CHIARA

Ezekiel's hand around my waist was firm, keeping me to his side.

The banquet hall was filled with noises, people talking, clinking of glasses, soft, fake laughter, and the clicking of shoes against the marble floor.

Looking handsome in a black suit minus the tie, my husband scanned the room, accessing everyone.

Ezekiel chose the dress for me so I don't think so it was a coincidence when my dress was black too.

It was a simple and elegant dress, with thin straps, a sweetheart neckline that showed a hint of my cleavage and it flared from my waist below, stopping just at my ankles.

The dress really suited me and I looked hot, to be honest, but my husband just gave me a single glance and didn't even compliment me. Nevermind.

Keeping his arm around me, he led me forward and I noticed the tensed look on his face as he kept looking around.

"Are you looking for someone?" I asked in a low voice.

He exhaled softly and slid his eyes to mine. "No. Just seeing who all are here."

"Do you know a lot of people here?"

"A few."

Humming, I looked around too.

Soon we were approached by a brunette woman whom I immediately recognised as Ezekiel's assistant, the last time I saw her was two years back at his restaurant.

She accompanied a man who looked to be in his late forties and he greeted us both.

"My wife, Chiara." Ezekiel introduced me with a smile on his face.

The way he said 'my wife' made me feel a weird emotion like a sort of satisfaction and those two words sounded like a melody to my ears.

I greeted that man who gave me a warm smile in return and Ezekiel and him talked for a minute or two before he excused himself but that woman stayed behind.

"Hello, Ezekiel." She stepped closer to him.

Ezekiel gave her a curt nod. "Miss Reverie."

I didn't like the way she looked at him as if they both shared a deep secret. I didn't want Ezekiel to look at her, I wanted his eyes on me only.

I can't believe I am feeling jealous but I don't care. He is my husband and only mine.

She glanced at me, her pale blue eyes accessing me as if I was some product ready to be bought.

She tilted her head slightly and her brows furrowed. "You look very young, Chiara."

"Thanks," I said sarcastically. "I am glad the blood I drink of all the children works."

Ezekiel choked on a laugh and he covered it with a cough, placing his fist over his mouth.

She looked taken aback and the look on her face indicated that she thought me to be a complete idiot.

Her frown deepened. "No, seriously, how old are you?"

"Sorry for my earlier response. I'm fifteen by the way. I am going to start high school soon." I gave her a tight smile.

Her eyes widened and her eyes flickered between Ezekiel and me in shock.

Ezekiel pinched my waist lightly in a warning before wiping the smile off his face. "She is eighteen and definitely over with school."

"Right." She looked confused and decided that I wasn't worth her time and focused all her attention back on Ezekiel.

I gritted my teeth when she got that dreamy look in her eyes. "I miss working with you though. I enjoyed being your assistant."

There was no mistaking the way she was hinting at something else entirely.

Did he ever...

God, no. Just thinking about it makes me wanna strangle her followed by my husband.

Ezekiel cleared his throat. "Thank you. Um..."

Just then soft music started to play and at a distance, I saw a dance floor.

I didn't even bother being polite as I grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the dance floor. "Let's go. I wanna dance."

He nodded at me and cut a glance at her and gave her a curt nod too before following me.

I sighed in relief when we were away from her.

"Fifteen, seriously?" He raised a brow at me. "You want me to go to jail or something?"

"Maybe," I said sharply.

He came to a pause, pulling me closer. "What's wrong, Chiara?"

It's not his fault, he didn't do anything, or maybe he did. But right now, I didn't want to think about that.

I softened my tone. "Nothing. Can we dance though?" I wanted to.

A few couples were already on the dance floor and I hoped he didn't think my request to be weird.

He scrutinized me. "You want to dance for real or was it just an excuse to leave her?"

"Both. She was too nosy. Now, will you dance with me or should I go find someone else?"

His eyes narrowed at me and just to urge him, I turned and started to walk in the direction of the dance floor.

I heard him mumble something to himself and I doubt it was a curse. I have never heard him curse.

A moment later, he caught up to me and placed his palm on my lower back, guiding me to the dance floor. "Don't ever threaten me with finding someone else."

I rolled my eyes. "Whatever."

Once we were in the middle of the floor, he turned to me, encircling my waist and pulling me flush against him.

I slowly placed my hand on his shoulder while he intertwined our fingers together and started to sway us slowly.

I gazed around at other couples who were lost in their worlds, smiling, talking and looking immensely in love.

My heart pinched at what they had.

Before I could ponder on it further, Ezekiel's hot breath caress my ear. "Keep your eyes on me, wife."

I shudder at that and he leaned back as I turned my head to him, our gazes colliding and I felt a little breathless under his intense gaze.

I needed to say something to fill the silence because it was too much for me to handle.

It's funny how we have been married just for a few days and he is having this effect on me already.

"Why did you pinch me earlier?" I said the first thing that came to my mind.

