Taming the Ceo's Bride

XAVIER

I stared at the numbers on my computer and felt the intense urge to fling the computer across the room. This hadn't been what I had wanted, this investment was supposed to give me more figures and not blank zeros.

If my father had been alive he would have probably scolded me for making such bad choices at this crucial time and now I had no way of getting myself out of this mess.

I started going through the files on my desk as I struggled to focus but the nagging feeling of incompetency filled my mind. I stared at my office and sighed, I probably needed to decorate a little but I wasn't too concerned.

Just then there was a slight knock on the door and my assistant popped his head in.

"You sent for me, Sir?" he asked.

"Come in, Richard, where's the file?"

Richard stumbled in, a sheepish smile on his face. He tugged at his white shirt and dropped the file on my desk. He looked nervous and he had every reason to be because I was upset.

He cleared his throat and I eyed him as I looked up from the file.

"Yes?" I queried.

He suddenly seemed short of words as he blinked his brown eyes rapidly and shook his head.

"Speak, Richard!" I snapped. I had no patience today and didn't want to entertain his nonsense.

"Mr. Darwin is waiting in the lobby, he wants to see you," Richard finally spoke.

My frown deepened, "Tell him to get out."

Richard nodded immediately and scurried out. Just then I picked up my phone and dialed the bank number that was on the document.

"Hello, Adele Layton speaking, how may I help you?" the feminine voicpersonale on the other line asked.

"Miss Layton, it's Xavier, you were my father's accountant," I answered.

"How are you holding up, Mr Anthony? I'm so sorry for your loss," she said.

"Thank you, Miss Layton–"

"Call me Adele," she interrupted me immediately.

"Adele, I need to know if I can get the bank to invest in my company," I went straight to the point, there was no time for pleasantries.

There was a slight pause on the other end of the line before she spoke up, "Of course, Mr. Anthony but that can only happen after your company's IPO has been passed."

I sighed inwardly as my grip on the phone tightened, "Thank you, Adele, that would be all."

"If you need my help with anything just let me know," she said in a low voice.

"Of course," then I hung up. I knew she was flirting with me but that wasn't what I wanted right now.

Just then I heard the commotion outside my door as the door flew open and Richard was tossed to the ground. I saw Victor Darwin with his three bodyguards flanked by his side as they entered my office.

"I tried to stop them," Richard groaned.

I waved him off, "Leave."

Richard limped out of the office before the three bodyguards also followed. Then I glared at Victor.

Mr Victor Darwin was a man in his late fifties. He was my dad's best friend until he betrayed him and they became business rivals up until his death. The bad blood has passed from my dad to me and I didn't like how Victor ran most of his businesses.

"I tried to reason with you gently," Victor said, smirking.

His grey hair was slicked back perfectly on his head, his dark brown eyes had taken on a shade of light brown, he was dressed in a dark blue impeccable tuxedo and his full lips were smirking at me.

"What do you want?" I snapped at him.

"You should learn how to talk properly to someone old enough to be your father," he smirked.

"You're not my dad so state your business or get out!" I snapped.

"Well, a little birdie told me your company is bankrupt and you're pushing for an IPO so I came to inform you that it won't work," Victor said smugly.

I frowned, the company's bankruptcy was not public knowledge so how exactly had he known?

"I know these things," Victor said as if reading my mind.

"Okay, you're here to gloat. You may leave now," I replied.

"I am here to offer you a deal that can help you," Victor said.

I chuckled, "You're my business rival, why would you help me especially after you sabotaged my dad before he died?"

"Well, I need your help too," he said.

"What could you possibly need from me?" it was my turn to gloat now as I gave him a cocky smile.

Victor glared at me, "Marry my daughter and tame her, she's causing a lot of crises in my business then I'll help your company out of bankruptcy."

I glared at him, "I don't want to know what twisted plan you've cooked up in your head but it's not going to work."

"Let me explain why she needs to get married," Victor said.

"I don't care. Get out!"

