Chapter 1

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"Mrs. Taylor?"

I hardly hear the voice calling my name as I scan the page, reading every word of Jane Austen's work, Pride and Prejudice. The words soon to follow are sure to be the most intriguing. I know, even though I've read the book hundreds of times, Darcy is about to propose to Elizabeth. His pain and struggling is so evident, the way Jane Austen wrote each line keeps me glued to the pages.

"Mrs.Taylor!" I hear the muffled voice call out my name again and I tear my eyes from the words, falling rapidly back into reality.

I stare up from the book, shaken from my fantasy to be met with the dark brown eyes of my personal maid. She's the one that's helps me with what I need while the others help with cleaning or whatever else Theo demands them to do. I take a deep breath and sigh, "I'm sorry Sofia I didn't hear you come in." I apologise as I sit up on the bed and place my copy of the book on the nightstand; wanting to get back to reading as soon as possible.

"It's fine Mrs.Taylor no need to apologise, I know how much you get into those books of yours." she says with a kind smile and a slight Latino accent.

I nod and stand from the cream silk sheets, I slide on a pair of shoes and walk towards her "Is there something you need?" I ask repositioning the inelegant pony tail on my head.

She sighs looking away, she brushes off her white apron that lays wrapped around her waist over her light blue uniform dress "Mr.Taylor needs you." she says and I inwardly roll my eyes.

"Of course he does." I groan quietly "Thank you Sofia." I nod and look back at the guest room, way to nice to be used only when I sleep or read in here.

I walk over to the bed and pull up the duvet, "Mrs.Taylor it's fine I can do that" she says, I shake my head mentally telling her I am more than capable.

I walk over to the nine foot window and grab the heavy dark curtains, I stare out over the garden, full of flowers and gardeners working their hardest to keep the sculpted ferns to perfection and each weed plucked and kept under control. I pull the curtains closed allowing darkness to inch into every corner of the room, the only light source being the lamp next to the bed.

I grab my book and pull open a drawer of the dark oak nightstand keeping it safe. I turn back to Sofia, her bun is pulled too tight on her head, pulling back every black and greying strand of her silk hair. I smile warmly at her trying to collect myself as much as possible before going to see my...husband, if I could even call him that.

Sofia holds open the door for me and I walk out into the great hall of the mansion that I might as well call a castle. The red embroidered carpet laid over the cold white marble floor creates a pathway to each room in the huge house.

I remember the first time I came here, I laugh quietly at the memory. I was 17, not even done with high school and already married. I remember the way Theo looked at me in the beginning, it was kind, even if it was all an arranged marriage set up by my Father and him. The deal was I married Theo so that Theo would help my fathers company survive. I was used to this way of life, the fancy dresses, the proper way to eat, sit and talk. I was used to the servants, maids, cooks, along with other people at your leisure but here it was exciting and new. This mansion being so much larger than my fathers.

I remember asking my Father if I could finish high school and go to college before I married Theo but my Father laughed in my face and told me I would be too busy with my Husband to think about school or anything else. I'm assuming he and my Mother still feel that way, seeing as they contact me once every three months since the five years of this dreadful marriage started, making me twenty two and Theo twenty seven, he was already a millionaire by the age of twenty, his Father split the million dollar company between Theo and his brother and together they made it into a billion dollar company. Theo does most of the heavy lifting, his brother is newly married with a daughter and not one for the crazy business life.

I'm not entirely sure what he does, I think it's something with selling computers to different continents like Africa and Europe, but the most sales go to a few select counties, China, America and Mexico. He never tells me anything, not that I care much anyway.

I walk across the hallway of the wrap around stairs, I look down over the railing at the black and white checkered floor leading to the wide, tall front door. I've imagined myself walking out that door for the last time at least a million times, I frown at the thought and keep walking.

I appear in front of the white wooden doors, I reach out for the golden handle but it comes rushing to me. I yelp as I catch the door in my hand before it can knock me in the face.

I step back allowing whoever is on the other side to open the door wider.

I know I should be hurt or surprised at the half naked girl stepping out of my husband and I's bedroom but at this point it's almost a routine. I cross my arms and roll my eyes, her big blue orbs, stained with makeup, go wide and she looks mortified. Her brown hair is messy and she smells like sex. I just give a half sarcastic smile and wave, she wraps the sheet tighter around her naked body and carries out her five inch heels by her fingers.

She runs off down the stairs, the sound of her bare feet padding against the marble floor. I watch her until the loud sound of the huge door shutting echoes through the lonely house. I turn into the doorway and stare into the dark room, the thick smell of musky sex fills my senses. I look at the bed, my Husband laying there, the covers only covering his lower half. I sigh he's so handsome and yet he's the biggest jackass known to man.

"Turn on a light will you," he groans, his voice deep and sleepy.

I nod and walk over to the wall and flip the switch watching light flood the room. I walk over to the window and open the curtains allowing the last light of day to leak through the glass.

I turn around, a shadow of my body casting over the bed but not covering Theo. His bright blue eyes are filled with dying lust but lustful eyes haven't been focused on me in three years.

"You rang," I say as politely as possible, I might hate him but I don't want to piss him off.

