Chapter 7

Sleep never comes from me,and I lie awake throughout the night, wondering what I’ve gotten myself into until I allow myself to roll out of bed and shower.

Mother was right. I should have gone for an older man.

But it’s too late for that now.

The walls throughout the suite are painted matte black with red lacquer accents. It’s not a place any groom should take their bride, and yet, it’s where I slept alone.

After drying myself off, I root around the drawers, finding only thin silk camis.

Great.

Just fucking wonderful.

The door opens, and in steps the woman that greeted Mateo on the roof last night.

Tall, lithe, elegantly built. She could easily walk the runway in Milan or be the host of a high-end art gala.

I’ve learned from my training that these women can be very dangerous.

It wouldn’t surprise me if she and Mateo had a tryst at some point, and that my presence thwarts what progress she’s made with him.

Men keep women like her around to make their wives feel replaceable, reminding them not to fall out of line.

“You will take your breakfast at 7 a.m. each morning,” she says as she crosses the room and sets the tray down on a desk.

“I don’t care to eat so early,” I reply.

With a dour expression, she says, “It doesn’t matter what you care to do. Mateo speaks through me, and it would serve you well to listen.”

Oh, yes. This woman is going to be a problem.

“I’m sorry, but unless Mateo himself says that, you have no authority over me, and I’ll file all your suggestions away as poor recommendations.”

She grabs something from the tray. “Suit yourself, though I’ll need you to lift your towel. It’s time for your daily injection.”

I take a step back. “You’re not a doctor…”

“You don’t need to be a doctor to administer fertility drugs,” she says as she walks toward me.

I want nothing more than to slap the syringe out of her hand, but it would do me little good, because this is what Mateo wants. He’s annoyed at being forced to marry me, so he’s making my life hell, hoping I’ll crack under the pressure.

I shift the towel over, revealing my left butt cheek. The jab is over in less than five seconds.

“What’s your name?” I ask.

“It matters not,” she deadpans.

Fine, be a snake.

“Where are my clothes?”

The snake shrugs. “You tell me.”

“I’d had them delivered to the hotel we were supposed to be staying at.”

“Then that’s where they are.”

“But when will they be brought over?”

“They probably won’t be and you’ll have to wear what’s in the drawer.”

“But that’s hardly anything.”

“Good thing you aren’t going anywhere.”

All at once, I feel the crushing weight of panic on my chest.

“He can’t just keep me half-naked!”

“Mateo can keep you any way he chooses.”

Realizing that arguing with this woman is futile, I ask, “Where’s my mother?”

“Again, you tell me.”

“She was part of the deal!”

“I don’t know what deal you are referring to.”

“Fine. Where’s my phone?”

“Again—”

“Oh, stop it! Get Mateo in here.”

“I don’t tell Mateo where to go or what to do.”

“He can’t deny me contact with the outside world!”

“If you’re upset with the arrangement, perhaps you should have negotiated your contract better.”

Don’t panic. That’s what she wants. She’s just a little toy of Mateo’s, and once she learns she can’t get under your skin, she’ll…Great Widow, I don’t know what she’ll do.

I think back to my training, feeling utterly unprepared for what I’m now up against.

Be compliant,my mother’s voice rings in my head. There’s a reason Mateo didn’t pick her to mother his children when she so clearly would like to.

“When should I expect Mateo?”

“When it pleases him to see you…not that it ever really will. He was forced into this arrangement, but is no stranger to obligation.”

Be the lamb.

“Well, tell him I look forward to seeing him again.”

“I most certainly will not.”

Without another word, she pivots on her break-neck heels and leaves my room. Her exit is followed by a telltale click. I go over and twist the doorknob, finding it locked.

This can’t be good.

My whole world has taken a dark and sinister twist.

And yes, I realize how ridiculous that sounds, considering I’m currently plotting my husband’s murder.

But this is what I signed up for, and as soon as my mission is complete, I’ll never have to worry about being owned like this again.