Chapter 7 Playing The Perfect Family

• The door to the study opened, and Lucas strolled in, his presence commanding and intimidating. His tailored suit clung perfectly to his muscular frame, and his eyes, cold and calculating, met hers with an intensity that made her heart skip a beat.
• “You...you asked me to meet you here”
• Sarah swallowed hard after she spoke. Fear overwhelmed her, the purpose of this meeting was unknown but she knew it wasn’t going to be a good one. She had crossed many lines and the devils wrath was definitely kindled on her.
• “Yes I did. Sit”
• His voice was a blend of authority and indifference. Sarah sat on the edge of the leather sofa, her hands folded neatly in her lap.
• “Sarah, listen carefully. Henceforth,”
• Lucas began to talk, his voice was sharp and commanding, and the hairs behind her neck stood in fear.
• “What decree was he about to pronounce?” Sarah screamed in her mind.
• “Your schedule will change starting tomorrow. You must wake up early, prepare breakfast for me, and see me off to the car when I go to work. At exactly 12 noon, you must bring lunch to my office. Do you understand all I’ve just said?”
• His eyes dug into hers.
• “Lucas, you have staff to help you with all that”
• Sarah protested as his new rules did not sit well with her.
• “My house, my rules and I want you to do it for me from now on”
• Lucas looked at her with a burning desire building up inside of him.
• “Yes,” she whispered her voice barely audible.
• “The press will be all over us this period and you cannot afford to mess this up for me. I expect you to accompany me to all my business dinners. Your presence is non-negotiable.”
• He continued, properly passing the urgency of good appearance.
• “So, the idea is to act like a perfect couple?” Sarah asked curious.
• “Exactly, you’re not daft after all” Lucas replied.
• “And another thing,” He added, “Whatever relationship you have with that halfwit from the ball, must end. I cannot have the blogs peddling rumours about the both of you.”
• Sarah swallowed hard, nodding again, feeling her throat tighten with suppressed emotion. She knew what this new rules meant for her.
• “Good,” Lucas said as he stood up. “I’m off to work, spend less time by your window. Remember, Sarah, in this world, weakness is not an option.”
• As he left the study room, Sarah remained seated. Her mind racing, in all of this, she was glad that he didn’t completely stop her from painting. Although, with the new rules, there will be no time to even catch her breath.
• “I’m tired of this, Mom” Sarah called her mother to tell her about all she’s been through.
• “You have to endure, dearest. This is the only way out, remember? Open up your heart to him, Lucas isn’t that bad” her mother tried to console her.
• “I have tried. He keeps pushing me to the wall every time I try to accept him. His rules are demanding” Sarah complained with tears in her eyes. No one understood what she was going through.
• “Your father’s medical bills haven’t been cleared yet. The company is taking shape little by little. You have to endure for a while longer” the pain in her mother’s voice made Sarah’s heart melt and she decided to swallow all that Lucas is putting her through for her family’s sake.
• “Okay, mom, bye”
• They ended the call, and Sarah left the study room in a bad state of mind.
• “Matthew, I need you more than ever before” Sarah walked beside him as they made their way to the kitchen.
• “I’ve never had to prepare meals for anyone before. I do not know the first thing about cooking. So please, I need your help.” Sarah pleaded like a baby beside him.
• “I wish Elena wasn’t on her leave.” Sarah whined.
• “I’m here to help you out Mrs Anderson. That’s my job.” Matthew made life in Lucas’ mansion somewhat easier.
• “Thank you Matthew” she replied as they got into the kitchen.
• “First, let us make a list of his favourite foods” he said as he brought out his notepad.
• Sarah scrutinized the list of foods listed on the notepad, and the only thing she could prepare perfectly was scrambled eggs for breakfast.
• “I’m dead. Lucas is going to have my head on a platter” she said as she cupped her face in her hand feeling miserable.
• “I will walk you through everything on this list. Mr Anderson doesn’t like a food menu; he gets bored with that so I try as much as possible to satisfy his palate with a ton of variety” Matthew spoke walking round the kitchen to set it up for cooking lessons.
• “How about you cook and I send it to him?” Sarah suggested.
• “That’s a bad idea Mrs Anderson. He knows when I cook” Matthew said
• Sarah paid rapt attention to every detail as Matthew moved around the kitchen preparing the different food on the list.
• “You must be very careful; Mr Anderson has a sophisticated palate. Mistakes are not allowed with him.”
• Sarah thought about escaping the nightmare her life has turned into, but she braced herself and decided to play the ‘prefect family’ as Lucas wanted.
• “I can do this right?” Sarah turned to Matthew holding a spatula as she encouraged herself.
• “Yes you can Mrs Anderson. Just a little effort” Matthew encouraged her back.
• Sarah moved on to slice a particularly stubborn carrot; her concentration wavered for just a fraction of a second.
• “Ouch! Ouch! Oh no!” Sarah screamed as her thump met the knife. She yanked her hand back, dropping the knife with a clatter.
• “Here, let me help you” Matthew ran over to her with a band aid. Her blood dripped on the kitchen counter like a broken tap.
• “I can’t do this Matthew” Sarah fell to the ground; tears welled up in her eyes, not just from the pain but from the frustration and helplessness of the moment.
• The kitchen resembled a battlefield marked by her blood.