"Yeah, we're going to dinner tonight with the Johnson's." He says and stands up from the large king size bed in his naked glory.

"That's fine."

He finally looks over at me as I stand there with no emotion written on my face. "What took you so long anyway?" He asks pulling on a pair of boxers.

"Well if I was any earlier it seems I would have interrupted something." I say under my breath but the moment I say it I know I shouldn't have.

He turns to me the dim sunlight casting a devilish shade over his strong features. I stand still unmoving as he walks threateningly over to me. I flinch as he gets only a centimetre away from my face, "What did you just say?" He asks, small spit droplets splatter onto my face.

"Nothing, I'm sorry, I'll go get ready for the dinner," I say as calmly as possible.

I try to walk around him but he grabs my arm and slings me against the wall before I take a step, my head bangs against the hard surface and I groan quietly, "You listen to me Adeline, you should be grateful for what I have done for you! I have given you this mansion! I have saved your fathers worthless company and I have given
you everything you have asked for! If you disrespect me again I'll throw you out in the street!" He yells, I stare away from his eyes, trying to keep my trembling body calm. "You know if you leave me no one will want you, no man would want you, look at you! Your family would never take you back...so" he whispers in my ear, "I suggest you be a good girl like you have been and be grateful for everything I do, do you understand?" He asks.

I take a deep breath and nod, "Good." he spits and lets go of my sore arm "Be ready in an hour, you look completely unpresentable," he says walking away, further into the ginormous room.

I stand there for a moment trying to collect myself, my throat feels tight and my vision blurry but I blink away the tears before they fall and kick myself off the wall.

I walk out of our room and lean against the door to the one next door, he had some of my things moved to this room for when he brought someone to the house for the night. I walk in and allow myself to cry for five minutes. I think about all the horrible shit he has put me through and I curse my Father for doing this to me all to save himself, but then I take a deep breath and try to forget. I breath for five more minutes and then walk into the closet.

I stare at all the extravagant and beautiful dresses, even if I wanted to look bad in front of one of Theo's investors or whoever I couldn't with one of these on.

"Mrs.Taylor?" I hear someone call from the door.

"In here Sarah" I call out.

Sarah is the one my Husband calls when, and I quote 'she needs to be presentable to be seen in public'

I see her come around the corner of the large walk in closet and a smile rests on her lips. Her bright dyed orange hair teased and her makeup thick on her
ageing skin, "How are you my dear?" She asks.

I smile warmly trying to cover up the pain, God forbid someone find out how horrible our marriage is... the only reason he won't divorce me is because it would be bad for his image... I wonder what people finding out about the hundreds of whores he's slept with would do to his 'image'. I couldn't divorce him even if I tried, my Father would never let me, it would kill his company and I'm afraid of what Theo would do to me. No matter how much I hate my Father sometimes...I can't let his life crumble. The maids and workers all know how he treats me and about the women he brings home but he pays them extra to keep quiet but that doesn't keep them from giving me sorrowful looks.

"What did he do now baby girl?" she asks shaking her head and coming over to me with her arms spread.

"The usual, I'm ok though." I tell her she hugs me and nods.

"If you say so..." she sighs but I know she doesn't believe me.

She takes my arms in her hands and she looks down, the red handprint still on my skin from where he grabbed me "Maybe a long sleeve dress for tonight?" She asks with a sympathetic smile on her lips.

"Sounds good" I tell her, she nods and we both turn back to the rows of elegant beautiful gowns.
*
I stare at my once sparkling blue eyes that now have nothing but a fading spark. I smile through the mirror at Sarah as she finishes up with my hair. Brushed out curls held with bobby pins help pull back my bangs allowing the rest of my long blonde hair to flow down my back and shoulders. My makeup is light but still a stand out, the blood red lipstick and golden eyeshadows popping out my eyes and blends with the cream dress with gold details all throughout.

I get up from the short stool in the extravagant bathroom and pull the sleeve of my dress down more covering my bruising arm. I hook the loop around my thumb on both hands making sure the sleeves stay. I look up at myself and smile, it might not be good enough for Theo but I can't help but think I look nice. The soft material sticks to my curves, the mermaid style of the dress causes the dress to flare out just below my knees, one side flaring out a little sooner. Each beautiful and delicate design is laced through the material with the golden thread it is beautiful.

"You look amazing Hun." she says

I smile "Thank you Sarah, for everything." she nods with a small bow of her head and exits the bathroom and leaving me alone in my room altogether.

I take a beep breath and brush the stray bangs out of my face, I slip on the expensive matching heels and stand tall with my shoulders back. Even with these four inch heels I still don't compare to my husband's 6'2" height. I look away from my reflection and grab my clutch laid out for me on the bed.

"Honey?" I call out even if it tastes like venom on my tongue, he's right I have to play nice with him, at least for the night I don't want to piss him off anymore.

"I'm coming." he shouts from the bathroom of our room.

I stand outside the door and wait for my darling Husband, hopefully he'll be too busy with Mr. Johnson to pay any attention to me. I know Mrs. Johnson and she's always been kind enough, as kinda as a spoiled woman can be.

