I wake up with a painful kink in my neck "ow" I whisper

I sit up and to see the book on the other side of the bed, I pick it up and put it on my nightstand. I stretch and yawn, memories of yesterday's events flood back to me and I can't help the smile on my face.

A knock on the door makes me break out of my flashback "yes?" I call out pulling the warm covers up higher

"Señorita?" Sofia says popping her head in

I smile "good morning" I run a hand through my messy blonde hair and shrink back against the pillow

"Good morning, how was your lunch yesterday?" She asks

I smile "it was good, I ran into a...Friend and we got some coffee and dinner" I tell her

"That sounds great, Mr.Taylor is having breakfast in the dinning room...he asked that you meet him in there" she says opening the curtains of one of the windows allowing the light to stretch across the floor

My shoulders shrink "oh..." I say "is he in a good mood?" She stays quiet "ok" I say quietly and pull the covers off my body

I stand up and walk in the bathroom, I brush my teeth and fix my hair, I cover myself with my robe and take a deep breath. I walk back into the room to find it empty, my stomach growls and I sigh. I step out of my room and look down the long hallway of bedrooms and other useless rooms.

I walk past my husbands room and down the stairs, under the stairs is an arch that leads to another hallway into the kitchen and dinning room, behind that is the back stone deck that over looks the garden.

I walk past the kitchen and wave at our Chef, Edgar, he waves to me with a smile and goes back to cooking something that smells amazing. I usually eat my breakfast alone at the bar and watch him cook. He doesn't talk much but he's nice and gives good advice, surprisingly. He's in his upper thirties, he has dark hair and skin, his pearly white smile is kind and always plastered on his face. I look down at my bare feet, all the servants, cooks and maids know about Theo, they have to...I'm almost embarrassed to look at them, I wonder what they think of me? Is all of it pity or do some think I'm pathetic?

I shake away my thoughts and walk into the dinning room. A table fit for twenty is on a large rug placed on the expensive hardwood floor and my Husband is siting at the very beginning, food platters laid out in front of him, behind him is a huge window letting in the morning sunlight "come in" he gestures holding his knife and fork and waving them to him, he then goes back to cutting and eating. He's already dressed in a fitted suit and hair spiked in the front, as I walk closer to him I can already smell his after shave.

I walk further in the room and take a seat beside him tightening the bow on my robe "good morning" I say starring down at my plate

I spoon some fruit, eggs, grits, bacon and a waffle onto my plate and pour some orange juice, I'll have to thank Ed for this later. We eat our breakfast in silence, my heart races in suspension, what does he know? Did he find out I was with Vincent? Did he talk to him?

"I called you" he says breaking the silence

"What?" I ask being broken from my thoughts I look up at him, his face hard as he leans back in his seat and stoops down, his blue eyes staring into mine

"I called you, yesterday" he says a little louder

"Sorry, I was with Cara" I tell him taking a bite of my eggs

I mean technically I was with Cara, maybe not all day...

"Really?" He hums and I wince, knowing that tone "because I was informed the Johnson's attended an event yesterday late afternoon...and you didn't arrive home until eleven" he says

I screw my eyes shut, how did he know when I got home? Usually he'd be out or with a woman "I ran into a friend after my lunch with Cara" I tell him dropping my fork and wiping my mouth with the white cloth napkin that was rested on my lap

"A friend Hu?" He leans towards me, his voice becoming deeper

"Yes, we had coffee and grabbed dinner" I tell him, refusing to look over at him

"Who was this friend of yours?" he asks

"Does it matter?" I ask clutching my napkin in my lap and staring down at my half empty plate

He chuckles "someone's feeling a little bold today" he says

"No...it was just a friend it wasn't a big deal" I tell him

He stands, his chair scraping against the floor, he walks over to me and leans over my chair. I feel his lips on my ear and his hot breath on my neck "it's a big deal to me" he whispers, his hand raises and slowly wraps around my neck "I suggest you be a good girl and tell me who your friend" he spits "is" he squeezes a little tighter and I fight the tears that prick at my eyes

"Vincent" I whisper horsily "Vincent King, I was trying to get him to join your company I know how much you wanted him involved, I thought I would help" I tell him but I hardly understand myself. I'm just praying he releases his tight grip from my neck and believes my lie.

