Sasha watched as the attendants fill her trunk with bags of different sizes, each packed to the full with different types of clothes and shoes, she still can't believe how her simple shopping turned luxurious and it's not helping with the fact of this magic card that Michael gave her which pays for everything in the blink of an eye. She had been scared that the attendant might return again that there is no more fund in the card but that never happened, whenever it was slotted on the machine, it pays, it just works like magic.

"It's all packed now ma'am, please come visit us again" the attendant all said shyly, including the one that had abandoned her for Kira. Bella has also tried sucking up to her, she just don't understand why they were all acting like that, treating her like a princess or maybe a Queen. She smiled at them and got into the car before turning on the ignition. She let out a deep breath before driving out for her home.

Sasha pulled over in front of her lonely mansion or so she called it. She got out and opened her trunk, carrying out all the bags that have been stuffed there. She managed to carry all of them at once and walked into the house, she closed the door behind her and turned only to froze when she saw the man sitting on the sofa, typing away on his laptop. He looked up at her and his gaze strayed to the big bags she was struggling to carry, looking at her face again, his eyes were full of mockery as the corner of his lips arched upward in a faint smile.

"Next time you think of damaging my reputation, do be sure to think again please" he saved the file he was working on and shutdown the laptop before standing up to face her "need a hand?"

Sasha wanted to say yes but when she noticed the mockery in his eyes, she swallowed the word and slowly shook her head, just where is the loving man that came to her rescue today? Please bring him back to me, she thought "I can manage."

Michael chuckled faintly "can I have my credit card back please? You know you almost deafened me with all the debit alerts that kept bouncing in my phone."

Sasha bit her lower lip, just why didn't she think of that? Well it's not her fault, it's all Bella's fault, she will think she is done shopping and will pay only for Bella to return again with new stocks, asking her to try them on, the thing happened for like five times and if not because she insisted she is not shopping anymore, it would have still been going on by now. She let go of her thought and dropped the bags, freeing her hands at last, she reached to her back pocket and pulled out the card before walking closer to him to hand it over.

Michael watched the way she was acting like a bullied girl and almost wanted to let her of the hook, but, no, where is the fun there? "You know if you really wanted to prove yourself to me, you shouldn't have used my card because there is no difference here, literally, I bought the clothes and shoes for you" he raised his eyebrows with a faint smile hanging on his lips.

Sasha sighed, she knew this was coming "I planned on paying for them myself but you have to show up and offered your credit card yourself, I didn't ask for it. I had everything under control."

"Really? So if I hadn't showed up, you would have escaped from the clutches of Kira? I don't think so. You see Kira is not the type who easily let go of her prey and if I hadn't showed up, you would have become a laughing stock by midnight when the news will be released by a well known reporter, not that I care but just that you will be dragging me down with you and I don't want that."

"So what are you saying?" Sasha asked.

"What I'm saying is that, what ever that happened today should not mean anything to you, I was saving my face and again, we are going to do some calculation, we will add up all the debit alerts and know the final sum, you are going to pay me back baby."

Sasha looked at him when she heard that and he smiled "what!"

"You heard me. You rejected the clothes my mom bought for you because you wanted to prove yourself to me, so if I allow you to wear these clothes just like that means that I bought them for you, so you are not proving anything. Unless you have actually been looking for a way to get me to buy clothes for you and that's why you went to one of my shops because you know I will be alerted if anything happens" Michael commented with a faint smile.

Sasha felt her head spinning, just what kind of a man is this? She didn't ask him to buy clothes for her okay? So why is he making it to sound like she did? "I didn't ask you too."

"But I did, because you had to go exchange words with Kira and I have to save my face, look around you. Search on google, I don't have any scandalous past and I won't have you come into my life just to bring that. Just imagine, it's not yet up to a week of our marriage and your name will already run in the papers, don't you know it will be embarrassing to me, to have you come just to wreak my peaceful life within a week of being married? Everybody knows my name but only a few knows how I look and then because of my darling wife, reporters will go digging into my life and maybe lucky enough for them, dig up one of our wedding photos and that will be the start of my nightmare. I can't let you do that."

