Chapter 4.

" Hello Mrs Agreste, Im Mrs Flemington, one of the helpers, let me show you where your room is", I will be responsible for the cooking and the laundry, Miss Thomas is responsible for the cleaning, she works part-time and is usually here first thing in the mornings" spoke the elderly lady dressed in maids uniform.

Hannah looked around the penthouse it was open planned with high ceilings and ceiling to floor windows. It was well lit with beautifully adorned chandeliers. With minimal furniture it gave the illusion of immense space, which is what attracted Hannah. She loved space as she was somewhat claustrophobic and this penthouse was perfect to her liking.

Hannah was shown to one of the bedrooms, she was confused, was she not going to share this space with her husband. Why did it seem that this bedroom was not occupied by another. Her marriage was arranged and the foundations of this marriage was laid on conditions and not love, however she always knew that there was a strong possibility she was going to get married to a stranger one that her parent's would chose. She had accepted this, though she was not ecstatic about her wedding day like most brides are, she was still somewhat nervous about the wedding night and had anticipated that her husband would be considerate enough to make her comfortable. Yet he had not uttered a single word in the vehicle, he had not asked her to remove the veil, giving her the impression he was not interested to introduce himself or to see his bride for the very first time.

She ignored the niggling thoughts that something was not quite right and decided to settle down in her new home. Mrs Flemington helped her unpack her suitcases into the walk in closet.

"Mrs Agreste i shall take my leave if you require further assistance please do not hesitate to call me, my extension is listed on the phone on the bedside tables", saying this Mrs Flemington left Hannah to prepare for the night. Hannah entered the ensuite which was just as luxurious as the rest of the penthouse, she decided to have a quick shower. Once she was done, she left the bathroom wearing her mulberry silk night dress, which had been carefully selected by her mother, as she had prepared Hannah for what to expect on the wedding night.

Hannah checked the bedside clock and it confirmed that it was almost midnight, yet there was no sign of her husband. This had confirmed that he had no interest in their marriage. She could not blame him as it was arranged, however she wondered why he would have agreed to the alliance. She was told about this arrangement the day before yesterday when she was summoned to return home. The only information her parents had given her that her husband was extremely powerful and could offer her the protection she needed and the freedom she so longed for since the day her parents had declined her paternal uncles offer of arranging her marriage to their son, 10 years ago.

She knew only his name, which consoled her apprehension that it was not Gabriel Agreste. She did not dwell on the idea of a possible relation between her husband and Gabriel.

Suddenly, the phone rang, waking Hannah from her deep slumber, unsure to answer the phone, she ignored it. A few minutes later the door flung open, there stood a beast of a man. Unable to recognize the figure in the dark, Hannah held on tightly to the silk bed sheet with perplexed expression.

" Meet me in my study, NOW!", called out a cold dominant voice. The aura that was transmitted from this beast did not let Hannah contest his request. After what seemed like a nightmare, Hannah finally managed to gather herself together and raised herself from the bed and made her way out. In a daze Hannah forgot to put on her robe. Leaving the room she did not know where the study was, she hoped that Mrs Flemington was near by to aide her with directions. However reading the time on the huge skeleton clock in the corridor she knew Mrs Flemington was probably sleeping. She followed the light coming from under the door to one of the rooms, she guessed this must be the study the beast was referring to. Knocking on the study door she entered without waiting for a reply.

Sebastians POV.

The door to my study opened followed by several soft knocks. There she stood in her silk night dress that was barely able to contain her curves. I had never seen anybody with such a body. The first time I met her a year ago, she was dressed in loose clothing and her mesmerizing face had completely taken the spotlight. However, today there she stood with the most plain nightdress yet on her it could enchant the most dormant organisms. She possessed a body that was as perfect as her face, pure perfection, she could put the woman labeled the most beautiful in this world to shame, she was truly out of this world. Her waist was smaller than the width of his biceps, that he was sure could be held in both his hands without even a millimeter of a gap. which then fanned out to her hips which were in a stark contrast to her waist, yet within perfect proportion to the rest of her body. Her bare feet screamed the evidence of her femininity, that were of perfect size to carry the weight of her petite figure. BUT the most prominent feature of her body apart from her facial features was her chest, which could only be described as enticing, waiting to be appreciated, she was a well developed woman, there wasn't a single cell in her body that represented her true age. She was merely 18 years old, and her youthful facial features were evidence of this. A mere 18 year old that had broken the heart of his most beloved cousin. She was a vixen in a costume that could only be described as painfully beautiful.

