From a common secretary to Mrs Greyworth

The beautiful woman walked in a circle around Allegra. "Ah, I see the resemblance now. Though it's obvious who's prettier." She finally stopped in front of Allegra and looked straight into her eyes, hazel orbs against hazel orbs. "Hello, Allegra. I'm Samantha."

 Allegra could not mask her confusion. "Hello... how can I help you?"

 "Oh honey, you can't. You know why?" Samantha asked, still staring at the younger woman critically. "Because I've been in your shoes before. Except mine were much prettier, Dolce and Gabbana to be precise. They cost a fortune." She eyed Allegra's white wedding shoes.

 Allegra cleared her throat, growing tired of the aimless conversation. "Do you mind telling me who you are? You can choose not to, but I'll have to ask you to leave---"

 Samantha burst into laughter. Allegra watched for a few minutes as the woman laughed hysterically, like she was watching a comedy show.

 "Oh, dear." Samantha purred mockingly. "Perhaps I should reintroduce myself. I'm Samantha Holland, Nicholas' ex-wife and the mother of his second son, Brandon. You can't just ask me to leave." The woman giggled again.

 Allegra took a mental note. Samantha was Brandon's mother. Brandon Greyworth, the nice, blonde young man who complimented her when she was Nicholas' secretary.

 Allegra would not let the woman intimidate her. "Can I help you, Samantha?"

 The sternness in Allegra's tone surprised Samantha. "Ah, you're a bold one aren't you? Ivy wasn't this bold at first." Samantha smirked. "We'll see just how bold you are, little girl."

 Allegra instinctively walked away. When she got to her room upstairs. She knew Nicholas had been married three times, but she didn't expect his ex-wives to be so unpleasant.

 Allegra did not leave her room until evening, only deciding to come downstairs when her stomach started rumbling. When she got to the kitchen, the workers were already preparing dinner.

 Flora, who was supervising the activities acknowledged Allegra with a nod.

 "Do you need anything, Mrs Greyworth?" Flora's voice stopped her from opening the fridge.

 "Um, I wanted a snack." Allegra said, noticing all the side glances the workers were giving her. Everyone wanted to get a look at the new Mrs Greyworth.

 "You shouldn't have skipped lunch then." Flora said, then walked away. The woman always wore a polite smile, but Allegra could tell that Flora was not excited to have her around.

 Allegra cleared her throat to address the three people left in the kitchen. "Who's in charge?"

 A sturdy black man stepped forward. "My name is Theodore Johnson, I'm the chef. So you could say I'm in charge, ma'am." He had a wide smile.

 She shook the man's hand. "Wonderful. I'm Allegra Allegra O'Connell... Greyworth." It was the first time she had ever called herself by her new last name. "Do you solely decide what we eat everyday or are you under instruction from Mr Greyworth?"

 "We have a schedule, ma'am. It's revised every year."

 Allegra mouthed a 'wow'. So rich people too, cannot decide what to eat everyday.

 "Can I have a quick snack? A leftover lasagna or something?" Allegra asked, fighting back a yawn.

 "Right away. If you could wait in the living area, ma'am." He gestured towards the kitchen's exit.

 Allegra left, feeling like she was in a fancy restaurant instead of an actual kitchen.

 Her heart jumped when she noticed a feminine figure in the living room. Upon closer inspection, she realized it wasn't Samantha sitting cross-legged in the living area. No, the young lady was brunette with large brown eyes. Allegra guessed she was eighteen or nineteen.

 Allegra sat on the exquisite couch opposite the teenager. "Hello." Allegra waved slightly, with a pleasant smile.

 The girl looked up from her phone. "Who are you?"

 "I'm Allegra. What's your name?"

 "Ivory Greyworth." The girl introduced herself. "Are you here for somebody? Jonathan perhaps? You're just his type."

 Allegra laughed awkwardly. It truly was awkward, her husband's daughter was assuming she was there to hookup with her husband's son. How was she supposed to explain to the pretty doe-eyed girl that she is not her brother's girlfriend, but her new stepmother.

 "Um, no. I'm not here to see Jonathan."