He lets go and I take a deep breath holding the sore skin of my throat "is that so?" He says stroking his chin and walking back over to his chair, taking a seat, he leans back looking deep in thought, I just hope he isn't too angry

He smirks over at me and I smile a weary smile "thank you sweetie, you've been good lately" he says standing again

He stands next to me and I look up at him, his sharp features showing with his smile. He bends down and grabs me at the nape of my neck, before I can pull away he crashes his lips to mine, I squirm to get away but his forceful lips move harshly against mine.

Finally he pulls away and I take a deep breath trying to fill my lungs of the air I was deprived of. I itch to wipe my lips, the half kiss from Vincent from last night comes to mind and how it made me feel happy and warm but Theo's kiss makes me feel disgusted.

He turns from me and walks out "I'll have someone call him, we will be having him over for lunch this afternoon" he calls out

I nod even though he's not looking at me and slump down in my chair, I can't see him again I won't have another excuse, I'll just have to finish that book by lunch...I can't keep it any longer. I stand from my seat and hold my neck, sighing.

"Thank you for breakfast Ed" I say hiding my neck

I smile at him and he smiles "you're welcome Mrs.Taylor, I'll have lunch ready for you, Mr.Taylor and your guest when he arrives" he tells me and I nod

"I won't be having lunch with those two" I tell him and he nods, smiling sympathetically at me

I walk under the staircase and up the stairs to my room, I go into my bathroom and unveil my neck for me to see. Four nail puncture marks are on the right side of my neck, and one from his thumb is on the other side, it only cut into the skin a little, a droplet of blood coming out of three of them, around the cuts is red from his hand and I ball my fists.

God I just want to punch that cheating asshole, I want to leave him for good...if only it were that easy. I couldn't have told Vincent that I have to stay in this marriage for my father's company, it would make me sound like an idiot and Theo would kill me if anyone found out. I'll just have to bare through it, if I forget how much fun I had with Vincent I won't have anything to wish for.

I get dressed in a pair of old jeans and a long blue grey sweater...I haven't dressed this lazy in a long time, it feels great actually. I take some Advil for the throbbing in my neck and go to lay in bed.

I change my mind and grab The Great Gatsby walking over to the door. I would love to go outside and read but I know Theo will want to have his lunch meeting there so I walk into my usual reading room that over looks the garden and the back deck.

As I walk down the halls I look at all the useless barren room. Some of them are used by the maids so they don't have to travel from home back here, like Sofia and Ed have rooms here but they're down stairs down a hallway I don't think I've ever been down, but some of the house maids rooms are up here.

When I get into the room I open the curtains letting the sunlight pour in, I check the nightstand drawer and thankfully Pride and Prejudice is still safely in there, I'll have to finish that when I'm done with this one.

I nuzzle my cold feet under the covers and lay back on the fluffy pillows, I pull my soft sleeves down over my hands and open the book to where I left off.

A couple hours go by and I get pretty far in the book but my mind was to busy thinking of other things. I thought about Vincent's Mother holding this exact book in her hands and reading to the young innocent Vincent. I wonder what happened to him that made him became such a womanising player, I wonder why he's so nice to me and I think about the fun I had last night and how I would do anything to have fun like that again. But I remind myself it's a fantasy, as much as a fantasy as the book I'm reading.

My stomach growls and I realise how long I've been up here. I stand up and instantly I feel cold. I walk over to the window and look out, the garden looks beautiful, even with the chilly weather our gardeners make sure each plant is attended to and every flower grows its brightest. I look down on the deck to see Theo and Vincent, my heart skips a beat staring at him. I only see the over view of him, he's facing the garden but I see Theo, his handsome business face plastered on. Food is circled around the round table and my stomach growls again.

