"But today, I wish to have a latte.” Sion said, leaning back and relaxing on his super soft leather chair while staring at her in a dare.

She raised a finger to him in a warning. “Look, I don't have all the time to serve you coffee. I'm here to learn about work.”

Sion raised a single brow and gave a lopsided grin. “My office, my rules. If you don’t want to do it, you can…”

“Stop.” Safia already knew what was coming out of him. “I will go and bring a latte for you.”

Thankfully the elevator was working today. The devil had finally decided to relax her torture. She knew the lift was working for everyone in the office the previous day but for her. It was all a part of his plan to make her suffer.

She had made the latte and brought it to him within five minutes. “Hmm, it tastes good. So tell me what is my schedule today.”

“Schedule? Isn’t Layla going to make it?”

Sion looked at her boredly. “I don't have a money minting machine here with which I can feed two assistants. Since you are here, Layla will not be working as my assistant anymore. She is transferred to another department. I don't have all the day for your learning and need my schedule for today within ten minutes. If you bring it even a minute later you will not be allowed inside my room and can go back to your home.”

“Such an asshole…” She muttered and did not waste a minute standing there. Safia practically ran to her cabin and started preparing the schedule of Sion at the speed of a computer. Though she was only one day old in the office, she referred to several files, spoke to a few people who had an idea about the company’s work and prepared the minutes schedule. She was left with hardly a minute before she almost jumped into his office.

Sion had a hard time restricting his smile. He was having super fun at the cost of Safia's grimace.

Safia started reading the contents in the paper she had brought with her. But before she could complete reading out the whole of it Sion stopped her. “At 10:30 I meet the Russian delegates regarding our textile industry collaboration and at 12:00 reach back to the office to attend the shareholders meeting? The traveling time itself from Park Avenue Square to my office will take me an hour because of the peak time traffic. Where will I have time to discuss the important issues in the shareholders meeting? You can't even make a day’s schedule for me and you think you can put your insolvent company back on track without my help? Well it is very obvious to me now, how you got your company to float all these years.” He looked at her curvaceous form head to toe in ridicule.

The eyes of Safia were threatening tears. She knew what he meant by looking at her physique ‘that way’. But she was not going to show her weakness to him by any means. “Please give me two more minutes, sir. I will make it work this time.” Though trying her best, her voice broke in the end.

For a moment there was sadness in Sion but he quickly concealed it bringing his mind back to the present. He had suffered more than a decade because of her. It's not even ten days since she joined Wellcrow Vineyards. He will make her suffer till her forefathers come out of their grave and plead with him to save her.

****

The next week on Sunday

“So what's your analysis for third quarter numbers?” Karen asked, playing billiards with Sion.

“They've been improving dad since we took over Sangria Vineyards. We will soon be the richest and most powerful wine makers…” Sion was stopped by Karen.

“Not so early, son. Los Santos has the only vineyard that we don't own. It's finally on the market. 50 acres and it's in probate. The executor is required to sell the property by the 24th December. There's a showing up there tomorrow afternoon at 3 pm. So it's going to take a little finesse. Blend in. If word gets out that Wellcrow Wines is interested, we could find ourselves in a bidding war.” Karen informed aiming the red on the billiards board.

“Okay dad, I will tell Layla to book our private jet for tomorrow morning.” Sion spoke, taking the red which Karen missed earlier.

“Good job.” Karen made a high-five. “Take Layla with you. She is experienced, and will be a great help to you at Los Santos. By the way, the name of the mission is Honeybee estate Vineyard.”

“It is the oldest wine we now have in our winery. How does it taste?” Karen asked with expectancy after Sion took a sip.

Sion put the glass at an arm's length and gave a satisfactory nod observing it. “Blue berry, black pepper and earthy, I like it.”

“Your palate is incredible, son. I wish to relax now and you take over the whole company.”

“Don't say such words dad. You have a long way to go.” Sion hugged his father.

“It’s a Shiraz blend from the cooler climate of the Yarra valley.” Karen pointed to the glass in Sion’s hand.

“I would like to add something more to our conversation.” Sion said hesitantly in thought. “Instead of Layla, Safia will be coming with me.”

Karen raised his head and looked at his son appalled. “You were a tosser, angry and destructive as a kid. I bore it and all this while I maintained my silence. But now it's time, I need to warn you, the game you are playing is very dangerous. Some people take years to sketch and counter their enemy but you brought her to live under your own roof. You had a registered marriage with no third eye coming to know about it. What are you going to tell the media? I heard you had already promised a press conference.”

“Sion” Karen held the upper arms of his son in affection. “Your mom and I had already suffered for years losing your sister, we can’t afford to lose you too.”