Victor tsked, moving around to take his seat without my permission. 'You know, you are just as stubborn as your father"

I balled my hands in a fist. How dare he mention my father? "You!" I started to warn him but Victor raised a finger; silencing me.

He extended his hands towards one of his three bodyguards who handed his phone onto his palm.

With Victor's eyes never tearing away from mine, he pushed his phone button and placed it on speaker.

"Good morning, Mr Darwin. This is Wellington Bank, how may we be of help to you this morning?" Said a feminine voice over the phone.

My eyes widened at the name of the bank. Wellington Bank is only one of the top 10 banks here in LA.

I'd put a call to them earlier but had been forwarded to voicemail; meanwhile, they'd picked up Victor's call after the first beep.

I chuckled, clearly seeing what Victor was up to. He was trying to show the extent of his powers but I wasn't going to give in that easily; especially when it came at the price of marrying his daughter.

"I just called. How's the bank holding up?" Victor questions, replying to the lady.

"Very well, Mr Darwin. Thank you for calling"

"The pleasure is all mine. Please, give my regards to your boss"

"Will do, sir"

And with that, he hung up. Refusing to be surprised by how far and wide Victor's connection had gotten, I laughed wholeheartedly. "You, do you know what you just portrayed?"

The corners of Victor's lips tilted up in a wicked smirk. "And what did I just portray? A man who has powers?"

Shaking my head, I disagreed with him. "No, you just portrayed an old man who has nothing better to do with his time" Gesturing towards his phone, I continued. "And probably a flirt to that lady you called earlier. I mean, what was with that 'I just called'?Get off your high horse, Darwin!"

The smug smirk on Victor's face finally wiped off. "So let's say you turn down my offer because of your pride, what happens next?"

I shrugged my shoulders. "Another offer from someone else emerges" A short chuckle followed. "Why are you talking as if you are the last man on earth?"

"Because I'm a man with great power and of great importance. I'm a public figure; you need me even though you try to deny it"

And Victor had a point but damn, his confidence! But this was the only way to fulfil my father's last wishes before he died and make the company go public.

"If we do strike this business deal, how would you help me with the company?"

Victor tapped his fingers as one of his bodyguards brought out a sheet of printed paper, extending it to me with a space for my signature.

"First, sign this paper"

"What for?"

Victor shrugs. "Just so that you don't go back on your words later on"

"I'm a man of my word"

"And I don't trust anybody" Victor counterattacked. "So? Are you signing it?"

I cleared my throat, picked up my pen from the cup stands and scribbled my signature across the printed paper. "Now, tell me. How exactly do you plan to help me?"

Victor signified one of his bodyguards to bring out his stamp. When gotten, he stamped and sealed the paper. Damn, this man didn't trust anyone.

"I'll let you know via a small gift I'll send to you. It would keep your company busy for a month or two. While your marriage to my daughter would do the rest of the talking"

As Victor alighted from his seat, I blurted out. "I'll have you know that this 'marriage' doesn't make us one big family neither does it out of the past. I'm not doing this for you but for my father, as he wanted only the best for this company"

"And I'm not doing this to patch up old wounds with you, Xavier," Victor reminds me. "I'm doing this to get a pest out of my hair. You are just a trash can to me, nothing more"

Victor's words fueled rage within me. I knew he had something under his sleeve but what could it possibly be? The only way to find out is to marry his daughter as he bargains and watch her closely from thereof.

"I'll be sending you two gifts, actually" Victor corrects himself. "First, I'm going to break the news of your marriage to my daughter when I get home so you can expect her in your office first thing tomorrow morning and secondly, would come the main gift. I hope you enjoy both"

Victor attempts to walk away but then halts. "That reminds me, I should better warn you. My daughter has a bit of a nasty temper"

"I'll have you know that I'm going to mistreat your daughter in the cruellest way imaginable"

Victor shrugged. "She's now yours and no longer 'my' daughter so do as you please. I AM giving her over to you to tame her "

"You mean 'selling' her over to me"

Victor chuckled softly. "Nice of you to use that word when you are the one selling off your company. What's the problem here, Xavier? It's a win-win situation for the both of us"

Victor extends his hands for a handshake to seal our deal. "So, do we have a deal?"

