Kieran She couldn’t escape from me. Not anymore. Because she was mine. I finally had her right where I wanted – beside me. I wanted… no! I needed to watch her every move, every breath, and with her leaving DC as she intended, it would be impossible. I had to do everything in my power to stop her. The mere thought of Sophia being away and me not being able to keep an eye on her, study her, and try to figure her out drove me crazy. I couldn’t explain to myself the urge that brewed inside - the urge for her. All I knew was that I needed her like the air I breathed. And damned I would be if I didn’t follow through. Could I have done something not as drastic as marrying her? Probably. But considering everything that transpired between us, being radical was my only fail-proof option. Because failing was not. The trip back to the company building passed in a blur, and I parked my car at the designated lot reserved for the CEO. I wasn’t lying to Sophia when I said I had work to catch u

Sophia “Aren’t you going to eat something?” Kieran called out behind me as I was advancing up the stairs. I lazily turned around to face him. “I’m not hungry.” “You haven’t eaten anything today.” He scolded me like a stubborn child, a deep frown settling between his brows. “Like you care,” I retorted as I dashed off to my room. The truth was I got over feeling hungry hours ago and was sick at the mere thought of food. I planned to go straight to bed and rest because my every muscle ached, my back hurt, my head was pounding, and Kieran’s silent company in the car during the ride from the office to the house was more than enough of him for the day. All I wanted was to be alone and sleep. After the relaxing hot shower, I tucked myself under the soft sheets, but my plans were interrupted by the flashing of my phone. I grabbed it from the bedside table, and for the next half an hour I watched the photos Ellie was sending, commenting on them, and chatting with my sister. She was happy;

Sophia Two weeks passed, and nothing in my newly established routine changed. I’d get up in the morning and have breakfast with Kieran, during which we would usually stay quiet. He would drive us to work, where he would give me some silly task that would take most of my day. Lunches with Clara became a regular thing, and I enjoyed spending time with her. Even though she was almost double my age, I felt comfortable around her. She was easy to talk to, so much that I had to be careful not to say something I wasn’t supposed to. Which wasn’t the case with Kieran. Although we lived and worked together, and he expressed no more aggression towards me, nor did I ever notice any disgust or anything like that in his eyes, our relationship was never worse. I wasn’t sure what I was hoping for or what I expected, but as time passed, it was getting harder and harder for me to live like that. I did my best to adapt, I swear. Coexisting with the man I was married to worked in the beginning. But no

Sophia After I was left alone in the house, with nothing but the loud silence around me, I decided to listen to Kieran’s words and do exactly what he told me to do - rest for the day. But it wasn’t as easy as it sounded. Thoughts of what happened earlier flooded my mind, causing me to drown in the unfamiliar feelings they woke in me. Kieran. The man I hated, the man who hated me back. Bully, prick, jerk... a man that forced me into marrying him, a man that was violent, a man that scared me... That same man acted like I never expected him to, not in my wildest dreams. He protected me. He was there for me. As if I couldn’t be any more confused about him, he had to add one more burden to the riddle called Kieran King. How was I supposed to solve the puzzle that he represented? I never knew I was having nightmares. Not once had I woken during the night, or I simply never remembered. But Kieran did. And he figured out a way to help me deal with it. Maybe getting me to see a shrink wou

Sophia “I really don’t understand what we’re doing here,” I said as I took a seat on the chair that Kieran pulled out for me. “I told you. We’re celebrating.” Kieran found a place for himself across from me at the table for two. We were in one of the most exclusive restaurants in the city after Kieran wouldn’t take no for an answer. He insisted on going out so much that he got into my room and chose the dress for me. Seeing him in a mood I had never witnessed before, I decided to take a chance on him, hoping that maybe the night wouldn’t be a complete disaster. “I don’t want to play this game with you anymore when I don’t even know the rules, Kieran. I am always the one to surrender in this relationship, whatever you want to call it. I am always the one that gives everything and gets nothing in return. I don’t know how you imagined a marriage works, but this is not it. So, if you don’t meet me halfway, as you once said, we will get nowhere.” I was adamant to stand my ground until