Chapter 47 47

Chapter 47 47
Sheila's lifeless gaze lingered over Arthur's face as he spoke, expression blank, fist balled and teeth clenched.
Her emotions were jumbled over as she stared at him, her anger shimmering just beneath the surface.
What was he spewing? Their marriage was valid just on paper? They were to act like strangers? Hell, she didn't care.
It wasn't her business, never.
If anything, she was happy because she'll have her peace and probably stay away from him until the contract expires.
But his last words got her jaw dropping in shock, her head banged repeatedly as she tried to process the words.
‘Our public display of affection ends outside this wall, Sheila Grey.’ he had said, eyes not blinking away from her.
Their public display of affection? Like they were going to act like real couples?
A few minutes ago, he said something about them acting like strangers, just for him to sprout this out too?
She huffed.
No, it didn't make any damn sense.
“And why should we act like real couples outside this wall?” Sheila's voice returned as she demanded, arms crossed.
Arthur shrugged lightly, “Because we have to,” he replied curtly, voice strong and detached.
“And what if I don't want to? We can stick to the terms of the contract, Arthur.” She sneered. “Don’t contradict your words.” Her chest heaved in anger, eyes blazing with fury.
Arthur chuckled, the sound dry, taunting and annoying.
He leaned in, his hazel eyes piercing directly into Sheila's green eyes as if he wanted to rip them off.
Then his lips curled, “Sadly, you don't have a choice, wifey.” he snickered coldly.
Sheila's fingers dug into her palm as she glared hard at him, the gaze murderous, savage but Arthur's smirk remained, unfaded, his eyes gleaming with interest, curiosity piqued.
What now? Was his little one going to murder him?
Sheila hissed, “I do have a choice, you can't pin it down on me, you can't!!” She snapped and Arthur stood, his hands slipping into his pocket.
“We’ll see to that, little one.” he grimaced nonchalantly, then flashed her his dentils.
“And oh, I forgot to say…. Goodnight,” he added with a silly grin.
As Sheila stared at him, her emotions clashed and her hatred for him sky-rocketed, more of it brewing.
Why was he acting like the Alpha of her world when he wasn't? This contract if she can remember is still a win-win and not your kind of one person profit.
The two parties involved benefited in one way or the other.
Why was that jackass rubbing hers on her face and making it look like her condition was the worst ever?
She rolled eyes, closing her eyes briefly as she rested her head on the sofa headrest.
But her eyes snapped open when her head suddenly banged, then a thought raced through her mind.
She never heard the door close. Does it mean Arthur was still with her?
That's bull crap. He can't!!
She scrambled to her feet but her eyes widened when she saw him, lying down on the bed, back on her.
Maybe, he probably slept off.
What in Pete's name did he think he was doing? The maid informed her that the room was hers, so what was he trying to do?
She bolted towards him, eyes filled with rage, lips slightly in.
Swiftly, Arthur turned and her feet halted abruptly.
Arthur's brows thickened as he stared at her, “Wanted to throw a fit?” He narrowed his gaze and Sheila scoffed.
“This is my room and you're occupying my bed. Thought we agreed not to interfere with each other's life?” Sheila's lips curled and Arthur stifled in a laugh.
Did he hear right? She called his room and bed hers? Impressive then.
When Sheila saw that Arthur wasn't replying, nor was he making a move.
He only stared at her with those blank eyes, unreadable expression and sickening gaze.
Sheila resumed her walk, this time determined to yank him off out of the bed.
“I promise to yank you out, just wait till I'm close,” she snarled.
Arthur sighed, “Aren’t you releasing more episodes from your opera than you should?” he muttered, voice clipped.
“This is too much for a day and did I hear you say your room? Get your facts straight, little one,” he clarified with a grunt, then turned his back on her once more.
Sheila's eyes turned pale as she glared at him. The room, bed and house might even be his, but she wasn't going to spend the night with him on the same bed.
With a heavy groan, she finally walked closer to the bed and picked two heavy duvets and two head pillows.
She glanced back at the sofa then smiled, it will definitely be enough and comfortable for her.
As she lay on the sofa, the duvet curled over her body like a cotton, her eyes moved and fixed on the ceilings, the recent events replaying in her memory.
From having Jacob divorced and celebrating her freedom, to getting stuck and confused about her crumbing company and finally getting caught up in Arthur's manipulative life—it was all a chain, a brutal sickening chain trying to ruin her life.
Everything, everything happened so fast. Without a pause, everything shattered.
Some weeks back, she was at the club, glass clicking and bodies moving rhythmically to the tune of the music, a large smile spread across her lips, but everything shattered once more, without a blink, without any of them getting a hand earlier before.
Her freedom. Her essence. Herself.
It was gone, and right now, she was just a shadow of herself.
A traveller dwelling in her own body.
Painful tears brimmed at the corner of her eyes, each thought heavier than the first, weighing down against her shoulder.
She sniffled, then smiled.
Her tears, it was her weakness. She wasn't going to let it fall.
Not now, not tomorrow and definitely not anytime soon.
With one glance at Arthur, Sheila finally shut her eyes close, letting the night overcome her.
A few minutes later, Arthur's eyes fluttered open as he stared at her, eyes still neutral, indifferent.
_______________
Sheila was surprised when she felt the softness of the bed against her skin.
The sofa she dozed off last night might be soft, but she couldn't compare it to that of the one she was feeling right now.
It was different, heart warming. She smiled widely, gently turning on the bed.
Arthur, who was buttoning his shirt, stared at her.
Then a small smile. It didn't last long though, it vanished just the same way it came.
After he was done buttoning and fixing his ruw, he pulled out a paper and a pen then jotted down some things.
He placed the paper on the dressing table, then picked his phone and without a glance at sleeping Sheila, he left, footsteps unheard and calm.
After an hour of his departure, Sheila woke up. She was first surprised to see herself on the bed.
Her expression switched and she slapped her forehead, must have slept and walked.
Geez¡! How the hell does she face Arthur? He must have thought she did that knowingly.
She turned to apologize to him but was surprised when she saw his space empty, he left!?
That's a good one. Now she can breathe in the new air.
She climbed down the bed and took a quick shower, she needed to be at the company.
She sat down on the dressing chair to do her hair and that's when she saw it.
A clean folded paper staring back at her.
Her heart raced in her chest as heavy deep breaths escaped her nostrils.
What was that? And why would Arthur leave her a note?
She pressed her lips hard then heaved, contemplating on whether to open the note or leave it.
After a long thought and contemplation, she decided to leave the note.
She didn't want anything to ruin her morning.
But as her brushed her hair softly, her eyes never left the note, curiosity piquing and the thoughts about the content of the notes tugging at her heartstrings.
But she ignored the feelings tugging at her chest as she dropped her brush, then went over to her closet.
Few moments later, she was dressed for work but the paper sitting on the table stared back at her, like yelling to be read or even picked up.
It was hard to read the notes and be greeted with something worth ruining one's morning. But it was even harder to ignore the notes.
Her heart couldn't sit at rest. She couldn't ignore it further.
So she lunged closer, heart thumping.
She picked the paper with a slight tremble of the finger, then gently pulled it open, her heart rate skyrocketing, slamming hard against her ribcage.
And then she saw it, his writing. Arthur's writing, but the words on the paper was what got her attention.
The paper slipped and her jaw dropped open in shock.