Sasha heaved a long sigh, so now she is the wife that will bring scandalous news to her husband? Oh, Sasha you are in hot soup "fine, I will pay up."

"Good" Michael smiled and turned to pick up his phone "the first one was two million dollars, the second one was three million. The third, fourth and fifth are five million dollars each" he looked at her surprised "did you pack all the clothes there? Are you that in need?" He sighed and did the sum up "that will give you twenty million dollars, wow" he looked up at her "you are owning me a huge amount of money, when are you going to start paying?"

Sasha already felt like dying, how did it turn out to be such amount? She looked at the bags on the floor and couldn't believe this, how can this little bags get to such amount? She looked at her husband and he was looking at her with his arms folded on his chest and his eyebrow raised "I...I will start saving up then."

"No, no, no, you are going to start today, you have to give me something. You can't tell me you haven't made any saving since you have been working?"

Sasha bit her lower lip, all she has in her account as her savings is fifteen million dollars, if she should give him all her savings, it still won't be enough, her mind ran wild as she thought of what to do "I might be able to pay up in time if you allow me to continue working, I can't be making savings at home."

Michael offered a rare smile "fine then, you will resume work tomorrow, oh that reminds me, you have tea party to attend with mom tomorrow, so I guess next tomorrow then?"

Sasha couldn't believe that her little  gamble worked, finally, no more staying at home, she couldn't contain the happiness that flushed on her face as she looked at him with sparkling eyes wanting to say thank you and to really mean it but only to hear him say "but first you have to give me some money tonight" and she swallowed her words. 

She reached for her jean pocket and got out her phone, to her surprise, he called out his account number for her and her hands punched the numbers into her phone angrily as she transfered five million dollars to him, it's the least she can do for now. She looked at him with an angry face and he pretended not to see it, just what will he be doing with twenty million with all the money he has? She can't help but wonder.

The sound of a message tune was heard and he smiled while he opened the message "five million? That's something, at least three more pays with the same amount and you will be done, free from debt. That's good, nice doing business with you" he smiled to her, picked up his laptop and walked up the stairs. Sasha watched him go and cursed him every step he took, here she was thinking he actually saved her not knowing he only wanted to lure her in to a bigger mess.

She sighed and stared at the bags on the floor, it's all that Bella's fault, if she had allowed her to leave when she wanted to, then she wouldn't have had this big debt hanging on her neck, she cursed again and dragged the bags up the stairs one step at a time.

The next day, Sasha was picked up by Vanessa in her white limo and they left for the afternoon party. Gary knocked on his boss office door and entered "Boss, mistress has been picked up by your mother" he reported.

Michael was standing beside his desk drawer and was flipping the pages of a document in his hand when he heard Gary's report, he looked at him and nodded before returning his eyes on the papers. Gary turned to walk away then "wait" he heard and turned to face his boss again.

Michael walked around his desk and perched on it while still looking at the document "here, send this to her company" he handed the document to Gary who took and went through it.

His eyes lit up in surprise when he noticed it was a contract and not just any contract, a contract a lot of other big companies will fight to have "boss, why are we sending this to mistress company?"

Gary watched as a rare smile appeared on his boss face, he has been working alongside Michael for like ten years now but this is the first time he is seeing such a happy smile on his lips "she owes me" was his reply before he walked back to his seat and sat down, the smile still playing on his lips.

"I don't understand" Gary's face showed his confusion and that only brightened Michael's smile.

"She owe me twenty million dollars and paid five million last night, she still has extra fifteen to pay and I don't want to make things that difficult for her" Michael answered.

Gary thought on his words and when he figured it out, his eyes lit up "so boss is having me send this seven million worth contract to her company so that she will use the money to pay you?"

"You see, that's why you are still by my side" Michael admitted.

Gary wowed in his mind, why is it that his boss is acting as if he is possessed at times? If he knew he was still going to give her contract that will help her pay her debt then why make her pay the money from the beginning? "But boss if I am correct, you giving her the contract and still have to be the one to pay her for the contract, isn't that equivalent to paying yourself?"

