: 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.

Valerie's POV

I woke up very early the next day and did my business in the bathroom. I picked out a white knee-length pencil skirt with a Royal Blue tank top. Today is officially my first day as Mrs Skavinski and I need to look presentable. I looked in the mirror to see faint marks of Leonard's grip on my neck. I covered it up with makeup on and checked the mirror after I was done dressing, and I was proud of myself for the results.

The ride to school was a chaotic one as Layla and Landon wanted me to meet their friends and teachers. They introduced me to their teachers as their mother and a few of their friends. I gave them the goodies I bought for them.

I took a quick stop at a shopping mall to get a few things. I walked into the mall and was going to the toys section when I heard the voice I despised the most. My mood changed instantly, I could feel my anger rising when I saw Tate walking towards me.

“Well, who do we have here? I thought you moved out of the country. I checked everywhere for you and Monica refused to tell me where you were.” Tate said, coming closer to me, but a huge man dressed in an all-black outfit stepped in between us.

“Excuse me! Who are you?” I said to the stranger who was looking at me like I'd grown two heads.

“Ma'am, I've been following you since you left the house this morning,” he said without any expression. “You didn't answer me, who are you?” I asked again, looking around to see he wasn't the only one following me, they were two others standing behind me with their Stoic expression.

“We are your bodyguards. The boss asks us to always protect you” he answered, with a little bow.

What! He didn't discuss this with me before asking them to follow me around. These only fuel my anger the more.

I looked the guard in the eyes and he stepped aside. I turned to Tate, to see him looking like he had just seen a Ghost.

“Nice seeing you again, I hope we don't run into each other again in the near future”. I walked out of the mall angrily.

I rushed inside the minute the car was parked, I saw Mrs Smith in the sitting room.

“Hi dear, welcome back, should I serve your food?” she greeted me with a smile, but I was too pissed to smile back.

“Is Leonard home?” I impatiently asked her. “Yes, he's in his home office” She replied reluctantly, I guess she knew something was wrong. “Is everything okay?” I ignored her question and marched up the stairs, taking them two at a time.

“Wait, now is not a good time to go inside his office”, Mrs Smith warned, but I didn't stop. I barged into his office without knocking, “what was that?” I screamed as soon as he turned from his chair.

“Why do I have bodyguards littering around me? You didn't even inform me, you just imposed them on me. I don't want or need anyone to protect me. I'm sure you don't trust me, but I don't care. I don't want the unnecessary stress and attention they come with, so please I don't need them, tell them to stop following me around!” I screamed at him in annoyance when I saw the smirk on his face.

He rested his back on the chair, swinging it left and right, “Well, I can't do that.”

“What do you mean by you can't do that? Don't they answer you, you just have to tell them to stop” I said, trying not to scream because his actions were driving me crazy.

“Yes, they do answer me, but you can't go anywhere without bodyguards.” His expression changed from normal to scary. Why did he look like that?

“Because you are my wife now, and I have so many enemies that want to get revenge, I'm not a good man. I'm sure you've heard about me. The rumors are true, so don't you dare go out without bodyguards or else you'll be in trouble. You either get kidnapped and killed or you get dealt with by me. I can't say which one is better”. He threatened, raising his voice a little more than normal.

“But nobody knows we are married, we can keep it like that. That way, I won't need to be guarded, and you won't have to worry about your enemies getting through to you using me”, I reasoned with him in a low voice.

“Are you sure they don't know? There are spies everywhere. You took Layla and Landon to school today and were introduced to the school as Mrs. Skavinski. You know what spreads faster than fire, right? So tell me”. He stood from his chair and stalked toward me. The closer he got, the more steps I took backwards.

“You don't know anything about our world, Val. And I'll have to show you sooner rather than later, all this pretense of acting innocent won't work for me. I know very well the type of person you are” he said with a sinister smile when my back hit the wall. He caged me to the wall with his huge body.

“And what type of person do you think I am” I asked, my heart racing fast as I waited for his reply. The sweet smell of his Cologne filled my nostrils as he placed his nose in the crook of my neck, sending signals to my brain. His hand trailed my face down to my jaw then ran them back up into my hair. He gripped my hair tightly and pulled it back harshly as he placed wet kisses on my fully exposed neck. I closed my eyes at the sensation running through me. I feel what I was not to feel.

I let out a tiny moan when he bites my neck a little.

“This is what you are, a wh*re, always want to get laid by a man, huh? You're not angry because I didn't tell you about having bodyguards, you're angry because the plan to f*ck that little ex-boyfriend of yours was ruined by them”. He said, and I winced when he pushed harshly into the wall before releasing my hair.

