Ariel fist clenched, her brows pulling together, teeth mashing against each other as she forcefully opened the door, hoping to find Alessandro outside.

But behold it wasn't Alessandro. “Cinamon tea ma'am, sent by Mr. Alessandro to help calm your nerves.”

The errand boy put the tea forward for Ariel to receive it but Ariel was clouded with hurt and betrayal to appreciate anything from Alessandro right now.

She hated Alessandro and didn't care about him, but after walking past the messenger, her mind changed. “Ill have the tea,” she walked towards him and collected it.

“Also, I would love to see Alessandro,” she heaved a sigh. “Can you please take me to him?” she asked the young man calmly and sweetly pouting her lips then smiling softly as she looked at the tea.

She was full of rage a few seconds ago but she always trained herself not to turn a blind to any form of kindness that was ever shown to her. She loved being a calm sweet girl, it made her feel like a child and helped her with her worries.

Soon, they were in front of Alessandro's office, the door was slightly open just so someone could see that Alessandro was busy on his laptop attending to business.

“Does he never rest?” she murmured and then turned to look at the errand boy who had just led her to her required destination. She had forgotten she was not alone.

“Ill leave now ma'am, I guess you can go on from here.” He turned around and left then Ariel's attention turned back to Alessandro, watching him meticulously as he unbottuned his silk shirt from the top to above his naval then he took a sip of his own cinnamon tea and kept staring at his screen.

“When are you going to say thank you? Or isn't that why you are here?” his voice echoed, low this time and calm, expressionless.

“I— Th__thank you for your kind gesture, but I have a question?” she walked in slowly. “Spill it then, what do you need to know,” he turned his seat, now facing Ariel.

He observed her little boobs as they juggled when she walked, he gulped hard, unseen to Ariel. “Who is Valentina and how did she become your rival?”

Alessandro chuckled slightly before responding. “I guess you must have read the articles,” he paused allowing her wonder what kind of a man he was.

“She is my ex- fiancee and former secretary. I trusted her with too much leading to her betrayal… I do not intend to do that again.”

Ariel brows furrowed. “Does that also include me?” Alessandro raised a brow to her, “I trust no one,” he replied, with an eerie of stillness.

“But why??? Why bring me into this? I don't want to know anything about your ex-lover or have to fight her?” she paused, looking in an open space then shifting her gaze back to Alessandro.

“However, I'm sorry for her betrayal, but I don't want to be a part of it,” she picked her fingers while watching them. Unknown to her that Alessandro had stood up from his chair and closed the space between them.

“Are you jealous? Because you don't need to be. You are my wife.” he spoke raising her head to look at him.

Then he walked away, took his cigarette and lit it up. “Your wife… or… your asset?” Ariel murmured still looking away from him.

“My wife.” he replied walking towards Ariel, intimidating her with his aura, his height, his voice and even his breath.

When he had finally closed the gap between them she struggled to ask; “Then why… why didn't you just tell me you had a daughter together?” her brows pulled closer, portraying fear yet craving answers.

“Are you somehow jealous? Do you think I can trust you?” He paused and pressed his lips together then said;

“All the women I have met in the past, they all want the same thing, which is Money. They pretend to love you, and at the end they betray you. Do you think you are any different?” He asked.

Aerial took a few steps backwards, intimidated by his breath upon her face as he revealed his mind.

“You don’t need to answer that question, time will tell who you are and what you really want.” Confused by Alessandro's words.

“ you were the one who married me to turn me into your asset. What else do you think I want from you? If it were not for my father I would not be here.” she blurted out at this moment she couldn’t take any more accusations from Alessandro.

She turned and attempted walking out of the room but Alessandro's hand gripped her wrist, pulling her backwards, coincidentally into his arms, and his other hand found the way to the back of her neck.

“You are right,” Alessandro said he lips just above hers as he pondered into her light brown eyes, her breath shivered.

“ It was an arranged marriage, but your father only gave you up because he also needed money. So where is the difference?”

He pulled away from Ariel “Now get back to your room and get me something useful that can bring down Valentina by morning.”

Ariel turned around walking towards the door, feeling intimidated, reflecting on the jolt of electricity She had felt a few moments back as Alessandro pulled her backwards.

//////

Back at Ariel's room, Simon waited for Ariel to return, heartbroken and vulnerable to allow him care for her. But when Ariel entered her room the atmosphere changed.

“Did you get your confrontation? What did my brother say???” Simon asked a little too expectant of irritation from Ariel but she was calm and warm.

“I am okay Simon, but I would respectfully ask that you leave my room… I n__need my space." She maintained a plastic smile that revealed no emotion.

“If that is what you desire Ariel, I will leave. But I will see you tomorrow at the table for breakfast right?” he smiled cunningly and raised a brow in amusement, making Ariel's smile widened.

“I appreciate your time and kindness,” Ariel complimented, ushering Simon out as she opened the door.

She liked Simon, but she was not someone to be swayed off her feet by a handsome fellow with sweet words.

The next morning, Ariel was up early, she dressed up with one of the outfits hugged in her rooms wardrobe. She sat on her desk and inhaled deeply after sipping her coffee.

Alessandro had installed a small coffee machine in Ariels room to help her easily attend to herself and stay active.

As her fingers tuned on the system, a new message was delivered to her email.

It read: [ I'm sorry for not telling you about my affair with Valentina, and our 6-year-old daughter.]