CHAPTER 16 ~ THE RULES OF LOUIS

FLAVIA'S POV

I never knew flowers could feel like landmines. The orchids on the marble kitchen island were a soft shade of lilac, delicate and perfectly arranged. I reached out instinctively to adjust one of the petals, only slightly because it looked like it was leaning the wrong way.

"Don’t touch that." Came a voice from behind me and without turning around, I knew it was Louis.

I froze. "It’s just a flower, Louis."

His footsteps were clipped against the marble floors as he entered the kitchen. "That’s not the point."

I turned around slowly, watching him stand there in a blue jeans and a black polo shirt buttoned by the neck and he looks so cute as usual, I love seeing him in casual outfits as well as cooperates, he looks good either ways. It's Sunday and he is not going to work.

"What is the point, then?" I asked curiously.

He narrowed his eyes at the vase. "I had it arranged a certain way."

I blinked. "So? I just nudged a petal."

"You moved it. The alignment is off." God. Is he serious?

"Are you hearing yourself right now?" I scoffed. "You are angry over a flower petal?"

"I’m angry," He said evenly. "Because this is the third time this week you have touched things I asked you not to."

I folded my arms, shocked at his statement. "Are you seriously keeping count?"

"Yes."

My mouth fell open. "You are so unbelievable."

"And you are careless," He shot back. "You leave mugs on counters, you rearranged the books in my study, and you threw your jacket over the back of my favorite Italian couch like this is a bloody dorm room."

"It is my house too now, remember?" I snapped. "Or have you forgotten that you married me and moved me in?"

He didn’t blink. "It’s not your house, this is my house and I am just sharing my space with you and I have rules that should be followed."

"Oh, your precious rules." I said as I threw my hands up. "Do you have a laminated list somewhere, or do you just bark them out as we go?" Because as this point, I doubt I can keep up.

He stepped closer, his jaw tight. "If you can’t respect basic order, then don’t touch things that don’t belong to you. Don't go into my study and if you do, leave things as they are. Don't touch my favorite couch and please leave every arrangement as it is."

My stomach turned. "You really think everything in this place belongs to you, don’t you?"

He didn’t answer, which was answer enough.

"I get it now," I said, voice rising. "You can hand out office spaces like candy, but god forbid I breathe too close to your overpriced vase."

He clenched his jaw. "You think that office gesture meant something personal?"

My throat tightened. "Didn’t it?" I mean, I argued with Jazmine that it meant nothing but Louis doesn't do anything without a reason.

"No." The word dropped like ice. "I did it because you needed a space, don’t read into it." It hurts hearing that from him, maybe I shouldn't have been hopeful. I honestly thought he was changing, trying to be a better person but I guess I was wrong.

"Don’t worry," I said, voice lower, bitter. "I know exactly what this is, you want a wife on paper and a silent roommate in real life. Someone who shows up to events, smiles on command, and disappears the moment the cameras go off."

"That’s what we agreed on." He said.

"Yeah? Well, maybe I want to revisit the terms of our agreement." He blinked, just once. "I’m not one of your investments, Louis. You don’t get to control me like one."

"I don’t control you."

"You try to." My voice shook. "With your coldness, with your rules, with your hot and cold mood swings. One minute you are giving me the world and the next you are making me feel like I’m trespassing in this damn house."

His eyes flickered then, something unreadable passing through them but it was gone just as fast.

"You moved the vase." He repeated, voice steel like moving the vase is the only issue we have. "Just... don’t touch my things." At first, I thought he had some sort of obsessive compulsive disorder because of how he likes his things to be untouched and left in a certain way but at this point, I am beginning to think it's something different.

I stared at him. "You are afraid of people getting too close, aren’t you? That’s what all this is, you use your rules to push people out."

He didn’t reply, the silence sat heavy between us.

I swallowed and turned away, grabbing my cup of coffee and walking toward the hallway. I didn’t trust myself to say anything else. My hands were shaking and my heart thundered with something close to rage but also confusion and frustration.

He is so difficult to understand. He took me to that stunning building and watched with quiet pride as I chose my new office, he let me jump into his arms and he didn't pull away, he gave me his black card to furnish the space to my liking but now, over a flower vase, he is making a fuss.

When I reached the stairs, I stopped and turned back. "I will stay out of your way, I will be invisible." I said.

He looked up sharply. "What?"

"You clearly don’t want me here."

"I never said that."

"You don’t have to." I smiled without humour. "You are already saying it with every sigh, every glare, every complaint."

He walked toward me, slowly, as if he was restraining himself. "This isn’t about you living here, Flavia. This is about boundaries, I like my things a certain way."

"I’m not a robot, Louis."

"And I’m not your boyfriend," He snapped. "You don’t get to touch every part of my life." That stung more than I wanted to admit.

"I wasn’t trying to touch your life," I whispered. "I was just trying to live mine." And with that, I turned and went upstairs.

...

I locked myself in my room and flopped on the bed, heart pounding. The petals, the books, the damn jacket.

This can't be about me, It wasn’t just that I touched his stuff. It was him. He doesn't know how to exist around someone without turning cold or territorial. I don't know what the problem is but it has nothing to do with me, it's all him... I mean, it isn't all cold with him, he has been warm a few times, briefly but warm.

I can still remember the way his jaw had tensed when Carter flirted with me, how he got so mad that I was laughing at Carter's jokes. The office space, the hug, the black card and even his eyes sometimes go soft when he thought I wasn’t looking.

After the office gesture, I honestly thought that this was going to be better between us, it felt like he was changing, becoming nice and less rude and I decided to be accommodating and less annoying too but I was wrong... I don't know why he decided to be nice but he hasn't changed. He is still the same Louis I know, easily irritated, very rude and full of complaints.

What is wrong with him? And what the hell is wrong with me for caring? I am not supposed to care.

This marriage is supposed to be transactional, short, safe, emotionless and predictable but he isn’t safe, he is chaos wrapped in control, ice hiding fire and I am burning either way.

My phone started ringing and without checking the caller ID, I picked up the call. "Hey girl." Jazmine said as soon as I picked up her call.

"Hi, Jaz."

"Hmmm, what's wrong? Are you okay?"

"I am fine, I just had a little fight with Louis over stupid flowers." I pointed out.

"Hahaha, that really funny. Seriously, flowers?"

"Yeah, flowers. He is seriously driving me crazy. One minute, he is nice doing grand gestures and the next, he is acting so cold and annoying." He is so confusing.

"Maybe fighting and childish banter is his love language or he is scared that he is falling in love with you." She reasoned but she's wrong.

"No, Jaz. This has nothing to do with love, he doesn't like me like that. I don't even think he wants me in his space, he doesn't want me to touch anything."

"I really don't know what to say, just give him a little time." Yeah, I will give him more than enough space, I will stay away.

"You are right, why did you call?" I asked curiously.

"I wanted to ask if you want to come out with me for some ice cream or something?" I love ice cream but not today.

"I am not really in the mood, how about tomorrow?"

"Okay that's fine, see you at work. Take care." She said before hanging up.