The morning sun shines brightly into Zane's room. Reflecting its blazing light right on Naevia's back.
Naevia was fast asleep on the bed. She had her face the other way, as she turned over towards the window, sleeping soundly.
"Daddy, who's this? Who's this?" She muttered in her sleep.
The blazing light of the sun shone brightly on her face. Disturbing the sleeping beauty and waking her out of Dreamland.
Naevia opened her eyes and groaned at the ray of sunlight shining right through the window and on her. "It's too bright!" She complained and sat up immediately.
Naevia scrubbed her eyes gently, trying to get herself. She recurred her dream of her father giving her hand in marriage to someone she doesn't know.
Gasped, Naevia looked up to see if indeed everything that happened to her was indeed a nightmare. But she was left disappointed when she realized that she was still inside Zane's mansion, right on his bed.
She groaned and took a look around. Naevia discovered how messy she was through her hair. She tried to arrange it when her eyes fell on Zane at the other side of the room. He was standing in front of a mirror, dressing up.
Naevia gently placed both legs down from the bed. Making a screeching sound that got Zane's attention.
"Good morning. How was your night?" Zane asked Naevia without turning back to look at her.
Naevia doesn't respond to Zane. She gets out of bed, checking herself.
"Pass me my cufflinks please," Zane requested. Pointing towards the bed for Naevia to see.
Naevia glanced at the bed where she got out from and spotted a small box at Zane's side of the bed. She glanced back at Zane and found him smirking at her through the mirror.
With a big squeeze on her face, Naevia dragged herself to the other side of the bed, picked the cufflinks and walked up to Zane.
"Here, take it," she said, stretching out the hand that held the cufflinks.
Turning over to look at her, Zane stared at Naevia's hand which had the cufflinks then back at her face. Which she still squeezed, making her look ugly.
Zane couldn't help but gaze at her lovingly. Naevia noticed Zane hadn't taken the box containing the cufflinks from her hand. She navigated her eyes right at him and found him staring at her.
Feeling strange, Naevia exclaimed, "What? Take your damn cufflinks off my hand. Geez!"
Still, Zane didn't stop his stare. This made Naevia annoyed that she had to grab Zane's hand and put the box of cufflinks on it. "Since you're too lazy to take it...Here you go," she said, closing his palm on the box.
Naevia turned back to leave only to hear her name from Zane's mouth. She faced him and saw him pointing out the cufflinks and his cuffs. "Won't you help me out? After all, you're my wife," Zane said, grinning.
The word wife almost made Naevia throw up. But she maintained herself and quickly helped Zane with his cuff. Avoiding eye contact with the handsome man, who won't stop admiring her.
Done, Naevia turned her back on Zane, about to head for the bathroom. Only for her to feel her right hand being pulled back by Zane.
She quickly turned over to use her left hand and hit Zane's hand off her. But her plan failed.
Zane got hold of the two hands and turned Naevia over. Pushing her to the wall and pressing both hands against the wall.
Naevia gasped when she realized what had just happened. She looked right at Zane, who stared down at her with a smirk.
"You're not the only one with Naevia skills," he said, reminding her.
Naevia's eyebrows narrowed down at Zane. Now she was angry with him. "I hate you, I'm sure you know that. Don't think I find everything you're doing impressive because I don't. I...hate...you," she expressed furiously.
Zane scoffed at her. "I hear you," he said, letting go of Naevia and stepping away from her.
Naevia groaned and held her wrists. Touching and stretching it out.
"Get ready and come down for breakfast. Don't delay," Zane ordered. Walking out of the room.
Upset, Naevia walked up to the bathroom door, opened it and got in.
.Later at the dining room, Naevia and Zane were done eating their breakfast. Naevia got out of her seat before the maids could come and clean up the table."Wait a minute Naevia," Zane quickly called out to Naevia.
She was a footstep out of the dining room when Zane called her back. Naevia turned back to look at him, as he too rose from his seat and walked up to her.
"I'd like to give you a tour around the mansion. I want you to be familiar with your new home rather than getting lost in it," Zane said, taking the lead by stepping out of the dining room.
Naevia followed him from behind. She glanced back at the dining room then forward.
The couple went through the mansion, from one room to another. Zane was showing every area of the mansion to Naevia. She was taking note of every area and part of the mansion.
"And here's the kitchen. I see no need to introduce you to this part of the mansion, since you and the kitchen are familiar with each other already," Zane pointed out before chuckling.
Naevia scoffed at him. "I don't need any introduction to the kitchen over here. Like you said, we already know ourselves," Naevia said, stepping away from Zane and walking ahead.
