II. Next scene

*The wedded stranger.*

Dianna: (Assuring) I'd always call to check on you. I promise.

Kim nods almost in the brick of tears.

Wayne: We'd call you when necessary but don't expect us to do that always. You're now with your husband. So you better trust him. Because we won't be there to look after you.

She nods again and they hug each other.

Chris watches as her parents talk to her. He turns to his dad who's staring along.

Chris: Why is she so naive?

Jon: Because that's how every good woman should be. I don't want to hear any complaints from her about you. Not even your stupid girlfriend should show up in this house.

Chris: (Whispering) Dad stop saying that close to my wife. I told you she's not my girlfriend. She just works for me.

Jon: She better be. You don't have to trust anyone.

Chris looks at his dad for more than a second and sighs.

Chris: Does she know about your agreement with her dad?

Jon: No. And you should never mention it to her. Not even in your dreams.

Chris: I'm not stupid dad.

Jon: I know you aren't. I didn't trained you that way. But you better not be doing things that will put her life at risk.

Chris: I can't believe you bought that idiotic statement from James.

Jon: (Looking at his son expectantly.) And how did you know that?

Chris: I've told you to stop trying to know everything. You'd get mad. And that's not good for your health.

Jon: You're not going to do anything stupid son.

Chris: Relax dad. Remember I told you I had unfinished business? Well, our meeting ends here. See ya later.

Chris strolls to Kim and their parents walk away.

In the car, Dianna doesn't stop being worried for her daughter. She knows this was the only solution so far. But not the best for her daughter.

Getting married to a stranger.

Wayne looks at his wife.

Wayne: I've told you not to think about it. She'd be fine with Chris.

Dianna: I don't know what to think anymore. What if she finds out someday? She'd never forgive us.

Wayne: I'm sure she'd understand. She's a brilliant woman. We trained her well. So she should do fine.

Dianna just looks over the window and her husband holds her hands to comfort her.

*Next Scene*

Kim comes out of the bathroom with a light robe covered by a larger one. She finds Chris with an ear pore over his ear having a call.

He looks at her from over the transparent window of their room where he stands closer to the balcony.

She looks away rapidly trying not to pry into his business.

She walks towards the bed and just by the things he displaced on the different night stands, she knows where exactly to sleep.

She squats in bed on her right side. She lays flat with her back against it and her body facing the sealing.

She's not sure if she should close her eyes or wait for him to lay next to her because she's very uncomfortable.

She recalls the home ethics or marriage ethics her mom gave her earlier and shoves it away.

Kim: Do you work all night because I can't sleep with the lights on.

Chris pretends not to hear her and she assumes it's because he's on a call.

She goes on and turn off the lights. After a few minutes he comes in and slide closes the balcony door.

He walks to his side of the bed and sinks on the it. He puts on his phone; the light from it illuminates a large portion of the room and most especially Kim face.

She frowns in her sleep and squints open her eyes.

Kim: (Groaning) Chris? Why come to bed with your phone on? I've told you the light disturbs me from sleeping.

Chris: You have to get used to it.

She blinks her eyes and adjust herself on her side to see who spoke. Chris is concerntrated on his phone as he scrolls his finger over the screen.

Kim: I'm sorry?

Chris: You didn't expect me to put my phone away because of you. Didn't your parents tell you I don't take orders.

Kim: Well I know just one thing about you that I heard from your dad and that's you're having a girlfriend.

He freezes and rolls his head to her. She raises a brow.

Kim: What? You thought I didn't get that?

He faces her properly.

Chris: Number one rule in this house is that you should mind your business. Secondly, do not give orders like you just did. Thirdly, you have to respect the guards I assigned for you. Lastly, you're not allowed to go out.

She burst out into laughter. When she sees him with a stern face, she stops gradually.

Kim: (Seriously) I'm not your slave Chris. I have every right to leave this house because I have work outside.

Chris: (Repositioning himself to face the sealing) I'd handle every work. All you need to do is look after the house.

Kim: Why are you being so dominant? We don't even love each other. So you have the right to meet up with your girlfriend and I don't have right to just go to work.

