“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.

Safia had to reach the 29th floor where the coffee machine was situated using the stairs because the elevator wasn't working. By the time she reached the floor, there was a huge line at the coffee machine. She waited and made black coffee for Sion just as Layla instructed her. “People with black heart always prefer black coffee.” She thought to herself and dragged her feet in high heels back on the staircase.

“Why are you so late? Does making a simple coffee take twenty minutes? Or you were on your way impressing another man over there who could clear your company’s dues?” Sion asked while taking the cup of coffee from the tray.

Safia tightened her lips in indignation. “The elevator broke. I had to take the stairs to bring coffee for you. Even near the coffee machine there was a huge line. I had to wait in the list.”

“Are you Queen Victoria that people will give space for you leaving their turn?” He asked, sipped his coffee and put on a face like he was about to puke. Sion immediately threw the rest of the contents in the dustbin. “What sort of beverage is this? I have never tasted such bitter coffee in my lifetime. Don't you even know how to make coffee?”

The face of Safia became pale like a ghost. “I noted down your coffee preference from Layla and made it exactly the way she instructed me.”

“Oh, is that why this is so perfect? Come on, make another. I can't function without my morning coffee.” He said and started typing on the computer.

Safia stood there for a moment more contemplating if she could ask him permission. Her legs were urging her to give them a break. She opened her lips and then closed them like a fish but nevertheless decided the heartless monster before her wouldn't ever agree.

“Why are you standing here before me like a statue? Come on, get to work.” He looked at her clueless as if he had no idea about her misery. No sooner had the door closed, the lips of Sion stretched from one end to another in vainglorious satisfaction.

‘Is this why he told her to have breakfast and only then come to the office? The man is a rogue.’ - Safia thought aloud. He married her only for revenge and to make her life miserable. There was no way he could tolerate her happiness even in her work place so he brought her to his office to make her suffer.

The whole day he made her go around making him coffee using the stairs. By the time Safia reached home, both her legs were swollen like elephant’s legs and she could not even take steps to the washroom. How was she going to survive in his office and save her company?

The next day she wore flats instead of pencil heels. Safia wouldn't take any chances regarding the devil for a boss. By 5:30 in the morning she was dressed in a pink blouse and black plants with her hair in a bun.

Safia was waiting in the dining hall for Sion while sipping her morning coffee. The maid did not arrive as it was still early in the morning. So she made a few toasts with fried eggs and fruit juice. It had been more than half an hour and Sion had not even come down.

On further thought Safia decided she should start at the office before he accused her again.

There were several cars parked beside the lobby with drivers in white uniform waiting. One of them came forward and saluted her. He tried to take her bag as soon as she came out. But Safia refused. “Thank you for the help. I have already booked an Uber. It's waiting for me over there.” She pointed to the taxi parked a few steps away from the fleet of cars Sion owns.

Safia did not want to use any benefits of being the wife of Sion Canes, the world's famous billionaire. She was just his spouse on paper.

When she stood before the entrance of Wellcrow Vineyards head office the place looked quiet. Nobody had arrived at the office yet. But Sion told her that they start by 6 am in the morning.

The security guard was stunned, greeted her and asked, “Ma'am how come you're this early? The staff arrives at 9 am in the morning.”

Safia understood it was all his way of torturing her. While he sleeps soundly on his bed, she has to work in his office from early six in the morning.

Safia gave a forced smile. She did not want to let the security guard know Sion was in the process of torturing her. “I have a heavy load of work. So I thought I should come early and finish it before the boss arrives.”

The guard flashed a friendly smile and gave her the way to get inside through the entrance.

By the time Sion came back home after his morning walk the maid Freya had informed him that Safia had already left for the office. A sadistic grin occupied his features after hearing the news.

Half an hour later, dressed in a crisp black suit, he settled on his leather chair and rang the bell for his personal assistant to come in. But instead of Layla, Safia came rushing inside. “Why are you here? I don’t want to start my work every day after looking at your ugly face. Where is Layla?”

That comment was too much for Safia to bear. “That’s right. I don't want to see your mucky face either. But you told me to be here by six in the morning because we start the work early. Also I came to know everyone on your staff starts work at 9. Why do you call me so early when you even loathe to look at my face?”

“This is the special advantage only you have over others. Everyone else will come at nine. But you will be in the office by six because you are my favorite employee.” He spoke sardonically with a smile.

If Safia had the right to kill a person without going to prison, she would have murdered Sion long ago. Such was her irate upon him. “Here is your coffee and it's perfect, just according to your taste. No sugar, two teaspoons of freshly ground

coffee beans and half cup of water.”

Sion moved forward and took a sip. “Hmm, good you learned how to make coffee.” Safia was on top of the world because it was the first time Sion spoke something positive about her. But the happiness didn't last even more than a minute.