Page 7
Story: His Ring, Her Rules
His parents were absorbed in a conversation on the large sofa set in the living room, but when they saw us, they smiled, a warm, pleasant grin that made me feel less uncomfortable, and Mr. Dante (his father), whom I was familiar with, appeared to be overjoyed to see me.
“Finally, I get to meet the great Vivian Hayes,” his mother exclaimed excitedly.
“Oh, please, Mrs. Dante, don’t call me that.” I smiled sweetly.
“Then please don’t call me Mrs. Dante either,” she said, making me giggle.
“As you say…so, what should I call you?”
“Tasha…I don’t mind if you call me mom,” she added, giving me a side hug.
Mom. When was the last time I addressed someone that way, seven years ago?
Calling her mom implies treating her as my mother, which I do not believe I am capable of.
“What are you thinking about?” she asked again, and I simply gave her a sad grin and said, “Tasha would be fine for now.” She nodded, but I could see she was unhappy.
When the doorbell rang, and the maid went to open it, Jaxon scowled and said, “Who else is coming?”
“Kena is also going to be here for dinner,” his mother said, and he grumbled.
A minute later, Kena entered the living room and welcomed Jaxon’s parents, following which Tasha exited the room, and he gave me a nice embrace.
“I am glad you are here, Mr. Max,” I said to him. I was relieved to have him here; he was much better than Jaxon.
“I knew you’d get bored with your good-for-nothing fiancè, so I came to keep you company,” he said, making me laugh, but Jaxon, being Jaxon, simply stared at us.
“Though I will be leaving soon because I have some work,” continued the man.
“Why don’t you leave now?” Jaxon said abruptly, turning us towards him.
“Well, hello to you too, Jaxon!” Kena cried, eliciting an eye roll from Jaxon and a stiff laugh from me.
“Dinner is ready!” said Tasha, and we all made our way to the dining room, where the table had already been set and heaped with excellent food.
We all sat across the table, and I was trapped with Jaxon since I sat alongside him, Kena opposite me, and Mr. Dante at the head of the table.
Tasha served dinner, and it was so excellent that I gobbled it. As a foodie, I didn’t mind how I ate (I never did); I was taking an enormous mouthful of the meal, unconcerned that I was with my in-laws.
Halfway through the dinner, I felt someone stare at me and lift my head to see that everyone was busy eating, but how could I forget about my fiancé, who has a tendency to gaze at people?
I looked at him, and while staring at me, he mouthed, “Eat properly.” I rolled my eyes (as is my tendency) and resumed eating.
A second later, I could feel his hot breath on my neck, and he pushed his mouth near to my ear, murmuring coldly, “Dare you roll your eyes at me.” Then he bit my earlobe and began eating, making the hair on my skin rise up.
My cheeks were hot from his actions, but what could I do? Anyway…I started eating in a more appropriate manner. *mentally rolls eyes*
It had been a lovely evening until Tasha asked me the most feared question: “When can we meet your parents?”
I noticed a faint smirk on Jaxon’s face since he knew I was in serious danger.
What do I tell them? My parents have died? No. Or perhaps…yes.
Everyone was focused on me, Tasha, Levi (Jaxon’s father), Kena, and Jaxon.
Levi responded, “Yes, Vivian, you never mentioned your parents.”
“Umm…” I trailed off. “My parents…I actually…lost them seven years ago.”
Half truth and half lie…
Tasha’s attitude turned to one of sympathy, as did everyone else’s, save Jaxon, who knew I was lying.
“Oh…I am so sorry, child…” Tasha began, but I interrupted her, adding, “It’s fine.” I offered everyone a tight grin before continuing to eat.
Good rescue, Vi…Vivian.
Dinner came to a close, and Kena said farewell before leaving, with Jaxon following him to the door, after which I didn’t see him return inside.
Levi was in the living room, and I was in the kitchen with Tasha, watching her take her marble cake out of the oven.
“Can you pass me that plate, child?” Tasha requested, removing the cake from the bakeware.
“Of course,” I murmured, presenting the platter to her.
She placed the cake on the platter and turned to me, saying, “While I serve this, could you go call Jaxon? I am sure he is in the garden.”
I smiled and nodded before heading out of the kitchen. I felt foolish for not asking her where the garden was, so I spent the next five minutes wandering along the corridor until I found a glass door that went to the garden.
Pushing it open, I went out into the fresh air and noticed Jaxon standing alone at a distance, his back to me, smoking.
I cautiously came up to him and stood beside him; despite seeing me, he did not acknowledge my presence.
“Your mother is calling you for dessert,” I replied quietly, glancing at the flower garden in front of me.
I heard him hum in answer.
“It’s not good for your health, Jaxon. You smoke a lot,” I said again when I noticed him not moving.
“You don’t get to tell me what’s good or bad for me,” he said coldly, continuing to look in front of him.
“I will be your wife soon, and I do have the right to tell you what’s good or not,” I said with ire.