Sion kept his silence for a moment, taking a sip of wine. “Dad, there is no fun in the game which has no challenge in it. I had suffered enough because of her. This time, the victory is mine.”

“Don't sleep like a log because I announced Christmas vacation for the staff. The vacation is for my employees. It's not for famous personalities like you whom I love dearly and always want to keep by my side. So tomorrow we are going to Los Santos by early morning flight.” Sion informed Safia while passing through her room to reach him.

Safia resisted the urge to roll her eyes. He was acting as if he had been so considerate towards her. It has been fifteen days since she joined Sion’s company and there has been no weekend and no Best for her. Every day she gets up at 4:30 in the morning, rushes with her routine and is seen before the Wellcrow Vineyards head office by six in the morning. “I thought I was your employee because I did not get any extra benefits of being your favorite person.”

Just then his phone began to ring in his pants pockets and immediately his features changed to fury after looking at the caller id. “Beat him to pulp. We are not going to spare him until he gives us the truth. Got it?”

‘So cruel?’ The man was a monster from every side that she looked at him. “Why are we going to Los Santos?” She asked him meekly contemplating if he would answer her question.

“It's an official tour. Our wedding is only on paper. So don't build hopes that I will be taking you to a honeymoon.” He snarled at her and walked to his room.

If only she had the rights…she would pull his tongue out of his throat, cut it into pieces and throw it in the dustbin. Safia ran behind him trying to match his long treads. “How long are we going to stay?”

“Why? You need to bake cookies here?” He asked her arrogantly, removing the Rolex off his wrist.

“Don't I need to pack my bag? Why do you always have to take all my questions the negative way?” This time Safia couldn't control her sorrow and allowed it to surface on her features.

“I'm like this. If you can't live with me, I'm not pleading with you to do so. You are free to repay the money I paid for your company and walk out of this marriage.” Safia gulped heavily in terror.

“We will stay there until I finish my deal. So the time is not fixed when we return. Now if you allow me some privacy…” He removed his first shirt button and beckoned to the door.

Safia's eyes were on a feast, getting a glimpse of his hairy, muscled chest. ‘Thank heavens! He did not see her reddened features. How could she have feelings for a man who did nothing but insult her with every chance he got?’ Despite undergoing the worst treatment there was something in him that attracted her. Maybe he is not as harsh as he shows himself.

As she walked back to her room she saw her phone ringing. “Hey dad, how are you?” Safia asked Soren forcefully replacing her glumness to cheer. “Guess what? We are going to Los Santos tomorrow morning.”

“Good Evening, my princess. I understand it's your honeymoon. See I told you Sion is not a bad man. You just did not understand him. It takes time to settle down. Believe me, you will turn out to be a wonderful couple.”

Safia dried her tears in a handkerchief and allowed her dad to dwell in the happiness. Luckily he can’t see her. She did not disclose to him that it was not their honeymoon but a business trip.

“Los Santos has beautiful weather during this part of the year. The place is famous for grapes and wine. You must surely visit a winery there. And they have this beautiful wine festival too somewhere in this part of the year. Ask Sion to take you there. As a kid I used to frequent the place because my grandparents used to stay there.” Safia could already imagine Soren's eyes glistening with happiness sharing with her his beautiful childhood memory. Also she could understand why Sion wanted to visit Los Santos. The place is famous for wine and he is a wine industry mogul.

“I hope you have learnt many things regarding how to bring our family business back on track.” Soren stated cheerily.

“Of course daddy. I learnt many important things from Sion.” Safia could do anything to see her dad happy. Sion was only taking his revenge on her by employing her in his office. In the last fifteen days the only two tasks she did was schedule his meetings and prepare coffee for him. All the office work was handled by Layla. She was more of a maid than his assistant. Sometimes Safia felt desperate and useless because of Sion’s behavior towards her.

The next morning at six, they were ready. Safia walked down the stairs in a white off shoulder gown which reached just above her knees. She was holding a matching handbag and wearing white stilettos. For a moment did she see a sort of Spencer in his eyes?

Sion observed her head to toe and walked to the entrance ahead of her without speaking anything. ‘Is this man always without any feelings, like a robot?’ The driver put her luggage in the trunk along with Sion’s and held the door open for her as she got into the car.

The drive towards the airport was long and she did not know when her eyes went closed. But in the middle of her sleep she could smell ‘his’ scent and the soft beating of his heart beneath her head. Her face was cocooned in a big warm hand as if he was shielding her from the problems of the world.

Whatever this moment was, Safia did not want it to end. She felt protective in the dwelling and snuggled deeper into the feeling when she heard a rough growl from someone.

