Luna stood up from the bed and walked toward her desk to grab her laptop. She needed to focus. Needed to be productive. Needed to find new business strategies and ideas, given that she couldn't work at Rivera's any longer.
Because one thing was clear she was never going to depend on Zayn financially. She had to be innovative. She had to stand on her own.The swing of the door made her freeze.She turned and found Zayn walking into her room.
"Okay, let me get something straight," she said swiftly. "The fact that I live in your house doesn't mean you can just walk into this room whenever you want. Got it?"
Zayn didn't respond to that. Instead, he asked, "What are you up to?"
"Getting my laptop. To work."
"You won't be needing that. You're coming to work with me. In my office tomorrow."
"You won't tell me what to do. I've said that before."
She rolled her eyes at him.
"I don't like repeating myself."
"When I need your opinion, I'll ask you," Zayn snapped.
He stepped further into the room.
"Detective Grey was here. He said a whole lot of things. Who did you tell about the contract marriage?" His voice tightened, his anger suddenly sharp.
"I… I only told Kai," she replied nervously. "But you hadn't told me it was a secret at the time."
"I see. You don't know how to keep your mouth shut. That's exactly why you'll be coming with me until I trust you enough."
He turned to leave but paused at the door.
"Who would trust any Rivera ?"
The venom in his tone made her flinch.
"I don't care about whatever history you have with my family, but you don't get to talk to me like that," she shot back.
"You keep saying 'family' like it means something," he scoffed. "You'll go to work with me tomorrow."
He pulled out his phone, tapping his keypad furiously. Then, raising his gaze to meet hers, he said coldly, "I'll have to gain your trust. Who knows? You might be a time bomb waiting to explode." He sighed deeply, jaw tight.
Just then, Daisy walked in, poised and professional. "You called for me, sir?"
Zayn didn't look at her. "Ask her what she wants to eat. I don't want her looking this pale."
He glanced at Luna with a mix of disgust and something she couldn't name.
She stared at him, silent. Wondering for the first time if marrying him was truly a good idea.
"Okay, sir." Daisy turned to Luna. "What would you like to eat, ma'am?"
She dared not call Luna by name in Zayn's presence, and Luna knew better than to argue.
"I don't want to eat anything," Luna muttered.
"You won't try it," Zayn said, firmly.
As if a spell had been cast over her, Luna sighed and said, "Get me a chicken noodle stir-fry."
Staggering to her bed like she had been beaten, she whispered to herself, "I am not the enemy. He should know that."
Luna woke up the next morning. She had slept without eating, still in the same clothes she had worn during the argument with Zayn. Her body felt sore, her heart even more.
There was a faint knock on the door.
"Come in," she said in a choked voice.
Daisy stepped in, carrying a bag. "Good morning," she said with a polite smile.
"Hi... what's that in your hand?"
"Mr. Zayn asked that you wear this and meet him for breakfast in 45 minutes."
"What's the time?" Luna asked, yawning.
"It's 6:00 a.m."
She didn't have the strength to argue with him today. "Okay."
After bathing and doing her usual routine, she sat in front of the mirror, curling her hair carefully. When she finally opened the bag, she found an amethyst luxury gown inside. She slipped it on and paired it with an off-white shoe and matching bag.
Walking down the stairs, she entered the living room, which flowed directly into the dining area.
Zayn was already seated, drinking his coffee. He hadn't noticed her yet.
She took in how calm and composed he looked in his well-tailored seaweed green tuxedo wishing, not for the first time, that he was always this quiet and collected. This version of him caused her less trouble.
We're supposed to be in my office by 7:30 a.m., and that won't be possible with you staring at me like you just saw a newborn child for the first time," he scoffed, not caring if his staff were watching.
"Okay, Luna. Not today. You are not doing this today," she whispered more to herself than to him.
"Let me brief you on how today is going to go," he said, raising his gaze to meet hers. Then, turning to the house staff, he added, "Excuse us. We're going to do just fine."
Once they were alone, his tone sharpened. "My assistant tells me I have meetings lined up. This is where your role comes in. You'll need to play the part. For now, only Kai and Leon know about the contract marriage. The rest, including my staff, allies, and employees they don't know. And I know you understand what that means."
Luna finally said, "Alright," her voice low as she stirred her tea gently, taking small sips while stealing occasional glances at him not sure what version of him she'd get next.
"I'm done eating. We can go now," she said, taking a deep breath.
She stood up. "Can we go now?" she asked, already walking toward the door. She waited outside, knowing she needed him to unlock it with his fingerprint unlike the day before, when she had to call a staff member for help.
Moments later, he appeared behind her.
Opening it for her without making eye contact, she just went out. It was cold, the breeze colder. But before she could turn to get back inside the house, Zayn was already outside, ordering his driver to bring his black car which he called Celes.
He brought it in no time. Another staff came to open the door, and Zayn gave her the respect of ladies first, letting her enter before he did.
He knew she was going to keep her distance, but he still told the driver to start driving.
He saw that if they continued like this, their story wasn't going to be believable. He looked at her as she kept her head down, staring at everything else but him.
"Luna," he said, placing his hand over hers, giving her the play the part look. She nodded and turned her face, gazing out the window.
Does she disperse me now? He wondered
They arrived at Lancaster Ventures five minutes before 7:30 a.m.
On the way to the lift, Luna noticed that no one dared to say hi to Zayn. Everyone was focused on what they were doing. Employees who had been laughing or chatting stopped immediately when they saw him.
Inside the lift, the silence was awkward. Luna had already decided she wouldn't be the one to speak first. When the lift stopped and they walked into his office, Luna noticed the same portrait of the woman again. Something about the woman's gaze made her feel small, judged even. Does she despise me? Luna wondered silently.
She wanted to ask who the woman was but just as the question formed on her lips, Leon walked in, looking all handsome in his Sacramento tuxedo. She could no longer ask the question.
She smiled at him fully this time.
"Hi, Beautiful. You look gorgeous as always," Leon complimented her, making her blush leaving Zayn feeling like the third wheel.
"Zayn," Leon continued, suddenly serious, "we've got a problem."
"What prob…" Zayn began, but Leon cut him off.
"The board directors of Rogue Rixel won't disclose. There's going to be a meeting now. Come along with Luna to the conference. Now!"
We leave now," he said hurriedly.
"Fine," she replied, following him out of the office.
He walked at a fast pace. Luna silently thanked goodness she knew how to walk in heels, especially under pressure.
Zayn's big frame filled the door of the conference room, with Luna at his back.