Chapter 3 Tales Of A Trophy Wife

• “Welcome home Sarah”
• Lucas said in hush tone as he waited for his driver to open his side of the door.
• Sarah stood at the threshold of a mansion that seemed more fortress than home. The opulent gate had swung open to reveal sprawling lawns, meticulously manicured gardens, and a driveway that stretched endlessly.
• It wasn’t the grandeur that made her heart race; it was the knowledge of the man she was forced to get married to.
• The stunt he pulled in his car left lingering felling on her mind.
• Lucas stood before the gigantic door of his mansion.
• “Come on in, Sarah”
• Sarah was lost in her own world, mixed feelings overshadowed her.
• Sarah hesitated, but she took the first bold step towards Lucas direction knowing that she wasn’t going to stand out there forever. She had to be strong for her family.
• She clutched to her purse, “I can do this” she whispered as she approached the gigantic wooden door.
• As the massive wooden doors cracked open, a wave of cool air washed over her. A butler, immaculate in his uniform, greeted her with a curt nod.
• “Welcome, Mrs Anderson” he said as he led her into the grand foyer.
• Lucas was already way ahead of her at this point. It was his home so he obviously didn’t need help showing him around.
• Holding unto her purse she replied the butler.
• “Thank you” giving him a light bow.
• The marble floor gleamed under the soft light of crystal chandeliers. Sarah’s heart fluttered at the formality of her new title ‘Mrs Anderson’. It will definitely take some getting used to.
• Looking around the inside of the mansion, she whispered to herself.
• “I’m Mrs Anderson now”
• It sounded foreign, a title that belonged to someone else.
• She followed the butler down a series of corridor, each more grand than the last, until they reached a pair of wooden door.
• “Sarah”
• Lucas said with a controlling voice, coming out of the rooms which looked like his study. He gestured for her to come inside.
• “Welcome again to your new home” he said to her.
• “Thank you,” she replied her voice barely above a whisper as they both entered into his study.
• The study room straight out of a classic novel, with dark wood panelling, floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, books neatly arranged on the shelves, and a roaring fire place that cast flickering shadows.
• “Come sit” he gestured to a chair opposite his massive mahogany desk.
• She obeyed, perching on the edge of the chair, her hands clasped tightly in her lap.
• “This arrangement is rather unconventional, but it is necessary. I trust you are aware of the expectations placed upon you”
• His dark eyes, sharp and piercing, assessed her with a dispassionate air, and for a moment, the world seemed to shrink to just the two of them.
• “Did he just refer to our marriage as an arrangement?” she screamed in her head hoping that he doesn’t have the ability to read minds.
• Sarah nodded, feeling the weight of those expectations settle more heavily on her shoulders.
• “Yes, I understand” she finally spoke casually.
• Lucas leaned back in his chair, studying her with an intensity that made her want to wriggle.
• “Good” he said, steepling his fingers.
• Sarah’s mind drifted to the love of her life. She had the opportunity to see him one last time before she was married off to Lucas.
• “We can go far away till the tension dies down. No one will know”
• She had suggested to the love of her life about eloping and not getting married to Lucas.
• He tried everything he could not to elope with her as she wanted. Eloping wasn’t going to get her out of her mystery.
• “You and I both know that isn’t a good idea. We’ll only put ourselves in harm’s way, and how far can we both run?”
• Lucas was going to go to the ends of the earth to search them out and when he finds them, it was definitely going to spell doom for the both of them.
• “Did you hear a word I just said, Sarah?” Lucas said, snapping her back to the present.
• He stared at her with fire in his eyes.
• “Let me guess, you were carried away again” he leaned forward, placing his hands on his mahogany desk.
• The way her heart raced when he calls her name was alarming.
• “Oh no, I heard you. You said I should go back to my father’s house and that the deal was over”
• Sarah decided to make a joke at a crucial moment like this. Where did that courage come from?
• Sarah was always full of euphoria, but her life took a drastic turn and all that joy was sapped.
• Lucas squinted his eyes wondering why she decided to make a joke when he was serious.
• “I demand respect and loyalty.”
• Lucas began to repeat what he had said when she wasn’t listening to him.
• “You will find that I am a fair man. Do your part and you will be rewarded, fail me, and find out that I am not a man to be crossed. Do you understand me?” he ended his speech sternly.