Glancing down at his hands, I scowled. "Do we need a handshake? I already signed those papers which you already stamped and sealed"

"That is hard evidence" Gesturing towards his bodyguards, Victor continued. "But we also need physical witnesses"

I hated it. Hated the fact that I didn't have a choice and this hatred, I was going to make known to his daughter by treating her with as much discontent as I could muster.

"Come on now, Xavier. Are you going to leave an old man hanging?" Victor teased. "These were the same hands who held you when you were little"

I know that, you old geezer. I thought. They were also the same hands which killed my father. I was going to have my revenge by making his daughter pay for his sins.

Maybe this marriage was what I needed after all; it truly was a win-win situation for all of us. I'd get my company back on track and have my revenge on Victor.

And using his daughter, I was going to find his weakness and bring Victor down as well as everything he'd ever worked for.

That was the only thing Victor cared about anyways; his company. And if I was lucky enough, maybe, just maybe, his daughter and I could work together to bring down Victor so that we could forget this ruse of a marriage.

With this thought in mind, smirking, I place my hands in his. "It's a deal."

GWEN

Stumbling into the house in my short, red glittery dress, I crashed to the floor but was caught just in the nick of time by Hazel, one of the helpers.

"Young Miss, did you drink again?" Hazel asks me but I just let out a long laugh.

Grabbing Hazel's cheeks into my palms, I squish it. "You have such chubby sheets"

"Do you mean 'chubby cheeks'?" Hazel questioned.

A wide smile plastered across my lips as Hazel's words made more sense than mine. "Yes! That!"

"Do you still have time to stand there and correct her grammar?" A loud male voice boomed by the end of the hallway; it belonged to Father.

He had this angry expression all over his face but I didn't care. Not one bit. I was equally angry at the man my father was that I needed booze so badly and ended up drunk; again.

"Hurry up and take her to her room and help sober her up!" He ordered sternly, giving Hazel a jump scare.

"Y-Y-es, s-ir" Poor Hazel stuttered, helping me up to my room. But as we bypassed Father, I halted in front of him.

Staring at him with heavy eyelids, I questioned. "Why are you so rotten? Why can't you just like a good life? Why must you make everything difficult for everyone?!. Everyone in this house walks on eggshells around you!"

Father's gaze shifted from mine to Hazel's. "Why are you still standing there?" He questioned, surprisingly calm but his facade didn't last for long as he roared."Would you hurry up and take her to her room!"

"Y-Yes sir!. Let's go Young Miss" Hazel says leading me up the spiral staircase to my to but I wasn't done with Father just yet.

I kept on cursing him, mentioning how he grossed everyone out and said some bunch of other shit that I was sure to regret later when I was sober.

When we finally got to my room, Hazel placed me gently on top of my bed before moving away to get me my pills and a glass of water.

Handing them over to me, she says. "Take this, Young Miss" I did as she'd said and slowly, I was starting to sober up."Have you come through?"

I nod my head, slowly. Looking around and seeing myself in a familiar environment---called my room, I questioned. "How did I get home?"

Hazel shook her head. "I don't know. You stumbled in from the front door"

I winced, feeling a sharp pain in my head as parts and fragments of what happened at the club slowly started to resurface.

"So?" Hazel questioned, slowly. "Did you make a mistake"

Scowling-but not because of her, I respond. "You know me. I'm always making a mistake"

Hazel exhaled deeply. "This is bad. Your father would be furious"

"I did it to make Father furious" I corrected. "He might be one of the well-known conglomerates there is, but I get to live my own life too"

"No, you don't," Came a strong voice by my room door. Taking my gaze off Hazel, it was then I noticed Father's presence.

Turning to face Hazel, Father orders. "Leave us"

"Hazel, stay" I say strongly but rather it was more of a beseech; I didn't want to be alone in this room with my father.

Hazel, knowing clearly who her boss is, bowed her head down to me. "I'm sorry, Young Miss" she quivered before making her exit.

