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Julie's POV

I fastened his laces and smiled looking up. He was looking at me intently and that made me gulp. "What happened?" I asked but he pulled my arm to him and got me over his thighs. My heartbeat fastened feeling his hot breaths on me.

"Nothing, I just like it when women know their place." His mouth was so close to mine and I gulped before tracing my hand on his chest.

"Anything for you?" I exhaled seeing something change in his eyes.

"Aren't you turning into a little perfect thing?... But I want to kill you,"

I knew he was using the same card he had been using for weeks now.

"I am sure you know better…even then…I want to stay."

I tried not to think because I knew if I let any thought pass my mind it will reflect on my face.

After he left, Barbara didn't come. At first, I thought she is a little late but no…after four hours I knew she wasn't coming. Was it this easy? Did Matteo actually believe that anyone can fall for him when he mistreats someone to this extent? Or was he planning something else?

I don't know until how long I will be free of Barbara's presence so I decided to go out. Today, I didn't make the call for the coffee or sandwich and decided to walk to the kitchen that was huge yet designed with much artistry. I found three women talking to each other. Cindy was one of them. All of them were wearing the uniform and stopped talking the moment I walked in.

"Please don't mind me…I am just here to make something for the breakfast."

"You tell me, I will set you something." Cindy came forward but I was quick to refuse. "No, I will do it."

"Oh please, I insist," Cindy said making me grab an apple for me and walk out to the living room. I zoned out to plan how to get away from this place. Well, right now I want him to understand to let me keep my baby. I huffed realizing if he let me keep my baby even then this place and the environment wasn't something I would want for my child. I felt a little tired and this is how I had been feeling for two weeks. I didn't feel nauseated though. Guess I was lucky at something.

I went inside my room after my breakfast to change into my navy blue dress and I waited for him wondering if it will be a boy or girl. But then, I huffed wondering how I will be giving my child a father like him. I am sure no one can like Matteo and his ways. Even this baby was bound to be disappointed.

I heard the door knock and went to ask, "Yes?"

Cindy came in, "Mr Lucca has sent the driver for you." This got my brows knitted. "I am coming," I replied making her leave.

Getting my purse I left with the driver. It felt good leaving without Mr Colombo or Barbara. I wonder if he trusts me or was testing me.

The car was pulled inside a huge hotel. I was received by a lady who showed me the way to the restaurant at the top. I get into the glass doors and three people were standing and showed me the way. I passed a glass hallway to get to the final door. One person opened it for me and I got in to see Matteo sitting on a table in the middle. The glass walls were giving a splendid view. There were other tables but not any visitors' maybe. He had his head in the other direction but I knew he was aware of my arrival with my heels making the noise.

"I experience better appetite when you are sitting on the table." I walked to him and take the chair on the other side. A shiver ran through my body finding his eyes at me. I tried to pass a smile while he asked. "You must be very proud of your body…you sure have expensive curves."

"I am more than my curves, Matteo…Sir,"

He stared at me with a very mischievous smile before uttering, "You can call me Matteo."

Was I hearing things? I wonder but then what he said next made sense. "I have a gala in a few days. I want us to be very natural in front of the audience."

I knew he wanted appreciation from me. "I will like it," I showed my smile.

My reply made him smirk and his eyes fell on my chest. "For me, women are not more than their bodies…Julie." Fisting my palm I tried to smile back.

"It is fine. Lately, I have decided to respect your…views on things. In the end, I am no one to change anyone's view. I…I am really trying to accept you as you are…and…"

"Wow,…" He cut me off. "…I just love being accepted. In fact, tell me anything that doesn't let you love me." He mocked me making fun of my confession to him and got busy eating.

"Sure," I gulped my pride down but somewhere in my heart, I pity the man I hate with my all. If women were really not more than their bodies for him he has never seen anything in the world. But in the end, he was sick with a lot of money and power. It was a toxic combination for sure. There was no changing him. And, I only wanted him to see me as someone who should be allowed to have his baby because I will rather die with this innocent soul than losing my firstborn.

"So, you don't want me to free you anymore?" He asked bursting the bubble of my thoughts.

"Of course, not…" I replied and saw him using the napkin as he finishes eating. "This is for you," He forwarded me a box that was placed near his wrist all the time. I accepted it and open it to find beautiful earrings.

"Thank you," I replied not knowing why he was giving me this.

"This one is for the gala party. It was ordered the day we finalized our outfits." I looked at his smile. I wonder if my kid was going to look like him. Of course, he was the father. It was supposed to happen.

How this child will bound me with his existence was another thing. Of course, he would want his baby with him and I don't think I can leave my baby alone with him.

"You have invited me here to give me this?" I asked making his smile broad. "Yea, I wanted to see the strange woman who has fallen in love with her tormentor..." That did shrink my smile but I still see it as progress,

"...It is same as deer tells that he loves lion. Do you think it will stop the lion from eating deer? Nothing will change my darling wife." He looked as if he had won a battle.

"The lion needs deer for the obvious reasons. But hurting someone just because it gives you satisfaction is another thing," I cleared him.

But my reply was enough to change his expressions. His eyes got narrowed while now his fisted hands were telling me he was beyond pissed.

"Come here," He said loosening his tie and I trembled.

"Matt…Matteo?" I inhaled sharply. I could tell I wasn't going to get anything good.

"Don't test my patience and get your pretty ass here." Collecting every bit of strength I walked to him. And, he was quick to pull my hand to make me sit on his thigh. I was blinking looking at his mouth that was almost touching my chest.

