“I'm coming to the office within half an hour. Keep the files ready that I am supposed to inspect.” She informed the assistant and started combing her wild curls looking at the mirror which refused to surrender to the comb.

The mark of his fingers on her cheek was strong. Just why does he hate her so much? The anger in her for him was unsurpassed. She covered the marks with a concealer and stepped out of the indo-mexican superstructure which was called the abode of the fearsome anthropoid.

The figures were not encouraging. But she was trying to arrange the investors for the firm. “You shouldn't have done what you did to me yesterday, dad. I hate you. You took my life in your control. Who gave you the rights to perform my marriage against my wish? That man is no better than a beast. He is heartless with some unsolved grudge over me.” She bashed her father and started looking at their firm’s old files. Safia was under the doubt if they had ever rubbed their noses with her monster husband. But alas, no such evidence. Near or far they did not have any connection with the Wellcrow vineyards. Then why?

“I'm sorry Honey. You have been trying hard. But there has been no solution so far obtained. I hid it from you because I did not want you to panic about our firm. But, a week ago our company’s lawyer informed me that we are about to lose the case. The court has given us enough time to arrange funds but we couldn't and did not clear the bank dues. If we do not show our solvency by the next hearing the bank gets the right to seal our firm. In such a case my decades long hard work will go to dogs. You will have no inheritance from me. I did not want to see you struggle more than what you have already done. It was at that time, I got an offer from Wellcrow vineyards. They offered to buy the shares and help us with solvency. In return the CEO of the company had only one request, he wants to marry you.”

Soren took a step forward and held the hand of Safia. “It seems Sion saw you in their company’s annual charity ball and he was instantly smitten by your smartness. Sion’s business associate and his friend told me about this. When a fast-paced company like Wellcrow vineyards approached me requesting ties, how can I reject the offer?” Soren spoke excitedly.

“It's all bullshit. He seems to have decades old revenge on me about which I have no idea. And by the way it's only a contract marriage.” Safia added to her father with derision.

“Don't look at everything the negative way, honey. Maybe he has his own reservations. You will slowly come to know about them.” Soren pacified Safia.

****

The humanity observed in pin drop silence as his polished black shoes kissed the ground which fell directly from the Rolls Royce boat tail. Following him was the press. “Why did he attract such a huge attention? It is not like he is an Angel who fell from the sky.” Safia said to herself when Sion’s car was parked before the head office of Best Wines.

“Sir, we have the information that you have newly acquired the possession of Best Wines. Is this a part of your smart business? You are synchronically taking sinking companies under your wings and spreading your business all around the world.” One of the media persons asked.

“Sion Canes is one of our shareholders. He did not acquire our company. And last but not the least, we are not a sinking company.” Safia clarified to the paparazzi with uncontrolled irk.

“Yes, Safia is right. I don’t simply go to acquire companies, I study their potential and help the needy. Charity is sometimes a pleasurable option. Moreover Safia is my wife now. Why won't a husband help his wife to sail in her business.” Sion added with complacence.

“The man knows to turn every situation in his favor.” Tyla, the assistant of Safia, whispered in her ear.

A series of curses ran behind the lips of Safia. The gossip started within the workers of Best Wines and the media. Clarifying everybody's confusion Sion added, “I'm a private man and I don't like publicity about my family affairs. Safia and I had a registered marriage with just our closest family members to witness our holy union. Very soon my wife and I will be addressing a press meet and clear your questions outside my family. Thanks for all the support.” He dismissed the gathering, pulled Safia to him and walked inside the office.

“Don't make that face as if you are seeing me for the first time. I don't want any gossip circulating in the public about me. And if you fail to cooperate, you are smart to know what happens.” He whispered in her ear under a charade of soft and romantic smiles.

“These numbers are not the least promising.” He studied a few files and remarked with arrogance.

“Well, I hope you were completely in your conscience when you took over the company. Didn't you study the accounts?” Safia asked, going imperious.

A smug smile adorned his lips. “I don't study the profit and loss account and do the balance sheet when it comes to my family. You have been my beloved for years whom I wished to win.”

Soren was very delighted, after feeling the warmth in the words of Sion. “Of course.” He added in gaiety.

“So my dear wifey,” he held her chin in a snobbish simper. “From tomorrow onwards you will be joining me in my business. If you work closely with me you will know how to uplift your company.” Safia knew there was something very odious working in him. She did not want to accept his offer.

“If I come with you, who will look after Best Wines? Dad can’t handle everything. He recently suffered a heart stroke.” She relented.

“It's only for a few months, Honey. I know you're smart and you would soon follow the tricks of turning our business successful. Until then I will handle the company. Be assured.” Soren offered before Sion replied.

