Annoying sister-in-law

11 Annoying sister-in-law

Zara’s body ached the next morning. She’d fought with Andrew again the night before. Well, it wasn’t more of fighting than it was him shoving her off the bed whenever she tried to get on. The constant grunts and glares he gave her had been enough to make her body ache.

That, and the fact that she had a bruised cheek from the hard slap he’d given her when she’d taken things up a notch on the first night made her grimace in pain. Andrew was really a violent man, though he had a right to be.

Zara felt she’d have reacted worse if someone had broken into her room and started making sexual innuendos at her. She was sure that Andrew saw her as the worst person alive.

What was worse? The police had actually come for her the previous day. She’d be behind bars if not that Aaron had been home to intervene and clear up the misunderstanding. However, that didn’t calm Zara. Only God knew how much Andrew could take before snapping.

“Good morning all,” Zara said, offering a smile when she arrived at the dinning table. Everyone was there—and by everyone, she meant Andrew, Aaron and Gracie. Otherwise, only servants stood some distance off in case something was needed.

“Hey,” Aaron said, turning to her with a wide grin. “Good morning, sister-in-law! Come, sit beside me!”

Gracie chuckled and put a piece of bread to her mouth to muffle the laughter. Andrew shot an angry look at Aaron and the latter winked. Andrew snorted and turned to Zara, giving her a heated stare. His eyes seemed to say ‘Get out of here, you little bitch!’

“I actually feel like a sister-in-law that needs petting this morning,” Zara said, patting her cheek. Thankfully, she’d covered the bruise well with makeup. She rounded the table and stopped at Andrew’s place then planted a kiss on his cheek. He froze and Zara took the split second to turn his head and kiss him on the lips.

It was surreal that she’d do such a thing, but she found no better way to show Gracie and Aaron that she was persistent and good at her job. That could save her neck one day.

Andrew shoved her and she managed to steady, avoiding the fall. She grinned at him and sat in the empty seat between him and Aaron. Gracie laughed, shaking her head. “Love birds,” she said.

Andrew hit the table with his hand and stood, grunting. He pulled a piece of paper from his pocket and furiously wrote on it then passed it to Gracie. He left afterwards.

Zara watched him go, wondering why he was always in a foul mood, never smiling and never speaking. In the two days she’d been in the house, she’d never heard a single word slip from his mouth even when they were fighting for who got the bed.

Zara smiled at the memory. The fights always ended up with her on the floor for the night but who cared? As long as she tormented the man long enough. She sighed, realising that torment was actually the opposite of seduction. But, Andrew wasn’t the type of guy to bend to soft words. He needed to be pounded.

“I think this is for you,” Gracie handed her the note Andrew had written. “You’re really good at annoying people, girl.”

Zara took the note and read through it. It said, “Gracie, why is this girl still here? I called the police yesterday but she was still here and she gave me nightmares last night. Now, I feel like Aaron is ganging up with her against me.

“I don’t like this game. I don’t care what she is or why she’s in the house. Contact Jed and have that girl thrown out to the streets! She’s a pest!”

“Wow,” Zara said, folding the note. “He hates me mighty much!”

Aaron sipped more of his black coffee, smiling. “It’s a surprise he hasn’t killed you yet. I’ve never seen someone break Andrew’s laptop and get away with it.”

“You think death isn’t better than having him grapple me all night? I barely got to sleep last night!”

“Too bad,” Gracie said, standing, “it wasn’t because of some sexual activity.”

Zara blushed as the woman left the table. She glanced at Aaron and he tipped his cup at her. “Have you tried strip-teasing him?”

“He won’t even let me do anything!”

“That’s odd,” Aaron said. “Considering that the red dress from day one was found all torn and wrinkled.”

She blushed again, sighing. Andrew had ripped the dress after too much struggle and she’d been forced to sleep naked on the floor. It was embarrassing but it was a good thing he hadn’t spared her a glance.

“Maybe you could try wearing a dress sometime and see if your brother will be pleased!” she snapped.

Aaron laughed and set his cup down. “Unlike you I don’t have the package. Use your feminine wiles, the charms!”

Aaron left the table afterwards, leaving Zara to her food. She sighed and dug in. The good treatment she got from the servants was a perk and she felt like a queen.

Thirty minutes later, she belched, full to capacity. The food was so good that she ate almost two servings. It was luxury and she knew she was wasting it. Back home, she’d split a meal that could’ve been eaten once into three and shared it with her siblings.

Thinking of that made Zara feel guilty. Here she was, eating meat and eating good food while her siblings were nibbling on leftovers. She wasn’t even sure if the money she’d left them had been used up. They weren’t so profligate but she knew Daisi needed food and the pain meds.

She sighed and resolved to go see them. It was a good thing since she had it in mind to give Ethan’s money back. Thanks to the advance payment she’d gotten, she now had enough to pay off her debts and start life afresh.

However, another problem reared its head. If she started spending the money now and didn’t get pregnant in two years, the contract would be broken and she’d be required to give back every cent she’d been given. She groaned, feeling like her life was getting out of hand.

She stood and walked off to the hallway, towards the kitchen. The problem was, she had no idea where the kitchen was. She had been here two days but the house was really huge and even places she’d visited—like the garden—was now a distant memory to her.

Thankfully, she knew the way to Andrew’s bedroom and she used his bathroom and toilet for convenience.

Zara beckoned for a maid to come over and when she did, she asked, “can you lead me to the kitchen?”

“Sure,” the girl said, nodding. “This way.”

“Thanks,” Zara said, following behind her. A short while later, she was at the kitchen. The cooks were busy with the pans, washing them and arranging them. Piles of plates were stacked away to the corner. The kitchen itself was as huge as the living room in the elephant tower!

The cooks barely spared her a look and continued to work on what they were doing. Zara turned to the girl who’d lead her to the kitchen. “Sorry, what’s your name?”

“Me?” she asked, baffled, stunned that she’d ask her name. “I’m…Bella.”

“Okay, Bella,” she said. “Can I get some food packaged for me? Maybe enough for four people?”

Bella frowned, confused. “I don’t understand. You could easily have whatever you want without needing to have it packaged.”

“I’m visiting a friend,” she said. “Can you get it done?”

Bella hesitated for a bit, but nodded. “Sure. Wait, I’ll get it wrapped up pretty nicely.”

Zara heaved a sigh and leaned by the counter, waiting.