• His words were delivered with a calmness that belied the menace behind them. Sarah swallowed hard, nodding her head again.
• “I understand you, Mr Lucas Anderson” Sarah replied him like one of his employees, sarcasm evident in her voice.
• A flicker of something - approval, perhaps – passed through his eyes.
• “Very well, then. You have full access to the house and the staff. If you need anything you may ask Matthew.”
• “Thank you” Sarah managed to say, feeling like a child on her first day of school.
• Sarah was now cold and withdrawn.
• Sarah stood up to leave the same way she came, but she was interrupted.
• “Before you go I need you to read this and understand it. If you have any questions you may ask me” Lucas threw a brown envelope at her.
• She picked it up wondering what the content of it was.
• She sat back down on the chair he gestured for her to sit on a while back. As she opened the envelope she prayed in her heart that it wasn’t what she was thinking.
• “Rules and regulations?” she lifted her head with her eyes wide open as she read the title of the paper.
• “Few seconds ago, you said I had full access to the house and the staff. Now you hand me a document with a compilation of rules and regulations?” she said gesturing with her hands as she spoke.
• “Yes I said what I said earlier and this document doesn’t rule out that fact. I only need you to understand that I am a man of principles and rules. I will advise you to read that document carefully and understand it so that you don’t cross the line” he explained looking at her.
• Sarah was confused, but she had no strength in her to argue with this man, and arguing might just make her life a lot harder than it already is.
• “Hmm” she said as she stood up rolling her eyes, then she made a beeline out of his study room.
• “Matthew will show you to your room. Dinner is at seven sharp. I expect you to be punctual” Lucas said before she disappeared from his study room.
• Sarah came out of his study room feeling miserable.
• Matthew was patiently waiting for her by the door. He stepped forward, indicating that she should follow him.
• Sarah took in a deep breath and exhaled.
• Walking down the corridor she said to herself.
• “I’ll be alright. It’s for the best”
• Her words were audible but Matthew paid no attention.
• As they made their way through the labyrinthine corridors, Sarah couldn’t help but feel like a prisoner being led to her cell.
• “Here you go, Mrs Anderson” Matthew gestured for her to enter into her room.
• On the bright side, her room, however, was anything but a cell.
• It was a luxurious suite, complete with a sitting area, a massive bed adorned with silk sheets, and an adjoining bathroom that was larger than the one she was used to.
• The view by the sitting area was divine, a perfect spot for morning inspirations for her painting.
• Matthew showed her around the suite, pointing out the various amenities and ensuring she had everything she needed.
• “You didn’t have to do this Matthew. I’ll be okay” she said when he was done with the tour of her suite.
• “Mrs Anderson” He said as he stood by the door of her room preparing to leave.
• “If you require anything, please do not hesitate to call for me” he said, sounding passionate about his job. He had to be for obvious reasons.
• “Thank you, Matthew,” Sarah replied, feeling a little more at ease in the butler’s presence.
• “Sorry Matthew, please where are my boxes?” she asked just before Matthew left her room.
• He walked back in, and showed her to her walk in closet where her clothes were neatly hung and arranged.
• “They’re right here” he smiled pointing them out to her.
• She noticed that she also had some new clothes and shoes as well as purses.
• Walking towards the new clothes neatly hung in the wardrobe.
• “Hmmm, these don’t look familiar” going through them with her hands.
• Once alone, Sarah sank onto the bed, the events of the day crashing over her like a tidal wave.
• She was now suddenly married to a man she barely knows. In a house that felt more like a fortress than a home.
• The reality of her present situation was overwhelming, and she wondered how she would ever find her place in the new world.
• She picked up the brown envelope Lucas handed to her earlier in his office.
• “Now I have to keep to rules and regulations like a child. What a mess!” she said as she settled down to go through the document.
• Almost immediately, she was hit by a strong wave of sleep. She didn’t hesitate to be swept away by the wave.
• It was dinner time, but sleeping beauty was still in her dreamland acting as a princess in distress.
• “OH SNAP! It’s past dinner time” she exclaimed as she suddenly woke up from her sleep. Her hair was a mess, worry and sadness loomed over her.
• The Almighty Mr Anderson will have her head on a platter by the morning.