Sebastian had done a background check on her. Hannah had achieved qualifications at her age what no other man had ever achieved. She had received many degrees including a PhD in astrophysics, a masters degree in mathematics and computer science and had recently embarked on completing medical school and was specializing to become a neurosurgeon. She had her first degree at the mere age of 10 years old and had studied several different subjects simultaneously, in summary she could be classed as a genius.

Yet, this infuriated him further, why must one of their kind be this perfect, what gave her the right to look like this and acheive so much when she deserved nothing but pain. His disgust for her was evident from his facial expression as he held her gaze.

"you!" she whispered with a feared expression.

Her reaction was feeding the beast inside him, he wanted her weak, he wanted to see her broken and emotionally to look far from her physical form.

"Come take a seat". spoke Sebastian suppressing the urge to drag her into his office and have his way with her splayed on his desk.

Hannah closed the door behind her and with soft foot steps made her way to the seat opposite him. Sebastian looked like a beast sat behind his desk, as his size was no less then that of a beasts. His shoulders were spread out in a manner that screamed dominance. His chest was broader than any athletes, and with biceps that were perfectly sculpted and snuggly encased in his shirt. Sebastians dark locks were tousled to the point that dared not disobey the owner. His piercing steel blue eyes held Hannah imprisoned until he spoke,

"I'm glad I need not remind you of my identity".

Hannah was confused why Sebastian had agreed to marry her as she remembered the hostility he held towards her in their first meeting.

"why?" is all Hannah said before Sebastian raised to his feet and walked around his desk infront of her.

"You ask why! after what you have caused my cousin to endure".

" I did not cause anything, I did no such thing" said Hannah before she was viciously grabbed by the arms and pushed against one of the lateral walls of his study.

"Do not dare refute my words, or else I shall be compelled to finish your life before your time". Hannah gulped at his word that were laced with such enmity, her eyes welled up with tears that refused to be swallowed by her resilience which did not go unnoticed by Sebastian.

" Listen to me very carefully, you needed protection from your own people which I have promised to provide. BUT I promise you that from tomorrow you will live a life tenfold more frightening than the one your relatives offered and no one will offer you protection from me". Bellowed Sebastian with a hint of emotion that he could not interpret.

He pushed her more into the wall and leaned further, unintentionally pressing his chest against her soft one, which earned a painful gasp from Hannah. He looked at his body pressed against hers, he could not help but admire the scene before his eyes and the feel of her perfect body was far more satisfying than he had imagined. When his gaze returned to her tearful hazel gems, he moved back allowing her to breath. From the moment she entered his office he had noticed that she was in a somewhat semi-conscious state as she seemed to have not recovered from the abrupt awakening earlier.

" Return to your room. I shall summon you in the morning with the details of the price of the suffering my cousin has endured".

Hannah ran out of his study leaving Sebastian to reconsider his actions. He was not supposed to be allowing her a single minutes rest, yet when he witnessed the tears in her eyes he felt somewhat guilty. Guilty is something he did not feel often as he promised to never hurt or punish anyone that did not deserve it. Still, here he stood confused about his actions, did she deserve to be punished for not reciprocating his cousins feelings. No! then why had he agreed to do this? ofcourse there was another reason, a forbidden reason, one that he did not want to forget. Why had he forgotten the reason in her presence. He must makesure that he is not deterred from his mission again. After lecturing himself, the vengeance in his eyes returned and he was back on tract to gain revenge for his cousin but more for himself.