Chapter 1

I slammed the folder hard on the kitchen marble countertop, my face a mask of cold, calm anger.

“I want a divorce”

“What?!”

“You heard me Ethan”

“You can't be serious” his dark brown eyes shot daggers at me.

“Well I am” I sounded much calmer than I felt.

“Madeline, what is this nonsense all about?!”

“I remember asking you the same thing two weeks ago. Did I get an answer?”

He scoffed loudly and folded his arms.

“You need to calm down and stop being dramatic Madeline” 

I turned away, deftly dodging his hands as he reached out for me.

The trail of his footsteps closely behind me irked me even further.

I didn't stop to admire the beauty of the large crystal tiered chandelier hanging majestically in the center of the living room like I usually did.

“Is this about Annie? If it is, then you're being so immature-”

“I have nothing to say to you Ethan. I'm done talking”

A dark look fell over his face as I used his words against him. The exact words he'd said to me when I confronted him some months ago about the rumours spreading about him and Annie Hills.

“Now you listen to me Madeline” Ethan's voice dropped to a low threatening tone as he fixed his predatory gaze on me.

I returned his gaze with the same intensity despite the chill running down my spine.

“Whatever imaginary issue you think we have can be solved amicably. So quit throwing this little tantrum and get rid of that useless document in the kitchen or I'll do it myself”

“We'll be signing the documents in a week. Get yourself a lawyer, because I already have one”

A slow sickening smile spread across Ethan's face.

I swallowed nervously but maintained my stoic look.

“We are not getting a divorce Madeline. I don't know what has gotten into you…it's that bitchy friend of yours isn't it?”

Anger, hot and blazing flashed through me.

“Don't bring Camille into this. She has nothing to do with this” my fists clenched helplessly at my sides.

“Oh I bet she does. Running her filthy mouth all over the place. She's the one filling your head with nonsense. I've told you countless times to stay away from her but you never listen”

He took a step towards me.

“She's my best friend. I'm not going to shut her out just because you say so”

“She's not good company” Ethan said over his shoulder as he stormed into the kitchen and out of view.

I let out a breath I didn't even know I was holding.

True I was scared, confused…I didn't know what the future holds. But I was done with whatever this was. It wasn't marriage, it was bondage.

An excuse for Ethan to trample over me and treat me like scum—

The smell of burning paper snapped me out of my thoughts.

There in the kitchen, was the divorce folder I'd dropped on the countertop. It sat ablaze on the burner, slowly turning to ash. 

I hurried over and switched off the burner. The document was beyond saving, a good portion had burnt off.

Ethan!

How dare he?!

The front door opening and then clicking shut caught my attention.

I wasn't expecting anyone…perhaps it was the driver?

The clicking of heels silenced the voice in my head.

A woman?

None of our female staff wore heels…

And today was their off day so they were all gone.

Slowly I headed towards the main entrance.

I stopped dead in my track when my eyes fell upon the intruder.

Annie Hills?!

Dressed in a black silk blouse that revealed as much cleavage as possible, a tight red pencil skirt and black stiletto heels, she stood patting down her skirt and adjusted her blouse to show even more cleavage.

“Oh” Annie seemed startled when she caught sight of me.

“I didn't expect to see you here Mrs Grey”

Her sultry voice sent a feeling of disgust spiralling down my body.

“You didn't expect to see me…in my own house?”

She opened her mouth to speak but I beat her to it.

“How did you get in? This is trespassing and I can have you arrested for it—”

“Ethan called for me” she blinked her fake lashes at me.

Ethan? So they were on first name terms now?

“What for?”

“I believe that is between me and Ethan” Annie tossed her blonde locs over her shoulder and brushed past me, leaving a trail of perfume behind her.

“Stop right there” I slowly turned to face her “who let you in?” I clearly remembered locking the front door.

A small mocking smile spread across Annie's doll-like face. She dangled a key from her index finger before tossing it into her designer bag and heading up the stairs.

Ethan had given her a key? A key to our house?

How dare he?!

And judging from the way she headed up the stairs, this was not her first time here.

This was the height of it! I'd had doubts about following through with the divorce but this?!

This sealed the deal. I was done with Ethan and his lying, cheating ass!

