17 Behind the closed doors

Julie's POV

"I want to call Mr. Lucca. The senior one?" I requested the woman who was standing outside of the bathroom and provided me with the towels. Her uniform told me she was a worker here. But before she could react I saw the same woman who was accompanying my husband on our wedding day getting in.

"You can leave," She told the staff.

"Mrs. Lucca, you can call me, Sasha. I have arranged the breakfast for you. I am sure you should be famished by now." There was a playful smile on her mouth that I didn't like right now. I was wearing a heavy brown colored robe and wanted clothes.

"I want a cell phone. I want to call Mr. Lucca…senior…Mr. Lucca." The moment when he raised his fist couldn't get away from my mind.

"Or…you can have breakfast…"

"I want to call Mr. Lucca first…I…"

"Isn't he the reason that you are already here? But if you still want to see things you are welcome." Her eyes told me as if she was enjoying my situation. But she took out a cell phone and passed me. I dialed for Mr. Lucca and didn't have to wait long.

"Hello, Sasha,"

"This is me, Julie," I said and Sasha passed me a smile before she left the room while I heard Mr. Lucca say. "How are you? My love? I am sending your things they left..."

"Why…why you didn't tell me about your son,"

"What I didn't tell about my son?... You even met him on your engagement day…is everything alright?"

"Nothing is…alright, Mr. Lucca. You know…you know what you have done to me…and, I don't know why you did it with me or your son. Why did you make him marry me if he didn't want to." I was breathless and a lot of tears stuck in my throat.

"Did he say that he didn't want to marry you?"

"No…but it's obvious…"

"Stop overthinking like idiots…" Mr. Lucca hissed making me jump while I rub the sweat off my forehead.

"You can't do this with me…I…I can't live with him…I…"

"Do you remember what I told you on the very first day?" I inhaled deeply in frustration I don't know what he told me the first day because he has told me many things so far.

"I told you that I am not a fan of splitting a family, Julie."

Family? There was no family...to begin with. "...Once, you are Mrs. Lucca you will always be Mrs. Lucca…here, I am treating your family as our own. And, what are you doing with my son?"

"I am not doing anything with him…Mr. Lucca…I…I will return that money…" I didn't want to sound mean but I hope it could tell him how desperate I was here.

"…Oh really? How do you plan to return me fifty million dollars?"

"What fifty?...no,…I…" For a moment I could feel my heart stop working.

"If you break the contract it is the penalty you are willing to pay. And, why you wouldn't do anything with my son?" He asked to which I found my voice lost.

"Mr. Lucca…you…I thought…" I was short for words.

"No, you tell me…what possibly can happen in a night?... I thought you were perfect for any job."

"He…he…" I don't know why I couldn't tell that he was about to kill me. I still had my neck sore and his fingers printed against my neck.

"How can you do this with me? Why you didn't tell me about this fifty million worth of penality? This is…this is cheating."

"Don't you think it was the right decision? I wonder who I chose for my son."

"What?..." I was speechless.

"…He…he almost choked me…he is nothing like I imagined…and you never told me that I am supposed to follow him to Italy! I feel so bound being in a country I know nothing about. I don't know anyone here…and…now...you..."

"It was never a love marriage rather a marriage of convenience. Did my son offer you any promise? You got into this on your own. And, about him choking you…one can do this...when you know they are excited."

"Mr. Lucca?..." I was shocked at his choice of words.

"…I didn't sign up to die. I…didn't sign up…"

"The moment you married my son…you signed up for everything he was." He cut me off and continued, "...You…yourself are making it difficult for you, Julie. I thought you called me to say you are grateful. But…I recommend you do some yoga to calm your nerves…I am sure that you need one to see how absurd you are sounding sharing your personal details with me."

"What?..." The line got cut but I was desperate. "Mr. Lucca? Mr. Lucca?...Mr.…"

I couldn't forget how murderous he looked in the morning. Never in my life was I this scared. But what options I had? I sat on the bed fisting the sheets while my breath hitched recalling his touch. I don't know how to explain to anyone how he…he treated me last night. I couldn't tell this to Mr. Lucca…and…I was sure I can't tell this to anyone. And,…I feel even if I would tell anyone they won't…they won't see it as of a reason enough to leave my husband.

"May I come in?" I heard Sasha's voice but didn't reply. She didn't wait and was standing in my room while two other women take in a trolley full of food. I was hungry but I was so mortified recalling how a woman found me in my room in the morning. Sasha was donning a beautiful green dress while the other two women were in a skin-colored uniform.

"These two women are my assistance. But…feel free to ask them anything until we arrange some assistance for you." I looked at Sasha before asking, "Who are you?" I had to ask her. Why she was living here…who she was to Matteo?

"I work for Matteo…assist him in different tasks…" She signaled the other two women who left immediately.

"I knew it wasn't any help talking to Mr. Lucca. I kind of like that man…but he can be really cunning and expect the other person to be always hard working…well, some of Matteo's traits are inherited from him too. But he is less of a drama…" I looked at her. I knew she knew nothing about my situation.