I shake my head and turn from the window, laying the book on the pillow I walk out. I remember the marks on my neck and scurry down the hall to my room, I'll grab a scarf to cover it just incase someone sees...I hate it how the maids look at my injuries, they look at me like I'm a lost dying puppy knowing they can't do anything about it. I throw on a scarf and sigh walking downstairs. I shouldn't run into anyone but just incase I listen for any movement. When I don't hear any I walk around to the kitchen to see it's empty. I sigh in relief and walk over to the fridge, I grab some ice cream and shrug not caring at this point. I don't want to bother Ed to make more food it's probably his lunch break, I take a spoon and dig in.

After finishing half of it I set my spoon in the sink and put the ice cream back in the freezer. I debate weather I should go give Vincent back his book, maybe slip it to him when Theo's not looking but I haven't finished it...but I also know I won't be able to see him again after this.

The thought squeezes my heart, but I try to ignore the pain that the thought of never seeing Vincent again brings. It's for the better, I tell myself, he can go back to being his typical player self. It's selfish of me to think he'll change his ways and I shouldn't expect him to. I'll be with Theo for the rest of my days, no matter how long or short that may be...I'll be with him, alone, tired and sad.

I sigh and walk out of the kitchen with my head hung low, before I reach the stairs I run into something...something rather solid. I look up confused at the random wall in front of me but I don't see a wall.

"But I thought?-you were?" I look up at Vincent confused on why he's not outside

He smiles at me, his white teeth bright against his lightly tanned skin "well good afternoon Adeline, I was wondering if I was going to be able to see you" he says

Vincent's POV
My god I've been here for an hour and I wanted to leave within the first thirty minutes. I only came because I thought Adeline would be here but when I asked about Mrs.Taylor, Theo said we would be talking about business and Adeline 'probably had her nose stuck in one of her stupid books somewhere'. All last night I couldn't stop thinking about her, I shared more details about my life than I have in... I don't even know how long. Just staring at her sweet curious eyes made me want to pour all my troubles out to her. I even brought her to Annie's book store and told her about my Mother, not everything, but more than anyone else knows. I didn't know where else I could take her, all I knew is that I didn't want her to leave. When she picked that book I was in complete shock. Honestly I don't want the book back, it reminds me of a bad time but I know she'll be stubborn and want to give it back to me anyways. I hoped after dinner she would at least give me some reason why she would stay with Theo...and after spending an hour with him I don't see any reason why she would. It cut pretty deep when she practically told me I was like Theo, I've never had a Wife or hardly a girlfriend and I've technically never cheated but she got the point across that she obviously know about the multiple women I slept with, but being with her I feel...almost guilty. I don't want her to think I'm anything like her cheating prick of a Husband. Somehow I have to prove that to her, but I thought I made progress by taking her out that's something I never do, with anyone.

I smile and nod as Theo rambles on about his impressive but annoying business deals. The sun shines brightly over us and their garden is being tended to by some men in odd looking hats. Over the railing is a maze of different plants and beautiful flowers, I wonder if Adeline ever goes out there?

"But anyways I heard you had coffee with my Wife yesterday" he finally changes the subject and I refocus on him

I take a sip of the aged whiskey he's poured for us and let the harsh liquor fall down my throat "I did indeed" I say hating the sound of how he says 'my Wife'

"Sorry you had to sit through that" he chuckles

I tilt my head at his words "I'm sorry I don't know what you mean?"

"Im sure you already figured this out but between you and me she's a complete drag" he chuckles sipping his whiskey

I clench my first under the table trying not to punch this fool "actual she was lovely" I tell him with a tight smile

"Yeah she might look like a beauty but she's as boring as a mop" he says rolling his eyes

Is this guy fucking around? It takes everything in me not to swipe everything off this table and punch him in his fucking face so hard he realises how God damn lucky he is.

