Damian lays in bed wondering what had taken over him. One taste of her sweet nectarine neck, and it was as if someone had given him a strong drug. Her skin was as soft as a feather and as smooth as silk against his rough lips. Her intoxicating smell almost drove him over the edge. He could've fucked her right then and there and be over with it, never deal with her again. Just one taste of her and he'll be done. And that's what he kept repeating to himself before falling asleep as he could rid himself of the sexual tension balled up inside.

•••

Damian wakes up to the smell of freshly made omelette, as he rolls over, he pats the the opposite side of the bed. It's been untouched. He gets up and looks around the room to see that that there is a neatly stacked blanket on top the couch in his mini living room on the side of the room.

Sahara had slept on the couch last night because she became afraid and nervous to be too close to Damian and wasn't sure if he'd be okay with her sleeping on his bed. Plus, she didn't want to take any chances after their night's encounter.

She had woken up at around 5 AM to read Fajr and the Qur'an and then went back to bed to wake up again at 7:30 AM.

She remembered that Sebastian had told her to use the intercom phone in her room in case she didn't know how to navigate through the house, so she used the phone and was escorted to the kitchen by Sebastian.

There were already chefs and maids working in the kitchen but Sahara wanted to make breakfast herself for everyone because she had a feeling the staff in this house were always overworked.

For breakfast she made a traditional British breakfast, sunny side up eggs, toast, [chicken] sausages, and baked beans. She hopes that Damian would at least appreciate it. She made an increased amount of this as she wanted the staff to have breakfast as well.

"Madam, you're too kind! We simply cannot have breakfast at the same time as Sir." says a middle aged woman, named Katherine, Kat for short.

"Don't be silly, Kat! I'd love for all of you to eat the food I made. I'm Canadian, you know? I need you guys to give me some critical criticism on my cooking now that I'm married to a British fella with a completely different culture than mine." Sahara says as she waits for the toast to pop out of the toaster.

"To tell you the truth, I never thought Sir would ever bring home an actual wife because of amount of the different women he's brought him. I– OW" Kat elbows the younger maid, Jennifer, [Jen for short], to make her stop talking. Jen quickly covers her mouth, "I'm so sorry, I didn't realize what I just let slip!"

"It's quite alright! Don't worry about it, you're not the first one to mention such to me." Sahara laughs it off.

Sebastian enters the kitchen and announces that Sahara needs to make her way into the dining hall as Damian is descending from the stairs.

"What about the food? I'll help serve it." Sahara says.

"No can do, Madam. You've done plenty for us today!" Kat quickly ushers her out of the room and doesn't give Sahara a chance to protest.

Once Sahara makes it to the dining hall, she couldn't believe her eyes. The table is set to entertain maybe over 50 guests. And there Damian was, at the head of the table, wearing a dashing black suit paired with a navy blue tie.

Sebastian pulls out the chair for Sahara on Damian's right side and tucks it in after she takes a seat.

"Good morning." Sahara says to break the silence.

Silence.

"Did you sleep well?" Sahara asks.

Silence.

Sahara tries asking another question, "Are you–"

Damian bangs on the table with his fists, "Oh, could you please rid yourself of the innocent act already? I'm getting bloody tired of it. I know you don't fucking care about how I slept last night."

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend you in any way, I just–"

"You know what? Shut the fuck up! I have already blown your innocence cover, I know you only bloody married me for the goddamn money!" Damian yells.

"Sir!" Sahara tries raising her voice. "I didn't marry you because of your precious money. You have to understand, I didn't even know you were to be my groom, I only followed the orders of my uncle!"

"Right, and you totally didn't plan this with your scheming uncle, Mr. Akbar." Damian says sarcastically.

"What are you talking about? Besides, why did you agree to marry me? You knew you hated me, yet you still married me. I'm playing no games with you, Mr. Vasiliev. You cannot accuse me of being such a lowlife when you married me in order to become a wealthier, a more powerful man." Sahara has never in life spoken with such tone but the false accusations laid upon her honour by Damian has brought out this side of her.

Sahara's strong words has left Damian feeling angry. As he was about to say something, breakfast had arrived.

Servers have started to put the breakfast items down as Sahara gets up from her chair and says in a softer tone, "Enjoy your breakfast, Mr. Vasiliev. Let me know if you need anything from me."

•••

Toxic people project their own character defects onto their victims. They do this by accusing the victim of the exact actions they themselves do but deny.

- Shannon Thomas

•••

"Please, e-excuse m-m-me." Sahara stutters through her words, as her legs become too weak to be able to carry her. She couldn't stand watching her husband grope other women in front of her. It's too cruel.

- - -

♥️