"I'm not your enemy Naevia. I'm your husband. I don't want you living in this house, under my roof, labelling me as an enemy to take down just like every other enemy you take out for your father," Zane pointed out. Looking at Naevia.
Naevia came to a stop. She turned over to look at Zane, as he stared right back at her. She smirked at him and said, "At least you know what I see whenever I stand before you."
"You'll have to accept the fact that I'm your husband. We both got married and became one. You're in my house as my wife and I want you to remember that every morning you wake up," Zane said, walking up to Naevia.
"You won't live in peace if you keep on venting your anger on me for what happened. That's in the past now. Life goes on." He walked up to her, standing right in front of Naevia.
Naevia didn't move or take a step back. She stood firmly without looking scared. "Life goes on you say? You make it sound like it's an easy thing to do Mr. Lonely," Naevia said rudely.
Her statement got to Zane. In a swift, Naevia found herself against the wall again. Zane was pressing both of her hands against the wall. She was astonished at this sudden move from him.
She looked up at Zane. His face was closer to hers that she found it hard to stare at him.
Zane said, looking down at her lips then at her eyes, " I won't repeat myself Naevia. I've told you this before. You'll only get peace in this house when you behave and submit yourself to me. Or else you won't like to see the other side of me. I'll forget that we're married and..."
Zane paused. He kept on gazing at Naevia's eyes. Naevia wondered why he stopped talking suddenly. Before she knew it, Zane stepped away from her. Giving her the breathing space she needed.
"There are still some places I have to show you. Come with me," Zane said, walking ahead of Naevia.
Naevia held both hands and followed Zane from behind. All that he said to her, she didn't give a damn about it. She didn't care about being submissive or acting all goodly towards Zane. All that was bothering her was the betrayal that her father made.
Up till now, Naevia still doesn't know what she had done to deserve such an injustice from her father. What he did to her was difficult and hard to forget.
She recurred her last mission and the revolver given to her as a gift by her father. It hurt her deeply just thinking about that moment.
"After everything I did for you father, you went ahead and betrayed me like this. What did I ever do to you? You gave me away to someone I know nothing about. You didn't care about my feelings or my opinion. You just went ahead and finalized my wedding with this stranger. You've really hurt me father. You've hurt me." Naevia sadly followed Zane from behind.
Zane and Naevia arrived at a different room. Zane was about to tell Naevia what room was that. That's when Kelvin showed up.
"Good day Mr. Ash. Good day to you Mrs. Ash, " Kelvin greeted them both.
Zane and Naevia looked right at him. Kelvin's presence suddenly brightened up Naevia's face.
"Greetings Kelvin. You're here early. Hope everything is set according to the way I asked you too?" Zane asked, stepping away from the room he was about to show Naevia."All set Mr. Ash. Wanted to see if you needed any other work done before you head out," Kelvin said."Nothing yet, but I'll let you know if I want you to do anything else. Get my car ready. I'll be out soon," Zane ordered Kelvin."Alright Mr Ash. Mrs Ash?" Kelvin bowed lightly, smiling at Naevia.Naevia smiled back at him. After meeting Kelvin for the first time and relating with him, Naevia has never felt so better after what happened to her.Kelvin's kindness and wonderful approach towards her made her feel alive. She didn't feel lonely after the day they both conversed and became friends.Taking two steps back, Kelvin turned over and walked away to attend to the work Zane had just given to him.Zane hummed and glanced at Naevia. He met her staring at Kelvin as he walked away."Any problem?" Zane asked Naevia."Huh?