"But anyways down to business" his tone changes, I recognise it as the time we were talking at the ball and it doesn't set well to my ears "I know in the past our companies haven't collided but we are the future, we are the new leaders, our fathers are in the past, it's our time now" he says leaning over and patting my back, I lean back confused on where he's going with this "I've started something...a new empire of a sort, I've acquired new investors and consumers of the inverted product, I've partnered with many wealthy and powerful people and I'd like to add you to the list" he whispers, he's voice makes me want to shiver, something about it is cold and alarming me to stay clear from him

"What exactly is this product" I ask, I have a feeling we aren't talking about new software or computers

He smiles leaning back and pouring himself another glass "that is confidential at the moment but if you're in we can open you up to a new world and new money" he smirks

I chuckle "I don't think I need more money" I tell him but I'm still curious what the hell he's talking about

"You can ever have too much" he says with a shrug "but think about it" he says

I stare at him, his face reads like a predator ready to pounce on his prey, I've got to get away from this guy because his face is so damn punchable

"Will you excuse me for a moment?" I ask already standing, he nods

I walk away from the table and back into the beautiful home, I walk through the large kitchen and into the foyer. I look around not seeing a bathroom anywhere, I see a huge media area with tall bookcases full of books that line the walls. I wonder how many Adeline has read and how many times she's sat in front of that fire place while her husband was busy fucking around.

I shake my head and look around, I spot a Latino woman and walk over to her "excuse me? will you point me to a bathroom?" I ask politely

She smiles up at me "sure, down that hall to the left, it'll be the second door on the right" she tells me with a thick Spanish accent

I thank her and walk away down the hallway and finally find it. I walk in and it's nice, shocker, why the hell would two people need this big of a house? I'm fine with my, although large, homey penthouse. I shrug and lean over the sink looking in the mirror. I fix my dark hair and my eyes are a little red from the whiskey, how much did I drink? Probably to much trying to drain out that fuckers voice.

I still don't know what the hell type of business Theo's taking about but being around him I know I can't trust him and considering the fact he hurts and cheats on his Wife that's kind of a dead give away. I don't want anything to do with him. But I can't say the same about his Wife, I wonder where she is? Should I find her? No no I can't

I sigh and splash some warm water on my face trying to clear my head. I need to see her again. I hoped after that coffee date I wouldn't want her anymore but if anything I want her more. I wanted her soft lips and hands on me and her warm body on top of mine, our breathing rugged and uneven and our body's molded to one-

"Fuck" I whisper

I need to calm down before I do go up there and find her. I splash some cold water on my face wishing it was a cold shower seeing as that would help a lot more. I walk out, sighing, knowing I have to go back out there to Theo. I find my way out of the hallways and start to walk back outside but before I can I run into someone, at first I expect it to be the maid that I asked where the bathroom was but this person is smaller. I look down to see Adeline, instantly I smile. She backs away from me and stares shocked.

"But I thought?-you were?" She says looking around

I smile bigger, she looks absolutely beautiful, her face is clear of any makeup and her eyes are lined with dark lashes, the deep blue shining at me "well good afternoon Adeline, I was wondering if I was going to be able to see you" I says scanning over her face, a few small marks dot her face but even then she's completely flawless

She shakes her head and takes a deep breath backing away from me and smiling at me with a polite smile, her posture changes like she's talking to a stranger at one of our events...I don't like it "nice to see you too" she says nodding "how's the meeting coming?" She asks

I fight to roll my eyes "fine, your Husband is..." How do I say this? A fucking prick who I want to beat the shit out of? "Interesting"

She nods "yeah he is"

I walk back towards Adeline missing the closeness, her face turns pink as I lean over her, I smirk at her and her eyes widen "well I'm glad everything is going well, my Husband will be glad to have you as a partner" she says looking down and goes to leave

I snicker "I'm not partnering with him" I tell her and she stops tilting her head

She raises an eyebrow at me "why?"

"How could I? After I know...what he does to you and" I try to come up with another reason "I don't see eye to eye with his business skills" I say meaning that he's the sketchiest guy in the industry

"Oh" she nods looking away "well I should..." She begins to walk away again

"Wait" I pull her back to me "how's the book coming?" I ask

She turns back to me "good, really good I should actually give that back to you" she says trying to turn away from me again, this time she turns completely around, before I