"You…you can make it a lot easier if you try…" She said and I huffed before giving her a raised brow. I wanted her to leave but she got this as a signal to continue.

"Try to…please your husband. It is never hard…when you are a woman."

How I was supposed to tell this woman that I don't and after the last night can never accept Matteo as my husband.

"I want to be alone," I asked her to leave. If she was working for Matteo I expect her to follow my orders too.

"I have an order from Matteo to teach you…" This got my brows furrowed.

"Excuse me?" The surprise in my voice was real.

"You accept him or not…he would or want to take every advantage of you being his wife…and, he has asked me to make sure that you don't spoil his mood." This got my mouth wide open.

"You must have your breakfast. I will soon send someone to get you ready…and I am…doing my business. So, I apologize to you in advance Mrs. Lucca but I can't follow any of your orders that defy Mr. Lucca's" Her smile somehow told me that she was enjoying my state. She left and I, once again fell deep in my thoughts thinking what Mr. Lucca meant. What did he want from me? Because there was one thing for sure…no one could live with his son. And, he was surely aware of the fact or he would have not required finding a bride for his son. I held a glass of juice to my mouth while the scenario of what will happen once he is back didn't leave my mind.

As Sasha warned me two women came after a while and though I tried to tell how I don't want my hair straightened, Sasha's one signal was enough for them to get ready.

"Matteo isn't a huge fan of curly hair…and…I guess it doesn't matter what we like when we are to please someone else…" I held the arm of the woman standing beside me before telling Sasha. "If he doesn't want curly hair…he better leave me?"

"I am only doing my job, Mrs. Lucca. And, expect him to give me rewards for getting his wife ready. Can you please stop making my job this hard…and,…if you so want other people out of your affairs…you better seduce him enough and take care of these things yourself!"

Sitting between three women who were all so aware of how things were so messed up between me and my husband was another level of hell. I don't know why I felt guilty without me having done anything. Or, maybe this was the fact. I didn't do anything.

"I don't know what you told him in the morning that got him violent…but avoid saying those words at any price…" She said while one of the women put nail paint on my fingers.

"…he loves to be respected. Keep your eyes lowered…and, remember…he doesn't and will never…think of you as his equal…Matteo De Lucca thinks of women as an inferior citizen…it has nothing to do with you…so, please don't get offended."

This got me to look at Sasha's reflection in the mirror who seemed busy reading a novel sitting on the bed. And, now it becomes clear. A person like this…had every reason to wed a woman who was kept in the dark. Why Mr. Lucca made sure that I never talk to him or see him was now becoming clear.

The other women got me a pair of heels so high that I had to struggle to get in them and stand.

"Whenever you are with him…you are responsible to keep his room tidy and help him take bath or get his clothes for him…he can make unusual requests and would get excited seeing you do it at once...if he gets any bad news while you are standing in his vicinity…you will do everything in your ability to make his tension lessen…he hates women only when they are in power. But if he finds you helpless…you will be treated well."

I got my eyes narrowed looking at the dress. It was translucent, thin, and had a little shimmer. Sasha continued ignoring my tension as I looked at the dress.

"…And, lastly…when you don't know what to do…just tell him you can't do a thing without him…that you need him…or just touch him…I hope I am not required to explain…where to touch." She lowered her eyes to look down and signaled the two women to leave and huffed crossing her arms over her chest.

"Mrs. Lucca…you should get back to your room and wait for him. And, if you don't want another woman to tell you how to treat your husband…you better act wisely now...you see…" She came close to my face. "We are busy people and have things to do." She left but this whole ordeal was so embarrassing.

Getting into the room got me to stare on the bed. His hands, his mouth, and his ragged breathing…everything was here. His lust, his urgency, and greed…could be felt without him being here. I shivered, recalling the way he would move over me. I sat on the bed recalling what just happened today.

The person I married was indeed mean, heartless, and now knowing that he is a misogynistic loser did make my heart shrink. I wasn't here to change him…I knew it wasn't in me. But I knew why I was here. I was here to smile and show the world that he was a good husband. And, can be a family man. This is the only reason that I could think of.

And, recalling Mr. Lucca's scam I knew I couldn't leave him anytime soon. Or, maybe his son took part in his game or why he didn't try to talk to me or reach me before our wedding. I knew I couldn't leave him anytime soon. But letting people know what happens here behind the closed doors was a whole another level of embarrassment.

I changed into the dress and sat on the chair and looked at the sky. Every passing second was making my heart race. I was trying to get myself ready to hear any of his taunts or demands but there was one thing for sure. I didn't want anyone to know what happens here. I bit my lip harder wondering if I can do this.

Mr. Lucca's words rang. Take it as a job. Take it as a job. I got startled out of my reverie the moment I heard the door open and there he was standing and even a blind could see how pissed he seemed. I held my breath and didn't try to think much before getting to stand behind him. And, I wonder how many times or how long I would be required to stand here behind him...because thinking forever did make me shiver. And, the last thing I wanted to recall were the times when I used to dream of my forever.

I hope you would like this update that came in less than 24 hours. I hope to update the next chapter soonest too...So, you see, your stars and comments can bring you an update more early.

L O V E Y O U xoxox

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