Immediately she was out through the door, Father closed the door; turning its lock. Scared, I slowly started to back away from the bed as Father approached me just as equally.

He rolled up his sleeves above his elbow, questioning. "Are you scared? If you're scared why did you do something like this?" he questioned harshly shoving his phone into my face as I see an article of me in the club already released with headlines like 'The Darwin's daughter strikes again, 'Another conglomerate daughter gone haywire', 'Victor Darwin's precious daughter shows off panties in the club'

Now that one caught my attention, taking me off guard. "What?"

Father grabs me roughly by my hair. "I didn't ask much from you. Hell, I didn't even ask anything at all but you just had to go make this mess"

I cried in pain, trying to release his grip on my hair. "Father, you're hurting me"

"And you just hurt my company. My sweat and blood" He growled. "What are you going to do about this?"

"I'm sorry, Father," I begged. "I'll do anything-"

He cuts me off, releasing his grip from my hair. "Now, that's what I want to hear"

Confusion washed over me. Now, what did Father have planned in his rotten mind? Before I could question Father further, he made his intentions known to me.

"You are going to marry Xavier Anthony" I stayed still for a short while trying to recall who Xavier Anthony was.

After adding two and two together, I shook my head; brushing off my father's idea. "I refuse"

It made sense to me. How on earth did Father expect me to marry the son of the man he'd once betrayed? Over. My. Dead. Body.

Father chuckled deeply before wearing a serious expression once more. "I wasn't giving you a choice, Darling. It's already been agreed on by Xavier and me"

My eyes widened. Why would Xavier agree to this when I knew just how much he hated my father and his hatred ran down to the entire Darwin family? Did Father perhaps have something on him? That had to be the only way.

"Your engagement would be underway-"

I cut my father off. "You don't get to choose my suitors and neither would I be marrying Xavier"

Father grabbed my neck firmly, choking me. "Where's that daughter of mine who said she was willing to do anything"

"Alright, I'll marry Xavier" I rasped against father's chokehold as he instinctively let go of me. "Besides, I'm not sending you under his wings to play the good wife but rather as a spy"

So that was my father's messed up plan. I scoffed. "When would you stop father? You already took Xavier's father away from him by your betrayal and now you want to marry off your daughter to him just to be your spy. Do you have intentions to suck him dry?"

"Yes," Father growled. "That's exactly it so just play your role without questions"

"No matter what happens, my company has to be better than Xavier's; especially when it comes to its products so I always have to be one step ahead of him"

"Using me as a spy is not being 'One step ahead of him, it's cheating"

"Just do as I tell you" Father growled, unlocking my room door and taking his exit.

No sooner had he left than Hazel rushed back into my room. "Young Miss, are you alright?" Her eyes moved to the red mark on my neck as she placed her hands over her mouth, trying to swallow her gasp.

Throwing herself at my feet; she sobbed. "Forgive me for leaving you behind, Young Miss. It's all my fault"

Helping Hazel up to her feet, I assured her. "It's not your fault. It's mine for having him as my father. Hush, now"

There and then, I promised myself that I wouldn't allow my father to use me this way. I was going to tell Xavier all about my father's plan and hopefully, we would avoid this unnecessary marriage.

The next morning, I made my way to Xavier's company.

"Do you have an appointment with-" Richard, Xavier's PA says trying to stop me from barging into his office.

Annoyed, I halted in my steps. "I don't need an appointment to see my husband now, do I?"

"Hus.." Richard trailed confused but I'd walked away from him, forcing my way into Xavier's office.

Xavier didn't look up from the pile of files in front of him; which showed that he had been expecting me. "Didn't your father teach you how to knock?"

"He didn't. If you didn't notice, my father and I aren't exactly bffs"

"Oh, I noticed, alright" Now he looked up from his documents. "If you were BFFs, we wouldn't be having this conversation now, would we?"

