Chapter Seven

Nathaniel wasn't as unpleasant a company as my husband. In fact, I actually found myself enjoying the house tour with him.

He was sort of my bodyguard. Built like a mountain, massive with an impressive height and hard muscles. I was far from short even in my heels and he easily towered me. He had to be at least ten years older than my husband but he didn't have one single gray hairline. I shrugged my comparison of him with my husband due to the fact that I couldn't stop thinking about him. Not after his possessiveness coming off so openly.

Honeysuckle, the scent infused in the air, the bright greenery lined around the beautiful flower bed and a sprinkler humming in the background, gave me a place to actually look up to when I felt blue.

"It's through here." Nathaniel pressed a button and stood beside the front door.

I gave him a nervous smile and stepped into my new house. Daniel's coat reminded me that my husband was the key to my existence in those glass walls.

The interior of the house was all white, surrounded by the glass walls, modern furniture and a rich collection of classical art and antiques.

If anything it scared me. It would take me a lifetime of hard work to even acquire one of those paintings lined up on the walls.

Being Daniel's wife, I was actually going to have all of that and more. He wasn't just my genie for a luxurious life but he was doing something much more priceless - he was taking care of my father. Before we walked up to the altar as bride and groom, I got a call from my father's handler that he was shifted to a facility an hour outside of Tennessee. It was everything for me at that moment. Now, I don't know why I wanted something more.

The house tour didn't take long. We covered the living area, the gym, the kitchen and the media room. Then came Daniel's office which looked as untouched as anything else in the house.

"Does no one live here?" I asked, a little curious to why the house felt so lonely and lifeless.

"It's a new living arrangement. I guess he will from now on." I slowed at his words but Nathaniel gestured to me to move forward.

We skipped an entire hallway on our tour and it turned out it was Nathaniel's and Marianne's living area. Wouldn't that contradict my husband's proclamation of us not having newly-wed romantic time with family members co-living.

"Why do you look so surprised, princess?" He crossed his arm across his chest and looked intimidating as hell for a bodyguard. "Don't worry the walls here are soundproof."

I turned red instantly, knowing why he had to mention that. But my primary concern was more about having to live a life under check. Mostly, the thought of Marianne bossing me around about my mannerism and diet plan was not blending well.

l shrugged. "It's just weird."

"Well, that's not the only weird thing." He didn't let me wonder what he meant by those words. We were already heading towards the master suite.

Daniel's bedroom. Mine too. Our bedroom. I had only shared rooms with girls of my age before that so the idea of living with a man and sharing a bed on a routine basis only made me more nervous.

Dark tiled floors. Rich gray walls. An enormous, king sized bed, that sat atop a white fur rug. The fireplace was a great addition to everything inside the room and when my eyes captured it, I envisioned myself and Daniel, naked on the furry rug with fire crackling beside us, providing enough warmth, and Daniel above me. I swallowed and walked towards the bathroom.

An equally magnificent bath arrangement was exactly what completed the suite.

And then came the final showdown as Nathaniel pressed a button and opened a glass panel to the backyard of the house. There it was. The biggest and cleanest swimming pool I had ever seen. I imagined many lonely afternoons lounging under the sun and taking taps into the crystal blue water. My inner mermaid loved the imagery so very much. I had always dreamt of a house with a swimming pool and I got one. 

Nathaniel glanced at his watch. "I'll leave you to it. If you would like to take a rest before you change and get ready for the family dinner. Marianne and others will be arriving here soon to help you."

"There are others?" I raised a confused brow. Wasn't Marianne enough torture already?

"Tonight you'll be introduced to the business associates of Rutherford Development. You need to appear as impeccable as possible."

He didn't wait for me to ask anything beyond that. He pulled at the lapels of his suit jacket and gave me a glance of his man bun on the way out of the house.

After Nathaniel left me to my newly acquired mansion, the exhaustion took over me. I decided to take a quick nap on the couch.

The others invaded my nap time like a hoard of zombies, following behind their leader Marianne. One by one they introduce themselves and before I had the chance of distinguishing them from their names they are on to me, their job.

They worked through my hair, my face up to my toes, arranging, painting and polishing. My hair pulled up in a stylish bun with lines of curly strands left hanging and my nails are painted nude even though I wanted them to paint it lavender. Marianne guided the makeup artists and the dresser at every step.

"This is your first official gala as a Rutherford wife, don't ruin it for yourself or the family, Lily." Marianne clipped when I glared at the black silk dress, I was shoved into it like a doll. I didn't like the itchiness it gave my chest. The black silk hung off my curves perfectly, the long slit bared my pale leg as I stepped into the strappy heels. The dress cinched at the waist and separated into a vee that didn't cling to my breasts, defining how lucious they could possibly look. I was thankful the dress wasn't missing the sleeves. The sheer half-sleeves at least held the dress over my breasts. Apart from the obvious attempt at making me look beautiful and desirable, it also gave me the elegance of a lady.

And that's exactly what they intended to see on me. I was dolled up as the perfect trophy wife and maybe, the gala was to introduce me into their world. I was ready for it bodily, even though my mind was a mess.