Chapter 7

JADE

I slipped on the lingerie and stared at myself in the mirror. Roman had been open about it from the beginning. I had to fulfil my marital duties. Even if it meant forcing myself into something I was not ready for.

If he wanted us to be intimate, this was sure a weird way to tell me. I tugged at the edge of the lingerie and sighed.

"Didn't he say he was going to wait for me? Did I give him the impression that tonight was our night? Or was he playing this game because we were at his family estate?"

I rambled and groaned, ruffling my hair. I knew I couldn't escape it now. If he was willing to take care of Meredith, then I was willing to do what he asked.

I took a deep breath and pulled the door open. I stepped out into the room, the cold air from the air conditioner blasting against my skin.

Roman was sitting on the couch by the window. He had taken off the jacket of his tux but was still in his vest and immaculate white shirt.

His laptop rested on his lap, and someone on the other end was still speaking. I had no idea what my next action was supposed to be. Was I supposed to approach him? Make the first move and get it over with?

He looked up, and our eyes locked. Anger flared in his eyes. Not desire. Not even surprise. Just anger. I felt dread climb up my spine as my knees nearly buckled under his intense gaze.

He slammed the laptop shut and tossed it to his side. He rose so fast the room seemed to spin. I swallowed repeatedly to stop my throat from going dry.

"Mr Vo..."

"Change out of that now!"

It was the first time I was hearing him raise his voice. He always spoke as calmly as possible, yet it was so intense that no one even dared refuse him.

I didn't wait to understand what he meant. I turned on my heels and ran until I was behind the bathroom door. It was like I had done something wrong without even knowing what it was.

My hands shakily went up to my chest, which was drumming rapidly in my ribcage. I closed my eyes, trying to understand what was going on, but it still felt all wrong.

He asked me to change, but in reality, I had nothing else to wear. I couldn't wear the dirty, sticky dinner dress from earlier to bed.

"Maybe I will just sit here all night," I whispered to myself, lowering myself onto the closed toilet seat.

He offered the lingerie, and he still dared to act like this. What a jerk! He had the audacity to act offended?

"Jade?" I froze at the sound of his voice. I hoped he would just forget me for the rest of the night while I stayed locked in there.

"I am coming in." The sound of his footsteps on the other side made me spring up and hurry to the door.

I stood behind it and pulled it open, ensuring that only my head was visible to him.

"If you want to use the bathroom, I can..."

"Change into this," he cut me off, pushing a pyjama set into my hands. It was a striped top and trousers set—the kind I was used to.

I snatched it from him and slammed the door in his face. Even though it was obvious that he had the upper hand in the relationship, it made no sense that he could bully me and change his mind at will.

I hurriedly changed and stepped out. He was seated on the bed. This time, his tie and vest were gone. He got up as soon as I stepped into view.

His brows arched, and his lips turned downward. "There shouldn't be a next time."

I tilted my head in confusion, hoping he would explain what he meant. "I do not like my wife dressing like a prostitute."

"Like a prostitute?" A nervous chuckle left my lips. I gasped and scoffed, unable to understand what was going on in his mind.

"Do you think I wanted to wear it? I only did it because you prepared it," I said. My voice rose—it was almost a scream. I was not the one playing games here.

His brows creased, and his eyes softened as he averted his gaze from me. "I see," he said with a nod.

"You see? What do you see?" I asked.

Maybe I had been too complacent with him. Maybe that was the reason he could be so wishy-washy with me.

"It must have been my grandmother," he said with a cough. He was still unable to meet my eyes.

My mind went back to our conversation from earlier. She was doing this to secure the Volkov line. Of course, she would try to impose control.

"But next time this happens, you can stand up for yourself and refuse."

It's easy for you to say. You can refuse, and they will take you seriously. If I dared do something like that, they would just force it on me.

"Or you can come to me. I will take care of it."

I nodded and sighed. "But your grandmother wouldn't she..."

"I will explain the situation to her," he cut me off.

We both stood a few feet apart. I was fiddling with my fingers while he shifted his weight, still unable to meet my eyes.

"You should get to bed; it must have been a tiring day," he said after a long, suffocating silence.

"Oh... yeah." I moved to the bed and stood over it, as if waiting for some kind of permission from him. In my head I needed his permission, even though I had no idea why it mattered.

"I still have some meetings to attend to; why don't you get to bed first?" He gestured to the bed.

I climbed in and pulled the covers up to my neck. "Good night," I murmured as he walked back to the couch.

"Good night," he replied. His voice was stiff.

I lay in bed, counting down from a hundred, hoping I would drift off to sleep. My heart felt heavy, and I knew without saying those words, I wouldn't be able to rest properly.

"Mr. Volkov," I called softly. I turned to him, my hand under my head as I supported it. I stared at him, trying to let my mind unravel the kind of man he was.

He froze, his finger hovering over a key but never pressing it down. I rested my head on my hand and shifted slightly.

"You owe me an apology," I whispered. A yawn escaped my lips, and I blinked rapidly, trying to stay awake so I didn't fall asleep on him. "I really didn't want to seduce you tonight; I just..." I knew if I stayed silent now, I always would.

"I am sorry." The words were short and sounded foreign, but they were genuine.

I turned my back to him and sighed. "I know I am not the kind of wife you want, but I will try my best to be the kind you need." Even if I didn't know what that meant yet.

I had no idea if I finished that thought. My eyes were already drooping, and all I could think of was sleep.