After contacting the security team I learned that Ethan had ordered them to let Annie in whenever she came around, and not to tell me about it.

It took a lot of persuasion to eventually get them to speak.

I also spoke with my lawyer and asked her to prepare another divorce document.

The sun was setting when I headed back into the house.

As if my day couldn't get any worse, Annie was seated at the kitchen island, tapping away on her phone.

It was almost 6pm, why was she still here?

I did my best to ignore her and headed up the stairs.

“Madeline”

I froze in my path and forced myself not to grit my teeth.

“Ethan said you—”

“It's Mrs Grey to you”

She had no right to address me by my first name.

Annie rolled her eyes dramatically and muttered something under her breath.

“Ethan said he'd be back in a few, so you should make us dinner”

I scoffed loudly and folded my arms.

“Us?”

“Yes. He and I. He says you're a great cook. And since the kitchen staff aren't available today, you'll have to cook dinner”

“You expect me…to make dinner for you?”

“Ethan's order, not mine” Annie raised her hands in fake surrender. That constant mocking smile of hers dancing on her red painted lips.

“You'd better start now, Ethan will be back any minute. I think I'd like pasta. Not too spicy though, I don't do well with spicy food– where are you going?”

I ignored her mindless rambling and headed up the stairs.

“Madeline! Ethan gave his orders, you have to do what he says!” 

Annie's shrill voice calling after me almost forced me to bang my head against a wall.

But instead I headed into my large bedroom and slammed the door loudly behind me.

I wasn't sleeping here tonight. I needed space to think and calm down.

I grabbed my Gucci bag and tossed in a few items I guessed I'd need.

The screen of my phone lit up with a call.

Camille.

Perfect timing.

“Hey Cam”

“Maddie…you okay?”

“Yeah…kinda”

“You don't sound okay…wanna talk about it?”

“I'd love to do that in person actually, is that okay with you?”

“Oh that's perfect. I actually called to ask if you'd be free to watch a movie tomorrow night. I got tickets for two”

“Oh that's awesome Cam, I'd definitely love that, what time?”

“Six pm. You can stop by my place, then I'll drive us there”

“Alright. I'll give you a complete break down when we see tomorrow”

“Okay Maddie. You should get some rest then… you sound really stressed out you know”

“Sure I will”

“Love you Maddie”

“Same here Cam. Good night”

Hearing my best friend's voice somehow managed to lift my mood so I was feeling a lot calmer when I headed down the stairs. A part of me wished Annie had left but no.

She remained seated on the spot I left her.

“What took you so long? I was starting to think you weren't coming back down to cook”

I didn't spare her a glance. 

“Madeline” Ethan's voice stopped me. He was back.

“Ethan” I kept my cool as I slowly turned to face him. He was standing next to Annie. A bit too close.

“Annie told me what happened. You shouldn't have spoken to her like that”

“What?” I'd barely even said anything to her.

“Don't you have some self respect at least? You go about being rude to everyone? You weren't like this Madeline, you're changing”

“Listen Ethan, I don't know what she told you but I'm not going to stand here and argue because you won't believe me anyway”

Annie sat twirling her blond hair between her fingers. A triumphant look on her face.

“And what about dinner? I told Annie to let you know you were to prepare dinner. And what do you do? You start exchanging words with her? Start getting insultive and embarrassing her and yourself?!”

“Is that what she told you Ethan? I barely–”

“I should've seen it coming” Ethan ran his hands through his blonde hair.

“It's the little taste of success isn't it?”

I stood dumbfounded.

“What?”

“Ever since you started making your little money, and buying your little things and little cars, you started feeling like a queen right?”

“What are you even saying?”

“I'm saying I shouldn't have let you work! You should've stayed home like a good wife! You ask for too much!”

“Okay you know what? Say or believe whatever you want! I'm not doing this”

I clutched my bag tightly and walked off with purpose.

“Oh so you're not done being a bitch? Who's gonna make dinner?” Ethan called after me.

“Cook your own dinner” I was determined not to pay heed to Ethan's baseless accusations or Annie's scheming lies.

I didn't want to hear anymore of his trash.

“Madeline! Don't you dare step out that door!...Madeline!!”

I slammed the door hard behind me.