His Scent On Another Woman

Nicolás didn't come back home last night. It was the first thought Annalise had the second her eyes opened the next morning, that was before she felt the sharp pain from her side, it was what you got from sleeping on the sofa.

She stood up and shook and rubbed her arms to get the cold feel out, last night had been so cold and she'd had nothing to cover herself in. She was too terrified of Nicolás's last words to her to attempt to go anywhere in the house other than the sitting room.

Her stomach rumbled reminding her she had barely eaten anything at dinner last night and it was already late morning. Tears pricked her eyes, she didn't know what to expect from this marriage, she'd barely had twelve hours to mentally prepare herself for it, and nowhere she was.

"Annalise Moreno." She said practicing the sound of the name on her lips before laughing, of course, she had forgotten, she was no longer Annalise.

"Laura Moreno." That was right, that was who she was now, she was now a different person and has taken up her sister's identity. Annalise wondered how long this was going to last, for now, she was safe but in the near future, it was inevitable that the little lie she and her parents had told wouldn't come to light - the ring of the doorbell echoed around the house cutting short her train of thought.

Anna looked in surprise, who could it be? She didn't expect Nicolás would be ringing the bell at his own home now, would he?

With cautious steps, she walked towards the door, she didn't know if Nicolás had any rule against her answering the door, he hadn't said anything but her heart race still accelerated at the mere thought of doing something that'll displease him.

She opened the door slightly but whoever it was at the other end pushed it further and stepped in, all of them.

The Moreno brothers, their mother, and a strange woman whom Annalise hadn't seen before, their bodyguards stayed stationed outside. She stared with her mouth open.

"Laura, my dear. How are you?" Mrs. Moreno said, wrapping her arms around Annalise's small frame, swallowing her.

Annalise cleared her throat. "I'm fi… fine. I'm fine, thank you."

"Where's Nicolás?" Leonard asked, walking around the vast sitting room as though it was his.

All eyes turned to Annalise at his question and she swallowed nervously. "Uhh… I don't know?"

The lady with them scoffed audibly, grabbing Mrs. Moreno's attention.

"Ahh Laura, this is Isabella, she has lived with us since she was a girl, she's like family." Mrs. Moreno said, smiling at the other woman.

Anna sent her a shaky smile, the woman was a beautiful red-haired, she wore a blue dress that was like a second skin, hugging and accentuating all her curves, her sharp cat-like eyes were fixed on Anna with a coldness to them that Annalise as usual didn't recognize.

"You're the one who married Nicolás?" She asked the disgust in her tone obvious as her eyes scanned Annalise as if she was a piece of dirt.

"The one and only Laura Armillo." Michael, Nicolás's brother said, chuckling.

"Stop the tease." Mrs. Moreno said in a warning tone, she smiled at Laura before settling herself on one of the sofas, Isabella promptly sat next to her, and Annalise watched her subtly copy Mrs. Moreno's movements.

Laura stood awkwardly, she didn't know what to make out of this visit and she hated it.

"Uhh, what would you like?" She asked with her heart in her mouth, she wouldn't be able to provide anything for them.

Leonard chuckled. "Does Black actually have anything in here? Other than coffee and a ton of paperwork?"

Annalise stared dumbly. "Black?"

Mrs. Moreno frowned. "Don't bother with him dear, come, come sit." She said patting the spot next to her.

Annalise hesitantly sat next to her.

"I understand you might be wary of my son…" She began.

"Wary doesn't cut it Mamá, look at her, she should be fucking scared of your monster of a son!" Leonard said.

"Mind your tongue!" Isabella said in an angry tone.

Leonard gave her a mocking stare. "What? Still clinging to…"

"That's enough Leonard!" Mrs. Moreno said, her tone causing Annalise to flinch.

She turned to Annalise with a smile, all of the hostility on her face towards her son melting. "As I said, my son might be a little cold and distant and I know this marriage wasn't one of convenience, but trust me, Laura, you could make it a happy one, show him love and show him that he is worthy of it because he hasn't for long believed so."

Annalise felt her heart soften at Mrs. Moreno's words, was it really so? That the man who looked like he had it all also had some issues, just like everyone.

Annalise nodded. "I understand."

"Here's an easier breakdown for you because my mother is unbelievably biased and feels like there is good in her son, refusing to believe that we do not call him Black for no reason. Nicolás isn't rainbows and sunshine sweetheart, and the earlier you get that into your head, the easier it'll be for you. It's just day one but you really should be reconsidering your actions." Leonard said, his voice filled with strong emotion that hit Annalise right to the core, she froze, her heartbeat picking up.

"Leonard non farlo - don't do this…" His mother started saying in a quiet tone.

"Would you show me to the bathroom, Laura?" Isabella asked her eyes fixed on Annalise in a way that made her uncomfortable.

Annalise swallowed, how could she tell them she had no idea where that was?

"Sure," She said standing up, she led the way upstairs in hopes that she'd be able to figure out a door that was the bathroom, maybe there'll be a large sign in front of it, but her thought was cut short when as soon as they cornered and went out of view of others, Isabella grabbed her by the arm, her long nails digging into Annalise's skin.

"You're hurting me" She winced giving the other woman a confused look. What was she doing?

"Who are you?" Isabella asked, her face morphed into one of hate.

"Excuse me?" Annalise asked.

"You know what? I had been really curious to know about you, to see the kind of woman he had gotten married to because like you must have noticed, I wasn't at your sham of a wedding, but now that I've seen you, I can understand why." She said her lips curled up to form a smirk.

Annalise stared back at her, her big, brown eyes filled with both innocence and confusion.

"Why what?" She managed to utter.

Isabella brought her lips closer to Annalise's ear and whispered.

"Why he was with me on his wedding night, my legs wrapped on his shoulders, my fingers digging into his back as I cried out his name over and over again, take a sniff love, don't you smell your husband all over me?"