Chapter 14 Married, not free
Evelyn’s POV.
Before I got off the call with Eva, I heard Dad’s voice in the background.
“Is that Evelyn?” He asked.
“Yes,” Eva replied. Then Eva handed him the phone.
“Evelyn,” he called gently.
My chest tightened.
“How’s it going?” He asked, his voice deep. “Have you been able to find out anything about him yet?”
His voice was more like a whisper as he was being cautious of Eva's presence.
I was surprised that was the only thing he could ask about.
What happened to asking me about how I'm feeling? What happened to asking about how the marriage is going and if I'm trying to cope?
I sucked in a deep breath and stood up from the bed. “Nothing yet.”
“I can't get access to his rooms, it's always locked when he’s not home,” I said. “He leaves them open only when he's in the house.”
And when he was in the house, getting close to those rooms felt like stepping into a lion’s den. But I didn't say that.
“I'll find a way around it.” I finished.
Dad took a deep breath. “I'll do something,” he said.
The call ended before I could ask what he'd do. I stood still on the spot and tried to figure it out in my head but still couldn't.
I sighed deeply and went back to sit on the bed. Not even five minutes had passed when a knock came on the door.
I groaned. There was no privacy in this house except when I slept.
“Who’s it?” I called, and Mira's voice came in reply.
I let her come in and she bowed her head slightly before she walked closer to me.
“I brought your schedule, ma'am," she said.
I blinked, frustration threatening to rip me apart at the moment.
“I have a schedule?” I said, already exhausted.
I let her read the schedule out and the whole week was busy.
The words blurred together as she read them out.
Luncheon. Interview. Dinner. Charity appearance. Another interview.
It didn’t sound like a life.
It sounded like hell.
“How popular is he?” I asked.
Everyone wants to see him, they want to know who his newly wedded wife is. To him, it might be something of honour but to me it was draining.
“What exactly does he do?” I asked Mira with a frown.
She let out a small smile and started. “Mr. Adrian Kane is a businessman.”
“Not only a business man, but also a tech mogul,” she continued. “He's a system partner to 90% of malls and stores in town but in truth, he's their lifeline.”
I see. That was the reason why he could walk over the staff of the mall that day without giving two fucks.
“His good looks make reporters and showrooms want him to appear on their screen,” she continued. “He isn't just rich, he is also powerful. He is--” I cut her off with a wave of my hand.
Her voice softened when she spoke about him, like his name tasted sweet on her tongue… like he was her long time crush and that made my stomach turn.
“Enough! That's enough,” I said with disgust in my voice.
Hearing those things about him simply increased my hatred for him. I understand that he's powerful but he's been misusing that power by acting like he owns the world.
“There’s no way I would be able to remember everything you've read out of that paper in your hands,” I stood up from the bed. “You'd have to tell me everyday to remind me.”
“Of course, I will, ma'am,” she said.
This lady was very cunning when I first got into the house. I could remember vividly how she treated me like a maid when I first arrived.
But now she's acting with too much respect all because of Adrian. They all fear him and if I say I don't, then it’d be a goddamn lie.
He just burned a dress I cherished, something only a verified asshole would do.
I moved out of the room, trying to forget what Adrian had done to me but it seemed impossible as I got to the sitting room to see him seated on the sofa, his gaze on the television, the sounds coming from the TV slightly fading into the background.
The sight of the dress burning came back to my head again.
I swallowed hard, not in fear but with hatred for the face that I was seeing in front of me.
I moved past him, heading to the kitchen for a glass of water but he just couldn't ignore me.
“I heard from Mira,” He said and my feet dragged on the floor, forcing me to stop. “You have an interview with the Elite women’s circle tomorrow.”
I tilted my head back just enough to see his face. “Yes, thanks to you,” I spat the words with mockery.
I turned to leave but his voice stopped me again. “Your Father called.”
I snapped my gaze back to him, wanting to know what Dad had said.
I replied in a hurry.
“And?” I panicked and I was sure Adrian noticed.
He turned his gaze to me away from the television and he was looking confused.
Instantly, I knew he caught the uneasiness on my face when he mentioned my Dad.
“He wants me to organize a family dinner tomorrow,” he smirked. “He wants to visit my estate with the rest of your family.”
“And?” That was all I could say again.
“I agreed. Tomorrow, there’ll be a family dinner at the back patio,” he paused. “Mira will make preparations”
A family dinner. That's what he thinks it is b
ut I know it wasn't. Dad had something he wanted to achieve through this family dinner.
But Adrian is clueless.