C7

CHAPTER SEVEN

He coughed, breaking the awkward silence that had settled in like a blanket over them.

" I'll have you know that this marriage is just for business purpose and we'll be getting a divorce immediately the deal is off. So during the period of this marriage, and since you'll be living in my house, you'll have to follow my rules." He said unwavering.

The nerve of this man, so now she was going to watch him read out some rules like she were an elementary school kid. She might have consented to marrying him but there was no way he was going to have her live her life his way.

Luciano watched as she dropped her cutleries, looking like she was going to spring off from her chair any minute from now.

But of course he had to protect himself and safeguard his long standing principles, no woman was ever going to make a fool out of him, no matter who she was.

" The first rule" he said resolutely giving no room for arguments. "You are not allowed to get involved in my affairs even though we are now married, or allowed to get involved in any public gathering whatsoever as this may bring about baseless scandals from unseasoned media outlets who are out to make money and fame, by now you must be aware of how ruthless the media can be, so stay aware from them as best as you can and if for any reason you have any encounter with them you should give off the happy wife facade. I don't tolerate coming home late and if you must be out for any reason, I'll appreciate it if you make use of your bodyguards. This is for your own protection, against my business opponents who may want to use you in any way to get at me" He said.

She could feel the anger brewing, she was not about to be treated like the caged bird Maya Angelou had spoken about. She was a human and her life was not about to get changed just because she was married to some arrogant business man.

" I'll have you know, your rules are rubbing on the borders of basic human rights, you are caging me, excluding me from simple social gatherings and now compromising my freedom of movement, I'm a human and not a plant." She pointed out.

He looked taken aback by what she had said like no one had dared to counter his orders before.

He could see the defiant in her eyes. She was stubborn and he hated stubborn women. There was no way he was going to put up with this.

" I do believe that my rules are quite feasible and you are only blowing this out of proportion. Infact way to simple for any relatively groomed and mature human to understand and follow. You'll be well compensated for any inconveniences, and you have my helper to wait on you and attend to any of your needs. I believe that's being fair enough, you just have to be logical and this could work."

He watched as she almost went pale, her white skin had become even whiter with no shade of color in them.

Karen was beyond speechless, he was being so darn arrogant and unreasonable. She was very much aware that he paid off her father's debts and could afford to give her a comfortable life but even as such, this was just so unacceptable. She was going to put him straight, first he had stepped on her integrity and now he was indirectly calling her immature and incapable of being logical.

" I don't care about your useless compensations, I'm no employee of yours, so you can't control me. And this is me being logical."

Her eyes stung, just like it would before a heavy storm but there was no way she was going to cry.

Not now.

Luciano was pissed. No one had ever raised their voice at him. No one. No one dared to defile him or even stood up to him. All his life, he had watched how women scurried to do his will, afraid of his wrath yet this woman stood here not the least bit threatened by him.

What was even more horrifying was that he found her feistiness amusing.

His lips broke into a smug grin. And that smile struck strings at her heart. He was one hell of an handsome man. And almost immediately, she scolded herself, she wasn't supposed to be finding him attractive especially after he had showed her he was a scum.

" I've lost my appetite" he said getting up to leave.

She watched as he left, she had lost her appetite as well. He had spoken to her about being logical and reasonable yet he hadn't even apologize for keeping her waiting for hours yesterday. She hated arrogant men the most and now she was married to one just because of her father's gambling habit.

" Don't fret about it dear, he has always been one to have a problem expressing himself." Marcella said coming out from the kitchen whilst wiping her hands on the apron she wore on her waist.

She held Karen's hands and sat beside her.

"He's a cold stuck-up fellow, so don't let him get to you."

She gave Karen a weak smile while squeezing her hands.

" I think he doesn't like me and I don't like him either, he's so arrogant."

" He is, but he's also kindhearted, just terrible at showing that part of him. I believe you both would get along sooner than you think. I've watched Luciano grow through adolescence to adulthood and I must say he is a good kid." She said in confident.

Karen found comfort in Marcella, she was a lovely old lady with a good heart.

" How old are you child?" Marcella asked with concern.

" I'm twenty- two."

" You are almost the same age as Marie, she is Luciano's sister and I'm sure you both would get along like a house on fire."

Of course she knew about Marie, Luciano's gorgeous actress of a sister. She was quite a trend on the gossip tabloids as she was always in one scandal or the other. Although unlike her brother, she had a sweet tongue and ways to charm people with words. Luciano might be scared of the media but Marie always loved to give them things to say.

" Well, if no one has ever stood up to him then he doesn't know what's coming his way, I am neither threatened nor scared of him, I'll have him know that he paid off my father's debt but not the will to my life." She said, not particularly to anyone.

" And that might just be what he's looking for, a woman to stand up to him. Just be you darling, that arrogant kid is about to get the ride of his life." She said laughing.

" This old woman is so excited for things to unfold."

They both shared a giggle, before Marcella got up to attend to the rest of her choice.