After fifteen minutes of standing in the hallway I'm tempted to walk myself to the limo but I've gotten in trouble for that before, I know better. What could be taking him so long?

I sigh and continue to wait, he walks out in a perfectly tailored dark blue suit, fitting every muscle of his defined beautiful body. His sandy blonde hair is spiked at the front and his jaw line is sharp along with his piecing eyes and cheek bones. I know of course why all the women throw themselves at him but I wish maybe he would only save his body for me, the way I do for him.

He smiles at me, his eyes scanning my body like a hungry lion, even though he's already had enough to 'eat' today.

"You look lovely darling" he says smoothly.

I smile genuinely with a small blush, he hasn't told me that in a long time "Thank you."

He holds out his arm and I wrap my arms around his, he leads us down one of the stairs ways. He opens the huge doorway and I try to forget about all the women he's brought through this door. Just breath, just get through the dinner and maybe he'll be sweet for the rest of the night.

I smile up at him as we walk over to the limo, the driver opens the door for me and I slide in after Theo.

God I hope this night is at least bearable if not pleasant.
*
After the first and second course we're all still laughing and smiling. Mrs. Johnson has filled me in on all the gossip of the town and I try to seem interested but I'm not one to care what everyone else is doing or their business. Theo and Mr. Johnson have discussed their business and so far everything is going smoothly... for now.

I jump a little when Theo's large hand comes to rest on my thigh, he looks over at me but I shake my head in apology "Anyway like I was saying Theo thank you so much for inviting us, I'm glad we got to catch up." the grey bearded man says.

"Of course Mr. Johnson it's always a pleasure to dine with you and the lovely Mrs. Johnson." he says charmingly, winking as I pick at the chocolate dessert placed in front of me.

"Please, call me Larry." Mr. Johnson says chuckling.

"Larry why don't we invite them to the charity ball tomorrow?" Mrs. Johnson asks, her young eyes pleading at her older Husband, Mr. Johnson raises an eyebrow at us in question.

"Of course we would love to come." Theo tells them.

I just smile and nod too tired to start another conversation, the Johnsons continues talking and laughing with each other as my Husband inches closer to my ear "You're coming with me to that ball." Theo demands in a whispered voice.

I scoff, I guess nice him is gone "Why don't you just take one of your sluts?" I say the words before they even register in my head, I immediately slap my hand over my mouth and snap my head to look over to the Johnson's, praying they didn't hear me.

I sigh in relief when they are too bundled up in their own conversation to have heard. I lay back in my chair trying to recover from the mini heart attack I just suffered from. My fear arises again as I move my eyes over to Theo. His eyes are on fire, the blazing blue stare at me with such anger I gasp.

I feel his hand tighten around my leg and I yelp hitting my hand on the table in pain. The Johnson's look over to me in worry but I just smile and turn to Theo laughing through the pain.

"Would you two excuse us? I need to speak to Adeline for a moment." Theo says calmly... too calmly for me to feel safe, "I think we'll be leaving soon if you don't mind."

I pray that they ask us to stay until we finish the meal but when Mr. Johnson shakes his head and wipes his mouth with the white cloth napkin I know that won't be the case, "Of course, I know those kind of talks." he winks and I want to gag and tell him to save me, "You two kids get out of here, we'll get the check." he says smiling at the two of us.

He squeezes my thigh harder and I squeak out a thank you and a goodbye.

Theo just chuckles and nods letting go of my thigh, I slump down as my leg throbs. Before I can recollect myself he grabs my arms and I quickly pick up my clutch and walk behind him, his hand now wrapped tightly around my waist.

We walk, almost run, through the expensive restaurant. A server in a black tie and a crisp white shirt carries plates of too small of portions to be as expensive as they are, in front of us and I have to pull on Theo's shirt to make sure he doesn't run into the guy. He hardly slows down and we barley miss him. We walk out of the dinning hall and by the front podium of the beautiful restaurant, a man in the same outfit as the servers opens the door and the cool air of spring blows in.

Our limo is already parked outside. Benjamin climbing out of the drivers side, Theo pushes me up against the door and I choke back the gasp, he pins me to the car, arms on either side of me, his face inches from mine. To any on looker this might look like a couple in love waiting to get home and rip each other's clothes off in a heat of passion... if only they knew what this really was.

"When we get home I would prepare yourself for hell." he spits

I nod "I'm sorry Theo I didn't mean to say that, please let's end this night on a good note, I promise I didn't mean it... I'm so sorry, I know I'm very ungrateful, but I am trying." I beg for him to understand, so I can avoid whatever he has in store for me, he stares down at me, a hard scowl still on his face but his eyes are slightly less hateful.

"I like when you beg." he says but it is in no way nice, Theo doesn't wait for Benjamin to open the door for us. He grips the door and swings it open too forcefully, his grip on my arm tightens as he slings me into the seat, I fall over and he pushes my legs in.

Shit...why did I say that?

A/n
Hey readers! First chapter completed! I hope everyone enjoyed, bare with me until they meet which will be soon
Thank you for reading
PLEASE VOTE AND COMMENT
-Madi

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