After sometime she felt someone softly tapping her on her cheek and calling her. When her eyes finally opened, she saw the fierce eyes of Sion. “Were you planning to sleep all day like a lazy panda?”

“The flight has been waiting for us for half an hour but you wouldn't open your eyes. Are you on drugs?” He shouted at her with unlimited indignation.

Safia looked around her, feeling disoriented because of sleep. But when her eyes finally landed on Sion, she felt more like he was acting his anger upon her rather than really having it. That dream…was it really her dream with her in Sion’s arms or it was reality?

Ten minutes later the flight was in the air and the air hostess was openly flirting with him flashing her goods. “Good morning sir! What can I get you for breakfast? We have chicken noodles and fried eggs with toast.”

Safia’s lips tightened in anger but was clueless on why she was feeling jealous. The man sitting beside her was not even her friend. Being a husband is a far lost option.

Sion tried to distance himself, bending backwards on his seat feeling the hesitance with the air hostess. “Ladies first.” He signaled Safia almost leaning over her to avoid the stewardess’s touch.

Safia chewed on her lips in an irk, vacated the seat beside him and sat on the opposite row as if he was poison that she is not supposed to touch.

The air hostess came to her dispirited and Safia could easily see the relent in her eyes. “Thank you very much. I don't want anything. He is all yours.” She wore a plastic smile and told her.

The lady came back to Sion in high spirits. But he stopped, gesturing to her to keep her distance from him. “Don't you see I have company? You will be fired next time you make this unprofessional move.” He warned her by establishing his ascendency and command over her.

“Are you sure you don't want anything to eat? The journey is going to take long.” His temperament immediately transformed to concern when his eyes turned towards Safia.

Her stomach was growling for food. But she was a woman with heightened self-esteem. Safia very well knew that if she was not present they would have already been naked in the bed by then. “I know the type of a person you are. You don't have to act gentlemanly. Carry on with that slut.” She pointed to the door from which the lady went.

In a blink of an eye he was beside her making her appalled. Sion ground his teeth glaring daggers at her but his voice was not more than a whisper. “You don't get to choose the woman I fuck. Understand? Be in your limits.”

Safia's fingers started to shake with the ferocity that surfaced his eyes. But was she going to give up in the battle? “My dialogue is also the same. Be in your limits and stay away from me.” She pointed to the little distance between them.

Sion sat back in his seat without touching her but did not leave the place beside her. What bothered Safia more was, he could not even tell the stewardess that she was his wife.

Safia didn't know why the matter even bothered her because she hated the guy’s guts and couldn't stand his presence even for a few moments.

With the thoughts of Sion in her mind, sleep took over her. After sometime she felt being lifted and her back touched a super soft mattress.

In the sleep she turned around and her fingers touched something warm and hairy. There was a slight movement underneath her fingertips followed by a low growl.

Safia opened her eyes in terror and lol. She saw the monster in her thoughts right beside her. His heavy arm went around her waist and pulled her more into him.

Whatever this was, it was not supposed to be a dream. Because her eyes were wide open. Sion looked very pleasant in his sleep as against the horrific devil she witnessed every day and then all of a sudden reality dawned on her. How could he dare to touch her and also sleep beside her with no shirt? He was the one who asked her to get out of his bedroom in the first place. With the very invitation of the thought Safia’s nerves boiled.

She threw his arm that was around her and sat up on the bed with the whole world of anger. “Who brought me here? How dare you touch me and sleep beside me?” She fumed with temper.

“I brought you here because I found you feeling uncomfortable in the seat you were sleeping in. And what is wrong when I sleep beside you? We are husband and wife?”

“Only on paper. In reality we don't have any connection with each other. And there are no paparazzi here, so we need to act all cozy and in love. Next time you touch me, the result will not be pleasing because I'm not a whore like that lady who will come hopping to your bed and please you.” Safia told him sternly.

“Is it? Then how come you managed your company to float all these days?” Within a heartbeat, Sion pulled her back to bed and was on top of her kissing her wildly with fierceness. His hands glided to all curves of her body as if he possessed and ruled her.

Initially Safia opposed but with passing moments she felt his kiss difficult to resist. His tongue rolled into her mouth like a tsunami sweeping away her existence from earth to a celestial world.

Safia felt like she was swimming in the clouds as his hands crawled over all her curves reaching her buttocks before squeezing them. A soft moan erupted off her and that instigated him to turn their kiss deeper.

His tongue swept all the contours of her mouth with need bringing a nubile victory in her. Her heart began to dance in rhythm with his and body was filled with goosebumps. Safia accosted him in the swing following his tongue movements. His naked hairy chest and muscles arms were doing magic on her. They were hungrily kissing each other until their lungs ran out of air and were forced to depart.