A Woman's Empire

XXVIII

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT

"I-I'm scared." Audrielle mumbled as she stared at Leo's wooden office door. It was shut and she could hear the faint cursing coming from behind the door.

"You'll be fine. Just tell him what you've told me and if you feel like that you're in trouble, just call out to me. I'll be right here." Antonio whispered into her ear, trying to ease her nerves.

Audrielle nodded her head before taking a few steps forward and knocking on the door. Audrielle opened the door slowly when she heard Leo yell a "come in". Slowly she walked in. Leo was standing by the window with his cellphone to his ear, grumbling to someone on the other end.

"Marcus if you're here for the files, I haven't signed them yet." Leo called out, still looking out of the window.

"I-It's me, Audrielle." Leo quickly turned around and stared at her. At first he was surprised and there was a small smile on his face, but then it was as if he had a switch inside him and he turned off the nice Leo facade and instead glared at her.

"I'll call you back." He abruptly said into the phone, pressing the screen then putting it in his pocket. "What the hell are you doing here?" Leo suddenly snapped, walking closer to her.

"I-I c-" Audrielle tried to form a sentence but Leo harshly stopped her.

"No. Stop, I don't want to hear your excuses. Let me guess? My father sent you to the office because you were misbehaving." He rolled his eyes as Audrielle trembled in her place.

"N-no I just c-ca"

"When will you start listening to me Audrielle?! Huh? I'm sick of your childish behaviour, it's doing my head in! You can't listen to instructions, it's pathetic!" He boomed, his voice echoing around his office and Audrielle thought she felt the walls shake.

"Should I ring my father? See what he has to say? That you didn't listen and decided to snoop through something that's not your business again? Because I swear to God, Audrielle, if it's t-"

"Shut up!" Audrielle snapped suddenly. Leo was taken back by her words that he was left speechless and stunned. Did she really just tell him to shut up?

"What did you say to me?" Leo asked, his voice terrifyingly calm and quiet. "Come on. Say it again." Leo edged on and Audrielle quickly tried to make a run for the door.

"Ouch!" Audrielle cried in pain when Leo immediately pulled on her hair, dragging her away from the door.

"Tell. Me. What. You. Said." Leo growled in her ear, his hand harshly wrapped up in her hair and pulling down so her chin was up in the air.

"Please let go. Y-you're hurting me Leo." Audrielle pleaded, the pain stinging as tears flooded her eyes.

"I will when you tell me what you've done wrong for my dad to send you here."

"I-I've done nothing w-wrong, I promise. Antonio was the one who brought me here." She stuttered. She was in a dangerous situation here. If she angered Leo more, that he'd hit her, then it wouldn't just be Audrielle taking the beating but also the baby inside of her too.

"Why the fuck would my brother bring you here?" Leo questioned, his patience running thin.

"B-Because I need to t-talk to you about something."

"Like what? What is so important that you had to come to the office and couldn't wait til I got home? You're supposed to be sick." Leo stated as he clenched his jaw. He let go of Audrielle's hair and spun her around so she was facing him.

Audrielle stared into his dark eyes. Maybe this wasn't a good idea. Maybe she should just say nevermind and walk out to Antonio, where she knows she's safe.

"Go on, tell me woman, I don't have all day." He snapped and Audrielle flinched.

"I-I'm pregnant." She mumbled.

"You're what?" Leo asked, wanting Audrielle to repeat herself because he couldn't hear her.

"I'm pregnant." Audrielle said clearly.

Suddenly Leo's eyes softened and he took a step back. He couldn't believe it. Was she actually pregnant?

"Y-you're pregnant?" He stuttered, his voice quiet as his thoughts whirled around inside of his head.

"I think I am. I've missed my period and I was sick this morning. They're all symptoms aren't they?" Audrielle asked. Leo ran his hands through his hair, trying to come to terms with what his wife had just told him.

"Have you taken a test yet?"

"N-no. I wanted to tell you first."

"We're going to get one taken now then. Come with me." Leo stated and grabbed his coat from the hook by the door. Audrielle didn't know what to do. She stood there in the middle of the office, her feet not moving an inch as if there was glue at the bottom of her shoes.

"Audrielle, are you coming?" Leo asked, watching her while he held the door open.

Shaking her head, she walked out and saw Antonio stand up from his seat. "Oh, not you." Leo grumbled rolling his eyes as he placed his hand on Audrielle's back.

Antonio glared at Leo, completely ignoring him. "He didn't you, did he?" Antonio asked genuinely, staring down at Audrielle.

Audrielle gulped as she felt Leo's hold tighten on her, his hand quietly wrapping around her waist. She knew that Leo didn't want Antonio to know what happened in the office because Leo knew Antonio. He knew that his dear old brother wouldn't hesitate in ringing their mother and telling her all the shit he's done.

Leo's fingers started to dig into her hip and she clenched her jaw because of the subtle pain he was causing. Looking down at the ground, Audrielle nodded her head no and she heard Antonio let out a sigh of relief.

"We're taking her to the doctor so she can get a blood test done." Leo spoke up before pushing Audrielle forward all while shoving his shoulder into his younger brother.

"Fatti gli affari tuoi, fratello." Leo growled lowly as he walked past Antonio, his anger slowly bubbling.

(Translation: Mind your own business, brother.)

Antonio stood and watched the married couple walk into the elevator. They used to look good together, looking like an actual couple who could stand one another but Leo had corrupted the marriage, bringing Audrielle down with him. Just as the doors were about to close, Antonio couldn't help but see the glint of plea in Audrielle's  glassy eyes, as if she was begging him to go and save her from the monster that was his brother.