He darkly chuckled prior to turning towards me. “Wife? You will be my wife just on paper, just in the eyes of the public and my parents. Besides that, I don’t consider you my wife, Miss Vivian Hayes. And don’t even think that I am going to obey you, Ever.”
I regretted speaking with him; I felt a stab of hurt in my heart. Even though I know this is a phony marriage, it stung when he declared he would not consider me his wife.
He threw his cigarette on the ground and crushed it with his foot before walking back inside, and I followed.
“So, what else is on my schedule?” I asked Jona, who was sitting in front of me in my office.
“All your meetings for today are over now. You have to go for your… wedding dress trial…”
I let out a breath. “Cancel that and schedule it on some other day.”
“You have been rescheduling it for the past week,” his voice rasped, “and the wedding is next week, Vivian. You need to go today.”
I scratched my temples and said, “I don’t want to, Jona.”
“Whether you want or not, you have to go. You can’t turn up at your wedding in some jeans and shirt.”
I lowered my head to the table in exasperation. I never heard from Jaxon again after he dropped me at my penthouse when we returned from his parent’s place.
“Mr. Zoe, I order you to leave me alone,” I responded, keeping my head down.
“I am not going to listen to you this time, Vivian. You are going to get your wedding dress TODAY.”
I raised my head, “I can fire you for this behavior, Mr. Zoe.”
“I don’t care if you fire me, but I can’t see your hard work getting destroyed by that so-called fiancè of yours, so GET UP!” he rasped.
He jumped up from his chair, approached me, and grabbed my hand before dragging me.
I eventually got up with tears in my eyes.
“Why should I buy the dress? To get married to someone who doesn’t even respect me a bit. He doesn’t even consider me his wife-to-be. For him, this is all just a game!” I thought as tears gathered in my eyes. Jona looked at me kindly.
Jona held me in a loving hug as I cried into the crook of his neck.
“I don’t want to marry him, Jona. Why can’t he just merge the company without marrying me?” I said. “Save me…he will definitely kill me.”
Jona caressed little circles on my back, “I am sorry, Vivian…but I can’t do anything…”
“He won’t kill you…you are important to him… without you, this company is nothing, and he knows it”, he commented.
I backed away, sniffing and wiping away my tears.
“I’ll tell the driver to get the car ready…come down in five minutes,” he whispered quietly, and I nodded.
He left, and I went to the restroom attached to my office to wash my face.
I glanced in the mirror and saw the vulnerable part of myself that I had left years ago. This is not who I am; I am stronger than this, and I will never give up so quickly.
I’m going to show that arsehole that I’m strong enough to marry him and sacrifice my life for the benefit of my company.
“Finally, I get to meet the great Vivian Hayes,” his mother exclaimed excitedly.
“Oh, please, Mrs. Dante, don’t call me that.” I smiled sweetly.
“Then please don’t call me Mrs. Dante either,” she said, making me giggle.
“As you say…so, what should I call you?”
“Tasha…I don’t mind if you call me mom,” she added, giving me a side hug.
Mom. When was the last time I addressed someone that way, seven years ago?
Calling her mom implies treating her as my mother, which I do not believe I am capable of.
“What are you thinking about?” she asked again, and I simply gave her a sad grin and said, “Tasha would be fine for now.” She nodded, but I could see she was unhappy.
When the doorbell rang, and the maid went to open it, Jaxon scowled and said, “Who else is coming?”
“Kena is also going to be here for dinner,” his mother said, and he grumbled.
A minute later, Kena entered the living room and welcomed Jaxon’s parents, following which Tasha exited the room, and he gave me a nice embrace.
“I am glad you are here, Mr. Max,” I said to him. I was relieved to have him here; he was much better than Jaxon.
“I knew you’d get bored with your good-for-nothing fiancè, so I came to keep you company,” he said, making me laugh, but Jaxon, being Jaxon, simply stared at us.
“Though I will be leaving soon because I have some work,” continued the man.
“Why don’t you leave now?” Jaxon said abruptly, turning us towards him.
“Well, hello to you too, Jaxon!” Kena cried, eliciting an eye roll from Jaxon and a stiff laugh from me.
“Dinner is ready!” said Tasha, and we all made our way to the dining room, where the table had already been set and heaped with excellent food.
We all sat across the table, and I was trapped with Jaxon since I sat alongside him, Kena opposite me, and Mr. Dante at the head of the table.
Tasha served dinner, and it was so excellent that I gobbled it. As a foodie, I didn’t mind how I ate (I never did); I was taking an enormous mouthful of the meal, unconcerned that I was with my in-laws.
Halfway through the dinner, I felt someone stare at me and lift my head to see that everyone was busy eating, but how could I forget about my fiancé, who has a tendency to gaze at people?
I looked at him, and while staring at me, he mouthed, “Eat properly.” I rolled my eyes (as is my tendency) and resumed eating.