"She doesn't know that and yes, you mustn't let her know the contract is from me, is that clear?" Michael asked.

"Yes boss, very clear" Gary answered still surprised "but boss, since you knew you will be giving her contract to help pay for her debt, why not tell her to forget about the money?"

"I can't tell her that, she has to pay for her clothes herself."

"But it's still your money." Gary stated.

"But she will work for it" Michael smiled.

Gary heaved a sigh, his boss is really making him confuse on his feelings for his wife, does he love or hate her? Why is it that he will act like a monster in her presence and be a darling husband who dotes on his wife behind her back? He shook his head and bowed before leaving the office. All though he has been by Michael's side for ten years, he still finds it difficult to figure out what the man is thinking.

Sasha walked with Vanessa as she introduced her to all her friends and Sasha found herself really glad she had gone shopping yesterday if not, what kind of embarrassment would she have caused her sweet mother in law? Every woman here was dressed to the highest, none wants to be overshadowed as they all dressed in top notch dresses, she couldn't imagine dressing in anything lower. Michael was right, the ladies here all understands quality.

"Vanessa" someone called and they both turned to see a woman dressed in navy blue gown approaching them.

"Stella, what a pleasant surprise. I thought you said you wouldn't be coming?" Vanessa asked as the woman walked up to them.

"I was able to finish what I was doing yesterday and I also heard that you would be bringing your daughter in law along and I really want to meet her" the woman called Stella smiled.

"That's so nice of you, I hope you didn't stress yourself too much yesterday?" Vanessa asked with a sweet smile.

Stella smiled "oh it's nothing. So, this must be Michael's bride, she is as beautiful as they say."

Vanessa looked at Sasha then "I'm blessed" she chuckled "Stella meet Sasha, dear meet Stella Hertz. Her family and ours have been in business for a long time" she introduced.

"Nice meeting you Mrs. Hertz" Sasha smiled and the woman forced a smile her way.

"Same here dear" she said but Sasha could see it was also forced, what again this time? Has the woman met her before? She thought.

"Where is your daughter?" Asked Vanessa.

"Oh, she is talking with Gloria, you know she is thinking of engaging her to her son" Stella answered.

"That's wonderful, so we will be planning another wedding soon?" Vanessa said in glee.

"Mm" Stella forced a smile "okay then, I will see you two later" she turned and walked away.

"She doesn't like me" Sasha stated which got Vanessa to look at her with a raised eyebrow.

"You are good with studying emotions" she complimented and Sasha smiled "when she mentioned coming because she heard I will be bringing you along, I knew she just wanted to see you. She didn't attend your wedding, claimed to have a very important business to handle in France and so left, but I think I saw her daughter on that day" she explained.

Sasha listened to her explanation and figured something was amiss "did she want Michael to marry her daughter?"

Vanessa laughed "you are very smart. A child that comes from you and Michael will be a genius" she praised "yes, right from when they were small, she had wanted to betrothed them but Joseph and I are against child bride, we have always wanted our children to grow up and find love. So we said should they grow up and fall in love, then they will have our blessings. They left the country when Michael was twelve and so there was no communications. They met again in college and so returned to the country after their graduation.

She visited Michael a lot but he seems to be not interested, we waited for the news that they are getting married but nothing came and they were both advancing in age. Stella got worried and seek my help which I rendered by mentioning to Michael about marriage and then he asked me to find a bride for him. Kira was the first choice I made because of Stella but Michael rejected instantly, he wouldn't even consider it. I tried to nurture him to marry her but he was adamant, he said if she be the only woman on earth, then he wouldn't marry." She sighed as she remembered the day he made the statement.

Sasha had been listening to her story but had got lost when she heard the name Kira, she looked at her mother in law and she  smiled "I chose two other daughters of our business partners but all he rejected. I happened to bump into your mother in a restaurant and remembered she heard a daughter, I asked about you" she smiled "she said you are okay, I asked if you were married and she said no, I didn't tell her my plan then because I wanted to be sure Michael will accept first."

