Madeline walked downstairs, heading towards the main door in hurry but she halted when she found Elias seated on the couch. She thought he had left the mansion and gone to his company or wherever he works.
"Where do you think you're going?" She heard him ask.
"I thought you already left."
"That's not what I asked. Was it?"
"I...I'm leaving for work. I'm late," Madeline answered.
"I was never informed that you work. I thought only your sister works in your father's company. Tell me, where do you work?" He asked in confusion and Madeline narrowed her eyes. He wants to know everything about her which she doesn't feel like telling him.
"You don't have to care about where I work just like I don't care where you work. We should learn to respect each other's privacy."
Elias stood up and walked closer to her. He bent until he was the same height as her and whispered coldly into her ears. "Only I am allowed to have privacy in this mansion. Nothing is private here. Now, tell me where you work."
"What's your business with where I work? I work somewhere and that's it," Madeline boldly answered despite the goosebumps on her skin. He rose to his full height and she stared into his eyes. His brown eyes were so cold and furious that her knees weakened but she managed to hold herself up.
"You don't want to tell me?" He asked. His voice was rough. "You know I have other ways of finding out right?"
"Fine. I work in a restaurant," Madeline answered.
"What!"
"I said I work in a restaurant. Now that you've gotten your answer, I would like to leave for work," she said as she started walking towards the door, but he held her hands and dragged her back.
"You want to keep working in a restaurant? You want the wife of Elias Johan to keep working in a mere restaurant?" Elias furiously asked. He couldn't believe she works in a restaurant. The daughter of the Crayon family works in a damn restaurant. She was no longer a Crayon but now a Johan. He won't let her spoil his reputation because by now, the whole world would have known they are married.
"Yeah, I work in a restaurant. I don't actually work there, like work, if you know what I mean. I own the restaurant. It's mine so I'll have to go there and check what's mine," Madeline explained and his heart felt at ease a little. At least she doesn't work there as a cook, or waiter, but still. He doesn't consider owning a restaurant a good job for someone who the now world knows as his wife. She should stay at home, doing nothing than owning a restaurant. If anyone sees her entering the restaurant and doesn't see her sitting, they'll think she works as the staff there and that would cause a ruckus in the media.
"Even if you own the restaurant. Owning a mere restaurant doesn't mean anything in this society and I don't think your restaurant is that big or well-known. I won't let my wife do this kind of job. Get it?"
"It's my life and my career and my property. Don't you dare make decisions for me just because I'm living in your house? You have no say about how I live my life or what I do with it," she raised her voice as she pointed a warning finger at him.
"I have every right to make decisions for you and that is final. Don't make me get furious or you won't like it."
"You have no right and I'm warning you, do....." Madeline yelled but before she could complete her sentence, she felt someone come from the side and held the finger she was pointing at him and dropped it down. It was the brat, Claire. She was holding a water bottle and looked like she was coming from jugging outside as her hair was tied in a ponytail, a towel was hung around her neck and her whole body was sweaty.
"Don't raise that finger at my brother. He was just giving you simple instructions. It's easy. Don't ruin his reputation by going to that restaurant of yours and there would be peace," Claire said looking into the eyes of furious Madeline who refrained herself from slapping her. She clenched her fist as rage filled her entire being.
"Claire, go freshen up and get ready for school. Quickly. You're late," Elias ordered.
"But brother. I have to tell her what she doesn't know." Claire disagreed as her face turned into a frown.
"Do as I say. Go upstairs and get ready for school. Don't make me repeat myself," he warned in a cold tone.
"F..fine. I'll go. Mother has been asking for you. You should go see her soon," she said to her brother as she eyed Madeline and walked out of the sitting room.
Madeline watched as Claire walked out of the sitting room and she burst into laughter. Funny, so funny. Funny and painful at the same time.
"Wow. Amazing, so so amazing. Ha ha ha. I've never been this insulted than this past week. First was getting locked up in my room, then was coming to the civil affair bureau and waiting for my groom instead of the other way around. And then boom, my groom came, and guess what, he was masked," Madeline ranted. Her chest rises and falls in anger and her hands move as she speaks.
"As if those insults weren't enough, I came into the groom's house and I received insults from his childish little and bratty sister."
"Don't ever bring my sister into any of our conversations again. Do you hear me?" Elias roared and she flinched at his voice but still beat her fears away and spoke.
"Maybe you made her this way. She can't even distinguish between her elder and her classmate. Whatever I don't care. I'm late," she said and she walked to the door. She pressed the button but it didn't open and then she turned the door's handle only to find it locked.