I threw myself down onto the chair in front of Xavier. "What's your plan? I assume you didn't just accept this marriage without a plan"

"I don't recall telling you to sit down"

"And I don't recall asking for your permission"

Xavier slammed his documents shut, boiling with rage. "You are hard to communicate with"

"Exactly. So are you sure you want to spend the rest of your life with me?" I brought out my phone, shoving the articles I read last night into his face. "See, I'm only going to do your company more harm than good"

Xavier looked down at my phone; reading the article. When he was done, he pointed at the red bruises on my neck. "I'm sure your father already taught you a lesson"

"And" He continued. "You are aware of just how much I despise your family, aren't you?"

"So?"

"So, if you bring any harm to my company whatsoever-I swear by my dead father's grave; I. WILL. Kill. You, are we clear?"

I gulped; scared. How could Father... never mind, the deal has been done. It was up to me to find a way to survive this hellhole.

"Then, since you are being so adamant. Let's make a deal"

Xavier rolled his eyes in annoyance. "What is up with you Darwin and 'making a deal'?"

"Are you going to hear me out?"

"Do I have a choice?"

"These are going to be the rules of our marriage. One, we sleep in separate rooms-"

He cut me off. "That's a given"

"Two, we don't pry into each other's lives and personal business"

Xavier groaned. "Must we have this conversation right now? I have other important things that need my-"

I continued nonetheless. "Three, the use of nicknames or sweet names in public is strictly prohibited-"

"Can you please leave!?" Xavier shouted, giving me a jump scare. "This 'marriage' might be a big deal to you, but to me; it's the least of all my problems, trust me. Whatever your rules are, fine; I accept them all so how can you get lost?"

Narrowing my gaze at him, I say. "I dislike your stuck-up attitude"

"And I equally dislike your existence, are we even now?"

Taken aback by his counterattack, I just glare at him. It was the first time hearing someone say they disliked my existence.

"Aren't you leaving?" Xavier questioned harshly. Groaning, he calls out for his PA. "Richard, are you out there?"

Richard rushes in. "Sir, I'm afraid we have a situation"

Xavier grumbled as if his day couldn't get any worse."What is it now?"

"P-Paparazzi's" Richard stuttered. "They are reporters outside the company"

"What?" Xavier shrieked, staring outside his window to confirm this news. Turning to face me, he questioned. "Did you call them here?"

Quirking my brow, I questioned. "Why would I do that?"

Xavier throws his hands up in the air. "I don't know, woman. You Darwin's are hard to predict"

Springing up from the chair, I questioned. "Then why agree to marry me if you don't trust me?"

Our argument was cut short by my phone blaring. Checking the caller ID; I saw that it was father.

"What do you want?" I questioned impatiently.

"Do you and Xavier like my present?"

I corked my brow, confused for a second before uttering. "You were the one who sent the reporters?"

Xavier muttered something like 'Fucking Darwins' under his breath.

"It's a gift. I needed to spread the news before either of you have a change of heart"

Rubbing my forehead, I inquired. "What news exactly did you spread?"

"Oh, just what it is," Father said. " 'The merging of the Darwins and the Anthonys as Gwen Darwin gets engaged to Xavier Anthony tonight."

XAVIER

I stared at the girl called Gwen as she answered her call. Without a doubt in mind, I was certain this was Victor's doing. Was this what he meant by my 'second' gift? Was this his big plan to help the company go public?

As Gwen hung up her call, she turned to face me. "Father already made our engagement public"

Still, I felt like there was more to what she was saying so I probed further. "And?"

Gwen let out a heavy sigh. "We get engaged tonight"

Fucking. Darwin's.

"Sh*t!" I cursed grabbing at my hair. "Why don't you rather do anything without communication"

Gwen shrugged. "You and he are almost like the same person. You two decided on this marriage without me"

Anger coursed through my veins. How dare she compare me to her father; a traitor and a murderer. "Don't ever say that again" I growled. "Just sit down and keep your mouth shut as I try to find out a way to get rid of those reporters"

"Those reporters aren't going to leave until they get what they came here for"

I rolled my eyes. "I know that"

"So let's go out and give them what they want. But to still have my way and spite my father, we'll be having a fake marriage and get divorced within a year, cool?"

