Chapter 4

“Oh, I'm so sorry." Lena apologized to a maid she had bumped into who wore a tired face and held a large laundry basket filled with silky velvet curtains.

The maid just ignored her and walked away in the direction Lena had seen others walk to.

Lena continued on her way, shielding her eyes from the bright but warm sun which kissed her yellow skin. Her eyes searched the lines of bedsheets and curtains, searching for Alex, who she hadn't seen since the sun came up.

“Need a hand?” Lena asked as soon as she walked up to Alex, who was in the middle of putting up a large cream-colored curtain on a line.

“You should if you can,” Alex replied, without taking her eyes off what she was doing. She had her hair packed in a messy bun purposely to keep it from disturbing her, but loose strands still fell around her eyes, making her occasionally wipe them away.

With Lena's help, she was able to get the curtain on the line and straighten it so that it looked like the others which were already up. Lena tucked a loose strand behind her ear and looked around while Alex moved to another line.

“What is going on?” Lena asked, curiosity getting the better of her.

Alex snorted, a little tired. “So you're trying to say we, the laundry maids, don't do anything on a normal day?” She raised an eyebrow, her expression dripping with sarcasm.

Lena chuckled. “Do you launder curtains on a normal day, Alex?" she asked as they both put up the material on the line.

Alex turned to her for the first time and shrugged. “Good point. I'd never do this on a normal day unless a knife was about to pierce my heart." She moved towards another line, her tone dry.

Lena just smiled and shook her head. "Well, it's obvious there's an event coming up.”

Alex snorted again. "Not just an event, Lena. It's a briefing."

Lena squinted her eyes both to reduce the sun's ray into her eyes and in a confusion by Alex's words. "What's a briefing?”

Alex stopped and raised a brow. "Really? Lena,”

"I mean, I know what a briefing is. I want to know the purpose of the briefing.”

"Well, if you didn't know, the boss's wedding is in a few days and it's like a tradition in their family to hold a briefing before any wedding. But that's if the groom allows it.” She replied.

Lena stopped herself from getting angry, as she remembered her conversation with Thane the other day. ‘He had the guts to hold a wedding with his wife, who went about wearing a happy mask to the outside world.’ she thought

"What do they say in the briefing?” Lena asked, though she knew she was annoying Alex, whose patience was really thin.

“I don't know that Lena, I'm not married. And obviously, I’m not involved with their family, so I have no idea what it’s about," she said, finally finishing what she was doing and turning to Lena with a sigh of relief.

“What I do know is, his mom will be at that briefing and she's the last person you'd wish to displease.” Alex's face became a little too serious. "Do not mess with her.”

Lena felt a shiver run down her spine at her friend's words and Alex seemed to notice her fear as she chuckled. "Now, quit bothering me. I've got a shit ton of work to do.” She said and turned around. "What are you out here for, anyway?”

“Marie told me something was dropped off for me?” Lena asked, recalling how her heart had fluttered at the idea that Adrian had finally remembered her.

“Oh that. Dante dropped a phone off for you. From the boss."

*****

"Well, he can go fuck himself!" Lena had heard Tessa scream earlier that evening, after which she marched to her SUV and ordered her driver to take her to her father's house.

Lena couldn't help but wonder why Tessa still loved Thane regardless of the unhealthy number of times they’d had a disagreement. Or was there something else to it?

She'd heard them fuck once, and they were so loud. Was that it? Lena thought as she laid a clean white bedsheet on the king-sized bed, then circled round to tuck in the loose ends.

She'd just reached for the enormous wardrobe to begin dusting it when the door flung open and Thane stood at it with an indifferent expression on his face.

“Sir." Lena mouthed both in shock and confusion about why he'd banged open his own door like that. She brushed it off and avoided his gaze, using the opportunity to thank him for his gift. “I really am grateful for the—”

“Come here," in a flash, Thane banged the door shut and furiously walked towards her. He cupped her face in his hands and locked her lips with his. The rag in Lena's hand fell as her eyes widened in shock.

He smelled like expensive cologne and alcohol.

Lena suddenly pushed him away, panting. "No, sir. I'm not your fiancee. You're drunk.” She said, but regretted it instantly as his eyes darkened.

"Do I look drunk to you?” the stench of alcohol was stronger in his breath. He suddenly grabbed her face with one hand and held it so tightly between his fingers. "You will do what I say with no complaints, alright?”

“But sir—” She tried to protest, but he only squeezed further.

“Am I clear?" He thundered.

Lena nodded quickly in fear, then suddenly, he spun her around so she was facing the bed and he stood behind her. She could already feel him harden beneath and she knew there was no escaping.

‘This is wrong.’ her head whispered, but her body said otherwise as it trembled and gave in to the pleasure as soon as she felt him undo her zipper and his lips began planting kisses from her neck to her shoulders.

Her clothes dropped to the floor, and she guided his hands to her clitoral area, then willingly arched when he was ready to slide in.

That night served as the first time Lena ever enjoyed sex.