"Dominic I have to go now."

Annabelle declared, rising up.

Dominic stood up as well.

"Why, is it because of Maxwell?"

He asked in a pained voice.

"Uhm, I..."

"You're developing feelings for him." He said with narrowed eyes.

"No!" She exclaimed. "How can you even say that?"

"Well, your attitude recently."

She shook her head. "It's not like that. It's just that, this...is a contract as you know and I have to keep my own part of the deal."

Dominic took a deep breath.

"I've heard you."

She nodded.

"I have to leave now, please. I'll call you."

💖💖💖

She had expected David to yell at her, scold her or even ignore her. It would have been better if he had done any of those, it would have been better than this.

She recalled the day the incident with Dominic had happened.

She didn't see David in the office throughout that day and his annoying bimbo of a secretary had said he had various appointments which was true because she checked his schedules for the day on Gloria's desk as the woman turned away.

But he came home that evening and after bracing herself for a good scolding from him or even a snub from him, she didn't get either. Instead, he acted as though nothing had happened!

He asked about her day, which she answered awkwardly, asked if she had eaten and even told her of the results of his appointments while she gaped at him in both surprise and confusion.

Surely the David she knew wouldn't forget such an incident as the one that took place in the afternoon.

She had waited for him to bring up the issue, but he didn't. Instead he was been all polite and a little aloof. It was as if he didn't give a dime about what happened, as if it wasn't his wife's hand another man had held openly in a public restaurant.

Even a week later, the issue had still not been brought up and she desperately wanted them to talk about it, as well as what she had blurted out, the night before the incident.

She didn't know why she cared about what he thought of her but she did. She didn't even have feelings for him but she wanted them to stay in peace and at least friends, in their three years marriage.

The doorbell rang and Annabelle went over to see who was at the door.

Her eyes widened in surprise when she saw just who was at the door but smiled nonetheless.

"Mum," she greeted. "It's so good to see you, come on in."

Monalisa gave her daughter a tight lipped smile as she entered the house.

"How are you, Annabelle?" She asked.

"I'm fine mum," Annabelle replied with a smile. "Sorry I've not been able to come visit."

Monalisa scoffed. "It isn't necessary, you're not even needed there."

She said nonchalantly and Annabelle frowned.

"What do you mean?" She asked.

"Nothing, now go get me a glass of cold juice."

Monalisa waved her away.

Annabelle left the living room and came back with a glass of orange juice while her mother was looking around.

"I must say it's a very luxurious house you live in now, Annabelle." Monalisa commented and Annabelle smiled, ignoring the fact that her mother had never called her by her fond name.

"Yeah. It really is." She replied still standing.

"So how is everything going?" Monalisa asked with keen interest. "And for god's sake, sit your butts down, it's your house!"

Annabelle quickly sat down beside her, still smiling.

If her mother was a caring woman that she was close to, she would have told her about her challenges with David, but she wasn't. The only child that she showed love, care and attention was her sister, Lydia and Annabelle felt it was probably because her sister needed it since she was younger.

"We are fine." She replied instead. "Our marriage is still young but we're doing quite well and the marriage is getting to be enjoyable."

Monalisa rolled her eyes. "I wasn't asking after the sweetness or bitterness of your marriage. I was asking about the company."

Annabelle paused and stared at her and Monalisa sighed harshly.

"Why are you staring at me like a moron, didn't you hear what I asked."

The woman snapped.

"I did, but it just sounded...odd, that you only want to know about the company and not your daughter's married life so far."

Annabelle replied.

"Your married life is between you and your husband." Monalisa said nonchalantly. "I don't have any business with it."

Annabelle sighed and nodded. She knew she had made a wise decision not telling Monalisa about her little feud with her husband. The woman would have just waved it away and tell her to focus on the monetary side of the marriage.

"I heard you are now the vice president." Monalisa stated.

"Yes I am." Annabelle replied, glad that at least her mother would be proud of her in that respect.

Monalisa nodded. "It's a start."

Annabelle blinked. "A start?"

"Yes a start, or do you want to remain just a vice president?"

Annabelle looked confused. "I know I can only become president if, God forbid, my husband dies before the three years are over."

Monalisa nodded and Annabelle's eyes widened.

"Are you actually wishing for David's death, mother?"

"What? Did I say that?" Monalisa snapped. "Anyways if it comes to that, I would wish for it."

Annabelle gasped. "Mom!"

"What? I only said I would wish for his death, I didn't say I would kill him." She looked at Annabelle suspiciously. "Are you in love with him already?"

Annabelle hesitated but spoke anyway. "No, but he is still my husband."

"On paper," Monalisa entered smoothly. "And it's only for three years, three years, Annabelle. It's as if you are on a mission and the end result is to become the President of Maxwell Inc, before the three years are up and he doesn't even have to die." She lowered her voice. "I know you are still in love with that boy, Dominic. You can secure a great future for the both of you as well as myself and your sister through this golden opportunity you have been offered."

