Valerie's POV

I stared back at my reflection in the mirror, my eyeshadow smeared across my eyes with dark circles showing my lack of sleep, as I kept tossing and turning all through the night. I glance around the luxurious bathroom, everything here screams expensive, from the golden bathtub to the computerized toilet seat.

I stepped out of the shower and wrapped a blue towel around me. Picked out blue jeans with a pink crop top. I was packing my hair when I heard a knock at the door. I opened it to find Leonard standing there.

“Hey, how did you sleep? I came to call you for breakfast, "he said softly.

Lord, his morning voice! I shiver slightly.

That's probably the after-effect of just coming out of the shower.

“Okay, I'll be done in a minute” I replied with a nod, shutting the door immediately.

I rested my head at the back of the door. It's my first day as a mommy and after what I heard yesterday, I can boldly say I'm not ready.

I finished packing my hair in a ponytail before walking out of the room in search of the dining room.

“Good morning madam, come with me ma'am, Master is waiting for you in the dining area,” The maid said, bowing lightly.

I nodded before following her to the dining area. I heard a voice coming from the room.

“Daddy, Is she coming to eat with us?” I heard Layla asking her Dad.

“Of course, I'll eat with you,” I answered as I entered the dining room.

“Valerie!” Layla shouted, running to me. I opened my hands widely to carry her when she got to me.

“Hey baby, did you enjoy your night?” she nodded happily as I walked with her to the chair. I settled in a chair, putting her on my lap.

“Where's Landon?” I asked after eye-searching the room for him.

“He left for school” the maid answered instead.

“Daddy said you're our new mommy, is that true?” I shifted my eyes from Layla to her father, our eyes met for the first time today. I looked away immediately.

“Yes baby, I am your new mommy,” I said, glancing at my new so-called husband. He was dressed in grey sweatpants that fit him perfectly. His broad shoulders flex through the armless crew neck top.

He sits on the chair like the king that he is, as he watches the maid serve his food.

Layla's tight grip on my hand took me out of my thoughts. I smiled widely at her. I savored the smell of the food as the maid served us the spaghetti with sauce.

I couldn't eat the way I wanted because I could feel his gaze on me and the maids were still standing, which was making me uncomfortable. I picked at my food, trying to be a modest lady even when I was nowhere near that.

I kept stealing glances at him, he hadn't said a word to me since I got here and that shows he meant what he said yesterday. I looked up at the sound of his chair to see him standing already.

“Malia will show you around once you're done”, he murmured, before leaving along with Layla. The air in the room lightened immediately after he left.

I looked around the room to see the maids still have their heads bowed. This is my chance, I thought to myself as I stuffed my face in the flavored spaghetti and sauce. I let out the sound I've been holding back since I took the first spoon.

“That sound should be reserved for other purposes” I heard an unfamiliar voice say behind me. I could die of embarrassment right now, but it got worse when I felt a hand hold my hair for me as I lifted my head to see the stranger.

This was worse than when Monica walked in on me using a sex toy. I shrink at the memory of how she tormented me for months.

I looked up to see who it was. As the universe was against me, I choked on the remaining food in my mouth, I grabbed the glass of water beside me to see it was empty.

“Here you go. Milady” He handed me a filled glass of water, I took the glass from him with a nod and almost choked for the second time when he started patting my back.

“Easy, easy, relax” he whispered close to my ear as he patted my back gently.

I close my eyes at the heartwarming gesture I'm receiving. It's been a while since someone cared for me like this.

He removed his hand from my back and, to my surprise, I missed the warmth it was giving me. I gasped slowly when I saw his face. Is this a real-life demigod?

“ You must be the new mommy. I mean the new bride. I'm Mateo, your husband's best friend and right-hand man”. He extended his hand with a smile that showed his cute dimples. And I must say God took his tune to work on him, and I'm impressed.

Is it creepy to say I have a crush on my husband's best friend?

“Hi Mateo, nice to meet you” I responded, taking his extended hand in mine. You can tell he's manly from his grip on my hand. I stared directly into his alluring eyes and I swear I saw our future together with kids.

“Sir, Master is waiting for you in the study,” a maid said to Mateo, making us break eye contact.

“Okay Milady, see you around,” he said with a wink as he left the room. I watched his broad back till he was out of sight and I couldn't stop thinking about the warmth I felt from his hand and how comfortable I was having him around.

“Hi dear, I'm sorry I wasn't there to welcome you last night. My name is Malia Smith. I'm in charge of the maids and housekeeping duties here. Come dear, let me show you around”, Mrs Smith beamed with pride as she pulled me with her to the kitchen. She introduced me to everyone and I got to know their names, the kids' favorite food, and allergies.

