Over sixty comments = double update
___________________________

KIAN

What the fuck is wrong with me?

"She is my wife. Not a spy."

"...I didn't expect you to be this protective of her already..."

I am not being protective of her.

I just didn't like Mea indirectly accusing her of something she would never do.

I never wanted to have a girlfriend let alone a wife. Marriage is not my thing. But now she is here and... it's so weird.

She should be a burden to me, I want nothing to do with her but surprisingly she isn't. The only thing she does is give me headaches and invade my personal space.

Twelve years back, when I saved her, for the first time someone had looked at me with so much trust and hope and that someone happened to be a complete stranger.

For the first time in my life, I was overwhelmed with the amount of trust she had in her eyes for me.

Maybe that was the only reason I kept her teddy bear. It's not like I looked at it every day but it was there and I didn't feel like throwing it away.

The only reason I am controlling myself around her is because of Dad's condition. That's it.

Be loyal and treat her right and I will get my freedom in a year.

Treat her right.

That's exactly what I am doing. Not being protective of her but just trying to treat her right even though I don't know what that is exactly.

I never had someone tied to me before, this is new for me.

I don't touch strangers until and unless it's to hurt or kill them yet I didn't hesitate in holding her hand the other day.

Constant affection and idle talks make no sense to me but where Irene is concerned, those two things make up her whole personality and I need to stay the fuck away from her before I lose my mind.

There was no condition that I had to spend each day with her, I could go away for a while, get some peace and then decide what to do with her.

Sitting in my office, I stared at the flower bouquet on my desk. It was the seventh day in a row when I got a paper flower bouquet on my desk.

Ever since I added Irene's fingerprint, she has taken the liberty to enter my office and leave a bouquet behind. Every day.

I don't know what she is trying to do with it. She makes so much mess.

I placed it aside and continued with my work, arranging for a meeting to happen in NYC instead of here.

That would give me a valid reason to leave just in case anyone decides to do an investigation. Hint: Dad.

Which reminds me of how silent he has been for the past few weeks. No calls or texts.

On normal days, he used to call me every day but ever since I got married...

Knowing Dad, I am sure he must be spying on us hence no need to call.

I am getting new cameras installed or better yet, removing all the cameras inside the house.

But first, I need to pack my clothes.

.
.
.

I was folding my clothes and putting them in the trolley suitcase placed on the bed when Irene came back from work.

Her hair which was in a bun in the morning was now in a low ponytail, her shirt and pencil skirt wrinkled and she looked tired.

But that didn't stop her from sounding cheerful. "Hello! I am back, did you miss me?" She grinned.

She took off her heels, placing them aside. "Sometimes I just feel like quitting my job, it can be so hectic--"

She stared at my suitcase, a frown forming on her forehead. "Are you going somewhere?"

I hummed in response.

"Where? When? For how long?"

Placing the last piece of clothing inside, I zipped up the suitcase. If I need anything else, I will just buy it.

"Kian?" She walked closer, pouting. "Are you going on a vacation? Can I come along too--but, ugh, I need to go to work."

"It's a business trip." I clarified, putting the suitcase on the floor.

"Oh." She sounded...disappointed. "Will you be gone for long?"

I wheeled the suitcase towards the wall and placed it against it. "A week."

"A week? Wow, you must have lots of work..."

I avoided looking at her as I walked inside the walk-in closet to get ready.

The meeting was after two days but I was leaving immediately so that I could be away from her for a while.

"You are leaving now?" She asked when I walked out all dressed up, her lips curled down. "I thought..."

I didn't bother to reply as I grabbed the suitcase and started to wheel it out of the room when small, warm fingers wrapped around my fingers.

I glanced down to where Irene held my hand and then at her face.

She blinked at me innocently, a small smile on her face but not as cheerful as before. "Good luck and be safe. And don't miss me much."

I pulled my hand free from hers and walked out.

.
.
.

Irene: Did you reach?

Me: No.

Irene: But Armano tracked your jet and said that you already reached.

Me: Then why are you asking?

Irene: You are so annoying, I don't wanna talk to you.

Five minutes later...

Irene: Bring me something from there, okay? I have never been to NYC, I always wanted to go though. Bring me a souvenir of the Statue Of Liberty. And oh, an 'I love NYC' cap too, it looks cute. You are also free to bring me more things, whatever you feel like but these two are a must or else don't come back.

Irene: Why are you not replying to me? Are you ignoring me? That's so rude.

Irene: If you don't reply to my texts, I will never talk to you again.

Irene: Why do I have a feeling that you deliberately went on a trip just so you could be away from me?

Irene: Ignore me all you want but you better bring me all those things or I will annoy you so much for the rest of your life that you will start crying for your mom. Even she won't be able to save you from me.

.
.
.

Irene: Did you buy my gifts?

Irene: Do you miss me? I know you do, you can admit it. It won't ruin your alpha male personality. Your secret will be safe with me, hubby.

I stared at the series of messages Irene sent me every day even though she said she wouldn't talk to me if I didn't reply to her.

I didn't reply to her but she was still sending me messages every day.

After spending weeks listening to her constant babbling, the penthouse where I lived felt way too silent.

It was just me and a few of the staff members who ran the house.

