Being His

"Good evening,…" Liam spoke while taking out some papers.

In an attempt to get me out of this situation with Matteo I was quick to add. "Mrs Anderson...?" I looked at the woman and wanted her to show the way to the dining but Matteo was quick to hold my hand before he asked Liam, "Why don't you join us for the meal too?"

"Oh...yeah...I called you at the last minute. You should totally stay." Mr Anderson added and I had to look at Liam again to only find he was looking at me too. It was obvious he was expecting me to acknowledge him.

"You should totally stay, Liam," I called him by his name and felt my hand squeezed by Matteo at that very moment.

"You know him?" Mr Anderson asked.

"We were in high school together. And, he was also my neighbour." I replied,

"Yes…we were used to be neighbours," Liam replied and in the next fifteen minutes, we were sitting around the dining table where just like others it was my first time eating too.

"How long it's been to your wedding?" Mrs Anderson asked making me look at her.

"Oh…it's been a couple of months." My reply got me everyone's stare.

I looked at Matteo to notice his smile. "And, what's with not telling anyone about your wedding…I get to know about this for like two minutes ago…There are still many women I know who would do anything to marry Matteo…Guess I need to tell them." Mrs Anderson chirped.

"Thank you…but our wedding happened in a very tight schedule. And, I don't care who these women are because no one can match the compassion of Julie. I am sure that you know that already. It's so natural to be amazed by her." Matteo said making me look at him. He had said the last part to Liam.

"I am sure that it must be amazing to know her. I wasn't very talkative and Julie had led a busy life given she literally brought up her two sisters. But my mother knows her. And, she had always spoken so highly of you." Liam said the last line looking at me giving that rare half-smile that I once tried to capture in my cellphone but failed.

My mouth was bitter recalling how life used to be easy.

"Wow…it seems nature works in its particular way. No doubt Matteo deserves a girl like Julie." Mr Anderson spoke.

"And,...I guess I have always seen her whenever it was about raising funds for orphan kids…" Liam started again making me even more embarrassed. I didn't want him to mention this.

"Wow,…it seems you two never really talk." Mrs Anderson narrowed her eyes.

"Yea…we were not class fellows…but Liam was in the quarterback and also got into Harvard…everyone in the school knew him…" I tried to neutralize the situation for me but one look at Liam told me how he was surprised by my statement. But it was true. Despite one incident on my eighteenth birthday where I got drunk for the first time and told him I have a crush on him. We never had a talk like individuals.

But I couldn't care more about how Liam was looking at me when Matteo held my hand on the table. His hold was gentle but only I knew that whatever was going through his mind was lethal for me. But for now, it was enough to tell me that he doesn't like my attention on Liam.

"I am posting this young guy to senior marketing position soon. Youngblood, lots of energy and innovation…" Mr Anderson started making Mrs Anderson say, "Wow, congratulations Liam."

"That's sounds interesting…" Matteo intervenes a little bored as he held his drink.

"Congratulation…" I said and could see from the corner of my eyes how Matteo's hand stopped in the mid as he stared at me for a few seconds.

"I don't know if it is after so long or what. But you have become a lot gorgeous. I hope we stay in touch." Liam spoke making me only smile a little and I managed, "Of course,"

I don't know how the three of them couldn't see Matteo's tight jaw all the time even though his voice was as normal as could be. Maybe everyone was really absorbed listening to how Mrs Anderson met her Mr Anderson.

"How you two met?" Liam asked once Mrs Anderson finished. His voice came with a lot of curiosity.

"At my dad's place…one look at her and I knew she was the one." Matteo covered for me.

"And, what you were doing at his dad's place?" Liam asked me with his mischievous smile. Of course, Liam knew what kind of jobs I was always up to support my family. It was a partial reason that he would have never see me as someone he can spend his life with. He was my neighbour and his mother always knew about my whereabouts.

"She was his chef." Matteo lied.

"Wow," Liam added and I wonder what he wanted. I could only offer him a tight lip smile but felt Matteo's shoe on my feet. It wasn't hard but was more like a warning.

In a few minutes, we were back to the guest area where one thing was changed now. No matter what we talk about Matteo had his one hand on my waist all the time. One man was serving the Champaign and Matteo took a glass and passed me. I accepted the drink from his hand while we all continued how Mr Anderson believes that Matteo getting into banking will be a smart move.

"It's not banking…it's just a mode of transactions. It's nothing big." Matteo had repeated for the third time but Mr Anderson was still so absorbed and bent on. And, apparently, Matteo listening to Mr Anderson would knead my waist whenever Liam standing behind Mr Anderson looked at me.

"If he looked at you like this one more time. I am going to kill him." Matteo whispered over my ear making my eyes widen as I look at his smile he was offering to Mrs Anderson.

"Liam…Call our driver to prepare the car." Mr Anderson said making me exhale as Liam left.

