In Love With My Bully-Chapter 29: Price of Perception

Nita’s POV

Mary was feeling very positive, according to her we hadn’t done anything wrong but the article had been spun maliciously.

"This article paints a gold-digging version of you but armed with the real story, I will make you a couple of the year. Besides, it seems like the arranged marriage angle worked out well for both of you. You seem quite smitten with each other," she looked at our interlaced fingers and back at our faces.

I smiled as she got up. "Give me twenty-four hours to make a game plan. In the meantime, you cannot grant interviews, or make any social media posts. Just let me handle this but the both of you will have lots of work to do." She extended her hand to me for a handshake, and I got up to take it. "Have a great day ma’am," she then gestured to Richard. "See you later sir,"

As we heard the sound of the door shut, Richard turned to me, "You are a formidable woman, Sweetie,"

"Uhn uhn... Don’t tell me you have a crush on me already," I smiled.

"You just are figuring that out now. I don’t think you really earned the nickname Nerdy Benny. You should have always known," he kissed my forehead and turned to Martin, who was standing almost invisibly in a corner of the room.

"Martin, we have a leak,"

"It will appear so sir," Martin said, standing up straight to face his boss.

"We need to flush them out,"

"Certainly sir. I will get on it sir --- permission to do a security sweep of your home today,"

"Go ahead,"

"I have to go back to my office," I kissed Richard briefly and got to my feet "but Martin could you walk with me? I think I may have forgotten a couple of files on my bedside table. You can help me pick them up on your way back,"

"Yes ma’am," he nodded.

I turned to Richard in exasperation, "Richard, would you tell him to stop calling me ma’am. He can use my name!"

Richard laughed; relaxing back in his chair, a weight seemed to lift from his shoulders. "He won’t."

"Ugh! Fine! I don’t know why you think I am a ma’am. I am young,"

I caught the slight lift of Martin’s face but I ignored it. We had more pressing issues to attend to. I walked out of the office and waited for Martin to step beside me. When we got in the elevator, I began...

"How long have you worked for Richard?" I asked him

"Five years ma’am," he responded his face stony once more.

"He considers you a friend,"

"I am honoured to have that status. Mr Numero is a kind man,"

"He trusts you and so I am going to trust you plus the tiny fact that you saved my life a few weeks ago," the elevators opened and we stepped onto my floor but I didn’t move. "What’s your primary job description?"

"To keep Mr Numero from any and all physical threats or harm," with his pointed responses, I was beginning to think Martin was a robot incapable of showing emotions.

"Someone has a knife at his heart, Martin but he can’t see it. The person is so close that he has become invisible. Nothing I say will sway how Richard feels about this person. But I will protect my husband for as long as I have him, Martin. You understand right?"

"What do you need ma’am?" for the first time since we met, Martin looked directly at my face and not above my head. That’s when I knew that I could trust this man to protect Richard with his life.

"When you do a sweep of the house, whatever you find, report to me first. Do not take it out. If this said person has to go down, the evidence has to be overwhelming. And I need one of those tape recorders you can put in your clothes or something,"

"You mean a wire,"

"Yes!!!" ƒrēewebnoѵёl.cσm

"I will let you know what I come up with ma’am," he signalled to the bodyguard at the end of the hall to come closer. "I know you don’t like it, but with the frenzy today, you might need him closer,"

As I was about to start towards my office, the elevator doors opened and Victor stepped out, surprised to see me.

He was dressed in a casual shirt and pants trousers, today’s newspaper in a grip in his hand. Great, he has read the news too.

"Hi Mrs Numero," he greeted as he walked towards me.

"Hi,"

"I won’t ask how your day is going. Must be insane,"

"Actually it’s not. I have been the focus of the press lately," I countered, casting a glance at Martin and wondering why he was still standing there. I thought he was going back upstairs.

"Yeah, I followed the previous memes. I recognized you instantly from those photos though. I had quite a laugh," he chuckled and Martin cleared his throat.

"Martin, its fine. I am not getting kidnapped just a few jokes. You can go," He reluctantly nodded, giving Victor a scary scowl before getting on the elevators.

"Phew! He is scarier than your husband,"

"Richard isn’t scary, he is adorable," I said and began walking alongside him to my office.

"Of course, you’ll say that. You’re his wife," We turned the corner to my office and he continued on with me.

"Isn’t your office on the other end?" I asked

"Yeah just want to see you to your door, if that’s okay plus something has been bugging me," he stopped.

"What is it?"

"It’s just... I don’t get it... Benita," he started unsure how to assemble his words. "Just a few months ago, you were this emotionally closed-off woman, at least that’s what you told me. And now it seems like you are a different person, and with this article, I have my own theory,"

"And what have you come up with?"

"I think your parents forced you to marry him. I think you guys are putting up a charade. I don’t think he loves you, Nita, I think he is the one using you to solidify his CEO position and honestly, I think once that’s over, he is going to throw you to the curbs,"

"First of all, my marriage is none of your business but I will tell you this. We may have had an arranged marriage but I love my husband. We love each other and if you see it as a charade, it is your prerogative just like that article in your hand is one person’s point of view, you have a right to your opinion but do not ever disrespect me like that again..." I had more to say but when I glanced behind him, I saw my husband, standing there with a smug smile on his face.