✓ WICKED VOWS| JAKE (Book II )

16-Under Her Influence

ANNA

The gentle sound of a mare's neigh roused me from my slumber, its melodic tone drifting through the room. It was a beautiful sound, one that drew me from the warmth of my duvet. I rose from bed and made my way to the window, where a sight awaited me - a figure riding a majestic white horse.

It had been three days since he had last set foot in this house, three days since we had parted ways at the beach house. I hadn't seen or heard from him since. Recalling our day at the beach, I couldn't deny the pang of disappointment I felt when he didn't even spare a glance at me in my swimsuit. It wasn't so much depressing as it was disheartening. For the first time, baring myself in front of a man had no effect on him. He didn't even cast a fleeting glance my way, his beautiful eyes remaining oblivious to my presence.

The soft nicker of a horse pulled me out of my daze, and as I looked out the window, I saw him. Jake, wearing only a black shirt tucked into jeans, his hands gently guiding a white mare. There was something about the mare's demeanor that struck me - It seemed happy, content even, as It trotted along, occasionally blowing air from its nostrils in what appeared to be a display of joy. Beside it, a black mare followed, unmounted and yet keeping pace with Jake and the white mare, almost as if she were part of their little procession.

The image of Jake riding inked in my mind, was undeniably striking. I never knew my husband was a rider, but then again, I suppose I should expect the unexpected from a man of royalty. Unlike me, who had never ridden a mare before, he seemed perfectly at ease in the saddle. As I watched them speed through the fields, I began to understand why Jake chose to have a house outside the city, surrounded by fields and picturesque scenery. He loved the solitude, the freedom to ride in his beautiful fields.

Shaking myself from my daze, I backed away from the window and changed into leggings and a sports top. I decided to go for a run, taking the opposite direction towards the beach. The weather was pleasant, the wind blowing through my hair, and I couldn't help but feel rejuvenated. When I returned home, there was no sign of Jake. I assumed he had already left for the hospital; he was definitely a workaholic, much like myself. I took the opportunity to contact Inna and Alex, inquiring about their flight back to Moscow. They had departed just that morning. With the house empty, I settled into my office and began my usual routine. I checked the CCTV footage from my properties, making sure everything was in order. 

I found myself tasked with the responsibility of checking on a soldier in our ranks who seemed to be leaking information to the Europeans. While our hacker Luth and data protector were already on the case, I couldn't resist taking matters into my own hands at times. My background in cybersecurity, thanks to the courses I had taken, made me feel more confident about our security measures.

I spent hours poring over security camera footage, scrutinizing every detail for any signs of suspicious activity. Additionally, I delved into the dark web, a task that was even less enjoyable than its ominous name suggested. Despite the challenges, I remained focused, driven by the belief that increasing our security was paramount.

My love for data, numbers, and logical thinking came in handy during this investigation. I meticulously analyzed information, using pivot tables to organize and make sense of complex data sets. While I had never considered myself instinctive, there was a moment during this process when I just knew I was on the right track. It was a reassuring feeling, one that motivated me to continue pushing forward with my investigation.

I worked diligently until three in the afternoon before finally deciding to take a break and head downstairs to make myself something to eat. I brought my laptop with me, intending to continue my work downstairs and not waste any time.

As I descended the stairs, I was greeted by one of the household staff. She gave me a quick once-over, and I couldn't help but feel that she was silently judging my choice of attire. I was dressed casually, in shorts and a crop top, a far cry from the formal attire she might have expected.