I was taken aback by her words because never did I think, we'd have a common goal "Cool"

Intertwining her arms in mine, she looked up at me; trying her best to be cute. "Then shall we go, husband?"

I tried to remove her hands wrapped around my arms but she didn't budge.

"Stay still," Gwen says through gritted teeth. "We can't stand each other, yes but we have to at least try or how else would the press believe us?"

She had a point there. "Then, at least stop trying to act cute; It's sickening"

"I don't want to do this either so shut it and let's go out there pretending to be the couples we are"

That said, we made our way outside my office with prying eyes on us, out of the company to meet the reporters who shot us numerous questions;

"What's going on?"

"When did you two start dating?"

"Do you truly love each other?"

"Is there going to be an engagement party tonight?"

I froze at that last question. Tonight?. "Hey," I called out to Gwen with the corners of my lips. "Engagement party?"

"Play it cool. I'll explain it to you later" Turning to face the crowd, she flashed them a smile and said. "Yes, we will be having our engagement party tonight. More details would be communicated to you later?"

"When did you two start dating? Isn't tying the knot already fast?"

Wrapping my arms around Gwen's shoulders, I pulled her closer into my arms. "You see, I'm in love with Gwen Darwin. We've been courting in secret because her father hadn't approved of us but now that he has, we have nothing to hide anymore"

"That's such a sight to see"

"My darling is a bit tired so I'll appreciate it if you all leave now. No further questions asked" Turning around, I lead Gwen back into the company.

Inside, my employees as well as Richard all applauded me.

"Congratulations, sir!" They chorused in unison as Richard walked towards me, handing over to me a flower bouquet.

Turning to face Gwen, Richard commented. "Congratulations madam"

Gwen flashed him a smile; although she was uncomfortable. "Thank you"

"Richard, prepare a private car to take Gwen home" I ordered him. Regarding everyone, I continued. "Thank you for the warm congratulations. Please, go back to work now"

Gwen and I made our way back into my office. When we were alone, I finally slipped my hands away from her shoulders.

"The private car would be waiting for you by the back door so leave whenever you feel like," I say, heading towards my chair and scrolling through my phone to see if the company's IPO was back on.

"Aren't we going to prepare for our engagement party tonight?" Gwen questions me.

"No"

"What?"

Looking up from my phone screen, I gave her a deadpan look. "I don't have any interest in wasting my time on something as miniature as that"

Gwen scoffed, folding her arms. "Miniature, you say? Mister, this engagement party is my first so be mindful of the words you choose"

I groaned. "If it's so important to you then why don't you go and prepare it however you so deem fit"

A soft knock was heard on my door. "Yes, come in"

Richard stuck his head in. "Sorry to interrupt your conversation sir but the car is ready"

"Thank you, Richard" As Richard takes his leave, I turned my attention back to my phone screen.

As soon as I received a text message that the company's IPO was back on, I let out a short shout; excited.

"I should best put a call through to Wellington Bank first" I muttered under my breath. I was so excited that I'd completely forgotten about Gwen.

Staring up from my phone screen, I curled my brow at her. "Why are you still standing there? Didn't you hear Richard? The car is waiting for you; hurry up and leave. You must have somewhere to be all day rather than here"

Gwen seemed angry but who was I to care? I was more interested in calling Wellington and knowing the next plan of action.

"I have somewhere else to be rather than here; LA POPLA"

I stilled. Was she planning to go to a club after we'd just made our engagement public? After we were having an engagement party tonight, would it be the talk of the town?

The negative effect all these would have on my company was she not going to take all of those into account.

Springing up from my chair, I slowly approached her. "You wouldn't dare"

"I don't say things I don't mean and what's the harm in going to a club"

"There's our engagement party holding later tonight"

Gwen gasped as if I'd just told her a new piece of information. "Now? I thought you didn't have the time for so many 'miniature' things"

"That doesn't mean I'm not going to show up"

"That doesn't mean I'm not going to show up too"

Damn, this woman. Why was she so stubborn? "So you are going to show up drunk if I stand corrected?"

