His Heart is a Cold Place

The mask of charming smiles cracked when they climbed into their car and it crumbled and fell completely when they entered their bedroom.

That room was more like a dark fortress built with his anger, ire and wrath. He pushed her inside and she staggered trying to keep her balance on the long heels she wore.

"Did you hit Karen?" his voice was low, threatening and bordered on the rage that simmered underneath that calm facade.

The door closed with a foreboding thud as he wrenched off his tie and threw it on the cerulean divan which had been her bed for the last three years.

Skyla distanced herself from him, putting as much space between them as was possible. His colder-than-ice eyes blazed her as he stood like a joy reaper, ready to suck out every ounce of happiness she possessed. The anxiousness filled every cell of her body and her heart rate elevated.

"Yes!" she still boldly answered, not cowering away from him.

"At a wedding? Filled with media people, photographers, other celebrities, paparazzi and whatnot. Can't you use that puny brain of yours for a few hours and keep your hands by your side? What if Karen tries to go to the media? Do you realise how big of a scandal that will result in?" he questioned while belittling her. His hands fisted as if ready to punch her.

"Well, you must have thought of that before inviting your mistress along. What right does she have to say vile things to me? Isn't it enough heartbreak for me to know my husband sleeps with other women and then have them tell me that directly to my face? You are a heartless man, Doran Blackthorn."

She sneered back at him, her eyes fiery while her whole frame shook with anger. He flinched slightly at her words but kept staring at her with those lifeless eyes of his.

"Did she hit you though? Did she resort to violence? I told you to behave tonight and not bring me shame but you refused. You never learn Skyla, not from words at least. So yes I am a heartless man indeed and I will live up to my reputation."

He stalked towards her like a predator and yanked her by the arm. She stumbled, trying to jerk her arm free. An ominous feeling was birthing inside her. His grip so tight, it hurt.

"Take off this dress," he belligerently ordered, pushing her in front of the window that opened on the balcony.

"Why?"

"Do as you are being told because if I have to do it, that won't end well for you," he fumed, watching her like an enraged bull.

She sighed, took a deep breath and removed the gown she wore. Leaving herself in her panties and bra. Feeling exposed under his feral gaze, she protectively wrapped her arms around herself.

Doran swiftly slid open the gigantic window and taking her by the arm, he pushed her outside on the huge tiled balcony.

Skyla's first thought was that he was going to plummet her to the ground from the balcony. She resisted but he didn't stop. The freezing winds of winter hit her semi-naked body, chilling her to the core.

"What are you doing?" she inquired, flabbergasted.

"Teaching you a lesson for not acting as a proper wife and almost tarnishing my credibility. You see I don't care about Karen, just like you she is a means to an end. But my reputation is everything, anyone messing with it will pay the price. You will spend the night here."

With these heartless words, he reeled the window closed, leaving her standing outside in the bone-chilling weather.

Skyla was numbed for a second but as the situation sunk in she began to frantically bang at the window pane.

"Please! Doran, it's cold. Don't do this," her pleas fell on deaf ears as he simply watched her with those barren frosty eyes of his.

Tired after a while as her voice turned hoarse from the screaming, she shuffled to a corner, shivering uncontrollably from head to toe.

While Doran sauntered over to the divan and lit his cigarette, puffing away whatever guilt birthed inside him.

Skyla crouched on the cold marble floor and huddled her legs together, curling up in a fetal position had always been her way of dealing with tough situations.

The winds whipped against her exposed skin, goosebumps rose on the entirety of her body as she shed painful tears. She was thankful for the dark moonless night, at least no one could see her in this undignified state.

Her teeth began to chatter soon and every second stretched into excruciatingly long hours. Her lips were turning blue and she wondered if she would survive the night or if hypothermia would claim her.

Suddenly she was reminded of Calix's warmth and hug. How gentle he was with her, and his touch held this reassurance of calming her heart. She often dreamt about him, especially in instances like these. And with all her heart she believed he was free.

Before she could pass out from the low circulation of blood in her system, Doran's strong arms picked her up and carried her inside.

"I hope you learnt your lesson," he said in a monotone, but his eyes couldn't hold back the guilt that had crept in them and peeked at the shivering girl in his arms.

"And I hope you suffer for your deeds one day. I hate you," she lamented between sobs as he tucked her in bed, his bed.

"Sleep!" He said grimly and watched her wrap herself in the duvet to lessen the shivers. She eyed him with disgust and wiped the tears from her face. He grabbed his car keys and raked his messed-up hair again.

Taking long strides, he was about to exit the door when Skyla asked in a quavering voice. Her lips trembled uncontrollably.

"Why do you hate me so much?"

Without turning towards her he only mumbled two words and left the room.

"I don't…"