“See, the deal is done.” Sion winked at her with a cocky grin.

Little did she know what was going on in his brain. Now that she will be working with him, she will have no peace even at work.

“I heard you bought the shares of Best Wines and married Safia Jose Blacksmith. Have you gone nuts?” Bin asked, sipping his wine after both the school friends met in one of the restaurants that Sion owns.

“Yes, you're right.” Sion forked a fish finger and lifted his glass of wine. Bin saw every moment of his friend being measured.

“Her company has the potential to improve, so I invested in it just like I had been doing all this while….helping the small and medium firms grow big.”

“Don’t tell me stories. I am your friend and I have been seeing you since our school days. Why do you think you rubbed your nose with that evil head and also married her? Bin asked in shock.

“This is ridiculous. I was glad her company was sinking. And you? I thought you were a wise man, Sion. Are you not satisfied with what she did to you in the past?” Bin’s questions came pouring which disturbed the serenity inside of Sion.

“Okay let me go straight to the point. I married her for revenge. My ache is much more than you can imagine. I could not simply allow her to repair that sinking company. She is smart and she will bring that firm back on wheels and I don't want that to happen.” Sion had a Spencer of choler that was unrivaled.

“Do you think it's a smart move when it is at the cost of your own happiness? You have decided to keep your enemy under your own roof.” Bin cautioned.

“There is no thrill in a game which has no challenges, my dear friend. I want to change her to a helpless woman with no self confidence, I want her to be like the dirt under my shoes and beg me to save her company. Only then will I get the satisfaction of a revenge on her.” Sion’s words were soft but the determination in his eyes to see Safia mutilated was undaunted.

Twenty minutes later…

“What are you doing here in my bedroom? Get out!” He yelled and removed the covers she was having, waking Safia all of a sudden in a confused state.

“Is this not our bedroom?” She asked him softly with fear.

“Our bedroom? I loathe to even touch your shadow. Sharing a room is a far gone option.” He spat his words on her with venom.

“Is this the same man who promised to help his wife’s business sail before the whole media and public this morning?” Safia asked, puzzled.

“It was only a show to keep my revenge and your dependence on me intact. I'm not a small-time entrepreneur born yesterday like you who makes sick excuses in court to save her face and keep her company working.” Sion’s eyes were going closed because of alcohol sedation. But suddenly he opened them and they landed straight on her as sharp as the eyes of a lion. “With how many men did you sleep to grant you time, hearing after hearing? I think you have been pulling on this drama for several years. How much more time do you want?

“Enough of your accusations on me. You have no right to speak about something that you don’t know and you have no right to determine my character.”

Sion took a staggering step towards her. Fear dawned on Safia spreading like a wild fire. With every step he took forward, she took two behind. “You are not in your right state of mind. Let us talk tomorrow.” She whispered while ignoring his sharp gaze on her.

Sion bent a little and looked her in the eye. It felt like something in him Spencered and he immediately averted his optics on her. “Wrong choice of words. I have got all the rights for you. You are my wife.” He fell on her like a predatory ghost and watched her with many emotions that she wasn't able to decipher.

Those eyes, whenever they met hers told a story about which she wasn't aware. They weren't necessarily all the time terrifying like he wanted them to be. Sometimes she felt he was hiding his love for her under the facade of anger.

“Why are you silent? I know you are the biggest drama queen to act innocent and take control of affluent and powerful men. You use them for your needs and later discard them like trash. Tell me how many men you slept with?” His question repeated and his hand on her upper arm was so harsh that it would have surely left its print on her.

Safia hissed in pain. “You're hurting me. Leave.”

Only then did he realize what he was doing to her. Sion left her arm with a jerk and she had to take two steps behind to balance herself.

“You talk as if you know everything about me while our marriage is not even a day old. Why beat around the bush? Tell me why you are so irritated by me. Let's talk and end this forever because to the best of my knowledge, I'm seeing you here for the first time. I have also checked the old records of my firm. But we did not have any near or far connection with Wellcrow Vineyards. Why are you suddenly an unwanted intruder in my peaceful life? I know I don't suffer any amnesia or short term memory loss.” Safia concluded.

There goes again….his usual way of avoiding things that he doesn’t want to discuss. “Get out of my room. Can't you understand English? I'm not your servant to make any clarifications to you. Be ready by sharp six tomorrow morning. We start our work early. And this is the card. Otherwise beggars like you are not even allowed to enter the premises, leave about joining my office.”

He closed the door behind her with a thud making her jump on her feet with trepidation. That was the worst humiliation she had ever received from anyone.