Sasha was listening really attentively, she really want to know how Michael accepted her "I came home that day and called him to come home. Let's have a seat" she pulled Sasha with her to seat and they sat down, she called a waiter and took a glass of lemonade and also for Sasha "when he came home, I already have your files ready and your picture, I showed them to him and I must confess, I think he froze when he saw your picture" her brows creased in thought for a moment "then I heard him, 'call her family, I will marry her' just like that, I was surprised" she looked at Sasha "and it makes me wonder if you two knew each other before."

Sasha bit her lip "I went to the same highschool with him" she admitted.

"Wow, no wonder" Vanessa sighed "ever since then, Stella hardly attends anything I'm invited to, that's why I say, she came here just to see you."

"You said her daughter is Kira?" Sasha inquired.

"Yes. Do you know her?"

"Well, actually yesterday I went shopping to one of Michael's shop, I ran into her a lady called Kira and she just wouldn't let me go, always looking for a way to shame me" Sasha gurgled as she thought about it.

Vanessa was surprised at that "wow, what happened then?"

"Well Michael showed up, and settled everything with just few words. Kira I think was angry because he didn't acknowledged her and again he came to my rescue."

"Now I know why Stella is here, she wants to see the woman Michael rejected and treated her daughter like that for" Vanessa laughed at that "really, that is so childish."

The rest of the woman joined them then and the party started, Sasha noticed that Kira was just glaring at her, if eyes were leasers, she would have been dead by now.

Stella tried a lot to get Sasha to talk, mostly about things she was sure she doesn't know and Vanessa always came to her rescue which annoys Kira to the last.

A chauffeur walked up to Vanessa later and whispered something to her, her eyes lit up immediately "really? Bring him in" she ordered and the chauffeur left. Vanessa turned to the women sitting on the table "my apologies ladies, apparently Michael has come to pick up his wife" she smiled, she really loves how her son cooperates, just one text message and he is already here, she smiled as her eyes strayed to Stella and her daughter.

Sasha on the other hand was shocked, came to pick her up? Since when is he that loving? She thought as she looked around and saw him approaching, dressed in a gray suit and looking very handsome, she wasn't able to see him this morning for he left before she woke up "hello ladies" she heard him saw when he was close enough.

"What's the matter Michael, Sasha is not the only married woman here, why does she have to be the only one her husband has to pick up?" One of the woman said and the rest laughed.

"What are you saying? Michael really dotes on his wife, you guys wouldn't know what happen yesterday do you?" Another asked.

"Tell us, that's why we gathered here" another put in and they all nodded while laughing, ah, women and gossip, Michael thought.

"Yesterday, my niece was in Divas Beauty, she happened to witness a dispute between, of course" she looked at Kira "Sasha and Kira, I'm correct, how come I didn't remember this before?"

"Go on say it, what happened?" The rest urged.

"Oh, I don't know if Kira knows she is Michael's wife or not but she challenged her of not having money to pay for her clothes plus other things she said, making Sasha feel so bad and then like a knight in shinning armour, Michael showed up and got Bella to show Sasha the new stock and also offered her a black credit card, can you imagine?"

"Wow, but why would Kira insult Sasha?" One asked.

"I don't know" the woman answered and they all turned to look at Kira and her mother, now that was what Vanessa wanted, of course if such happened in Divas Beauty, its a must that one of the ladies there will be related to one of this women and as tea party will go, it's always for gossips.

"I...I...I didn't know she is Michael's bride" Kira stuttered.

"You didn't know? I thought I heard Sheila mention you talked about Sasha being married to one of the richest man in Los Angeles but she can't pay for a few clothes?"

"Ladies, ladies please, let's drop the issue. I'm sure Kira doesn't know Sasha is Michael's bride, I mean she didn't come to the wedding, how was she supposed to know? Right Kira?" Vanessa asked in her gentle voice.

"Yes aunt" Kira was forced to answer.

"If it's a misunderstanding like you said, then you should apologize for it, thankfully Sasha is here" Gloria said and the rest agreed.

Kira bit her lips and glared at Sasha "my apologies for the inconvenience."

"Inconvenience? Come on Kira, you and I know that's not what you should say" Michael decided to join the discussion.