 "Brandon then? You guys look a tad alike though I think you might be older than him. Not judging." The girl joked. "You're so pretty though."

 "Thanks." Allegra smiled.

 "Where'd my dumbass brother meet someone as beautiful as you?" The girl pressed further.

 Allegra wished Ivory would just end the conversation abruptly by focusing on her phone again and acting like no one else was in the room with her like most teenagers would.

 "I'm not here for either of your brothers."

 Ivory lifted a brow. "Who then? I'm confused..." She stopped talking mid-sentence, with her mouth slightly agape and shock written all over her face.

 Allegra followed Ivory's gaze to the big diamond ring which Nicholas put on her finger earlier that day.

 "No, no, it can't be. You're here for my father?" Ivory almost shouted. Allegra nodded. "You guys are engaged?"

 Allegra dropped the bombshell. "Married."

 Ivory stared at her, jaw dropped in disbelief. "Is this a prank?" Allegra shook her head.

 Ivory did not say another word to Allegra, but stormed off in anger after a few minutes. All Allegra could do was sit there and stare at the huge rock on her finger. She realised Nicholas had not informed anyone about their flash marriage. She wondered how many more people the news of their matrimony would upset.

 Later that evening, Nicholas came home from work and joined Allegra for dinner. While she was seated at one end of the table set for eight, he made himself comfortable at the other end.

 "Good evening." Allegra greeted. Nicholas simply nodded. "How was work at the Consolidated?"

 "Good." He said between bites.

 Allegra wanted to tell him how fascinated she was by the fact that they followed a meal schedule, how uncomfortable Samantha's visit made her and how awkward her interaction with his only daughter was. But how would she even start? Less than twenty four hours ago, she had spoken to him as her boss. How was she to talk to him as her husband?

 "I learnt a few things about your home, sir."

 He looked up from his meal. "Just Nicholas now, Allegra. You are no longer my secretary."

 "Right." Allegra said. "Do you have a new one?" She asked.

 He looked at her like she had just asked a stupid question. "Obviously."

 Allegra swallowed. "I met your ex-wife."

 He was quiet for a moment, it almost seemed like he was thinking. "Quinn? A tall, intimidating woman with the eyes of a fox?"

 "No, surprisingly this one looks a lot like me. Her name's Samantha." Allegra watched her husband for a reaction, but he gave none.

 "What did she want?" Nicholas asked.

 "Did you marry me because I look like your ex-wife?" Allegra blurted out.

 Nicholas' glare was one of contempt. "Don't be stupid. Your looks are of no use to me, Allegra." Allegra was taken aback by his harshness. "Now if you have nothing else to say, I would eat in absolute silence."

 For several minutes, the only sounds that could be heard from the dinning room was that of forks and knives against plates

Allegra fumed in silence until Brandon joined them.

 "Good evening father." He said as he sat a seat away from Nicholas.

 For several moments, he examined Allegra. She masked her discomfort with indifference. "Why is your secretary here?" He asked his father directly.

 "Because she is now my wife." Nicholas' tone was nonchalant.

 "What?!"

 "Do not desert your table manners." Nicholas warned.

 "Screw table manners, I met her as your secretary yesterday morning! Since when have you guys been married?" Brandon asked his father, confused.

 "That is for me to know and for you to respect. " Nicholas said.

 "Dad, this is nuts. Who else knows about this?" Brandon pressed.

 "Whomever needs to know. My personal life is nobody's business." Nicholas stated.

 "Nobody's business? You just got married to a woman you barely know because she looks like my mum! What if she's a gold digger?"

 "And your mother was not?" Nicholas fired back.

 Brandon did not relent. "I thought you loved Michelle---"

 Nicholas banged his fist against the table, startling Allegra. "Watch it. Keep her name out of your mouth."

 Brandon would not stop. "I am so disappointed and I'm sure she would be too." He then turned to Allegra. "You think you won, huh?" He sneered. "From a common secretary to Mrs Greyworth. Enjoy it while it lasts. We're gonna make sure it doesn't anyways." With that, he got up and stormed off.

 Allegra's blood ran cold. She had made three enemies simply by marrying Nicholas Greyworth. And the enemies happened to be his own blood.