Chris: I said mind your business. Disobedience to my words end up into punishments. And before I forget. You need to train. It'd be good for you if you know some defense.

He continues scrolling on his phone. She frowns and turns her back at him.

She takes a pillow and presses it over her head.

He turns his head to watch her. She's tightly fixed at a corner of the bed. Like a small toddler. He becomes fill with remorse.

He switches his phone off and seats it on the night stand.

Chris: You can take that pillow away before you suffocate. I've put my phone aside.

She blinks her eyes and peeps to see that he's right. Then puts it back over her.

Chris sighs. He ceases the pillow from her and she jumps and shifts towards him.

Her body faces to him and he's amazed by how fast her reflex is.

At once realization takes him to understanding.

Chris: You're scared of the dark and the light!

She doesn't respond. She tries to shift back a little.

Chris: Are you a creep? What do you want me to do now? I put on the light and you can't sleep. I turn it off and it scares you. Besides you were sleeping with the lights off a while ago.

Kim: It's darker now.

He sighs heavily and tries to forget all these drama. He stares at the dark sealing until she falls asleep.

When he notices her slumbering, he wakes up and walks to his working table over the room.

He puts his Macbook on and connects some other devices.

The least thing wakes Kim up so she notices the sudden decrease of the bed weight and opens her eyes.

Chris is far from her. She takes the blanket up and covers herself inside of it.

A few hours later Chris decides to return to bed. He finds her wrapped inside of their blanket. He smirks and pulls it off. She jolts and hums in her sleep.

Her eyes still close. He snugs close to her and immediate she pulls herself closer to him. He doesn't stop her. He just stares at her until he falls asleep too.

...

The next day. Kim wakes up and he isn't on the bed. She stresses herself and discovers how close she is to his space in bed.

She scratches her head hoping she didn't disgrace herself last night.

She looks around and on the balcony to see if he's there but he isn't. She walks towards the bathroom and he comes out just in time with a wet towel over his neck.

He's half naked as his chest and six abs televises directly into her orbits.

She shuts her eyes and makes a round turn.

Kim: Oh my God Jamal!

“Cut!” Dr. Ed orders.

Everyone laughs.

“I'm so sorry.” Myla apologizes.

Jamal holds his chest as he walks in front of her. She shields her face with her palms.

“Was this all put up? I can't find it in the script. I thought I had to go ease myself.”

Dr. Ed smiles. “We're going to continue this ok? You better get used to it.”

Myla nods. And Jamal chortles. “I knew you're going to act this way. ‘Oh my God Jamal!' like a kid.” Jamal mimics and she smacks him against the chest.

He feigns and she cries. “Damn. What did you put in there? My hand hurt.”

He tries to come close and she stops him. “Don't you dare come close. Monster!”

Caterina laughs out loud. “I can't believe you're scared of abs. Chris was right. You're indeed innocent.”

“Ok. We're taking this again.” Dr. Ed announces.

Everyone gets positioned but Jamal doesn't stop being amused.

“One, two, and action!”

Kim: (Screaming over her shoulder) Good morning.

Chris: (Smiling) Good morning creep.

She turns to face him.

Kim: You have no right to call me that. Because you're more creepy. You didn't even sleep the entire night. I'm starting to feel I got married to a vampire.

Chris: (Chuckles) Then you better get scared.

Kim: Vampires don't exist. They're just illusions. So that's where you belong in the back of my mind.

She turns to leave before he totally undresses himself. On decending the stair case her mind reflect on his abs. Damn they are Soo sexy.

Kim: Jeez how can God give someone such beauty for him alone?

A voice: It happens.

She jolts and sees an old woman preparing something in the kitchen.

Kim: Who are you?

A voice: Good morning my child. I'm Mrs. Terraria. I was assigned by Sir. Chris to be the cook.

Kim: This is my kitchen. No one cooks for my husband or me except I say so.

Mrs Terraria: I'm sorry child. It was an order.

Kim curses under her breath.

Hurriedly she goes back upstairs.

To be continued...