Kira glared at him before turning to Sasha "I'm sorry."

"That's more like it" Michael said "I'm sorry ladies but please pardon me to take my wife home."

"Alright, alright, we know that you are newly married so go ahead, and leave we old women to gossip" they said and laughed while Vanessa helped Sasha up.

"Alright dear, see you some other time" she said.

"Yes mom" Sasha smiled and waved goodbye to everyone before walking away with Michael.

Sasha got to Michael's car and got in just as he was getting in the driver's seat. She sighed and looked at him as he pulled out of the parking lot "thank you."

Michael glanced her way with a furrowed brows "for what?"

Sasha smiled, if there is one thing she is good at, is to know when someone helped her and she never hesitate to show her gratitude. It's true he said he did what he did yesterday just to save his face but she knew that if it wasn't for him, she really would have been embarrassed and now, in the presence of everybody, he got Kira to apologize to her "thank you for yesterday, I really appreciate."

Michael snorted and rolled his eyes "I said I did it for myself."

"I know, but any how, thank you."

Michael was speechless, should he say 'you are welcome?' But he couldn't get himself to say it and so remained silent for the rest of the ride. They got home and he went upstairs without her as always. Sasha sighed as she watched him go, should she make dinner? Will he eat it? She felt bothered by it but still decided to do it and so walked into the kitchen still dressed in her gown. She made spaghetti, beacon and eggs and took it upstairs with her.

Michael was sitting on the small chair and desk that was in their bedroom, he was working on a document in his laptop. Sasha dropped the tray that holds the food on the little nightstand beside the table and looked at him "I made dinner, I hope you will eat it."

Michael pretended he didn't hear her and continued with his work, Sasha let out a sigh and walked to her wardrobe, what was she expecting? He is conversing when they are outside or when he wants to make life difficult for her, apart from that, he hardly behave as if she is around. She decided to take a shower and started to undress but stopped when she remembered he was in the room, what is she to do now? She has never undress when he is in the room before or even if he is, he will be asleep.

She bit her lip and thought about going into the walk-in closet but what if he gets angry? She decided to go into the bathroom when something hit her, hold on, this man here is her husband not a stranger, if she can't undress in his presence then who else will she? She looked at him from the corner of her eyes but he seems engrossed in his work. She had told herself that she is going to make him choose women over men but ever since living with him, she is now doubting if he really is gay?

Well, whichever it is, she is going to win his heart, in as much as he appears cold, she had noticed that there is a soft spot in his heart and she is going to make sure she occupy that space, no matter how long it takes, she is not giving up on her marriage and she is going to get her husband to love her, she has to try, for crying out loud she has been loving him since highschool, isn't that long enough? She heaved a sigh as she slowly undid her zip and her dress fell on the floor.

From the mirror on the wardrobe, a pair of blue eyes was watching her reflection, he had noticed when she was contemplating where to undress and had just been waiting to see what she would do next, he had never expected her to undress with him in the room but heavens, her body is gorgeous, he couldn't get his eyes away from the mirror, he had always known her body will look good but not this good.

He watched as she pulled off her panties to reveal a very fair and smooth ass, that was not tanned, no signs of pant lines. Her hand reached and unhooked her bra to release two succulent boobs. Michael felt his body tightening and knew a part of him was really enjoying and reacting to this feast to the eyes. He watched her bent and picked up her gown before walking to the wardrobe and he averted his eyes immediately while trying to calm down the desire she had aroused in him.

He knew when she entered the bathroom and the sound of running water was not helping his case, he envisioned the water splattering on that body and his breathing pace increased, he shut his eyes and snapped it open almost immediately to clear the picture from his mind, he tried to focus on his laptop again but all he saw was a blurry screen. He groaned and stood up, he paced around the room and wondered what was taking her so long to get out of the bathroom so that he could stop hearing the running shower and also stop thinking.

When he finally admit that he can't clear his mind, he walked to his drawer and brought out a pack of cigarette and a lighter before walking to the balcony. He pulled out a stick and lit it, lift it to his mouth and took a long drag before puffing out the smoke into the air and tried to clear his mind from the naked woman taking a shower now in his bathroom.

