6

“Hi! I'm Oliver Hall. CEO of Olie's design.” His oblong-shaped face was graced with a gorgeous smile that spread all the way to his honey-brown eyes as he extended his hand to me for a handshake.

“Hi…hi!” My heart was beating so loudly in my chest that I failed to hear my nervous voice as I shook his hand briefly, and damn! His palm was so soft like that of a newborn. It felt like those palms have never been used before.

“As a designer, I would choose her over Ms Susan to model my dress…” he paused, then lifted his gaze to Susan, a soft smile playing on his lips as he said. “I don't mean to talk down on you, Ms. Susan. Just that her body fit more into the dress than yours even as a professional model.”

Susan's eyes burned with fury, her jaws clenched tightly as she threw me a murderous glare.

Hope and relief coursed through me. My confidence was suddenly boosted with just that single gesture from him.

My eyes wandered off to Viktor, and I was welcomed by his hard glare, which faded into a smile immediately his eyes met with Oliver's.

“Mr. Hall… you are here. This way, please.” He stepped forward, wanting to distract Oliver from me.

“You haven't told me your name yet. What's your name?” Oliver's eyes bored into mine as he asked.

“I'm Jessica. Jessica Hemsworth.”

“Jessica…” he muttered, his eyes scanning my body for a split second before looking back at my face again.

“You look good in the dress, by the way.” He smiled at me before walking away with Viktor, not even waiting for me to thank him.

*****

“What the hell was that, Jess?” Viktor's loud voice echoed in the room as he barged inside, slamming the door behind him.

The party ended an hour ago, and I returned to my room immediately while he was busy attending to the guests.

“What the hell were you doing, throwing yourself at another man?” He ranted.

I could see his reflection in the mirror in front of me. His eyes were burning with fury, but I didn't bother. Not to even say a word to him.

“I am fucking talking to you, Jessica!” Then he yanked the wipes from my hand without warning, tossing it carelessly on the floor.

I stood up and turned to face him, crossing my arms in front of me.

“Why? Are you angry?” My lips curled up in a smirk as my eyes bored into his.

“Huh?”

“Or should I say that you were jealous?”

“Jessica!” He snapped at me, covering the distance between us, but I stood on the same spot. I didn't flinch.

“You are my wife, Jessica. My fucking wife!” He said, as if trying to register the information in my head in case I had forgotten.

“Need I remind you of our agreement, Jessica?” He slid his arm around my waist, pulling me close, and as our bodies collided, I felt my skin crawl in disgust.

“You are not allowed to be with any other man except me!” he reminded me. Back then, when we got married, Viktor told me he never wanted to see me with another man. For eight years, he chased my friends away from me. I never dared keep close friends, and no man was allowed anywhere near me, but his case was different. He could even flirt with different women even in my presence.

“Then get a divorce!” I couldn't get a grip of myself, so I pushed him off and yelled, forcing back the tears that threatened to fall from my eyes.

He stared at me, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips as he huffed.

"Divorce?" he scoffed.

"That is really bold of you. First, you disobeyed me, and now you are mentioning divorce? Did something come over you, sweetheart?" He closed the distance between us, his eyes piercing into mine.

My stomach churned with disgust as his breath fanned my face.

"Don't even dream of it, Jessica. You wanted this marriage. You schemed this whole thing. What makes you think that I'm going to let you go now, huh?" he snapped.

“Jessica…” he pulled me close again, his arm wrapping around my waist. “You can't get away from me, sweetheart. We are stuck together.”

His eyes roamed around my chest lustfully, biting his lip.

"I never knew you were this sexy, you know?" He took his hand to my hair and ripped off the band, letting my hair fall freely down my shoulders.

"You look even more beautiful with your hair down." he hushed, his hand rubbing its way down my waist, as he leaned close to kiss me.

"Get the fuck away from me!" I gathered the strength in me and pushed him away.

"Don't touch me!"

Viktor frowned. "Whoa! Is that a new pattern? You've been amazing me since today. I would've loved this new Jessica, but your gut is annoying the shit out of me ." he scratched the back of his neck, chuckling.

He stopped abruptly, his face hardened as he said coldly, "Strip, Jessica. Now!"

"What!"

"Don't make me repeat myself, Jessica." I watched as he walked over to the door, locked it, and removed the keys.

"I fucking told you to strip, Jessica!" His voice made me panic, but I didn't flinch. I could hear the pounding of my heart in my ears, my body was trembling inside, but I kept a straight face, not wanting to give him the benefit of seeing me scared.

"Have you lost your mind, Viktor?" My voice almost quivered, but I was glad I could keep it together.

"What the hell do you think you are doing?!" I yelled.

"Open that door. Now!" I commanded, and his face flashed with shock.

He tried getting close to me, but I ran off to the door. "Don't come close to me, Viktor. I'm going to call the cops on you if you dare do something stupid." That threat was crazy, for a fact that I had no phone with me.

"Go ahead, bitch!" Viktor grabbed my hand and dragged me to the bed.

"Fucking call the cops on me!" he yelled, ripping my dress.

"Let me go! Get off me!" I cried out. I couldn't let him force himself on me. I can't allow that, please.

"You are hurting me, Viktor." I cried. As if he would listen.

He held my hands and pinned them above my head on the bed, removing his belt with one hand while I cried out. He had overpowered me.

Just as I gave up fighting, a knock came on the door.

"Shit!" he cursed silently.

"Go back, Jeremy. Daddy is busy!" he snapped out as he pulled his zipper down.

"Excuse me, please? Is everything alright in there?"

My eyes snapped open when a different voice spoke. A familiar voice that I quick recognised. It was Mr. Hall.

Viktor's face dilated in shock as he froze, and I heard him whisper. "Mr. Hall?"