"I don't get drunk easily" I groaned seeing as our conversation was going nowhere.

"It seems like I have to spell it out for you so listen up"

"I..." I raised my hands, silencing her.

"You did a lot of talking today and I listened, princess. Now it's time for you to hear me out"

Gwen crossed her arms over her plushed up breast. "Fine, I believe it's only fair if I do the same. Shoot"

"Your constant habit of drinking and partying; this is where it ends"

Gwen furrowed her brows, confused as if I'd just spoken Spanish. "What do you m-"

"I'm saying that little stunt you pulled with your father; getting your face all over tabloids and your white panties; this is where all those ends"

"If you do anything to harm this company, even in the slightest way" I continued. "You're going to regret knowing my existence"

I could tell that Gwen was already scared but still, she stood her ground "More than I already do?"

"More than you hate your father, to be straightforward with you"

"And if I go to LA POPLA, disobeying you?"

"Must you be so hard to get through? I thought you were going to agree to what I was going to say when you decided to hear me out"

"Well, you thought wrong. My question remains unanswered; what are you going to do if I disobey you? Hit me?"

My gaze darkened. This woman was testing my nerves. I mean, how on earth did she conclude on me hitting her?."I don't hit women"

Those words of mine seemed to have relieved her. Given my anger issues and her stubborn attitude, maybe she thought it was going to lead to that eventually.

I mean, any man in my shoes would have already dealt with her by now –no offence-

Feeling more confident now, Gwen stood her ground. "Then?"

It was obvious she wasn't going to let this slide until I tell her, her punishment for disobeying me and since I didn't have anything cooked up, I decided to drag this conversation out-even though I wanted to get rid of her as quickly as possible to call Wellington-

"If you're so curious, why don't you find out? What's stopping you?" The corners of my lips tilted up as I saw that she hadn't moved an inch. It seemed as though my threat was getting the best of her.

"What happened? Don't tell me you're scared to find out now, are you?"

Walking back over to my desk, I say. "You know your father told me a thing or two about you guys before I agreed to marry you and now that I think about it, we both bring out the best in each other"

"You're stubborn as hell and I don't care about anything other than this company. I'm willing to go to lengths to protect this company and whoever tries to put even a little scratch on it " I whisper "I won't forgive"

"You know that first hand given how I still hold a grudge against your father after 4 years so be my guest and try me. If. You. Dare"

Taking slow strides towards me, Gwen banged her hands against my desk noticeably fuming with rage. "You seem to keep forgetting something, Xavier Anthony"

"And what's that?"

"You. Don't. Own. Me"

"Your father gave you over to me"

"And that doesn't account for anything. I own me. I'm my person. I only listen to things I say and do the things I want to do"

"Princess..."

"Stop calling me that!" She yells. "We agreed on no nickname so keep at that. It's Gwen and Xavier, period"

"Okay, Gwen.."

She raised her hands, silencing me. "I'm not done yet, Xavier"

I glanced down at my wristwatch wondering when I'd finally put a call through to Wellington bank.

Damn, should I just let her go to the stupid club?. If we weren't such public figures, I would have let her go by now. I was just trying to retain the company's image.

Victor did consider me a 'trash can' handing his daughter over to me.

"Can we have this conversation another time? I'm in the middle of work here"

"No, we can't because extending this conversation means you are going to keep on interfering in my choices and the decisions I make"

I was having a splitting headache. All these started just because I didn't want to take part in the preparation for our engagement party.

"It's only natural I do so because we are now married. Some things about you have to be dropped when one gets married. Do you view a married woman going to a club as sane? That would lead to a scandal and everyone already know who you are now that you are getting married to me, what if –"

"There are some things that need to be dropped when one gets married. Do you view a working man who spends more time in his office than in his home as sane?"

Hold on just a minute now, was she referring to me? "What did you just say?"

Now she was just talking without a point and I needed to end this conversation ASAP.

For that to happen, I needed to let out punishment if she disobeyed my order. "If you disobey me and go to that club, I will get physical with you by punishing you with a kiss."