Sasha walked out of the bathroom minutes after to perceive cigarette smell, she frowned her face and wondered how it was possible to perceive the smell. She changed into her night wear and draped a robe on her body before following the scent out to the balcony where she saw Michael standing with a lit cigarette stick stuck in between his index and middle fingers. There were tons of cigarette butts laying on the floor and she couldn't contain her shock, Michael smokes?

"You smoke!" She exclaimed, jolting him out of his thoughts, he turned to look at her, seeing that she was now dressed in her night wear and a robe on her, he didn't know if he should be happy or sad, he looked away from her and took another drag from his stick and puffed out the smoke.

"What is wrong with it?" He asked.

"Nothing, just that you...it's not good for your health."

"I never knew I'm married to a doctor or did you just become one this night?"

Sasha sighed and bit her lip, looking for a better way to explain to him "well, I'm not the only one who knows it's not good for the health. Look at that pack you are holding, even the manufacturers wrote it for you to see 'smokers are liable to die young' it's right there" she pointed at the cigarette pack in his hand.

Michael chuckled as he took yet another drag "what are you afraid of, that I'm going to die and make you a widow so soon? Don't worry, I still have long years to live."

Sasha took in a deep breath and let it out slowly, there is just no reasoning with him, she concluded and walked back into the room. She tucked herself into the bed but just couldn't sleep, the cigarette scent is really disturbing her, she hate smokers. She can remember she broke up with Daniel back then in school because she found out he smokes, same with Jerry and now here she is, married to a smoker, can heaven hate her more?

Sasha woke up in the middle of night cold, she turned on the bed to see her husband sleeping peacefully and bit her lip, should she go close to him? Don't touch me, her mind reminded her of his second rule and as she thought about it, she realized she can count how many times he had touched her and she? None. But it's so cold, she thought, well he is asleep, he wouldn't notice if she just lie a little closer to him. She took a deep breath and shifted a little closer to him but she was not satisfied.

She shifted a little more and could already feel his body warmth but she got greedy, she wants her body to touch his and so shifted again, her back was now touching his ramrod like chest, her head on his hand with her hair close to his face, she stifled her breathing while she waited for him to wake up and when he didn't, she relaxed and closed her eyes.

Michael felt something warm on his chest, he frowned when he felt something like hair on his face and his eyes snapped open only to see honey gold hair, what is happening? He thought, he tried to move but then notice the full length of a woman body so close to him, his body immediately reacted when he saw her exposed thigh, his body was burning like it was lit on fire, he swallowed as his eyes caressed the thigh, he wanted to do same with his hand and when he reached out his hand to do so, he froze, what is he doing? He looked at the woman in his arms, is she trying to seduce him? Thinking to that, anger boiled inside him.

He cupped his hand in a fist and tried to calm down the burning desire in him but he found it so difficult to do while looking at those exposed thighs, not knowing what else to do, he pushed her forcefully away from him, he watched her, wanting to know if she would wake up but when she didn't, he became surprised, how can she not wake up with the amount of force he used now? And then he noticed her eyelids fluttering, his anger intensified and he shifted closer to her and pushed her out of the bed, he heard a thud sound and knew she had hit her head on the side drawer but when she still didn't get up, he got out of bed and left the room.

Sasha laid on the floor sobbing silently, her temple hurts but she couldn't reach her hand to massage it, she must keep playing to be asleep for she can't get herself to look at him now, she is afraid to see the monster in him. Just why is he treating her like this? Is it a crime she wanted to feel her husband's warmth on her? Is it a crime she wanted to sleep in his arms? Why does he have to hurt her every single time?

Her temple hurts, she is sure it's going to bruise if not leave a scar even but no amount of pain she feels on her temple could amount to the pain she feels in her heart. When she was sure he will not be coming back into the room, she got up from the floor and laid on the bed, she covered herself with the duvet and cried herself to sleep.

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Hi guys, I hope you enjoyed this chapter, can you guys drop just one word for Michael on behalf of Sasha?

Quick question, do you think Michael loves or hate Sasha?

Let me know your answer in the comment section : )

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