Chapter 3 Dinner

Chapter 3

The housekeeper followed me to the room assigned for me. When we entered, she was still there.

"You can go now," I instructed her.

"I can't do that because Sir Caesar ordered me to take care of you," she said, bowing and avoiding eye contact.

I was taken aback by what she said and squinted my eyes.

Unlike before, this one shows respect towards her master, especially towards me.

"I'm ordering you to go."

She looked at Michael.

"He'll stay here," I added.

"As you wish." She bowed before leaving.

I watched her until she closed the door.

"I don't think it's a good idea to be here. This is the enemy's den. Everyone will watch your every move," Michael said.

"We're still not sure if Caesar is an enemy, but now..." I smiled and went to the window, where I could see Cassandra's car entering Caesar's mansion gate. "I know who my current enemy is."

Sariel's POV

"What are you planning?" I asked angrily as I entered Dad's office. "Caesar Levovski doesn't want anything to do with our oil company, so what is he after in this family?"

I had just come from a meeting with a new investor for our oil company, but it wasn't Caesar. From what I heard in the office, Caesar doesn't plan on partnering with us in any of our businesses.

Dad raised his eyebrows, clearly not liking my tone.

"I don't like this attitude," he said in a warning tone.

"It's not like I care."

Dad stood up from his swivel chair.

"Caesar is one of the people who will rise above and stay at the top of the food chain sooner or later. Just like I told you, we need the status and reputation he holds."

"And what's in it for him?"

"He wants Avila to be his wife."

"Why?" I asked sharply.

"That's what we need to find out. Avila already knows she has to be careful around Caesar."

"But why Avila? There are plenty of women in the world who are more popular and richer. Why her?"

"We believe Caesar knows Avila's past."

Avila's POV

"There are plenty of mansions you could live in. There's no point in staying here," Cassandra said with a sly smile, hiding her mouth behind her fan.

"I'm sorry, Cassy," I replied with a teasing smile. "You see, it's quite traumatic witnessing such an accident, and I'm in a depressed state right now." I grinned broadly. "I believe I could find peace in my husband's mansion. After all, we still haven't had a chance to spend a night together, so it would be normal if we just do what husband and wife should do, right?"

Her face showed irritation. She was silent for a moment before laughing.

"I just realized what you said!" She laughed loudly and looked at me mockingly. "You still haven't spent the night with him? How poor..." She fixed her hair. "You see... Caesar is..."

She went on about Caesar, how he was in bed, what they did.

It was already too much information, but I sat there listening while sipping my coffee.

I watched how her lips twitched, her eyes sparkled, and her face lit up while talking.

Everything she said was true. I could see it in the way she talked.

Then in the middle of her talk, she stopped and looked at me.

"You don't care what I'm telling you, do you?"

"Does it bother you that I don't?"

She blushed and suddenly got angry.

"Well, don't expect him to like you!"

In that conversation, I realized Cassandra wanted to make me jealous and annoyed, but since I didn't give her that satisfaction, she got annoyed instead.

"Right." I put down my glass and looked at her with a smile. "I don't need him to like me; he can just like me after he tastes me."

Her eyes widened, and she blushed. She stood up and was about to yell at me when the door suddenly opened, and the housekeeper entered.

"Master Caesar has just arrived." Cassandra was surprised by the maid's announcement and looked at me. "Master is requesting your presence at the dinner table."

Avila's POV

My smile vanished as I turned away from Cassandra and headed to the dining room where Caesar was.

Why is he here? Why so suddenly? Is it about me moving into his mansion or following him to another one?

When I stood in front of the dining room door, I stopped as I noticed the wall clock.

I suddenly felt anxious.

"It's the same as the one we have in our house."

Memories started to flood back.

It feels nostalgic.

Michael suddenly blocked my view of the clock with his hand. I looked at him, noticing the concern in his expression.

"I'm fine. I just remembered something." I gently lowered his hand and proceeded into the dining room.

My eyes immediately focused on the man sitting at the head of the long table.

I gave a small smile and approached him. I noticed the plates in front of him and another plate at the other end of the table. I knew where I should sit, but I stopped at the seat closest to Caesar.

"Will it take another fire for you to show up?" I gave him an innocent smile.

Only then did he look at me. I sat in the chair on his right side.

"This isn't your seat." I paused when he said that and gave a small laugh.

"After being gone since our marriage, I don't think you have the right to say that to me."

Michael moved my plate and cutlery in front of me.

"A wife should sit at her husband's right side. It's common knowledge," I said.

He looked at me for a few seconds before calling the maids to serve the meal.

He was a quiet man, and it was evident from his actions how he was observing me.

"By the way, can I help you with anything? Especially in business, because I heard you don't want any share of our oil company," I started the conversation.

I need to know why he wanted to have a connection with our family. Dad said that Caesar must have known our past.

"How old are you?" he suddenly asked.

"24."

"I'm 26."

I nodded slowly. "And then?" I asked again..

He stopped eating and looked at me with a grin.

"I need someone to bear me an heir."

I frowned at his statement. "You already have seven wives, why do you still need me?"

"Well, you're beautiful, you come from a weak family, and if we have a child, your family can't use me."

I clenched my jaw and shook my head before laughing at his absurdity.

"In short, you want a mother for your child?" I said mockingly.

"No, a surrogate."

His words made my ears ring.

I knew his plan. He chose me because my family isn't wealthy, so it would be easy for him to control us. If we had a child, he could leave me without fear of any retaliation, unlike his rich wives who would be harder to subdue.

"I'm sorry to say this but..." I looked at him. "I am not a surrogate, and I refuse to be one."

He looked at me with emotionless eyes, clearly displeased with my response.

I could see in his eyes that he was honest about why he married me, and I had to take advantage of that.

"I have a proposal. I'll give you a child and let me do my duty as your wife. That includes spending a night with you, going on dates, and allowing me to take care of you."

After all... I want to be a mom and a wife. The only one who can give it to me is my current husband.

His eyes narrowed at my words before he burst out laughing, as if I had said something ridiculous.

"I am right. You are weak and naive." He sliced his steak and ate it before looking at me again. "You're going to bear my heir. Take advantage of that. Don't let your feelings overwhelm you because love is the only thing I can't give you." He took a sip from his wine glass.

"I'm not asking you to love me, and I'm not telling you that I would love you. I just want to fulfill my desire to be a mother."

He looked at me intensely, his gaze cold and frightening, as if it could kill me.

"You're beautiful but... you don't have sex appeal."

I gaped at his statement. "Is there anything you say that isn't insulting?"

He smiled at my question and continued eating.

Was it because of what I'm wearing?

I'm wearing a long-sleeved dirty white dress.

We finished our meal in silence. As we stood up, his secretary immediately approached him to inform him of his schedule.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, wife-"

"Avila, my name is Avila."

He smirked at my response. "Do something about what you're wearing." He said and left.

I was left standing there, processing his words.

Well, I'm glad he doesn't know about the family's secret, but I can't help feeling insulted by what he said.

He clearly looks down on our family, but I'll make him regret thinking and saying that.

"Don't be bothered by what he's saying," said Michael. "You look beautiful in every way."

To Be Continued...