11

Rowan Marino

I know two things for sure.

One.

Scarlett is nothing but a pawn in this game. She's a way to get what I want.

Two.

If anyone dares to hurt her, I'll put them six feet under.

And the worst part is, I hate it. I hate that I feel the need to protect her. To make sure no one touches or threatens her. But I guess in some sick, twisted way, she's my wife.

Only in name.

I leave my office, heading back to my room. As I keep walking I spot Scarlett in the corridor. She's walking with purpose, like she always does, chin up, not a damn given about anyone in this place. Her hair is a little out of place from the wind outside. She's been with her friends.

When she notices me, her eyes narrow slightly. She moves to give me space, making it clear she's not in the mood for whatever game she thinks I'm playing.

Normally I wouldn't care. I'd pass by without a second glance. That's what this was all for. I picked her because it would be easy to ignore her. Since she's always trying to piss me off.

But something stops me. Not because I want to stop. Hell, I need to keep fucking walking.

But something about that vanilla scent lingers in my head for longer than it should.

Fuck. I'm not supposed to feel. I'm not supposed to be...anything but what my father made me. A weapon.

A monster.

So I walk.

Ignoring the part of me that wants to look back.

Because monsters don't get to want.

________________________________

Scarlett Mila Marino

What is up with his attitude? Not even a hi. I mean, we could at least be polite to each other. I guess I'm expecting to much from him.

I throw myself on my bed and decide to call Judie. She's been busy with her husband lately. And I haven't got the right time to tell her about my marriage yet.

She picks up the phone. "Scar?" She asks almost sounding worried for me.

"Hi." I say nervously. She's definitely going to panic.

"What's going on? Don't tell me dad got mad at you again, I'll fucking tell Pablo to handle it." She says thinking I've failed this game.

It's quiet for a few seconds before I break the news. "Judie I'm...married." I say and she immediately starts screaming. Not of happiness, but because she's scared.

"I'm fine you don't have to worry." I say smiling through the phone. Even though I'm not.

"I swear if he has touched you..." she starts but I cut her off.

"No. He wouldn't do that. I promise. I just needed to tell you." I say because I know he wouldn't. Rowan would not hurt me.

Judie keeps apologizing, and apologizing... crying on the phone.

She knew this would happen but I think that maybe saying it out loud made her realize that it was all true.

That it wasn't just a nightmare.

I don't tell her about the deal I made with Rowan. I think this is enough of news for her.

"Judie stop crying. I'm telling you, I have it great here." I say trying to convince her.

Maybe myself too.

"I wish I could be there for you right now. But Pablo got this trip we need to be at..." she says.

"Don't worry I've got Anthony and Asuka. I'm not alone." I say.

"Okay...i love you, Scar." She says still crying.

"I love you more, Judie." I say as I hang up.

***

{A week later}

Dinner in this giant mansion is starting to feel like some kind of punishment. The first night I sat at the long, polished table by myself, staring at the empty seat where Rowan is supposed to be. The staff moved around quickly, barley making a sound as they served me. But every clink of silverware seemed louder in the silence.

I was left to pick at the fancy meal alone. I didn't even know what half of the dishes were, but they were presented like I should've been impressed. I wasn't.

It was all just such waste of food.

The second night was the same. Just an empty seat and awkward silence.

Third night? Still no Rowan. Shocker.

This pattern has been going on for the past week. So now, I've had enough. Screw Rowan. I need company, laughter and something that feels normal.

So I did the only thing I could think of. I invited Asuka and Anthony.

***

Asuka walks in first. "You weren't lying. This place is huge." She says looking around.

Anthony follows behind, his eyes wide as he takes it all in.

"Holy shit. Are we in a movie? This feels like the set of some gothic romance." He says.

I grin, finally feeling a little more like myself. "Yeah, well, except there is no romance. Trust me." I say closing the door behind them.

We gather around the dining table, but it feels different tonight. Instead of awkward silence, there's laughter, the clinching of glasses, and Anthony's ridiculous jokes.

"So how are you handling this fake marriage thing?" Anthony asks as he pours more wine into my glass.

I raise an eyebrow, my head already buzzing from the wine.

"Let's just say, it's complicated." I swirl the wine in my glass, staring at it like it might hold answers. "I haven't seen him for a whole week. He's always gone. Which we agreed on but it's still...lonely." I admit.

Asuka looks at me with sympathy. "That sounds...awful." She says.

"It's fine. I've got you guys tonight. That's all I need." I say making them smile.

***

As the nights goes on, I start to lose track of how much I've had to drink. The room is spinning but in a fun way. Carefree way.

"You guys...you guys are the best, do you know that?" I say leaning onto Asuka shoulder. "Like really...really the best.