"Because you were trying to get me arrested." He subtly rolled his eyes. "You are young but at least you are eighteen."

"She shouldn't have been so nosy then." Then mimicking her voice but in a very comical way, I repeated her words. "How old are you?" I scoffed. "Like if that's any of her business."

He stared at me for a long moment before throwing his head back and laughing. "God, you are something else."

"Something else, sure but at least not nosy."

The smile on his face remained. "Hmm, I see. What about all the stupid questions you used to ask me when you were younger?"

I gasped and discreetly slapped his shoulder. "I was a kid!"

He chuckled. "Of course. Do you remember that magic you used to show everyone?"

"No?"

He narrated to me how I used to do my supposed 'magic' and I just wanted to go and bury myself. I groaned. "That's embarrassing."

He was enjoying it, he had a boyish grin on his face. "Also, once you were troubling me and I chased you and you ended up falling and hurting your knee. The satisfaction I felt was unmatchable."

I gasped again. "I knew you were a sadist!"

Before I could curse him further, he twirled me around suddenly.

As I came back into his arms, I found our faces closer than earlier and his eyes drawn to my lips, all his amusement from earlier vanished.

Our foreheads almost brushed together since he was leaning down and his exhale fell over my cheeks.

My heart picked up speed and I felt myself leaning closer.

"Ezekiel!" An overly cheerful, masculine voice broke us out of the trance and I watched as Ezekiel stiffened.

His jaw ticked and he refused to look at me.

Slowly we turned around to face whoever it was.

He looked to be around Ezekiel's age, maybe a little older. Bulky and packed with muscles, he had short brown hair which looked like a military cut.

He was dressed in a navy blue suit, a smile which didn't reach his eyes which were hazel green in colour.

He gave off some dangerous vibes and I immediately stepped closer to Ezekiel.

He wrapped his arm around my waist possessively and regarded the man with pursed lips.

"Anthony." He greeted him dryly.

"I was looking for you. Finally, here you are."

His attention shifted to me which made me uncomfortable. "And you must be Chiara. I must say you are a beauty."

Before anyone of us could react, he stepped closer and leaning down, brushed a kiss on my cheek.

I tried not to show my disgust and Ezekiel stepped in front of me, shielding me from him.

He ground his jaw, fixing that man with a cold glare. "Keep your distance from her."

Anthony held up his hands in surrender. "Oops. Sorry. So, if you are free maybe we could talk about your offer--"

"Not now." Ezekiel cut him firmly, the coldness in his tone scared me. "I will schedule a meeting soon."

"Fine, though this was a perfect opportunity but if you say so."

I was peeking from behind Ezekiel and Anthony once again looked at me intensely but unlike Ezekiel's intense looks, this one made me feel not so good.

"I'll see you in Boston," Ezekiel told him in that cold voice and grabbed me and dragged me away from there.

.
.
.

"Why did we leave so abruptly and who was he?" I asked, following Ezekiel inside the house.

He didn't answer and walked upstairs so I followed him inside the bedroom.

He looked pissed, raking his fingers through his hair as he popped open the first two buttons of his shirt.

I have never seen him this angry. He did use to shout or scold me when I was young but he was never pissed at me.

He wasn't pissed at me now but at Anthony most probably.

"Ezekiel?"

He whirled around, all his anger now aimed at me. "He was undressing you with his eyes."

Oh.

Even though I felt uncomfortable and I am glad we left, I decided to say something stupid. It was the worst time to say it but hey, I am not the smartest person.

"At least someone seemed interested in me unlike you."

His eyes narrowed further and he let out a humourless laugh. "Believe me, Chiara, you don't want to have his attention."

"But I didn't have yours either. I am your wife and I got all dressed up but you didn't even compliment me."

His hands clenched into fists at his sides. "You have my attention, Chiara. You have all my attention and my attention is all you will have. No one else's. I won't let you have anyone else's attention."

"So what about the attention you got from your ex-assistant? I am sure she was a very good assistant and you must have enjoyed with her as she insisted."

He cocked his head, sizing me up as if I was prey. "What do you mean?"

"I don't know", I said, exasperated with all the feelings inside me. "She looked at you as if she couldn't wait to fuck you, maybe you both already did--"

One moment I was standing and the next I was pressed up against the wall, his fingers fisting my hair at the nape, tilting my head and he slammed his other palm beside my head.

He breathed harshly against my mouth. "Don't question my loyalty to you, wife."

My breath hitched as his lips almost brushed mine, his eyes wildly searched mine. "I have been tied to you since I was ten. I have never looked nor will I ever look at another woman who is not you."

My heart threatened to burst out of my chest when his palm which was on the wall came to cup my jaw, his thumb stroking the corner of my mouth. "Is that understood?"

"Y-yes", I breathed.

I swear I lost it when he pressed his lips on my cheek, right where Anthony had kissed me earlier. "That's my good girl."