of his life. I, on the other hand, was an inconvenience he wanted to get rid of. I glanced at him and felt a tight knot in my chest. There was so much hate in his eyes. By this point, my heart was beating faster.
"I did not seduce you," I defended through gritted teeth. I scanned his body, and his shirt was half-buttoned; he had another drinking spree, I guess.
"I don't drink, and you know that. The only beverage I had was the one Ms Ivy Reed gave me," I defended myself.
"You gave me so much work to do, and she offered some orange juice to help cool off," I sighed, feeling exhausted.
Ivy Reed was his aunt, the oldest remaining relative in the Reed family. She had been pushing for Elijah and me to have a baby ever since the marriage.
Little do they know it's all a lie, a facade, a show I wish I had never attended.
"Are you saying my Aunt drugged you? You're so stupid, Laura," he scoffed.
"I didn't exactly say that," I panicked. I stretched out my hand and touched his arm—his big, strong arm. However, he flung my arm away as if I were a disease.
"Don't ever try to touch me again in your life! Don't forget the reason I married you; I am just keeping my grandfather's promise," he snarled. I swear I saw a wave of sadness on his face for a split second.
The promise, the only thing that kept us together for two years. If not for that, he would have divorced me and fired me a long time ago.
Nodding my head at him, with the thought of him leaving me lingering in my mind, my chest tightened further. After two years together, behind the cold and heartless man.
My eyes trailed down to his lips. I gulped.
"Laura, snap out of it!" I scolded myself.
"I just told you the only thing I know and remember, sir," I answered nonchalantly.
I looked at him with a firm expression on my face. I wouldn't let him get to me today.
"You are lucky my family likes you; if not, I would have ended you myself," he muttered coldly. His gaze was cold and ruthless, something he always does when he is staring at me. His green eyes scanned my face like a sniper.
I held my head high as he flared his anger at me.
"Whatever you tried to do last night—trying to seduce me, those moves on the dance floor—it should not repeat itself. I only played along so that my reputation would be saved. I don't want anyone thinking I have a thing with you," he said coldly.
I looked him straight in the eyes after such a long time; I saw great hate for me. What did I ever do for him to hate me this way?
"Got it," I responded, my hands trembling and beads of sweat on my forehead.
"Good, make yourself useful for once. I'm having a special guest today. I am trusting you to take good care of her because her health is fragile, so no slip-ups," he ordered, grabbing my arm in a warning tight grip.
Who is this "her"? And why is she important? I wanted to ask a million questions, but knowing Elijah, that would only earn me more torment.
He looked at me like he saw a bug that should be squashed immediately.
"Elijah, you're hurting me," I flinched. His face drew closer to mine, closing the space between us. Our lips were almost brushing.
"I'll do worse if you mess up anything with my special guest, Astrid Stone," he glared at me, pulling away.
I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding.
"Astrid Stone?" I whispered sheepishly.
"Yes, Astrid. You should not mess this up, or else you will regret it."
"Spoiled brat," I whispered angrily, hoping he did not hear me. Everyone knows who Astrid Stone is: his childhood best friend. I heard they once dated, but she was transferred to another country after her father won a certain contract.
Elijah had always refused to talk about her; I did not dare to ask either, but I knew for sure she would be back one day and get him. After all, she is his true love, and I was soon to be divorced, probably fired too. It's all a facade. I felt a wave of anger flash through my veins.
"Was I feeling jealous?" I thought. I watched him walking away. everything about him held my feelings captive. My job is to abide by the conditions we set during the wedding: no falling in love and no touching each other.
"I can finally be with the love of my life," he said, while he grabbed a can of soda.
I heard his phone vibrate on the counter, my heart ached when I read the one name I was not expecting. Astrid Stone.
I reached my hand to pick his phone before he walked towards me and held my hand with a tight grip.
"Don't even dare pick up that phone, know your place," he groaned and threw my hand away, leaving a burning mark on my wrist. Tears trailed down my cheek as I felt his hot breath fanning behind me.
He picked the call, "Hi love,…." As he strolled out the kitchen leaving me frozen in my spot.