Asuka wraps an arm around me laughing. "And you Scarlett are officially drunk." She says.

"I'm not drunk." I protest. "I'm just happy." I add.

"You're definitely drunk." Anthony agrees.

I giggle, feeling warm and fuzzy all over.

I close my eyes for a second, and when I open them back up my heart drops a little.

Rowan.

He's standing at the entrance to the dining room.

"Scarlett. Why didn't you tell me you were having guests?" His voice is low, but there's an edge to it.

I blink, trying to process what he said through the fog of wine. "What guests?" I glance at Anthony and Asuka, who look like they're trying to hold in a laugh.

Oh right, my friends. Guests.

Rowan steps further into the room, his eyes narrowing. "This is my house. You can't invite people without telling me." He says.

I frown, standing up too fast, the room spinning for a second. Rowan walks closer as if I was about to fall. "We're just having fun." I say looking back at my friends. I wobble a little but catch myself on the edge of the table.

And then, because my brain thinks it's a good idea, I grab Rowan's hand and raise it in the air like I'm announcing something exciting. "Look guys! This is my huuusband."

Anthony and Asuka both burst into laughter, and I can't help but giggle too.

Rowan's jaw tightens as he pulls our hands back down, but not letting go of it. Weird.

"You two need to leave. Now." He says.

Anthony and Asuka stops laughing immediately.

"Uh. Yeah sure." Anthony says giving Asuka a 'get up' look.

"We'll talk later then, scar." Asuka says as they both head out.

The door closes behind my friends. And I turn to rowan yanking my hand away. I don't even know why I held it to begin with.

"Really?" I scoff.

"You can't just disappear for a week, leaving me alone in this big, empty mansion, and then come down when it suits you. You can't boss me around Rowan." I say clearly very frustrated.

"I don't know them, Mila. People can't know where we live. Its dangerous." He says, his voice low.

"Oh, so now you care about danger?" I snap, wobbling on my feet as I take a step towards him. "Where was this concern for the past week while you've been off...doing whatever the hell you've been doing?"

Rowans eyes flash, a muscle in his jaw ticking, but before he can say anything, I feel my legs give away. The room tilts, and I stumble, loosing my balance.

Before I can hit the floor, rowans hands are on me, catching me with startling ease. His grip is firm, strong, and his hands are so big against my waist, steadying me in an instant.

For a second, just a second, I freeze, feeling the heat of his hands through my clothes. His touch sends a wave of something strange through me. Something I don't want to acknowledge.

I push it away, pull myself upright, brushing him off. "I'm fine" I mutter, swatting at his hands.

"I got it."

He lets go, but his eyes never leave me. I can feel the weight of his gaze, tracking my every movement like hes waiting for me to fall again.

I stand as straight as I can, brushing off my dress.

I can't do this right now, I can't argue with him when I'm a drunken mess.

So I move, making my way to the stairs.

I try to walk down as Rowan follows. But my legs aren't cooperating. The alcohol makes everything feel heavy. My fingers grip the railing, knuckles white.

"Just leave me alone." I slur, waving a hand weakly behind me as I stumble. The world tilts again, and I realise I'm not going to make it all the way down. With a frustrated huff, I drop down onto the middle of the staircase.

Rowans footsteps follow slowly, then stops as he sits down beside me. He doesn't say anything at first. And I don't either. Its strange. For once, the silence between us isn't tense or sharp. It's just... there.

I glance at him through the corner of my eye. His expression is different, softer somehow. Not like hes planning his next cruel remark, or annoyed by my presence. He's just sitting there, calm. I wonder how long that'll last.

"Do you know why I picked you?" He says, breaking the quiet.

I roll my eyes, turning my head to glare at him. "You told me. I'm easy, and you'll get what you want" I say.

He shakes his head slowly. "That's not the whole truth."

I blink, not sure if I'm hearing him right. "What do you mean?"

He sighs, his voice lower, almost like he doesn't want to admit it. "I picked you, because you're the only one who treats me like a human." He admits.

His words catch me off guard. I open my mouth to respond, but nothing comes out. My brain feels too slow to process it, and my mouth is too clumsy to form the right words.

I'm speechless. Completely.

Without another word, he stands and helps me to my feet, steadying me. "Now please, can you just let me help you to bed?" He asks and I nod slowly. He sighs and scoops me up into his arms like it's no big deal.

I'm too tired, too dizzy, and too confused by what he just said.

As he carries me to my room, I wonder if I'll remember this tomorrow. Or if I'll convince myself it was all some weird drunken dream. Either way, I can't shake the feeling that something just shifted between us.

And I'm not sure how to feel about it.