WELCOME HOME, MADAM

Chapter 4

MIA

The drive was quiet, so I finally asked.

“Why were you at my house?”

He ignored me completely and asked instead,

“When are you processing the divorce?”

“What?! Why would I divorce my husband?”

He glanced at me for two seconds, then looked back at the road, face blank.

“You both cheated.”

“It was a drunk mistake, okay? A mistake. And I never told you my husband cheated. Mind your own business.”

His forehead creased in anger. The car suddenly sped up.

In less than two minutes we passed through a giant gate. The place looked insanely luxurious.

He parked in front of the mansion, got out, and opened my door.

I looked down at the ground and felt like I would dirty it just by stepping on it.

I got out slowly and couldn’t stop staring.

“I’ve never seen a house this big.”

“I slept with a billionaire?!”

I tapped my own face.

“I’m not a gold digger.”

“Come on.” He walked ahead of me. The doors opened on their own.

Men in black suits stood in two lines, with women in black-and-white uniforms behind them.

“What does he need all these people for?”

“Welcome, sir.”

“Welcome, madam.” They bowed in perfect unison like they’d practiced it a hundred times.

They kept their heads down until we walked past.

I tugged the hem of his shirt.

“Why did you bring me here?”

It took him three full seconds to look at me.

Then he ignored me again.

“What’s wrong with this guy?” Frustration was written all over my face.

He walked past me and spoke to the staff who were still bowing.

“Mia will be staying here from now on. I expect you to give her the same respect you give me.

Anyone who makes her even slightly uncomfortable will regret it.”

“Yes, boss,” they answered together.

“Okay, this is weird as fuck. I don’t even know this man.”

When he turned back to me, his face had softened.

“Come with me.”

I followed him until we were alone. He opened a door and walked in. I went after him.

“This room is huge. How rich is this guy?”

“Why am I even here?”

“Who the fuck are you?” The question came out flatter than I meant it to.

“What do you want from me?”

“You still have to take responsibility for me, princess.” That almost invisible smirk was back.

He stepped closer. I stepped back.

“I can’t make another mistake.”

I kept moving backward until the back of my legs hit the bed and I sat down hard.

Our faces were only inches apart.

He traced a finger along my cheek.

“What do you want?” I whispered. I could barely hear my own voice.

I was going to offer him money, even though he clearly didn’t need it.

“I can give you mon...”

His lips were on mine before I could finish.

I shoved him away the second his hands moved toward my blouse.

“What do you think you’re doing?” I glared at him.

“I’m sorry. I’ll give you time to adjust,I just couldn't control myself” he said quietly, sounding disappointed.

“I’ll go process the divorce.” He pointed at the door with his thumb and turned to leave.

At the door he paused.

“You can ring the bell over there if you need anything.” Then he left.

What’s wrong with him? What right does he have to process my divorce or kiss me?

Where did this man even come from?

Come to think of it… I cheated on Nathan too, and he already apologized. Maybe it really was a setup. I almost fell into this guy’s trap this morning.

Nathan has been good to me all these years. Maybe divorce is too harsh.

I looked around the room and took a breath.

It felt like an entire house on its own. Everything I could need was already here.

“If he has this much money, what does he even want from me?”

A stupid thought popped into my head.

“Could he be a human trafficker?!”

“Ahhhhhhhh!”

NATHAN

I opened my eyes slowly. Everything was still dark.

I tried to move my hands, but they were tied.

I tried my legs — also tied to the chair.

Panic hit me.

I struggled, but the ropes didn’t give at all.

“Where the fuck am I?”

“Help!”

“Is anyone there?”

The last thing I remembered was running to the door after the doorbell rang, thinking it was Mia coming back. The moment I opened it, everything went black.

Someone must have knocked me out.

I’ve never done anything to anyone. Mia would never do this to me.

“What do you want?!” I shouted, hoping someone could hear me.

The door opened. A man in a suit walked in, followed by another man whose shape looked familiar.

“Someone was listening.”

“Wait… Boss?”