Chapter 6

MARK'S POV I groaned as I turned in bed. My head throbbed dully and I held it as I slowly rose from the bed. I looked at my surroundings and wondered why I was at home. I should be at work. I dropped my head in my hands and tried to remember. It didn't even take a second before the memories rushed back. My assistant had been able to locate where Sydney was and I had left every work I was doing to speak some sense into her. I remember that I had ordered her to follow me then… I frowned. Everything had gone black. "That witch! How dare she hit me?" I gritted as I got off the bed. I glimpsed some medication on the drawers as I staggered out of my room. What was wrong with her? Why was she taking this far? I thought. The sound of wood banging against walls reverberated through the house as I threw every door open. "Where the heck is she?!" The staff of my household just stood there speechless. Some of them flinched each time the door banged. I had asked where she was about a dozen times and they had all answered me a dozen times that they didn't know where she was. They repeated what they told me that morning. The last time they saw her was with a suitcase when she waltzed out of my house. I remember that day too. I had been slightly surprised. I wondered what gave her the guts and had thought she was going to get over whatever was happening with her and come whimpering back. My stomach growled as I continued to slam the doors closed. I even checked the garage. It honestly felt like I was running mad. My growling stomach coupled with my throbbing head and my frustration grew. I stormed back to my room and took a calming shower that did nothing to calm me but only washed off the dirts on my skin. When I finished getting dressed, I used a painkiller from the medicines on my drawers to stop my head from aching. I picked up my car keys, shrugged into my suit jacket and left the house. As I drove to work, my grip on the steering wheel was strong and I pressed hard down on the pedal. I was past the speed limit but it was the only thing I could do not to drive back to that house she was in and strangle her. She wanted my attention. Now she fully had it. "Where is she?" I bellowed to my assistant the moment my assistant closed the door behind him. "I don't know, sir," he voice quivered as he spoke. "I left her at the villa and rushed you to a nearby clinic before I took you home. I left the medications they prescribed on your drawers." He cleared his throat before he continued. "But she did tell me to not call her Mrs Turess but Miss Turner, she said that a new lady will soon inherit the title." I just stared at him as he spoke, my rage built with each word he dropped, ready to explode. He took a step forward, a file dangling in his hands, "She also said she'd re-send the divorce agreement, here's it," he placed the file in front of me. "I received it just before you came in. She wants you to sign it as soon as possible so you don't waste each other's time." And that was it. That darned word. In blind rage, I gripped the sheets of paper and flung it across the room. "If I hear the word 'divorce' one more time, you're out!" I told him sternly. If she wants me to sign the papers she had better bring it herself. My hands clenched and unclenched as I struggled to hold in my anger. What exactly was she playing at? Has she gone crazy? Wasn't it enough that I let her stay in my house and feed? I wondered on what grounds she'd say she was filing for a damned divorce. "I do not want to hear that word again, ever! Am I understood?" "Yes sir!" His stance straightened and I suspected that he almost saluted. Just then, the door creaked open and Bella stepped in. The instant I set my eyes on her, my anger evaporated to an extent but I could still feel it, I could still feel the itch to shred those papers into pieces, the urge to punch something or…someone. It was either Bella didn't notice the tension in the room or she decided to ignore it as she sashayed her hips toward me and perched on my lap, her elegant arms shooting out to wrap around my neck. She placed a quick kiss on my lips. She pulled back, pouting when I didn't return the gesture. "You've been working all month. We haven't seen each other for a long time," her pout deepened, her brows furrowed feebly and her eyes slightly glistened. In my peripheral vision I could see my assistant picking up the papers and shuffling them together. Then he silently left the room. For a moment, I thought of asking him to hand over the papers so I could shred them like I did the previous ones but then Bella's presence stopped me. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I focused on the feeling of her soft asscheeks pressed on my thighs, her fingers intermittently fiddling with my collar and grazing the skin at the back of my neck. I breathed in and out, I tried to relax. My arms circled her waist, and I pulled her closer. I should forget about Sydney's stunts and desperation for attention and focus on the woman in my arms right now, the one I actually wanted and would readily give my attention anytime. I opened my eyes and her lips were jutted out as she looked at me. My heart momentarily skipped a beat and my lips stretched into a reflexive smile. God, she was so beautiful. "I'm sorry, honey. You know it's work." She rolled her eyes, "You should always find time for me." "I'll work on that," I shifted my head closer to hers and my lips grazed hers in a brief kiss. "So what shall I gift my queen so she'd forgive me?" I could see the twitch on the corners of her lips as she struggled to keep her pout in place. Her pupils rolled up as she thought of what she wanted. "I want a jewelry," her eyes were on me now, "one designed by Atelier studios." "Atelier?" I raised a brow. Her head bobbed up and down, "Atelier designs the best jewelry. All the girls in the upper levels own one, I want one too." My arms further tightened around her waist. "Done. I will make sure it's specially made for you." Her face broke into a smile and my heart swelled. "Thank you!" She squealed and pulled me in for a hug. I made a mental note, as I hugged her back, to get one for Sydney too. It would shut her up and make her feel she had the attention she desperately begged for. Bella suddenly pulled back, her eyes peering into mine. "This Sunday is my dad's birthday, you remember, right?" I did not remember. My head was too occupied to accommodate the date of someone's birthday. I nodded, "Yep! I do remember." She smiled. The last thing I wanted right now was for her to get mad. "It's actually why I'm here. He's throwing a party and I want you there. I'm sure dad does too," she looked away and ransacked her tiny bag that was sitting primly on my table. Her hand emerged with a white card. She slapped it on my desk, "That's his invitation card. You're coming," she turned to me, "right?" I hesitated. There was a lot to do. My last business trip had got me more investors which equaled more money and more money equally meant more work. I couldn't afford to slack or spend time attending events that didn't aid the growth of the firm. I opened my mouth to explain to her why I wouldn't be present but I stopped. If I could make time to attend this party, I could accomplish two things; get to speak with Sydney's father and please Bella. Even if it were for a few minutes, I'd be able to speak with him and let him know how urgent he needed to knock some sense into Sydney's head and remind her that our unfortunate alliance was a win-win so she had to stop yapping about divorce. I decided. Perfect, it will be a few hours away from work but it would be worth it. I smiled at Bella, "I'd make time and attend." I placed a kiss on her cheeks and she blushed. "I can't wait!" She chirped.