Chapter 7

 DESIRE 

ROMEO'S PENTHOUSE

After having gone to the hospital after work, she came back home a bit late and it was all due to the test the nurses had told her to carry out.

They couldn't tell her what was wrong until a test had been carried out and the result will be out the day after tomorrow.

As soon as she walk into the house she saw him seated on one of her favourite sofa having papers spread out on his desk while talking on the phone to someone.

As soon as he saw her approach, he ended the call and stared at her.

"So you've finally decide to come home. I thought you will stay out long with those male colleague of yours" Romeo told her softly.

"As you can see am here and by the way my male colleague as you put it leave work before I do which makes me the last person to leave the kitchen" she replied.

"Really? That should some how put my mind at ease right?" Romeo asked.

"It should and unlike you, I wouldn't do something that will put your company in jeopardy, so put your mind at rest on that score" she told him.

"That should be comforting but somehow it doesn't, I saw you when you walked into the cafeteria with them today" 

"Were you spying on me?" She asked.

"You flatter yourself. Do you think you are that important?" He asked.

"Then how come you....."

"I only went there to eat. It's my company and I have a right to eat wherever I want to right?" He asked and she nodded in reply.

"You have" she replied as his phone began to ring again and while she turned to leave he motioned for her to stop.

"Have been working endlessly and I haven't eaten,cook me something" he said as soon as he ended the call.

"Cant you just order a food to eat?" She asked.

"I have a wife who is a chef in my company and yet you want me to order, no way in hell" he said and angrily she put down her bag to help him cook something up.

It was a while later that she returned with a sandwich.

"What the hell is this?" He asked.

"Your dinner" she told him looking pleased at having infuriate him.

"You call sandwich a dinner?" He asked.

"It's a perfect food people eat, if you aren't going to eat then I will Just eat it myself" she said wanting to take it when he pushed her hand away.

"You intentionally did this to piss me off right?" He asked as he bit into the sandwich.

Mainly to piss him off and also because she didn't want to cook knowing that it might end up being tasteless. She's been yelled on by Charles, she won't let Romeo do the same.

"Why can't I piss you off? You've also been pissing me off with your dirty insinuations, so enjoy the sandwich and I hope it keeps you more hungry instead of satisfying your hunger" she said hotly as she stood up to leave and unknown to her Romeo mouth curve in a smile which he disguised quickly.

"We are going to see my mom tomorrow" he told her smoothly.

"Really? What about work?" She asked.

"You will just have to be absent. We leave by ten and make sure you look the happy bride cause am sure my mom called to find out about our relationship" he told her.

"Obviously she's meant to suspect when her son travelled a whole month immediately after his wedding and also he was seen with his lovers" she said.

"That doesn't matter and I don't care about your opinion on what have been doing for the past one month"

"I know you won't but I wonder what your Mom will think once I tell her about the reality of our marriage" she said.

"Are you threatening me?" He asked.

"Just wanted you to know" she told him.

"Don't even think of telling her the truth when you see her tomorrow" he said getting up which got Marie running to her room.

"I will do whatever I want" she said poking her tongue out at him before shutting the door on his face.

"She really is infuriating!" He said before going back to his business.

 THE NEXT DAY 

"Am ready" Marie said as she walked out of her room in a plain blue dress.

"What's that?" Romeo asked taking in her clothe.

"What's what?" She returned.

"Isn't that too drab for you?" He asked eyeing her clothe.

"It isn't and it's the best clothe have got " she told him as she twirled around while he frown at her.

"You call this best? What have you been doing with the allowance I made for you?" He asked.

"I told you that I don't want your money and I mean it, once I get my first pay cheque then I will indulge in buying my own clothes" she told him with pride as she walked past him.

He didn't argue with her and she thought he had given in to her but she was wrong because instead of driving to his mom flat, he took her straight to an expensive boutique.

"You really don't give up" she told him fiercely.

"I don't now get out of the car before I force you to" he told her and she went with him.

"Welcome Mr Brooks" the attendant greeted as soon as he walked in.

"Bring me the catalogue" he said with authority as he went to seat

"You've obviously been here countless of times" Marie noted.

"Of course have been " he replied starring at the catalogue the lady had brought.

"With countless of girls" she added and this time he stared at her.

"What? You know that am..." She stopped talking when he moved close to her on the sofa they were both seated on.

"Not with countless of girls, have been here as have said but with mom or grandma and you are the third girl have brought here too, you should feel honoured" he told her still having his face close to hers.