And without thinking twice, I slapped him “F**k you”. I shouted in his face before running out.

Leonard POV:

I stared at the door she went through, she was bold enough to slap me when all I did was let her know I was aware of what she was trying to do. I thought to myself. I went back to my table, where the pictures of her and her ex were on display on my laptop.

She's proving to be who I thought she was. I need to get out of this house before I do something crazy in anger. I closed my laptop, went to my room to change my clothes, and left the house. I dialed Mateo's number while in the car, but it was not connecting. As much as I need a drink to clear my head, I don't want to drink alone. I was about to tell the driver to drive to my warehouse, so I'd drink with the boy when Molly's call came in. This is my best girl. I'm sure she's back in town.

“Hey, handsome! Guess who's back!?” She screeched. I moved the phone far from my ear before she damaged my ears.

“Where are you? I'm very sure you aren't at home because Mateo is not answering his calls or replying to his texts. I know you are always busy working” she said. I'm sure that's why Mateo is not picking up his calls.

“I'm on my way to the De'Leo.” The De’leo is like my baby, the first thing I built in my name. It's one of the largest clubs in the city right now.

“I'm coming over there, I was about to drive to your house to see my babies. Oh, I miss them so much” She's such a sweetheart, she's troublesome and annoying to top it up, and she's talkative.

I ended the call when she was done talking. I have a partner to drink with now. I checked out the goods that are to touch down today, and the location of the other shipments too.

“Hey Vance,” I said into the phone. “ Did you deliver the stuff to Mr Kalisto?” I asked him, Vance is one of my best men, he's in charge of delivery and payment, a silent killer, and a ghost.

“Yes, he sent his payment already. The Napals are yet to pay, so I sent my boys out to get the money from them. They exceeded the deadline they mentioned at the beginning of the contract”, he explained, “ Okay, that's good. Let me know the outcome and give me the full update on the Micapos with the new orders too”. I ordered him and hung up, not waiting for his reply.

I stepped out of the car and walked into the club with security using my secret passage to my office. I went through the files while waiting for Molly.

“Hey Leo, I'm back!” She barged into my office with a scream, rushing to hug me as she sat on my lap on the chair. I hugged her back, it had been a while since I saw her, as she's one to travel the world in sixty minutes.

We catch up on old times while drinking, “You're going to get drunk Mol”. It's not a surprise she's drunk, which is what she does best. I had to struggle to get her home, so I signaled one of my security guards to get her to my car as I finished up.

************

The next morning

I was in my study when Molly barged into my office, “who's she? And why does Layla call her mom? And since when has she been staying with you?” She asked with a little high voice and a scowl on her face.

“My wife, I forgot to inform you since we had a little ceremony,” I told her with a shrug.

“And you didn't inform me? Since when did you start keeping secrets? Do you even know her? How did you meet her? She might be a spy” she yelled, which I don't understand why she did that.

“Since when did I start reporting to you? And why are you raising your voice at me? When did that start?” I shouted at her, standing on my seat. She shrieked at my voice “You, don't tell me what to do, okay? And I don't report to you, neither do I have to take permission from you to do anything. Let this be the last time you'll ever question me or talk to me in that way”, I growled at her, watching her take steps back in fright.

I took my seat, she scurried out of the room before I could say another word to her. I went back to work and was about to finish when I heard screams and noises from downstairs. It's probably Malia and the maids.

I finish up before heading downstairs only to see Valerie and Molly in the kitchen, glaring at each other like they are about to stab each other to death.

“What is the issue here?” I said, walking into the kitchen. “You should ask your so-called wife why she chose to act like a witch. I only wanted to make your favorite coffee and toast to apologize for getting you angry, but she won't allow me to use the kitchen freely. She suddenly called a bitch for no reason, I………” Valerie cut her off.

“What do you say? Don't believe everything she says. I was here making cookies for my children because I promised them. Then she walked in and was telling me how you two are the best of friends and what's not. I didn't even say anything to her before she called me a witch and other names too”, Valerie said, while demonstrating with her hands.

“Leo, I swear, I didn't do that. You know me too well, you know I won't lie to you”, Molly said with watery eyes, she's not the type to cause trouble at all. But I know Valerie to be a big troublemaker.

“I'm sorry for whatever thing she has said to you, she didn't mean it,” I said to Molly, pulling her in for a hug.

“I didn't do anything, I swear,” Valerie said with seriousness.

“I wasn't talking to you, all you do is cause trouble ever since you moved in here, you met her today, and you've shown your true colors '. I walked closer to her. “Don't make me as angry than you already have, I'm only one inch away from showing you what happens to people that disobey me”. I warned her before walking out with Molly.