Challenging a Cold Heart

Chapter 10: Date 2

Vincent's POV

I woke up to someone roughly yanking my shoulder. Blearily I looked up to see Luc's bodyguard standing above me.

"Wake up. It's time for you to start your duties." He told me harshly.

I blinked at that as I rubbed my eyes. I didn't feel like I had slept even for half an hour after the little tour I had last night of Luc's house.

"Time? What time is it?" I asked him sleepily and I could see him scowl at me.

"Get up and don't try to seduce me." He said, making me gape at him. I was suddenly awake. When had I tried to seduce him? I wondered in outrage.

"Seduce?" I asked feeling insulted at that accusation.

"Whatever..just get up." He said rudely and I found myself frowning at his behavior as I stood up clumsily. It was still very dark outside. That's when I saw there was a clock in the room and it said it was 3:42. I sighed loudly at that. Who wakes up at 3:42 am? It was still raining heavily outside. Internally grumbling, I stood up and folded my beddings, asking the guard where I could keep it. He took me to a store room and told me to keep it there. Neatly putting them away, I followed him.

"Can I use the bathroom here since it is raining?" I asked the guard and he looked at me like he found me really irritating.

"Your bathroom is outside. It doesn't matter whether it is raining or not." He said jeeringly and I frowned at his attitude, telling myself I wouldn't ask him any more questions.

"Master Luc was generous enough to let you have clothes and toiletries. Here is your stuff." He said, shoving a big duffel bag that was kept on a table in the sitting room to me. I looked with relief at the bag. It would have really bugged me if he didn't let me have any toiletries. I had always been obsessive about keeping my mouth clean. When I was in captivity in my mum's home the one thing that distressed me more than anything was not being able to brush my teeth when I wanted. I know it sounds stupid but everyone has their petty little things that make them really flip.

"You should keep everything in the store room. Master is a bit obsessive about cleanliness and hygiene. Do not clutter his place." The guy told me and I held back from retorting that I wasn't a dog.

"Now get your stuff and go take a shower." The guy said and I glared at him. At this rate, I didn't even need to go to the bathroom. The rain itself would soak me to the bones. I sighed. I hadn't even cleaned that dirty bathroom and I didn't look forward to doing it either. But I guess I would need to do it tomorrow.

I dragged my feet as much as I could while I checked my clothes that were brand new. Taking out a jeans and a long sleeve white wool jumper, I laid it out on the sofa. It still had the price tag and I was surprised to see it was over four hundred dollars. Is this Luc's idea of clothes for cleaning around his house? I wondered.

"Be glad master gives you good clothes. He should have just given you a pajamas but he asked his designer to send you branded clothes. Obviously his designer went overboard. You don't deserve expensive clothes." The guard said and I started getting irritated. Why was he mouthing off to me? I wondered.

"For your information, I am his wife. Not his dog or his servant..or his guard. Who are you to comment on what my husband provides for me?" I asked with all the haughtiness that my upbringing as a kid of one of the richest families in New York taught me.

The guy shut up at that, looking flabbergasted at what I said. I looked directly into his eyes to let him know I wouldn't tolerate verbal abuse from him. I have learned it the hard way that it becomes very easy for people to target a victim whom they knew was getting treated badly by their superior. Nevertheless, I still have my own pride which I uphold and I refuse to be belittled and cowed by people who in all likelihood should respect me as Luc's wife. Well, given how I got here, I could understand that nobody wants to respect me but that didn't mean they should be condescending with me either. Just like I could stand up to Luc to state my right to be treated well as his wife, I can very well assert my right as Luc's wife to his guards who got out of line in insulting me.