My Rules

Adrian's POV 

She wouldn't look at me in the elevator, and she still wasn't looking at me by the time the suite door closed behind us.

"Victoria, who sent that letter?" I asked.

"I said It's nothing, can't you let it go?" She sighed and set her clutch on the centre table carefully, like it weighed more than it should. "It was a wedding note. From someone I know."

"People don't usually go pale from reading a wedding note."

"It's been a long day, Adrian." She finally met my eyes, chin up, the same posture she'd worn walking down the aisle that morning. "Don't forget I just fainted on a plane few hours ago. I probably still look pale from that. And I'm super exhausted. So don't let that bother you."

Of course she'll try to play that card with me. What did she think I was? 12? 

Sure, she'd gone pale, almost as white as the seats themselves when she fainted, but the colour had come back to her fair face, and her almond shaped green eyes. 

Her eyes… it was a remarkable shade I don't think I've seen anywhere before. She had traces of blue in them, making them look more torquise than green.

Again, I wondered if Victoria had always had this unique set of eyes and I never noticed them. I know she has green eyes but looking up close, her eyes were truly one of a kind, I don't believe I've never noticed them before the wedding.

“Mr Adrian Kingsley?” Her voice pulled me back to the present. “The way you keep staring at me is getting creepy.”

What were we talking about before I zoned out?

She moved further into the suite. “I said you shouldn't dwell on the note. It's from a friend.”

I finally found my voice. “Is it? Then let me see the note.”

She froze at that. But she recovered quickly. “So you don't take my word for it?”

“Obviously,” I replied in a clipped tone.

She frowned at that. “Mr. Adrian Kingsley, we're married now. You will not treat me like a child. You will also not order me around. You will respect me and you will have to take my words as I say them. I'm not giving you no papers.”

“And who do you think you are to be throwing orders around here?”

Her plump rosy lips flattened out to a thin line. “I am your wife, yes, but you will respect—”

“Enough of that!” I used my deadly board meeting tone and it shut her up quickly. 

This has gone on for far too long. Time to put this woman back in her place.

I moved further into her personal space. “Don't you forget the Hale name would have crumbled to the ground had I not stepped in and saved your failing family and your miserable father. This thing we're doing here is beneficial to me, if not you wouldn't be here running that leaking mouth.

So you will respect me as your husband and as the person who saved your goddamn lives.”

I straightened back out. “Sit down. We're going to talk now and you will listen to everything I have to say”

I watched her recover from my menacing tone. The fear slowly left her eyes and that defiance returned back to them almost immediately. Even my men didn't recover that quickly when I used that tone. Was she really born with no fear?

"Talk about what."

"The terms of this marriage."

"I thought the terms were already decided," she asked. "Marry you. Stand next to you in pictures. And pretend convincingly enough the whole period we're married that nobody asks questions."

"That's the broad version. I want you to understand the specific terms—my specific terms, tonight. Sit down, Victoria.”

She crossed her arms and remained at the spot glaring at me.

What was it that made this woman so fearless?

I clenched my fists. “If I have to say that one more time…”

This time she visibly shuddered and finally shuffled her feet to the couch. 

I'd had this conversation rehearsed in my head since the lawyers drew up the marriage agreement. No woman was going to disrupt my carefully curated world. Certainly not Victoria Hale.

“My rules are simple and you're going to abide by all so long as you're under my roof, so long as we stay married.”

“We would always have separate rooms," I continued. "Tonight and every night after. This suite has two rooms, the penthouse has more than enough space once we're home. If we have to be somewhere else, we'll definitely have two rooms. For no reason on God's green earth should you have any reason to cross the threshold of my room."

"Not like I ever wanted to share a bed space with you, Mr Adrian Kingsley."

"Shut up while I talk!"

She fell silent again.

"For public appearances, galas, board functions, anything with cameras or people who matter to the company, we attend together and we act like a married couple for as long as we're in the room. The moment we're alone, none of that's required."

"Fine."

"You will never fall in love with me or even entertain such thoughts."

At that she threw her head to the back and laughed. 

“What's funny,” I gritted out.

“You… you thinking… you thinking that should even be a rule.” She said in between giggles. “And don't fall in love with me too, Mr Adrian Kingsley.”

"I'm the one giving out the rules here, not the other way round." 

“Whatever Adrian, do not fall in love with me. That is my only rule.”

“I'm not done.” 

“What's left, Mr Adrian Kingsley?”

“You will have my cars at your disposal, access to my houses and wealth, wardrobes of anything you wish to wear, shoppers at your beck and call, literally anything you want, but. Nothing from your dad or your family. I will be your sole provider from now on.”

“That's no problem,” she respondedm

“And no communication with your father and family unless absolutely necessary.”

“Fine.”

She agreed too quickly. I had no issues with her keeping in touch with Richard, even though I hated his guts. But this was a test. I remember the look her gave her at the reception. There was definitely bad blood between Papa Hale and his beloved daughter, contrary to what they made everyone believe, and this was just to confirm it. I'll get to the root of that later.

"That's it," she said, when I didn't immediately respond. "That's the whole list?"

"That's the whole list."

"Then we're agreed." She unclipped one earring, then the other, dropping them into her palm like she was couldn't wait to be out of my space. "Is there anything else, or can I go to bed?"

"You're not going to negotiate any of it?"

"Should I?"

"No."

She huffed. “Don't be acting all confused, Mr Adrian Kingsley.

“Can you stop calling out my full name?”

“Nope.”

“Why?”

“Because I love the sound of it and it gives me so much joy seeing you all rattled up.”

Did she just say she loves the sound of my name?

“I have some rules,” she said. “Or requests rather.”

Hmmm. Victoria Hale wants something. 

No. Not Hale. Kingsley. Victoria Kingsley wants something.

“And what is that?”

“I have some… hobbies. I'll like to have enough freedom to do what I do.”

“Hobbies? What are your hobbies?”

“You'll see when the time comes. It's nothing that'll disrupt your life or cause any harm don't worry. And I'll also like to be left alone. Mostly. Is that allowed under your 1000 rules?"

"Yes. I also like to be left alone. Dont expect me to perform no husband duties—”

"Then we're agreed." She cut me off. “Which is my room?”

“The one on the left.”

“Goodnight, Mr Adrian Kingsley. I'll see you tomorrow. Or not.”

What's that supposed to mean?

"Victoria."

She stopped, with one hand on the frame.

“One more rule.”

She rolled her eyes at me. “What more could you possibly want?”

“No skipping meals in my house. That is as important as every other rule. And make sure you eat something before you sleep tonight.”

"I'll order room service."

"I mean it."

"I heard you the first time, Adrian." But there was no fight in her words this time, just exhaustion. She disappeared through the door without waiting for whatever I might have said next.

Everywhere suddenly became very quiet.