But she pointed to a room I was not allowed to enter. She called it the ‘forbidden room’, and I'm curious to know what's behind the door.

Valerie's POV

I spent the past few days in my room, thinking about the Mateo gesture, and the forbidden room. Mom called almost every day, and we talked for hours on the phone because she couldn't help but worry about me.

She kept sharing tips on how to make kids love you, along with some careful warnings.

I was editing my unfinished business when I heard a small knock. I muttered a ‘come in’ thinking it was a maid and was surprised to see Landon and Layla holding a plate of cookies and a glass of milk.

“Hey there” I beamed brightly at them,

“Are these for me?” I questioned as I walked towards them, but I noticed they weren't smiling. it was obvious they had something to say.

“Is there a problem?” I pulled them into my room and sat them down on the blue sofa in the corner of my room.

“You can always talk to me,” I said again when I noticed how uneasy they were. Like they're not comfortable with what they're here for.

“I told everyone in school that I have a mom now, but they didn't believe me, and you didn't pick us up from school today,” Landon said sadly while looking at his feet.

“They were making fun of us today, they called Landon a liar because you didn't come to school” Layla sniffed back her tears “We're the only ones in school that don't have a mother”. She finished with tears streaming down her eyes.

I pulled them into a deep hug. They were too small to feel rejected and lonely.

“I'll be the one to drop you off at school and pick you up at the end of the day,” I said, patting their backs softly, giving them the little comfort I could offer.

“Really? You promise?” Layla questioned cheerfully, jumping up happily. I felt my chest tighten strangely while looking at the bright smile and happiness on their faces.

I was strangely getting attached faster than I thought, and I knew right there I would do anything to have this feeling again.

I hold them tightly to myself, seeing them like this makes me curious about how long they've stayed without their mom.

“I promise you” I gave them a hearty smile as I disengaged from the hug. Running my hand through Layla's hair with different thoughts running through my head when Landon pulled me by my hand, urging me to stand up.

I've noticed Landon is a guy with few words, he's either shy or something has happened that makes him say little to no words.

He took me to his room and I realized I had never really checked the kids' room out, I'd been all by myself forgetting the primary reasons why I was there in the mansion. He showed me his video games and toys. You could easily tell he doesn't have any friends, and he's all by himself.

“How do you play these games?” I said to him playfully as he was eager to show me his moves but was shocked to see I was a pro. I spent time playing video games with my dad while growing up as an only child. We went on for hours playing games and this was the happiest I have been since I moved in.

Then we went downstairs for dinner, and I was glad Leonard was not back yet. He's the type to change the mood in a room by just stepping in.

I put the kids to sleep after eating. I read bedtime stories to them. Landon was a fast sleeper, he was out before I finished the first paragraph.

“You promised to take me to school tomorrow, right?” Layla asked for the umpteenth time since I promised to come to their school, proving people must have let her down in the past.

“Of course baby, mommy is coming with you tomorrow” I reassured her again, running my hand through her hair as she was dozing off already. I tucked her in properly with a kiss on her forehead and did the same to Landon.

“Holy crap!” I screamed, shocked to see Leonard on the way, when I turned to leave.

“I didn't mean to scare you,” he said with a smirk. He was standing with his hands in the pockets of his black suit and was wearing a complete suit, he looked dashing and more handsome even though stress was written on his face, but he was not as handsome as my Mateo.

My Mateo?! No

“It's fine” I responded with my head bowed, he has intimidating eyes which I, avoid at all cost. I scurried out immediately and made my way downstairs to the maid's quarters, but she wasn't there. I needed to talk to Mrs Smith.

I saw her coming in through the back door and I rushed towards her. She is the nicest person in the house, and it's probably because she is the only mother figure in the house.

“Mrs Smith, I checked for you everywhere,” I told her, standing right in front of her.

“Oh dear, I was in the garden. Is anything the matter? I'm sure you've seen your husband”, she said with a sweet smile.

“Everything is fine, I need to ask you about something, and I'll need your help with some information too if that's okay,” I told her nervously. “ I don't know if it's okay to ask, but you're the only person apart from Leonard. I can ask” I am completely already thinking of backing out.

“It's okay dear, you can ask me anything, that's why I'm here for you”. I took my hand in hers and pulled me deep into the kitchen.

“I didn't mean to prey, I just want to know more about the kids' mother, when the kids last saw their mother and how dirty their divorce was.

Those two have been alone without a mom for so long, I want to know the situation, so I won't do anything to trigger them, you know………..”