"What makes you think you can talk back to me? Who are you? My teacher? My mother? Do I look like a kid to you…"

"Matt…" I tried to clarify.

"Shut the fuck up, I am not finished yet…" He hissed making me all still.

"…I have you here to relax. Not to have another mouth to deal with." My eyes got teary as I looked away to stare at two men who were though standing far, now knew I was a slave to him.

"I told you…I hate smart mouth on women…And remember, Julie…the likes of you are only supposed to keep your mouth shut and follow the man you decide to depend on." His hand on my thigh got strong but I quickly nodded trying my best to gulp on this knot full of emotions in my throat.

"…what use I can make of your love if you can't even be someone who is worth keeping for me…" He smirked looking at my face while I sat there quiet. I knew I had failed miserably.

The night arrived and I waited for him. He didn't appear in the dining hall too. At this time, I knew he was with someone else.

I lay awake on my bed. I could feel he wasn't even interested in my body anymore. How I was ever supposed to convince him to let me have my baby?

The morning arrived and I guess I overslept. It was already past nine and I wonder why he didn't wake me up. Getting into the wardrobe I noticed everything intact. Even in the bathroom, I could tell no one took the bath. I wonder if he didn't come home last night. But his car did reach the mansion.

It was after twelve when I found Mr Colombo at my door. "Mrs Lucca,…Mr. Lucca has asked you to pack for two days. The driver from the office is here to receive you."

"What is he up to? I wonder and packed three dresses with a lot of jewellery and two heels. It took me half an hour while I felt my muscles sore. We pulled in front of a huge building in twenty minutes. I gulped when the driver opened the door for me. It was after so long that I was standing somewhere normal. There were people around. But without trying I knew no one will know my language here plus his driver was walking beside me. "Where are we?" I asked,

"We are in the headquarters, Mrs Lucca." This time I noticed he was Matteo's personal driver…I ran my eyes on his name tag that says, Leo.

I followed him to get into the building. His driver used a pass to get us through. The reception was the first thing one can see while entering. We turn to the left and walked until a lift appears. There were four other elevators too. I found a woman and two other men passing who gave me a stare before passing me. Of course, my dress was to blame. But I didn't have any other option knowing he would want me to see in this. Never in my life have I thought of becoming a puppet in the pretext of a wife.

I turn my head to the lift and got in. He pressed thirty-one and we stood in utter silence. He was standing ahead of me. The lift opened to reveal an office space that had some seating arrangement at our right side and a woman behind a desk on our left. She raised her head making Leo reply. "She is Mrs Lucca." This made that girl stood from her seat. She was wearing very professional clothing telling me she was not one of those.

"Mr Lucca is in the board room..." She replied but got cut off by Leo.

"It's fine. He is expecting her." Leo walked ahead getting us to a living area and that place had four different doors and we took the left turn to a huge door. He opened it for me and I jumped listening to Matteo shouting. I walked in to find five men sitting while Matteo had his hair a little dishevelled.

"Yes, I am mad. For fuck's sake you are supposed to be the best. It's not you who lost… it's me…I lost this case for…" His eyes fell on me and he shouted.

"Fuck off…And, you…" He pointed at Peter while others started to leave. "Meet her personally. And, get her off."

I took aside to let those gentlemen walk past but had my hands sweating finding him taking the long strides to me. I got my hands on his chest before he plastered me to the wall behind. Peter was still getting out as he started pulling my dress up. He was only in his dress shirt and I held his shoulders when he picked me up. He seemed frustrated but then stop to look at me as if he recalls something. Letting me go he walked to the head seat of the table and picked the landline.

"Peter? She has kids right? Kidnap the youngest one. Let her decide if she wants justice for her husband or prefers the safety for her kids…yes…I know." I could see how his facial expressions relax. And, that makes me want to puke. This person was a devil.

"Come here," He looked at me opening his arms. I walked to him and the smile on his face tells me that he enjoys getting me shocked. I could only hope that he doesn't know how disgusting I found him. A kid…he was kidnapping a kid. How I can ever expect him to be a father? But I guess I shouldn't expect him to be a father. As long as he let me be the mother it would be fine.

"You want to talk about something?" He asked making my throat dry.

Hello, I know I have made you all wait for so long. So, let me apologize.

But you will get the next update in less than twenty-four hours. It is already much ready.

But despite all, your comments coming had been a source of immense help. It boosts my strength to keep going. With that being said, I wasn't entirely on break and wanted to participate in the ongoing booknet's contest that is about fantasy novels.

I was not participating in this competition first because I have never written a fantasy novel...but then after winning the last one I thought I should really give it a try. The story though has a fantasy touch but I had tried my best to keep it emotional. I will be indebted to all of you if you give it a star. This story is already five chapters old too and you can try before deciding to leave the like. It will help me with the ranks and with a lot of other stuff too. You can find this story named "Curse Of the Dragon," on my Booknet profile. I am supposed to finish this contest story before the 4th of May (the last date of submission) so, the story will have daily updates and I took all this time to write most of this story.

But from now on this story Billionaire's wife will not be neglected too. I hope all of you can forgive me for taking this long. And, the next chapter does have an exciting talk between Julie and Matteo.

Also never forget to follow me on my Instagram and Facebook page to stay updated for any offers and giveaways over my ebooks on Booknet. @theashlehqueen and Ashleh Queen are the usernames respectively.