Chapter 6

Darius

“ Do you want people to know you're married McKenzie?” , I asked not looking at her.

“ No Mr Cirano , it will raise a lot of questions for myself and for you and I don't want anyone to face any difficulties. I don't , want….”, she answered calmly.

“ Don't want what?” ,I asked.

“ I don't want people to think I achieved anything because I am married to you ”, She whispered.

“ Okay. what time will you be finished tonight?”.

“ I'm not sure , classes end at four , Zara and I usually study after that ”.

“ Okay, I'll meet you at home for dinner at nine ”, I said.

“ Okay Mr Cirano ”.

That was it, no protesting,no defiance. Who the hell was this girl and Why was she giving in so easily. I knew women would comply but not like this.I looked up at her and found Marlene standing behind her with an I told you so look on her face. I was going to push it now.

“ Well I want people to know you're married so you'll start wearing a ring”, I said, waiting for her to shut me down.

“ Okay Mr Cirano ”.

I slammed my hand down on the table and she flinched. She was not a submissive that I knew.

“ma..may…may I be excused Mr Cirano ?” she started stuttering and fidgeting with the hem of her shirt. That was her tell,the minute she was uncomfortable or anxious she played with her clothes. That question came out in a way that set me off.

“ Sure , be home by nine McKenzie ” ,I said in a clipped tone.

“ Yes sir”

McKenzie

I stood up and went back to the room and got my bags. What exactly does he want from me?. I didn't expect him to react that way, I've never spoken to him for that long ,we don't usually have any interactions. Maybe that's the way he is.

I would head to school by myself today. Zara had something to take care of and From his reaction a few minutes ago I was scared to ask him if Zach could drop me off. I Guess I'll Walk today.

When I returned downstairs he was in the sitting area.

“ How do you get to classes?”.

“ Ummm. Zara usually picks me up”, I said quietly hoping he wouldn't ask.

“ And today?”, he asked, not taking his eyes off the papers in his hands.

“ She's unable to take me today. I'll head there by myself. Excuse me Mr Criano”. I replied, keeping my head down.I was almost out the door when I heard him.

“ Wait. I'll drop you off, it's on the way to the company”, he said walking over to me. Oh God no. People will see. He came up to me.

“ Mr Criano, it's no trouble. I don't want to bother you, I can….”.

“ Let's go” ,he said, motioning towards the car parked in front of the door. I had no choice. The security guy Opened the door for me and I got in. I expected him to sit up front, not next to me. After he got in we left,I kept a safe distance between us.

“ No one will see , I'll drop you off before we get to the school gates” ,he said, still reading whatever it was he had in his hands. I nodded because I was honestly too scared to utter a word. The air in the car was strained and I was starting to sweat, I could feel the insides of my hands starting to become wet.

“ Why aren't you putting up a fight, McKenzie? Why aren't you demanding things?. Why didn't you tell me no, that you won't wear a ring?. Why aren't you revolting and making your own rules and demands? Why are you accepting everything that's being said to you McKenzie”.. He asked calmly.

“ Because That is the way it's always been. I've never had a choice Mr Cirano .I don't know anything else. Being a doctor , within the walls of the medical school is the only place I have an opinion and can do as I please. When rules aren't followed there are consequences. When orders are disobeyed people get hurt , Mr Criano. I…”. I stopped before I said more than I needed to.

“ I see ”,

That was all he said , he dropped me off before the gates and left. I headed in and resigned myself to my studies. When Zara came she found me where I always was under the large tree in the compound.

“ You look like you had a rough morning ” ,she said plopping down next to me handing me a coffee cup.

“ I did “. I said, taking a sip of the coffee. I told her what happened.

“ He's trying to figure you out Kenzie “. She said laying in the grass.

“ I don't want to be figured out, Zara. I just want to become a doctor. I just ” , I didn't know what I wanted in my personal life.

When I got home at eight, I didn't know if he was home or not. It wasn't until close to nine when Marlene came knocking.