A second later, I could feel his hot breath on my neck, and he pushed his mouth near to my ear, murmuring coldly, “Dare you roll your eyes at me.” Then he bit my earlobe and began eating, making the hair on my skin rise up.
My cheeks were hot from his actions, but what could I do? Anyway…I started eating in a more appropriate manner. *mentally rolls eyes*
It had been a lovely evening until Tasha asked me the most feared question: “When can we meet your parents?”
I noticed a faint smirk on Jaxon’s face since he knew I was in serious danger.
What do I tell them? My parents have died? No. Or perhaps…yes.
Everyone was focused on me, Tasha, Levi (Jaxon’s father), Kena, and Jaxon.
Levi responded, “Yes, Vivian, you never mentioned your parents.”
“Umm…” I trailed off. “My parents…I actually…lost them seven years ago.”
Half truth and half lie…
Tasha’s attitude turned to one of sympathy, as did everyone else’s, save Jaxon, who knew I was lying.
“Oh…I am so sorry, child…” Tasha began, but I interrupted her, adding, “It’s fine.” I offered everyone a tight grin before continuing to eat.
Good rescue, Vi…Vivian.
Dinner came to a close, and Kena said farewell before leaving, with Jaxon following him to the door, after which I didn’t see him return inside.
Levi was in the living room, and I was in the kitchen with Tasha, watching her take her marble cake out of the oven.
“Can you pass me that plate, child?” Tasha requested, removing the cake from the bakeware.
“Of course,” I murmured, presenting the platter to her.
She placed the cake on the platter and turned to me, saying, “While I serve this, could you go call Jaxon? I am sure he is in the garden.”
I smiled and nodded before heading out of the kitchen. I felt foolish for not asking her where the garden was, so I spent the next five minutes wandering along the corridor until I found a glass door that went to the garden.
Pushing it open, I went out into the fresh air and noticed Jaxon standing alone at a distance, his back to me, smoking.
I cautiously came up to him and stood beside him; despite seeing me, he did not acknowledge my presence.
“Your mother is calling you for dessert,” I replied quietly, glancing at the flower garden in front of me.
I heard him hum in answer.
“It’s not good for your health, Jaxon. You smoke a lot,” I said again when I noticed him not moving.
“You don’t get to tell me what’s good or bad for me,” he said coldly, continuing to look in front of him.
“I will be your wife soon, and I do have the right to tell you what’s good or not,” I said with ire.
He darkly chuckled prior to turning towards me. “Wife? You will be my wife just on paper, just in the eyes of the public and my parents. Besides that, I don’t consider you my wife, Miss Vivian Hayes. And don’t even think that I am going to obey you, Ever.”
I regretted speaking with him; I felt a stab of hurt in my heart. Even though I know this is a phony marriage, it stung when he declared he would not consider me his wife.
He threw his cigarette on the ground and crushed it with his foot before walking back inside, and I followed.
“So, what else is on my schedule?” I asked Jona, who was sitting in front of me in my office.
“All your meetings for today are over now. You have to go for your… wedding dress trial…”
I let out a breath. “Cancel that and schedule it on some other day.”
“You have been rescheduling it for the past week,” his voice rasped, “and the wedding is next week, Vivian. You need to go today.”
I scratched my temples and said, “I don’t want to, Jona.”
“Whether you want or not, you have to go. You can’t turn up at your wedding in some jeans and shirt.”
I lowered my head to the table in exasperation. I never heard from Jaxon again after he dropped me at my penthouse when we returned from his parent’s place.
“Mr. Zoe, I order you to leave me alone,” I responded, keeping my head down.
“I am not going to listen to you this time, Vivian. You are going to get your wedding dress TODAY.”
I raised my head, “I can fire you for this behavior, Mr. Zoe.”
“I don’t care if you fire me, but I can’t see your hard work getting destroyed by that so-called fiancè of yours, so GET UP!” he rasped.
He jumped up from his chair, approached me, and grabbed my hand before dragging me.
I eventually got up with tears in my eyes.
“Why should I buy the dress? To get married to someone who doesn’t even respect me a bit. He doesn’t even consider me his wife-to-be. For him, this is all just a game!” I thought as tears gathered in my eyes. Jona looked at me kindly.
Jona held me in a loving hug as I cried into the crook of his neck.
“I don’t want to marry him, Jona. Why can’t he just merge the company without marrying me?” I said. “Save me…he will definitely kill me.”
Jona caressed little circles on my back, “I am sorry, Vivian…but I can’t do anything…”
“He won’t kill you…you are important to him… without you, this company is nothing, and he knows it”, he commented.
I backed away, sniffing and wiping away my tears.
“I’ll tell the driver to get the car ready…come down in five minutes,” he whispered quietly, and I nodded.
He left, and I went to the restroom attached to my office to wash my face.
I glanced in the mirror and saw the vulnerable part of myself that I had left years ago. This is not who I am; I am stronger than this, and I will never give up so quickly.
I’m going to show that arsehole that I’m strong enough to marry him and sacrifice my life for the benefit of my company.