"You loved him…didn't you?" Matteo whispered while I catch his hand that had tightened on my waist.

We both stood as their conversations came to end. We walked them to our doorstep where once again Liam was standing but this time he walked to me without any inhibitions.

"It was really nice to meet you. See you soon," He said giving me a side hug before nodding towards Matteo and left behind Mr and Mrs Anderson.

I stood static watching the car going away. And, the moment I saw the gates being opened in the distant I gasped while jumping as he shouted.

"You fucking love him."

"Leave me…please…" I begged but he only got his grip tighter on my arm as he shouted.

"And, you will run to his arms!!!"

"No…please…why are you doing this?" I hiccupped and was scared but cried out loud when he hovered me to seethe. "How dare you to react seeing him?...you are my wife." His hand came to hold my jaw while I tried to say,

"I was only surprised. I swear…he is nothing…he is nothing…believe me."

"Ok…he is nothing…but you tell me who am I? I am too nothing for you." I could only hiccup while hot tears trailed down. I didn't have any answer to this one.

"Why Julie? Why? Am I not the same person you trapped my father for? Of course, it is my mistake to show you to the world. A crap like you was never meant to be my wife from the very start. A gold digger like you…" His grip tightened around my jaw making me push him with all my force. Though I was not succeeded in freeing myself I found myself shouting at the top of my lungs.

"I am not a gold digger. I didn't want to marry a man like you ever too…" I don't know where I found the courage but he held my hands before turning me around to contain my struggles.

"Then what kind of man you wanted to marry? That lad?... I promise you…he will never get that post you congratulated him for!"

"Matteo! Leave me…" I shouted and barely got myself from falling when he left me with a jerk.

"Don't you dare utter my name!" He seethed pointing his finger at me. I stared into his grey eyes with so much anger. The feelings weren't different from his side too. And, for a second I shivered thinking what if he killed me for the things I have told him a few seconds ago but found his hand coming to rest on my shoulder. With disgust, I took a step back wrapping my body with my arms.

"I…can afford thousands like you,…" He smirked before taking a step towards me while I took two back.

"…but you have only me…" This made me look at him while his mouth came over my ear.

"…And, I will make sure that every man would know to whom you will always belong," My eyes widened while my chin wobbled uncontrollably. He looked hideous.

I gasped when he walked away leaving me at the doorstep while it started pouring. I looked at the rain wondering where to find the courage to live with this filth.

The next day, Barbara came to announce. "You have an appointment."

I was browsing the closet for a dress when I asked, "Where are we going?" I asked recalling how in the past Barbara has taken me to see the hotels or ships.

"We aren't going anywhere. The tattoo artist will come into your room." I got frozen with the realization.

"What…why?" I asked shocked but her tone was nonchalant when she replied, "I don't know. Mr Lucca has asked to…"

"He can't! It is my body. I am not getting any tattoo. I am…" I didn't let her speak any further but got my words frozen in my mouth when I heard a knock on the door.

"You are not opening this door," I warned but saw her getting to the door. I could feel my hands getting cold but next found my bedroom door open and two women came in. One of them seemed thirty years old while the other seemed to be in her teens. The older one had ink on every patch of her skin and that made her seem really off.

"Hi, my name is Kathy. I guess you are Mrs Lucca?... We have an appointment." Her soft voice was quite contraindicating to her features but I have stopped judging people from the first impression.

"I don't want any tattoo. It's just a misunderstanding." I said and retrieved a laugh from her side.

"It can be intimidating but they are cool. Mr Lucca told me that you are a little unsure…" The older one stated.

"No…I am not unsure. I don't want any tattoo." My voice came out rude without my knowing. The girl beside her rolled her eyes before getting out of my room.

"Fine…from the tattoo you were about to get I thought you are…you know badass cool but…fine…"

"What kind of Tattoo it was?" I asked but only got, "That's I am not going to tell now…have a good day."

Women left and I was with Barbara who was passing me stares. As if I cared. I went into my closet to change into some dress and got out to listen, "Why you can't be obedient?" I got my brows raised and sick to my stomach.

"Barbara, we don't need to talk. Why don't you continue to be silent as before…I will prefer that."

"Excuse me? Don't act like you are any better than his other women. You took money to be with him. Everyone in this household knows this. He can ask for a tattoo if he wants." Barbara said while I knew I didn't have a single brain cell to waste on her.

"Whatever," I said under my breath before getting into the bathroom. The bath was ready and I asked the maid to leave. My breathing was still laboured. I wonder how Matteo will react after this but I guess it was my right as a living human being to deny it. I don't like tattoos.

I got out finding Barbara sitting on the recliner. "I wonder if you really don't want me to talk because I might be the only person on this earth who knows your husband." I don't know but it really creeps me out.