Safia burst into a cry falling on her bed. Her pillow was soaked with tears and did not know when she fell asleep.

The next day when she got up, it was well over eight. Damn! What is the fearsome monster going to do to her now?

She is stumped!

Safia woke up like a zombie and started doing her morning routine like a machine. By the time she got ready, the breakfast was already arranged on the dining table.

“Good morning ma'am, I'm maid Freya. I cook and clean the house.”

“Good morning! I'm late to work. So I will grab something during lunch. Sorry Freya.” Safia said in a hurry looking at the time on her watch and almost ran to the door.

“I apologize for interrupting ma'am. But sir told you to finish breakfast and then only come to the office. You're going to have a long day.” The maid said politely.

“How is the mood of your boss?” Safia couldn't help but ask her though she knew it was not an appropriate question to a servant working in their home.

“I think it's not friendly.” The maid’s information was precise but it was enough to bring crazy goosebumps on the skin of Safia.

Half an hour later she was in the premises of Wellcrow vineyards head office. “Good morning! The CEO asked me to meet him today.” Safia showed the receptionist the card which Sion threw on her face the previous night. She didn't want to let anyone know that she was his wife until he really wanted it.

The receptionist nodded, checked a register and informed her, “please go straight and turn left. You will have an employee elevator where you need to press the 12th floor.

The buzzing neon lights on the top before her only raised her anxiety. She wiped the droplets of sweat covering her forehead as she was extremely tense. No sooner had she stepped inside the designated floor, she heard strange sounds.

The place was eerily quiet and with each step she took forward, her heart started beating ten times faster. When she reached a certain door she began to hear soft moans of a woman followed by heavy grunts of a man. Something ignited in her and Safia twisted the door knob.

At first it did not open. But then?

The world crumbled before her.

****

“Who told you to enter inside without permission?” There he was without any shame standing before her and zipping his pants.

Safia was beyond furious. He did not have the least repentance to cheat on his wife and on the contrary he was blaming her on why she entered his office without permission.

“You should have locked the door when you do shameless things like this in the office.” She pointed to the naked woman who had a lipstick smudge all over her face and hair like a bird’s nest.

“It's none of your business. Don’t dare to reprimand answers from me when you are the one primarily on fault. Who comes to the office first? Is it the boss or his employees?” He roared at her like a wolf.

“I'm only a little late to the office. It is only a mistake. But you? You're doing a blunder.” She eyed the woman beside him in disgust.

“I can't have a boyfriend, can't date and sex…” Safia huffed out looking somewhere beyond him. “But you can kiss and fuck another woman. What sort of equity is there in your contract?”

“Psst, you are missing it all. Isn't it? After living twenty four years of life with a new man every day to warm your bed, your current position might have been really awful. I can understand it.” Sion showed mock pity at her.

“Shut up! Stop blaming me for being a whore that I have never been. I have been a virgin until you.” Safia was about to add more but before that the personal assistant stuttered inside.

“What were you doing all this while? Were you baking cookies? Shouldn't you know when you allow visitors inside my room?” Sion was bombarding his questions with the assistant.

“I have gone to the washroom for a nature call.” The woman meekly spoke not even able to meet his gaze.

“Fuck the nature's call. Are you a baby who can't hold it till lunch?” Sion was extremely narcissistic, insensitive and brutal towards his employees. There is an unsaid slogan which goes on in the company, if not for the heavy pockets that he fills, nobody would work for him. But did Sion Canes care about anything?

The lady engaged with him till then, gave him a peck on his lips and walked out after getting dressed. “Bye darling, call me when you want to see me again.” She sweetly said waving her fingers and was gone.

Anger was a very small word to describe the emotion on the features of Safia at that moment.

“This is not your father’s company where you can walk-in and walk-out whenever you want. You should be here on time. Otherwise I will not allow you to work and withdraw my shares from your company. Come on, now get me a warm cup of coffee. I feel worn out.” Sion spoke while leaving for the washroom.

“Layla would make it. Isn’t she your assistant?” Safia pointed to the door from where the employee left after apologizing to Sion.

“I'm not here to bring you coffee. I'm here to learn about work. All though I think I'm competent enough to put my firm back on track.” Safia said confidently.

“Oh is it? Why are you here then? Bring your firm back on track before the court’s next hearing. There is nobody forcing you to work here. I have got many better employees to do that.” Sion spoke while taking his seat to look at the files placed on his work desk.

Safia had a defeated look at Sion. She stomped to exit grabbing the cup on the table without speaking anymore.

Sion had an egotistical grin on his features. He was having his vengeance on her in full length. “Put off the elevator for the next ten minutes.” He informed one of the company’s maintenance staff as soon as Safia left.