Zane walked around the table, watching Naevia arrange the balls back triangular. He couldn't help but admire her beauty.Her calmness amazed him too. It seemed like playing games is a medicine to calm her stubbornness. Zane stared at Naevia as she lifted herself off the table and glanced at Zane."It's all yours Mr. Ash," Naevia said, stepping away from the table. Giving Zane the go ahead to begin.Zane moved closer to the table. "Thank you Naevia," he complimented, navigating his eyes away from her and right on the table.Naevia stood aside to watch Zane, as he lowered down to take a shot of the ball. Placing her stick in front of herself and resting her hands on it, Naevia waited for Zane to take his shot.She noticed how Zane placed all his focus on the balls, without making any attempt to shoot."Why's he taking time? Is it that he has forgotten how to play the ping-pong or what?" Naevia wondered while watching Zane.She sees him lifting his head up then down lowly. He sure was ta
Zane sat patiently, waiting for Naevia. She was taking time to show up and help him out with the work he had made mention of."Here it is sir," a maid said, placing Zane's briefcase beside him.Zane doesn't respond to the maid. He just watched the maid when she dropped the brief case and stood aside."You can go," Zane said."As you wish sir," the maid said and turned to leave."Hold on first," Zane called the attention of the maid back.He paused a little and pointed at the direction he came from earlier. "Go and find out where my wife is. Once you see her, let her know that I'm waiting for her here in the living room," Zane said to the maid."Okay sir," the maid said and walked out of the living room.Zane sat quietly, wondering where Naevia had headed to suddenly. He just hoped that she wasn't up to something that'll upset him..Naevia stayed sitted on the ground. She stared at the ground with so much pain and depression all over her face.She kept on trying her father's number, b
He felt himself warming up to her again that he couldn't help but smile. He loved what he was seeing.Naevia walked out of the living room, heading for the kitchen. She met Kelvin on the way going. He was coming towards the living room.Kelvin and Naevia met each other on the way. Kelvin smiled and bowed lightly for her. Naevia smiled at him and walked pass him.They both went their way..Later on, Zane is at the dinning table, waiting for Naevia to come.A maid had come to inform him earlier that Naevia would like it if Zane moved to the dinning room.He did as Naevia said, waiting for her to come. He took his phone and went through some important things.Just then, Naevia arrived with a tray and placed it right in front of Zane. Zane sees this and drops his phone aside."I said I should make one of mine and my father's favorite meal. We eat this together after playing one or two games. Ping-pong used to be one of them," Naevia said, sitting beside Zane."Thank you," Zane appreciate
Chapter ten The next morning, Naevia woke up very early. She stretched out her arms yawning, before looking right at the window.The sun wasn't out yet. It was still looking dark. Naevia checked the time and realized it was 5:30am. She glanced to the other side of the bed and found Zane still sleeping. She stared at his face as he slept soundly. She turned away and dragged herself out of bed. Naevia groaned and walked straight into the bathroom. In the next ten minutes, Naevia is outside the bedroom in her joggers. She stretched out her legs and arms and puffed out. "Let's get those body parts in shape. Can't remember when last I went jogging," Naevia said, stretching and twisting her waists. She hop a little and started jogging. Then she jogger away from the bedroom and straight outside the mansion. The maids and guards who were awake around that time where stunned to see Naevia when she jogged out of the mansion and down the stairs in her joggers. They were astonished when sh
Chapter Eleven Zane still sat there with Naevia, talking about her work in the living room. Naevia stayed quiet and planted a fake smile at every statement Zane made. She wasn't comfortable with the sudden closeness. "I'm glad you're accepting this place as your new home. Never thought I'll see this day so soon," Zane said and chuckled. Naevia doesn't chuckled but faces the other way. She wanted this strange discussion to end soon and fast. All she wanted was a relaxing time alone in the garden. Ever since she got to know about the garden and felt how the wind relates with it, Naevia had come to love the grass decorated garden. But now she was loosing her relaxing moment because of Zane. Fed up of the strange attitude, Naevia rose immediately and said, "I have something to attend to." She walked away quickly. Zane had looked at her when she rose up from the bench. He noticed the strange expression on her face but thought he was the one making it up since it was night and dark alr
Naevia stood close to the door. She had her eyes on both Zane and his guard. Both Zane and his guard stared at Naevia back. Zane was very upset with Naevia for all she had said and also her stubbornness. He didn't want her in his study room nor does he want to see her face. Naevia glanced at the guard then at Zane. "Can we talk?" She requested. Zane kept on glaring at Naevia. He took a quick look at the guard and signalled him to leave. The guard understood and immediately took his leave. Naevia watched the guard leave the study room. The guard exited the room before she faced Zane fully. "So you said you want to talk. I bet you're here to insult me and remind me of the meaning of our relationship. That's the only thing you're good at after all," Zane said angrily. He turned his back at Naevia and went back to sit on his sofa. Naevia could sense the anger in Zane. She thought of Kelvin's words and sighed. Squeezing her hands into a fist and reminding herself that she's at fault
Night had fallen, it was time for Zane to have his meal and go off to bed, since he didn't have much to do. He didn't go anywhere throughout the day. He stayed home doing his works from his comfort zone. He still haven't forgotten what Naevia did to him. Even though she apologized for her mistake and wrongdoing, Zane was finding it hard to accept her apologizes. Anytime he thought about her words in the bedroom last night, he ends up getting upset. He tried to get it out of his head but couldn't. "Your dinner is ready Master," a maid announced to Zane. Zane was at the living room when the maid came to inform him that his food was ready in the dining room. "I'll be there," he said and waved to the maid, who bowed and left. Immediately the maid left his presence, Zane placed both hands on the couch and lifted himself up. His hand felt the softness of the couch he was sitting on. Zane paused and glanced at it. This brought Naevia's image to his head again. He groaned and diverted