“ Yes Marlene?”.

“ Mr Cirano is here ,he is waiting for you to join him for dinner”. She said smiling.

“ Okay I'll be down “.

I composed myself for whatever tormoil or torture he had in store for me and headed down. He was already at the dining table.

“ Good evening Mr Cirano “

“ Good evening McKenzie. Have a seat”.

Darius

All her answers were to the point,she didn't avoid questions. I explained what has been going on to Grayson. He was an asshole but he was without a doubt a smart man and would be able to help me make sense of all this. We were sitting in my office.

“ D I think she's been hurt”. He said, looking at me.

“ I don't think so ,she is smart and focused ” ,I answered.

“ Smart and focused doesn't mean shit if you've been hurt. The compliance, always accepting everything without questions. The apologizing. She's been hurt D. Just be careful with her. If you don't want her to wear a ring you can get her a necklace with your initials. I know a place I'll send you the address “. He said standing up.

“ Come over on Saturday, you can meet her”. I said gazing out at the skyline.

“ Sure. Jas is coming back in two months ” ,he said quietly.

“ Oh , Well there's work to do”. I said.

Jasmine Dupree was one of our school friends. We've been friends since we were sixteen. She was working for me overseas. After Grayson left I checked the website for the necklace and found a pattern that I wanted so I ordered two to be delivered by four that afternoon.

When I got home,she was nowhere to be seen. I guess Marlene knew I was looking for her , so she just looked at me then up towards the second floor. That meant she was here. When she came down I knew she wouldn't sit without asking me so I didn't wait. I wouldn't wait for her to hesitate. All throughout dinner she was quiet and kept her head down. After dinner she was about to leave.

“ Let's take a walk, McKenzie “.

“ Okay Mr Cirano ”. She said quietly.

I saw her fidgeting with the sleeves of her shirt. She was anxious again. I walked out the door and headed towards the back garden. She was walking quietly beside me.

“ I've always been focused on the family business after my grandfather passed away and it was handed to me. I didn't have time for dating. That doesn't mean I didn't have many one night stands. I don't let people close, if I keep people around it's because I tolerate them and because they're needed for work nothing else. I like things done a certain way. I don't like being lied to or deceived, McKenzie . You explained why you did this but your actions leave me feeling confused. I've had women obey every single order I gave them but I knew their intentions. Yours I don't know and I know for a fact you're not a submissive. If we're going to be married McKenzie you need to stop being afraid of me. I'm not going to hurt you.If you want or need something you can ask me without fear of being yelled at and reprimanded. If you want to call me or text me just to ask how my day was, that's okay too. As long as you don't lie to me or betray me we'll be fine. So I'll ask you this question one last time.”.

I stopped walking and looked at her

“ Why are you doing this, McKenzie? Why did you agree to get married to me?”.

She had her head down and sure enough she was playing with the cuffs of her shirt.

“ I'm waiting McKenzie”.

“ I cannot lie and I don't want to lie but I cannot tell you everything. I'm doing this because Cynthia asked me to. Cynthia is the reason I'm standing here. She saved my life in a way that I owe her my life. There isn't a thing she could ask of me that I wouldn't do. I'm sorry if that answer isn't good enough for you but it's not a lie ,it's a partial truth “. She said,

For some reason I believed her , because she had that look in her eyes. The look of someone that was grateful. The first time she told me Why she was Doing this she had the same look in her eyes.

“ Okay “. I pulled the necklace box out of my pocket and handed it to her.

“ You'll wear this in place of a wedding ring until the time is right ” , I said, handing her the box. I saw the slight tremble in her hands when she took it.

“ Open it”. Her hands were visibly shaking now. When she opened it and saw the necklace she looked at me. It was a gold chain link necklace with My initial embossed with diamonds.

“ I'm sorry Mr Cirano but I can't accept this”, she said, closing the box and handing it back to me. I took it from her and opened it.