The Penthouse
A little closure of eyes for rest, just a little sleep, and the next time Elaine opened her eyes, a familiar scent hit her nose and it was so close, much closer than she wanted. Because as soon as the scent hit her nose, she drifted closer to the carrier,
sniffing like her life depended on it.
“What are you doing, doll?”
Her eyes snapped open fully at the deep voice that reverberated right before her ear, her eyes meeting with a golden white skin. Immediately pulling herself backward away from his neck, she brushed her disheveled hair with her finger and looked around the surroundings in confusion.
How did she get into a moving car? Last she remembered, she’d decided to take a small nap in the private jet and had laid on the bed with an Airpod Pro in her ears. How on earth did she get into the car then? With Xavier of course.
Elaine’s eyes darted to him, eyes scanning him from his head downward. He'd changed from his wedding suit to a simple polo that hugged his muscles.
“Ho…how did I get in here?” The question escaped her lips.
“How else?” Xavier returned his gaze to the screen of his phone.
“I was asleep. I can't remember anything.”
“I carried you in. You were tired.”
“You should have woken me up.”
How come she didn't even wake up even after the jet landed and with all the noise? She didn't even wake up when he scooped her into his arms and carried her out of the jet. Maybe he was right after all, she was too tired from the stress of the wedding. She was mentally and physically tired.
After a moment of silence between them, she turned to stare at him, the question at the tip of her tongue.
Clearing her throat, she asked. “Where are we now?”
A single word fell off his lips.
“London.”
She nodded in understanding. He really heeded her request. Elaine gazed outside the window, eyes flashing in excitement at the pretty places that they passed through. The Prada and channel shops, the busy road, the companies, the roadside businesses. It had been years since she last graced London with her arrival. She’d grown up in London with her grandmother and since her death, she’d seen London not. She couldn't wait to explore more of the city.
“We're here, sir, ma’am,” the driver announced as the car finally came to a stop in front of a large building, a five-star presidential hotel.
Stepping down from the car, Xavier rounded the car, walked over to her side, and opened the door for her before helping her step out of the car. She looked around them.
“Where is Rigel? I can't find him anywhere?” She pondered loudly.
Xavier, who was instructing his driver to get their belongings from the car’s trunk, stopped and brought his attention to her.
“Why you're asking for him?”
“Did you not say that he would be coming with us?” She straightened her dress. “I was just worried.”
“He’s doing his job and surveying the area. Don't expect to see him regularly. Let's go.”
He walked before her, taking steps to the entrance of the five-star hotel while the little doll behind him stared at the hotel in silence, her eyes scanning the large building and its view.
While staring at the beauty, she didn't notice when Xavier stopped waking and she ended up colliding with his back, her head throbbing hard at the force.
“Ouch,” she groaned, fingers shooting out to massage her forehead. Xavier only glared at her and continued walking until a man walked up to him.
“Welcome, Mr. Romano.”
Xavier patted the man’s shoulders. “Good to see you, Emero. How is everything going?”
“Thanks to her help, the hotel has been flourishing. Here is your penthouse card, the one you asked for.
Taking the card from the man, Xavier pulled away.
“Good job. Make sure to stay on alert and I form me if anything goes wrong.”
“Ailt sir.”
Just as the man walked away, Elaine rushed to stand beside Xavier, her eyes fixed on the card before him.
“You own a penthouse here?”
“I do, why?”
Her lips twitched. “Do you have a penthouse in every country?
“Most times, cities.”
They strode into the elevator
“Wow. Must feel good to be as rich as yourself.” No wonder he has so much pride.
Once they got to the penthouse, Xavier swiped the door open with the card. Stepping into the house, Elaine gasped at the sight that she met with, a nod settling on her head at the satisfactory interiors.
Excitedly, she asked.
“Where is my room?”
A deep chuckle escaped Xavier’s lips as he opened the door wide for the servants to bring in their luggage.
“There's only one room here, doll.”
Her eyes grew wide, staring around the house in disbelief.
“What do you mean just one room?”
“You tell me, how many rooms should newlyweds have, hmm?”
All traces of her excitement disappeared immediately replaced by annoyance. She gritted her teeth, whirling around to gaze at him.
“You know the situation around our marriage. I request my own room, Mr. Romano, or better still, you sleep here in the living room.”
He raised a brow, stepping forward to stand toe to toe with her.
“You think that's possible?”
“What? You're too prideful to do it?”
“In your dreams.”
Xavier gave her a last look before dashing toward the room, pulling off his shirt and throwing it to the bed, his hands ruffling his hair. Elaine matched in behind him.
“We don't have to argue about everything, Xavier. Ever since I met you, we have been arguing.”
He turned abruptly.
“When has there ever been a time that you're obedient? Stop trying to prove how stubborn you are to me because I'm going to break into you, badly.”
“You're obviously the problem.”
“You're the one who changed the location. I did, yet you're still nagging.”
“I'm nagging?
“Go have your bath first, doll,” he commanded, his voice stern.
“And I don't?”
“Do not test me.”
“You….”
Before she could complete her words, he stormed toward her, snatching her arms with his right hand, and with the other, he grabbed her chin, forcing her to stare at him.
“Do try to be stubborn with me, Elaine. Be obedient for this to work.” He leaned in closer at the scent that filled his nose, his nose nudging close to her ears, breath fanning her. “Do as I say, hmm?”
Elaine’s legs trembled, a wave of nausea suddenly washing over her, her stomach churning. Before she knew it, she pushed Xavier off her and ran toward the bathroom, hurling at the toilet seat, and puking her guts out.
Her stomach churned more, the desperate urge to empty itself.
She heard him storm to her side, gathered her hair in his fist, and rubbed her back tenderly.
Once she finished, he helped her up and handed her a can of water which she immediately consumed without a second thought.
Her eyes fell on her reflection in the mirror. Dark circles around her eyes, chapped lips, disheveled hair. With a last sigh, she fell backward into Xavier’s arms, succumbing to the darkness.
What was wrong with her?
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