Clarissa
Waking up, I found it purely difficult to get up until I realised I fell asleep in my wedding gown.
Lazy.
Successfully getting up, I started to panic.
Why?
I start work today and I am already late.
Rushing, I hurried into the bathroom to get ready.
Standing in front of the mirror a few minutes later, I smiled.
Maybe this was not going to be that bad.
Exiting my room, there were no signs of Mr. Bugatti.
A.K.A.
Your husband.
Not wanting to ruin my mood, I thanked God for that.
Descending the stairs, I was met with a man dressed in all black.
"Good morning, ma'am."
Ma'am?
All of a sudden, I am starting to feel old.
I noticed he had his head down.
"Good morning, um, please call me Clarissa... by the way, can you lift your head?"
"Sorry ma'am, Sir asked me not to look you in the eye while speaking to you."
What the--
Feeling weird, I left him and headed to the door, only to the stopped by the same person.
"Excuse me, I have to be somewhere right now."
He did not budge.
"Sorry, we have been given strict orders not to let you out of the house."
Okay, what's going on here.
"Whose orders exactly?"
"Mr. Bartels."
Ignoring him, I got out of the mansion, well only to meet a few more very pestering guards.
"Mrs. Bartels, please get back into the house."
"I think you should get out of my way."
They were really starting to get on my nerves.
"Sorry, Mrs. Bartels but no."
And now I had to do what I had to do.
"I am your boss's wife and I order you to get out of my way... please?"
Cringe much?
And they actually did..
Brandon
Organising a couple papers to approve of a business transaction, I received a message.
You better watch out, Bartels.
Before I could process the message, Alan barged into my office.
"Clarissa's not at home."
"What!"
This had to be no other than Nathan De Jigt.
"The guards did all they could."
"Assemble the men."
Clarissa
Smiling at myself, I entered Megan's huge boutique.
It was one of the best in the whole of the country.
I greeted and headed to her office.
"Knock, knock." I said upon entering.
"Oh Clarissa." She said coming up to hug me.
"Yes madam."
"Call me mum, Clarissa you're not supposed to be here."
Wait, what?
"But I work for you now, I th---"
Before I could complete my sentence, I heard screams coming from the main room.
"What's going on?"
All of a sudden, my mouth was covered.
I tried to scream but my voice were muffled.
I was being held at gun point.
Okay, all your Jackie Chan movie marathon could sure come in handy now.
Breathing, I stomped on the guy's knees and he fell to the ground.
Maybe I might be Superman's long lost sister or something.
That's what I thought, until I turned and locked eyes with.....
Brandon.
And he had a gun in hand.
He shot the guy.
He came closer and pulled me close to him.
I only stared in awe as I was confused.
********
After that very shocking scene, all I did was get into a car together with Brandon and he did not look happy.
The car pulled up in a surrounding that looked like an abandoned warehouse.
Without a word, Brandon got out of the car and the door was opened for me by a guard.
Brandon held my hand as we entered the building.
There were a lot of other people all dressed in black.
"You're welcome, Sir."
"Assemble everyone to the meeting area."
What was happening.
Soon enough, Brandon led me upstage were everyone else was facing us.
It scared me.
Most people had eye patches on and had this very strict and cunning look on their faces.
Brandon started speaking.
"You are all aware that I am married now!"
"Yes sir." They all chorused.
"Meet my wife, Clarissa Bartels."
"She sure is hot, I can imagine what she'd look like without...."
Pow!
I moved closer and held on to Brandon with my eyes closed.
The guy got shot.
I slowly opened my eyes and looked at Brandon and he had a gun in hand.
Brandon just shot the guy, in the head.
"From now on, no one talks to my wife if it's not necessary and you will treat her with respect or else you might end up like him but even worse. Am I understood?!"
Brandon
I was fuming with anger when I entered the house.
"What happened out there!"
Clarissa shouted.
I chose not to speak.
Nathan almost had her. The only reason we even got together on her part and it wasn't even a full day.
"Is that what you do, kill more than one person in the span of one day?"
Ungrateful.
If I had not killed that guard, she would have gotten killed.
"What did I tell you about going out without me knowing?"
She was quiet.
"I am asking you a question, answer me!"
Clarissa
"I am asking you a question, answer me!"
Brandon pressed me into the wall.
Before we got married, he told me to never leave the house.
"Let go of me!"
He didn't move.
He was staring into my eyes with his jaw clenched.
"I don't want you leaving this house. Ever!"
"And what if I did?"
He is not going to boss me around even if he tried.
"Don't get on my nerves Clarissa."
"What are you going to do, huh, answer me."
Within a span of seconds, Brandon had clasped his hands around my throat.
"This is exactly what I am going to be doing, if you don't listen to me."
My breathing was getting restricted.
"I- I -can't breathe."
But his grip only got tighter.
Brandon
I watched as her eyes started to water.
"I- I- can't breathe."
My grip only tightened.
What are you doing?
She should have known before leaving the house.
If they laid hands on her, they would have done worse.
And what you are doing isn't?
"Brandon, let go of her!"
I heard Alan scream.
My grip on Clarissa's neck loosened and she run upstairs.
"What the hell is going on with you?"
Clarissa
I rushed upstairs, entered my room and shut the door.
I fell to the ground and cupped my knees.
What have I gotten myself into.