TANYA’S POV I stood with my heart in my mouth, not even daring to breathe as Rodrigo turned and faced me. The look in his eyes was so cold I felt the temperature in the room drop a few hundred degrees. His lips were stretched in a thin line, hands clenched into fists by his side. He took a few steps closer to me, and I squeezed my eyes shut, knowing for sure that he was going to hit me. All because I invited his brother over; he was going to beat me to a pulp or, if I was lucky, just put a bullet through my head. In my mind, I could see him reaching for his back pocket where he kept the gun, quick and extremely painful. I counted to 60, waiting for the impact, but nothing came. I dared to open my eyes just a crack and glanced around, but he wasn't in front of me or beside me. Had he left the room? I turned slowly to see him standing by the window, overlooking the back garden, his hands folded behind him, and he stood so stiffly. I should have left then, just run out of the r
RODRIGO’S POVI sat behind my work table, staring at my hands. Hands I had used to choke Tanya. It would have been so easy to kill her instantly, but the worst part was that I could have done it. Even now that I didn't, I felt too much regret already, so if I had, I probably wouldn't have been able to live with myself."Fuck!" I cursed, throwing everything off my table in one swift motion. It's a good thing there were just bunches of paper on it. I would have gotten even angrier if I destroyed something valuable.Mostly, I wanted to know why Tanya had to go behind my back and invite Fabio over. Even after I warned her and instructed her not to speak to them without being spoken to first. I sighed. As much as I wanted to hear the answer, I was pretty sure she wouldn't tell me a thing, not now after the way I threatened her.My phone chimed with an alarm. It was nearly dinner time. Well, that was not my business. I wasn't going. I couldn't sit opposite her and have her stare at me in fe
TANYA’S POVI opened the door to his home office a crack and peeked into it. He wasn't there, and I groaned. According to what Maria told me, he should still be home by now, so why, today of all days, should he not follow that schedule?It's funny that I was looking for him after two days of avoiding him. Anytime my mind went to the last night we spent together, I was filled with shame. What was wrong with me?This was someone who had nearly killed me, and I not only let him into my room, I let him touch me. I felt him, too, like none of that ever happened. Either I was seriously deranged or foolish.And I kept wondering why he treated me like he did. Well, because he knew I was weak-willed and easily led. And I wouldn't say I liked that too.What would it have taken me to slam the door in his face when I saw him approaching? I would have liked to see him banging on the door, demanding to get in, while I smiled behind it. It's mahogany. He won't be able to break it down, no matter ho
RODRIGO’S POVI grinned at the shocked expression on Tanya's face as I drew out the seat and sat by the dinner table. It had been a while since I'd had dinner with her, mainly because I didn't know what she thought of me. And today, as I decided to brave up and eat with her, she was looking at me like I was a ghost like she hadn't spoken with me a few hours ago before she went out."What, am I not allowed to have dinner at my table anymore?" I asked, beckoning Maria. She hadn't even served any food on my side. It turns out she was used to me staying away, too."No, of course, you can," Tanya said hurriedly and immediately started coughing.My eyes widened, and I pushed a water bottle closer to her. I watched her drink and then set the water down. She looked away from me, and I found that very amusing.She looked like she'd rather be anywhere but here, and seeing the way she seemed to be avoiding me lately, I sensed that she didn't like me jumping up on her tonight."Why are you so une
TANYA’S POV"My father just died," were the words Rodrigo spoke as he brushed past me when he came back home.I gasped, making to go after him, but he glanced back sharply and glared at me. I shrank back, surprised. Was I wrong to want to console him on this unfortunate incident?Well, with the way he looked at me, it was. I watched him go, wondering how this news would affect our relationship. I thought we were getting somewhere, with him talking with me and letting me into his space. It felt like our relationship was more than just a few pleasurable minutes.Not that I didn't like having pleasurable times with him, but I wanted more than that. I wanted to know that he felt something for me and wasn't just using me. For a moment last night, it felt like my wishes were coming true.Now, though, all I could see was all the progress unravelling. It seems the excellent version of my fake husband was gone. How lucky I was.I sighed, confusion causing my brows to crease. Or do I need to go
TANYA’S POVI scrambled back from the bed as he fell upon it. "What the hell is going on?" I shouted, terrified.Why was he in my room by this time? If he tried to make any move on me, I was ready to break his fingers. After blowing me off, he just burst into my room like he owned the place... which he technically did, but still, he needed my permission before coming in.Permission that I definitely didn't give. Not with how he's been treating me..."This place is so comfortable," he drawled.I frowned. This didn't sound like the Rodrigo I knew. Are you making a random comment like this? No."Well, the bed is really soft," I ventured.He shook his head and stopped suddenly, wincing like it hurt him a lot. "Not the bed. You. You make it comfortable."I blinked, unsure of what to say to that. I sat up to get a good look at him as if that would tell me what he was thinking."Are you okay?" I asked tentatively.He reached a hand out to mine, and I snatched my hand away. No, I wasn't going
Rodrigo's pov This wasn't my room, and it was too girly. The wallpaper was off, and I'd never chosen this bright yellow color for myself. I sat up and immediately regretted it. My head swam, but still, I looked around the room, clenching my fists to take a quick swing at anyone who was about to take a strike at me.As it turned out, there was only the sleeping figure of Tanya beside me. Well, she was sleeping until she opened her eyes, and I realized she was wide awake."Rodrigo," she began.Ignoring the dull ache in my head, I swung my legs off the bed. "What am I doing here?"I didn't recall coming in here at all, so she'd better have a good explanation for that cos I wasn't feeling very patient now."You... you walked in here last night. You were drunk," she said, sitting up too."Damn it," I thought, pausing. I usually kept myself locked up in my room whenever I felt the need to indulge, so why was last night different?I glanced at her, hating that she had seen me drunk. I proba
TANYA’S POV I watched the smug look spread across Rodrigo's face with a frown. Usually, I wouldn't mind him getting the title he'd always wanted, which got me in this position in the first place. But it was getting more challenging to feel happy about anything he did lately. With his behavior and all, I was starting to hate him. I felt like the morning after he told me about his mother didn't have a good closure, and he didn't even attempt to speak to me after that. Back to our usual routine of only speaking when it was necessary. I was tired of this routine. How could he go back to ignoring me after telling me something so personal? Was he that cold? I watched as he moved away from Fabio to mount the podium. Fabio was an entirely different case. He had a bitter look, and then he glanced at me. I quickly looked away, not wanting him to know I was staring. I couldn't decide how I felt towards him after our last meeting. I always thought he was the more excellent version of