Tatiana Returns.

At the Mansion, in the estate.

“I am doing this for you and your child, okay? I made you a promise.” Zane said as he opened the car door, they had arrived at the estate.

Chase didn’t join them; he had to deal with the journalist.

“Isn’t this too much? It’s far from the office, isn’t it?” Alessia sighed as Zane placed his left hand on her waist.

The touch sends electricity all over her, this rarely happened with Roman.

Roman was cold, calculated. Sex to Roman was a role, something he only wanted to enjoy; that was the only thing they shared.

She was a stay at home wife; a paparazzi wife; nothing more. She got all the affection and love on camera, everything else was lies. She accepted her fate, love didn’t find her.

But what she had with Zane, these last days; It was real, it felt real.

Was this love bombing? Was this what it was liked to be loved? How could he love her, it has just been some days? Yes he hated Roman, but did time fade and did cupid manipulate things?

“The office isn’t far, it’s thirty minutes away and I am the CEO. I can arrive anytime I want.” Zane turned, right before the door, he closed the gap between them. His eyes gazed at her, searching for something. Alessia blinked, her lips parted.

He leaned in, lifting her jaw. He stared at her plum thick lips and her gloss highlighted them, her lips called his.

For a second, a second- he wanted to kiss her, he wanted to lift her and kiss her, he wanted to own her. The papers that proved their marriage wasn't enough, he wanted to consummate the marriage.

He leaned in, and she did too, she wanted him to kiss her. He was her knight in shining armour, a rich one too, everything she wished Roman was.

She stared at him, searching his eyes also. This was it, the moment he should lean in to kiss her, the moment their lips should dance.

‘'What does his lips taste like?’ She asked herself, time stretched. It felt like eternity.

“You are my Queen.” He leaned in and kissed her forehead instead, he held himself back from kissing her lips, he held himself back from carrying her in his arms.

He had to be a gentleman, a man who had control, a man worthy of her. Sure, he did all of these to get to Roman, but she was becoming something much more to him.

She sighed for relief as he pulled her into a hug. It was warm and she got to take a whiff of his perfume, it was woody, chocolate and tangy. The type of perfume that lingered in the nostrils for hours, the type you can't miss.

He pulled away from the hug.

“The estate is heavily guarded, so you are safe here. It's fortified and there are cameras everywhere.” Zane added as he led her inside.

The mansion was painted in white, from the door that led into the spacious area, linking to various doors and a beautiful staircase.

She saw the dining table, the entrance to the kitchen, at the overhead she saw the garden filled with colours, flowers that she barely knew existed.

She looked around, she saw the artworks, various types from sculptures to pictures. The staff are minimal, discreet, they all wore a cream coloured uniform.

She saw the chef, the cleaners and two other maids who stood at the top of the stairs. She knew those two would attend to her personally.

“I like this.” Alessia said with a smile as she turned around.

“I know.” Zane said as he took her on a tour of the house, the maids had packed her bags and arranged them.

“Your room has been prepared, the maids are at your beck and call, there's a printed paper with their names and a small bell that they respond to. There's a landline too, I don't want you yelling. My room is a few rooms away from yours.” Zane informed her, taking his time making sure she felt at home.

“Wow, I…I am just…wow.” She gasped, her words hung on her throat, she could only utter a few words.

“It’s fine princess. All of this is for you.” Zane added, Alessia nodded, a tiny smile crept up on her lips.

Alessia walked through the long hallway and touches an oil painting of a boy on a horse.

“That’s me,” Zane murmurs from behind, he cleared his throat.

“You look angry.” Alessia said as she pointed out.

“I was. I didn’t want the horse. I wanted a dog.”

She laughs for the first time in days, she knew he wouldn’t be able to ride a dog, something about Zane being a little boy stood out to her, she smiled while imagining him throwing a tantrum and requesting for a poodle or some other breed that he didn’t like.

***********

Roman’s new assistant walked in, well - Tatiana Marsh walked in, the same lady Zane Wolfe had fired for belittling and insulting his wife, Alessia.

Roman had put out a job advertisement saying whomever Zane Wolfe had fired unfairly can apply in his company, hired immediately with benefits. Tatiana saw the ad and immediately applied without thinking twice. Roman had seen her resume and the history she had with Zane. He hired her immediately.

“Shareholders are jittery. Alessia's press is making you look cruel.” Roman smiles without warmth.

“Good. Let them fear me.” Roman nodded, his plan was working. He hated losing, he hated that his wife denied that he was the father, he knew she wasn’t cheating on him, she had been brainwashed.

“You knew the in and out of Zane, find every dirt you can on him, I need my child and wife back, What did the lawyer say?” Roman asked as he pulled his drawer and picked out his packet of cigarettes. It had been disguised as cigarettes when they were indeed weed.

He lit the stick and took in the first drag, he stood up and went ahead to sit on the couch crossing both legs on the table across him. Tatiana walked over to him, tapping her ipad scrolling to find the update from the lawyer only to find a very long paragraph.

“Nothing useful yet.” Tatiana lied, Roman waved her off, she immediately walked out and called the lawyer.