"B-but how?" She asked uneasily, hating this conversation she was having with her mother.

Monalisa smirked. "It's easy, but if you can't take that post from him before your time is up, then you'll have to take the only alternative."

"Which is?" Annabelle asked, dreading the answer.

"Killing him."

Monalisa declared plainly, like she was discussing what to cook for dinner.

"What?" Annabelle boomed as she got up sharply. "Mother! What has gotten into you?"

"If I were you, I would keep my voice down, or rather shut up and sit down." Monalisa murmured drily.

Annabelle sat down slowly. "Mum, did you hear what you just said?"

"You are so naive, Annabelle," Monalisa commented. "Sometimes I wish Lydia was older than you are. She is such a smart girl. If not because you are the first child, she would have been the one marrying David and not you. And I know she wouldn't have disappointed me."

Annabelle grimaced. "It's nice to know that you could also use your precious daughter for business purposes. I thought it was only me."

Monalisa glared at her and sighed.

"I won't go into that conversation with you today." She stood up. "But think about what I told you. It's for your and our family's good, as well as that...boy of yours."

"Dominic," she said. "His name is Dominic and he is very much a man."

"Whatever. I don't care." She grabbed her handbag and headed towards the door. "I'll be calling to know how far you are going." Annabelle nodded as she walked her to her car. Monalisa smirked. "And say hi to your husband for me."

Annabelle stayed in her room afterwards, thinking about what her mother had said.

She didn't really love David but they were starting to be friends. Even if he was her enemy, she would never wish him dead.

No, she can't even think of it. Having someone's blood in her hands.

If her mother wanted her to be president, she would look for a way to achieve that. A better way than death.

She sighed.

Where would she even start from? She shook her head.

💖💖💖

"So that's it." Annabelle said to the man in front of her. "She wants me to become the president of Maxwell Inc and even suggested the murder of David to achieve that aim."

Dominic scoffed. "Your mother is right, Ann."

"No, she isn't. That company is not mine and..." She paused and eyed Dominic suspiciously. "Wait a minute, what is she right about, Dominic?"

He shrugged. "Murdering Maxwell."

Annabelle gasped. "What? Even you? You are in support of killing an innocent man?"

"David Maxwell is anything but innocent. He deserves to pay for taking you away from me and being a total ass."

"How is our marriage his fault?" Annabelle asked, aghast. "He didn't want the marriage as much as I didn't!"

"He had the choice to refuse." Dominic snapped.

"No he did not!" Annabelle exclaimed. "He had to marry me or lose what he had worked so hard to inherit!"

"Then he is a selfish bastard for only considering himself only and not giving a damn if you really wanted the marriage or not."

"Dominic, David is...is a nice guy..."

Dominic eyes blazed in anger. "A nice guy? A nice guy, Annabelle?" He shouted. "Just look at you defending him and he's not even here! You are defending him to me for that matter!"

"Dominic stop it!" Annabelle exclaimed.

"I won't! That dude must pay!"

He shouted and stormed out of his own living room.

Annabelle kept staring at the closed door. "Is he high on drugs today?"

💖💖💖

Annabelle came back home late that night. The whole house was quiet indicating that everyone had gone to bed.

She tiptoed to her room and showered.

She wondered if David was around and decided to check. Tying the sash of her white cotton nightdress, she left the room and headed for his room.

She knocked but received no answer then entered the room but didn't see him. Then she checked his study downstairs and found him hunched over a table filled with paper files, in a deep sleep.

He had obviously been working and fallen asleep in the process.

She made to leave him there then paused and turned back to him.

He looked so vulnerable asleep. And if he slept in the crooked position he currently did, throughout the night, his neck would definitely hurt in the morning.

She tapped him lightly and he mumbled incoherent words before drifting off again.

She tapped him again, adding more pressure and he sat up sharply and stared at her as if trying to recognise her.

Then his eyes left her face and slid downwards, lingering on her breasts and the outline of her nipples through the sheer cotton material.

He felt his member go hard at the sight and cleared his throat while shifting slightly.

"Uh, hi." Annabelle said softly.

"Hi." He replied.

"How long have you been here?" She asked and he looked at the clock before answering.

"About four hours ago." He looked questioningly at her with sleepy eyes. "Didn't see you when I arrived home, are you just coming in?"

"Uh...no, I came in two hours ago. I just didn't know you were in the house already." She lied, wincing that she just turned to one. "I uh, went to see my mother today."

Whether he believed her not, he didn't show it. He nodded and stood up rubbing his eyes.

"You look tired." She commented.

"Not really tired, just sleepy." He said groggily.

Annabelle watched him in surprise as he followed her into the master bedroom and even went over to the bed and flopped on it. He was definitely sleepy and subconscious at the moment.

She put out the lights and pulled the duvet over him before she climbed on the other side of the bed and settled in as well.

Few minutes later, she felt the bed dip a little before warm strong hands enveloped her from behind.

She found herself smiling not knowing that she really was as she snuggled closer into her husband's arms.