There was no one here to give me headaches. It was peaceful but something just didn't feel right.

I had two more days before I had to go back. Two more days of peace.

My phone pinged with another notification.

Irene: *picture of all the teddy bears* They are so happy to not have your scary presence in the house. Look at the smiles on their faces.

They all looked fucking creepy in my opinion, I don't know why she loves them so much.

It's my fault for buying her all those damn teddy bears just so she wouldn't be sad.

I decided to have an early night and went to sleep but fifteen minutes later, I stared at the ceiling in frustration.

Every time I closed my eyes, Irene's grinning face popped up.

The room was way too empty and silent. She wasn't here to tell me about her day.

I couldn't fall asleep.

There was a certain hollowness in my heart making me feel weird as I rubbed the heel of my palm over my chest.

Am I falling sick?

I closed my eyes again, attempting to sleep.

"Good luck and be safe. And don't miss me much."

Before I could stop myself, a small smile crept onto my face.

Groaning, I rubbed my hand over my face, wiping away that smile.

I am certain she knows black magic because I can't find another reason to explain why the fuck I couldn't stop thinking about her.

I threw the duvet off my body and got off the bed, marching out of the room and towards the small office.

Sitting behind my desk, I opened my laptop, pulling up the CCTV footage of the mansion.

But what if she is in the room? There are cameras all over the house except the bedrooms.

I scanned every footage and to my luck, I found her in one of them.

She was standing in the kitchen, back towards the camera as she looked up at the cabinets over the countertop.

She turned sideways for a moment and I noticed she was wearing a thin, white nightgown with thin straps and a deep cleavage, deeper than she usually wears and it stopped a few inches over her knees.

She never wore that to bed when I was there.

And why the fuck is she roaming around in that? Isn't it meant for the bedroom?

She got on her tiptoes, reached her hand out and opened one of the cabinets.

But then she couldn't reach further inside it to find whatever she was looking for.

She huffed and looked around but the kitchen was empty. All the staff members were gone for the day.

What does she even want at this hour? Did she not have dinner yet? What was she doing till now?

Did no one call her for dinner?

Then being fucking stupid, she lifted her leg, placed her knee on the countertop and hauled herself up on it.

She reached out and grabbed the edge of the cabinet, lifted herself up on her knees and looked inside the cabinet for whatever she was looking for.

That's dangerous, she could fall, even though it won't be from much height but she could hit her head on the floor and it can even prove fatal--

My heart fucking jumped out of my chest when she lost her balance, her hands slipped and she started to fall backwards.

Fuck! I jumped out of my chair, ready to bolt only to realise I was not at home.

I don't know how but Armano came inside the kitchen and rushed over to her, grabbing her shoulders at the last moment.

My heart was racing and I forced myself to sit down, watching the screen carefully.

My jaw clenched when I noticed Armano holding her firmly as he helped her get down from the countertop and she smiled sheepishly at him.

My mood soured as he lingered there and she pointed to the cabinet, saying something.

I turned on the volume and zoomed in.

Armano being the taller one between them, glanced inside the cabinet and picked out a wine glass, placing it on the countertop.

She grinned and though the sound wasn't crystal clear, I could still hear her say, "Thank you!"

Armano smiled at her warmly making my blood boil. "You are welcome."

I picked up my phone and dialled Irene's number.

A moment later, her phone which was on the countertop, started to ring.

She looked at it, then peeked closer and scowled, pressing the end button on the call.

I glared at the screen. Did she just hang up my call?

Her scowl vanished when she looked at Armano again, the smile once again forming on her face.

I dialled Armano's number instead and as it started to ring, he pulled it out from his pocket and unlike her, picked it up.

"Yes?" He drawled.

"Get the fuck away from her."

He smirked, his eyes lifting up and he looked directly at the camera. "Why though?"

Irene got busy picking out a bottle of wine from the refrigerator.

"Leave her alone." I gritted out.

"I am enjoying talking to your lovely wife, maybe I will even join her for a drink." He winked at the camera.

"Do you want me to tell Mea about your talks? I am sure she would like to know."

"Go ahead." He challenged looking smug.

As Irene approached him with a bottle of wine, he hung up the call, took the bottle from her and uncorked it for her.

She once again thanked him and he said goodnight to her.

She leaned in and gave him a side hug, that stupid smile still on her face. "Good night!"

As Armano walked away, he glanced at the camera and smirked.

Fucking asshole. I am going to beat his ass once I get back home.

As he was gone, Irene filled her glass with red wine and then pulled herself up and sat on the countertop, causing her nightgown to ride up in the process, exposing her thighs.

My eyes were drawn to her thighs and she lightly swung her legs in the air as she took small sips of the wine.

I am sure they will look good with my handprints on them. They are so pale that they would redden quickly--

What the fuck. I forced my eyes up to her face and found her pouting as she stared at the glass looking to be in a deep thought.

The longer I looked at her, the more my anger and frustrations melted away until I was left feeling calm.

Once she was done drinking, she got down, placed the glass in the sink and the bottle back in the fridge and walked out of there.

I followed her across various footage until she reached our room and disappeared inside.

It was only then that I realised that the hollowness from earlier had disappeared as I was watching her but not that she was gone, it came back.

I couldn't sleep for the rest of the night.