After getting in, Alessandro never let go of Ariel's wrist. “It hurts,” she struggled to loosen herself from his grip but he tightened it.

“Stay put, Ariel, let me take you home.” he smiled cunningly and let go of her, relaxing in his seat.

The drive was quiet and awkward, but it was as though they never passed through the city and soon they were in front of Alessandro's mansion.

It was more vogue than Ariel had heard, she was dazzled as her eyes rolled to every inch of the compound, from the luxurious and gigantic gates to the well-tiled roads, flowers and trees.

For a man who was seen as not just enigmatic but very tough in his dealings, his home was more welcoming and homely on the inside.

He had the most captivating statues situated at different angles of the compound, one of them was a beautiful maiden dressed in an African attire, adorned with beads on her waist, her neckline, and around her ankles.

Her hands are around what one would call an African native pot, with blue cloth wrapped around her breast, and another around her hips and butt.

Her brown skin was radiant Against the glow of the night sky, Ariel imagined what she would look like during dawn.

“You love it don't you?” Alessandro's voice cut through her thoughts and fascination, making her jolt from her seat.

“I… uhm… it's quite lovely, I'm fascinated by everything, you are really a man of taste and standard.” she rolled her eyes now facing him.

At one point, Alessandro was spiked by her high level of reasoning and boldness as she praised his intellect, raising his ego as he smiled.

Once the driver packed in the front entrance of the mansion, Alessandro let himself out, turning around to wait for Ariel who had to open the door for herself after waiting, thinking Alessandro would help her in the beginning.

He opened his arm to collect hers and he led her inside. He walked her down the hallway which was designed with magnificent artworks. They stepped into an elevator that took them to the top floor.

Alessandro then opened a room to Ariel, “This will be your room, you will be supplied with whatever you would need.”

He walked in and Ariel followed with a tightened jawline and furrowed brows, wondering what she had really gotten into.

“I thought you said this was my room, why am I being welcomed by TV screens and keyboards already having been set up?” her eyes darted around the room.

“You will be my lead tech girl,” he said, facing Ariel with his dominating essence and iconic view, he was not just handsome, his light brown skin and light brown eyes made him charming.

“What?” Ariel demanded, eyes popped and mouth falling apart. Alessandro walked towards the door and Ariel's eyes followed him.

“Like I said earlier, you will be provided with whatever you need, the best cameras, drones, even a satellite if you want. All the information about your tasks is in the file on your bed.”

An awkward silence lingered in the room, Ariel was still surprised by the turn of events, she was bought and was just an asset.

“Also, hurry up and take a shower, dinner is set in thirty minutes.” With this he walked out of the room and slammed the door behind him.

Ariel immediately rushed to the file laid on the desk in her room. It was like her office was set up in her room.

When she remembered he gave her thirty minutes to get ready for dinner, she quickly dropped the file and rushed to take a shower.

With how long the day had been, she needed a hot bath to help calm her nerves. ‘At least I will not be all useless and idle around here’ she thought as she turned on the shower.

After cleaning up, Ariel didn't know what to put on, it was like her measurement was taken and her wardrobe set before she came.

She decided to go for a long silver strappy dress with a cowl neckline.

When she came out of her room she was confused, the mansion was too big with too many rooms, but luckily for Ariel, she bumped into Simon.

“Oh… I'm so sorry Simon,” she said politely, giving him a 5 foot space, looking into an empty space.

“Hey you,” Simon replied, smiling warmly at her. He took her head up with his hand on her chin.

When she was staring at him in the eyes he said; “we don't have to be strangers to each other, after all, you are my cousin's wife, which means you are family.”

“Mmmm???” he added, tilting his head to the right side. Ariel then nodded and smiled. “Then please can you lead me to the dining room? I seem to have lost my way… I mean… I don't know anywhere anyway so…”

“Let me,” Simon said, taking her palms in his he pulled her towards the elevator and they landed on the fifth floor.

“You are very beautiful Ariel,” Simon complimented Ariel, not looking in her direction as he led her to the dining room. “You should learn to carry yourself in your full grace,” Simon added, making Ariel smile.

“Thank you, Simon. But my beauty cannot save me from being a property to your brother…” Ariel was cut short.

“A valuable asset if one might add,” Alessandro's voice thundered from behind the two, sending shivers to both of them.

Ariel however composed herself and located a chair at the table where she felt she would be comfortable. She pulled out a chair but Alessandro quickly pushed the chair back.

“Come sit near me,” he whispered in his low menacing voice which left Ariel with no choice but to follow her husband.

Ariel sat on Alessandro's left side while Simon sat on his right. Ariel watched as none of them prayed but devoured their food hastily.

Meanwhile, she took her silent moment to bless the food before she began to dig in. “Ariel,” Alessandro called in a low tone yet authoritative.

“I need you to commence tonight, go through the file and start doing the needful or else…” he paused, a flicker of discomfort on his face but he moved on quickly to chewing his grilled beef.

“You want your newly wedded husband to go bankrupt.” Ariel's eyes were directed towards Alessandro.

She had not taken one glimpse at him since dinner began but now she was more confused.

“Bankrupt?” her brows furrowed. What was Alessandro talking about? “But why?… Why would you go bankrupt? I thought you were the richest billionaire amongst the rest?”

Her lips pressed against each other as she struggled hard to gulp down the lump in her throat when she observed Alessandro stare at her like he was going to devour her.

“You will know everything once you get back to your quarters and commence your duty in this house. I need results by tomorrow.”