“And who do you think you are to want that information? You are here to be their mother, not poke nosing, trying to root out things that don't concern you. I hate people that are people that don't mind their business”. Leonard cut in from the stairs, walking closer to me. “Curiosity killed the cat, let this be the last time you'll ever go around asking my staff silly questions”, he snarled harshly, his face hard with anger and his eyes cold as hell. I knew immediately I was in trouble.

: Friends

Valerie's POV

Leonard grabbed me by my hand, dragging me towards the stairs to his study room.

I tried freeing myself from his tight grip. “You're hurting me” I said, trying to match his pace as my eyes watered with tears. He pushed me inside and slammed the door angrily.

“Who the fu*k do you think you are going around sniffing my house for secrets?” I flinched at the sound of his voice “If you have any questions then fucking ask me, don't go asking around like a freaking detective. You're here to act as my wife and be the mother to my children, not the other way around”.

“It's not my fault you won't tell me anything, you won't even talk to me. I need to know about their mother and how deeply they're hurting to help them heal”. I fired back at him with a glare.

“They're not hurt, my children are perfectly fine. Okay? They need a mother figure and that's why you're here” he pointed out, and that only increased my anger.

“You call yourself their father, and you can't even see through them, are you even worth being a father?” I yelled at him loudly, standing on my toes to match him.

I instantly regretted my action, I saw his veins pop out in anger. I was held against the wall with his hand wrapped around my neck, knocking the air out of me. His eyes were so red, big, and about to pop out of their sockets.

“Pls, I didn't …..mean…. to ehmm” I pleaded as I struggled to breathe. I was holding his hand, hoping for release.

“What did you say? You don't know sh*t, you know nothing about us” He screamed in my face like a maniac. I could only pray to survive this as his hold on my neck tightened more with every word he spoke.

“I'm……. I'm ....sorry” I begged him, tears flooding down my face as my life flashed in front of me. Nobody is aware of my marriage to this demon right here. I thought about Monica and I regretted not talking to her for days now, she'd surely hate and curse my dead body.

Just when I thought of giving up, he shoved me to the side. I yelped when my back hit the floor. My hands replaced where his hands just left. I kept coughing and taking deep breaths.

“Stay in your lane, mind your business, or else.” He stormed out of the room, leaving me to drown in my misery.

I heard footsteps approaching, but I didn't have the strength to stand up as I kept staring into blank space, “Hey, are you okay? What happened?”

I looked up to find my knight in shining armor. I started sobbing out loud at the sight of him.

“It's okay, it's okay, you're okay” He knelt close to me and patted my back as I kept crying. I almost lost my life today in the hands of my so-called husband.

He handed me his handkerchief to blow my runny nose, then helped me up. He took me to the veranda and sat me down on the wooden chair there. I watched him disappear and came back with a bottle of water and a scarf. He handed me the bottle and then wrapped the scarf around my neck.

How I wish he was my husband and not his friend.

He sat down on the chair opposite me, then held my two hands, looking me directly in the eye and I almost forgot my worries as I lost myself in his eyes. “Are you better now?” He asked with concern.

“Yes,” I nodded at him. “ You know, angels aren't supposed to cry, right? To me, you are one, and even though you still look pretty when you cry, I still don't want you to waste your tears”, he said, smiling widely. While I try miserably to hide the effects of his smooth voice on me.

“Are you allowed to say that?” I asked in a low voice.

“Of course, I'm allowed”. He responded, “I've known Leonard for years and I can assure you he's a good man, and he's not always like that. If you are a little more patient with him and get to know each other each day, you'll both enjoy your marriage.” He added, putting good words out for his friend.

I can't help but wonder how the two of them met and how he's been coping with Leonard for years.

“He's not a good man, he almost murdered me in that room. Mr Mateo,” I told him. I shuddered at the memory as I touched my neck again.

“Mr Mateo? Pls, call me Mateo. We're friends now, aren't we? He asked, raising a brow jokingly.

“Yes we are,” I said shyly.

“Good, you can call me anything, and I'll be here. That's what friends are for, right?” he said, smiling.

I don't want to be your friend, I want to be more than a friend to him. But I nodded in reply.

“I have to take my leave now, we don't want to get Leonard angry,” he said, as he turned to leave.

“Okay, thanks for today, Mr Ma… Mateo” I remembered he asked me to call him by his name.

“I didn't do anything”, he gave me his biggest smile that showed his dimples as he ruffled my hair, and he left, leaving me to blush at myself.

I kept giggling like a schoolgirl as I walked back to my room. I need to find out when he's coming back, because I don't mind getting in trouble if he comes for me.

I was about to shower when I saw marks on my neck. I trailed the mark on my neck. I should be more careful when dealing with Leonard. He has made it obvious he doesn't like me, and I'll stay in my lane henceforth, it'll just be me and my children.