For a while Marie was lost starring at him but she looked away quickly and also move away.

"You have nothing to say to that?" He asked as he handed the catalogue back to the hovering attendant having marked the clothes he wanted for her.

"I will rather reserve my comment" she said hiding her feelings even as she got out of her seat to follow the attendant.

Romeo was going through the other catalogue when he noticed that Marie was taking long.

He got out of his seat and found two attendant standing by the door way still holding the clothes he picked in their hands.

"What's going on?" He asked.

"It's just that while she was about changing, she saw a dress and decided to try that on instead of the one you chose for her, she's been in the changing room for a while now and she isn't out yet" one of the attendant told him.

"Give them to me" he said taking the clothes from the attendant and he went into the room not bothering to think that Marie might be naked.

Luckily she wasn't, she was dressed in a white gown which clung to her curves, curves he hardly noticed until today, well except for their first date, he hasn't seen her dressed in something this good.

She was starring at the mirror with her back still turned to him and she hadn't finished buttoning up the gown at the back which left her bare back exposed to him.

Romeo found himself starring, he suddenly felt the urge of going to her, of touching and caressing her while he kissed her neck.

Her gasp at having seen him jolt him out of the illicit thoughts he was having.

"What are you doing here?" She asked as she held the dress to herself.

"I heard you weren't wearing what I chose for you and so I decided to know why" he replied.

"I just wanted to try this gown out, I was going to try them out and you have no right to be here.....leave before I scream for help" she told him.

"What do you mean by I have no right? Am your husband after all" he said as he move towards her , turning her around while he help button her gown.

"What are you doing?" She asked trying to move out of his arms but he only pulled her back which got her very close to him.

"Stay still and let me button this up" he told her.

"You can just let one of the attendant in and...are you crazy?" She yelled out when he suddenly wrap his arms around her and pulled her into his arms.

"Let me go" she demanded trying to pull free only for him to pull her closer.

"You said something yesterday" he began gently.

"What?"She asked feeling threatened by his proximity.

"That you intend on telling my mom the reality of our relationship. Do you still plan on doing that?" He asked gently kissing her on the neck which got Marie gasping.

"I....I ....don't intend to do that, I was just bluffing" she said in reply.

"Really? Then I hope you stick to your words and pretend to be the most loving wife ever" he added while she nodded her head in return.

"Promise to behave?" He added and she nodded quickly just so he would let her go which he did.

Marie was trying to hide her nervousness when he began laughing behind her.

"Take it easy, I won't bite you and just so you know you don't interest me in the least bit" he said.

"Because am not Develene?" She asked hotly feeling embarrassed.

"Because you aren't Develene and because you leave nothing to be desired. A woman who lies just to save her friend has nothing to be desired. So be rest assured that I will never look your way, wear that dress it suits you more" he added as he left the room.

Marie went to seat on the chair in the room not from shock of his proximity but of the things he said. Somehow she knew he was serious with his words and why she felt hurt by it, she didn't know. 

They got to his mother and immediately he was all charm. Due to his acting skills, he made his mom believe that their relationship is the best. 

He always had his arms around her and he even kissed her a multiple of times on the cheek, she knew he was doing it only for his mother benefit but the look the woman gave her clearly told her that she didn't buy it at all.

It wasn't until Romeo left them to call his secretary that she pulled her close.

"I know my son and I know when he tries to hide something from me and right now I can tell that something is wrong with you two. Feel free to tell me" his mother urged her.

"I...." If she told her the truth then Marie could get out of this marriage without any harm and that is the one thing she wanted most, she thought starring at Romeo mom.

On the other hand Romeo stood at the door way, hidden by the wall while he waited for Marie response.

If she spoke up now then she would be free of their marriage and somehow he knew that she was going to do just that and that made his palm sweaty.

He had been lying earlier when he told her that he had no interest in her whatsoever. Having her close to him only fuelled his desire for wanting her.

He had desired her in the past when he thought her to be Develene and even when he knew her to be who she is, he still desire her.

It's for the best if she just speak up and get the freedom she wants because if she leave it up to him, he wouldn't let her go. The thought came to him and he found himself pondering over it when he heard her say.

"I love Romeo and he loves me. I married him for a reason and that's because of the love we feel for each other. You have nothing to worry about cause Romeo and I are happily married"

"Really? Hope you aren't lying to me" he heard his mother ask.

"Am not" she replied.

So she made her decision, then he will also stick to his, he thought as he went into the room.