"No…I don't want to know him. I know enough about him. You can't say a thing that will change his image. He…is a psycho," With this, I wonder if Matteo had slept with this woman too. Anything was possible with this person.

"Not his fault. He was built to act like this." Her explanation got my mouth bitter.

Like what? He is not a kid anymore. He is solely responsible for his actions. I looked at Barbara for a few seconds and she was paced out just like people her age are supposed to.

I hopped over my bed to get some sleep when I heard her say. "He was three years old when I first saw him. On a never-ending table, he was sitting alone. There was everything a kid would love but it had been two days since he refused to eat…He had a caretaker who was fired because she was caught holding Matteo in her arms. Not her fault though, she was taking care of Matteo since his birth and didn't have her own kids. On investigation, it was also found that she often used to refer to him as her son and Matteo had started calling her mom. It was revealed that Matteo had often shared his toys and chocolates with her." She paused. Maybe she was expecting me to speak or talk but I didn't.

"Not hugging was a rule. No one was allowed to hug or hold Matteo…no matter what. It was a part of his training…his grandfather was trying to instil something in him since the very start. And, not having attachments to human had always topped the list…not being tolerant, hating the poor people, not seeing someone else win, and thinking everyone is not more important than him were among others. We were asked to treat him like royalty. Lucca's have a rule. They don't take their heirs from their wives. Doing so, they have complete authority on the bringing up of the child."

What if the wife got pregnant? I wondered.

And, it was like Barbara knew what I must be thinking. "I haven't seen how Matteo would treat his wife because you are his first wife. But I know what was done to the two women so far who got pregnant while living with Matteo."

"What happened to them?' I couldn't help asking.

"I wasn't here but I have heard they were fired from the job at the very moment and were not seen anywhere else after that." I clutched the sheets thinking if he had murdered them too. I wonder how a person could be this cruel.

"But I guess you should worry more about what you will tell him about not getting that tattoo. I am amazed at your bravery when you are aware of how much he is capable of."

Barbara was right. I knew too well how much he was capable of. He could have killed me but wouldn't be that peaceful for me now?

I chose to wear a see-through green dress before his arrival and made sure to look better. I prayed that he will have his own things going on and forget about that tattoo or if not I will be left with no option but to bear his tantrums as I will refuse to follow his will this time.

I stood up seeing the door being open and gulped looking at the caress on his forehead. Once his eyes fell on me a smile adorned his mouth before I heard, "Julie," I saw him taking longer strides but I refused to back away.

"Today, I am really proud of you." His hand came to rest on my left cheek but his mischievous eyes were enough to tell me otherwise. He was amused.

"Sir…I can't have a tattoo. It's against my beliefs…I just can't do this." This got some lines on his face before he came quite close to my mouth.

"And, what about refusing the man who owns you? Don't ruin my mood Julie because now I will give you your first tattoo with my own handwriting." His hands came to hold me close to him while I was quick to get my left arm pressed between our bodies.

"Sir…I don't want any tattoos. I hate them." I said in a single breath.

"Oh my dear wife, believe me, that we need it." He grazed his finger on my mouth before coming quite close over my face. "So, you know to whom you belong all the time before denying my touch…ever again." His voice was very low while his mouth grazed over mine.

"Is this your revenge for yesterday? Sir, I don't…I…" He makes it hard for me to speak as my lips grazed his.

"This body is mine. Imagine the fire you ignite in me when you refuse to give me what's mine." I helplessly looked into his eyes. Being his was hard, painful, and humiliating.

"Have you tried to see how I am living here? With a kind of you?" This only got me a very calm smile from his side.

"Trust me…I will free you sooner than you can imagine. It's another thing that I will have my ways to bid you farewell." That really surprised me. What did he mean with his ways?

"I…I can't have tattoos please…they are gross."

He could see how much hurt I was when he whispered in my ear. "Lie on your back this instant. You can either make it easy for you or hard…but in the end, I will do as I deem fit with this body Julie."

His warm mouth on my ear made me recall all those times when he had held my body in whatever way he wanted. He pulled my dress down my figure before he carefully made me sit on the bed but I knew what was going to follow was far from gentle.

"You look breathtaking." After one hour I was let go of the torturous needle. The pain was still there as he didn't use any anaesthetics. He came to hold my face to make me look at him but seeing his victorious smile was the last thing I wanted to see right now. "Come on…look at this…you are the first woman I have tried this on. Come on…I am very excited." I rubbed my tears away making him do the same for me.

"It's all done, honey. Just look at this." The way he said those words were making me even angrier at him. He held my hand to kiss the back of it making me pull my hand out of his hold. And, this act of mine sure did remove the smile from his face.

"It's fine. Once you will see it..." He removed the hair from my face with his two fingers. "...You will know how to act." He said before disappearing in the bathroom while I hiccupped as I straightened to look at what he has written. My mouth literally dropped at the statement that he had permanently marked only a little over my mound.

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