Chapter 4 Tangled Loyalties

• "You can be my new secretary from today….if you want." Stacey said nonchalantly, she didn't want to sound desperate, that would be a huge blow to her enormous ego.
• But she can't let him leave, the thought of him being with some new girl always made her jealous, that's one of the reasons why she always refused to let him go. But more than that she had a reasonable reason to not let Arthur go, he had no idea what Stacey's family members would do to him in the outside world. Inside the house he is safer than on the outside, as long as he doesn't touch Stacey.
• Arthur was still standing near the door, considering her offer. He wanted to get closer to her, he has wanted nothing ever since getting married to her, so maybe it was a good chance.
• Seeing Arthur arrogantly stand there, without replying to her, after she asked him was a huge blow to her ego. Stacey frowned, does he think he'll do her a favor by accepting?
• "Don't push it, Arthur," Stacey stated, maintaining her serious face. "And please put on something nice."
• Without saying anything Arthur turned and walked to the bathroom, without sparing her a look.
• "I'll take that as a yes." Stacey Mumbled.
• Victoria, her mom, was outside listening to the conversation between them. She slowly walked inside, and took a seat on Stacey's bed, "Are you sure it's wise to let that useless husband of yours work for the company? We can't trust him." Victoria bluntly said.
• Surprised at how her mom got to find out about that, Stacey asked her, "Ummm tell me….. were you eavesdropping on us?" She sharply but calmly asked her mom.
• Victoria had an awkward facial expression, she was embarrassed.
• "No, I would never eavesdrop on my daughter's conversation…. It's just that I couldn't help but overhear on my way to your sister's bedroom." Victoria cooked up a lie on the spot, she was good at that.
• And Stacey looked like she bought that, "Oh..kay…right, anyways I'll be paying him from my own salary." Stacey replied casually.
• Leaving Victoria speechless for some time. "But don't you already give him allowances?" Yeah, the allowances she takes away from him.
• At that same moment Arthur walked out of the shower, he didn't know Victoria was there, so he didn't wear a shirt as always. And he was startled to see his mother-in-law.
• "Oh hey, mother-in-law you're here!?" Exclaimed Arthur, as he looked at his mother-in-law...
• "What do you think you're doing?" Victoria instantly looked away, as if she was looking away from something disgusting.
• But the same couldn't be said for Stacey, she blushed at the sight of his six-pack, this was the first time seeing him shirtless, she was lost in his body, she didn't even realize she was staring at him.
• "Honey, what are you looking at?" Mrs. Victoria pulled Stacey's hand jerking her daughter back to life.
• Stacey felt rather embarrassed, her cheeks were red, as the image of Arthur's six pack was on her mind.
• "Huh?...umm," Stacey looked away, "…..Arthur I'll be downstairs." She nervously said, following her mom downstairs.
• "Okay, I'll be there in a sec!" Arthur replied, quickly putting on a t-shirt and shoes.
• He was excited, he'll finally get to spend time with his wife, and it's what he always wanted, nothing matters to him, as long as he gets to spend time with the love of his life.
• Meanwhile on the terrace.
• Stacey was puzzled to see her grandma, seated on the terrace. "Grandma, what brings you here?" Stacey asked, faking a smile. Her grandmother's visits always meant nothing but trouble.
• "Sit." Gwendolyn ordered her granddaughter, disappointment written on her face. Without hesitating Stacey took a seat next to her grandmother.
• "Why are you Blushing? You didn't let that Idiot touch you, did you?" Gwendolyn asked, maintaining her intimidating gaze on Stacey.
• "No, grandma he hasn't touched me, and I won't allow him to….please don't hurt him, he didn't want to marry me I forced him," Stacey said, looking on the ground, nervously fidgeting her fingers.
• Seeing her, always so tough granddaughter, now nervous and afraid, Gwendolyn felt a sense of satisfaction. "I know, I know my dear….but right now you know what must be done right?" Gwendolyn asked, looking at Stacey with wide eyes, "Get a divorce, and I promise I won't hurt him, in fact I'll give him a million dollars." Gwendolyn said coldly with a smile, her facial expression turned dark as she glared at Stacey, "But if you don't divorce, I'll have him killed Stacey!" Gwendolyn threatened.
• "But grandma you know I love him, why can't I just be with him, he's a nice guy?" Stacey asked politely. As Gwendolyn stood up.
• Gwendolyn turned and looked at Stacey coldly. "Make him sign the papers today, or I'll make you a widow."
• Meanwhile downstairs.
• A young handsome man was sitting downstairs, he looked like he was in his mid 20's if not late 20s, sitting elegantly next to him was a beautiful girl who looked to be in her early twenties.
• "Mr. Caine, how nice of you to visit!" Victoria exclaimed, seeing the handsome man seated in her house, Mr. Caine stood up and firmly shook Victoria's hand, "Mrs. Roth"
• Victoria instantly saw the beautiful girl sitting next to him, her heart pounded faster than usual, "Ummm….tell me who is this? Is she a distant relative?" Victoria asked, maintaining her smile, but inside she was worried about who that girl was.
• Caine gestured to the girl to stand up and introduced her. "This is Elsa, she is Stacey's secretary from now on."
• Hearing that, Victoria's heart was filled with relief and a lot of joy. First of all Arthur's plan of being her daughter's secretary is going to be foiled, and second and most importantly, she thought the pretty girl was Caine's girlfriend, and he had lost interest in her daughter Stacey, turns out she's not his girlfriend. He can still marry her daughter.
• "Oh nice….she's so pretty I thought she was your fiance." Victoria bluntly said, maintaining her smile.
• Caine awkwardly laughed, "Hahaha….Well you know Stacey is the only girl of my heart, and her beauty is unmatched." A hint of disappointment in his tone, as he said that. He was sad that she would even think of him like that.
• Everyone knows that Stacey is the most beautiful girl, she was even crowned the number one beauty in college.
• "Speaking of Stacey, is she around?" His eyes looked every which way in the living room ever since he arrived, his heart yearned to see Stacey's face.
• "Yes, she'll be here in a sec, she's talking on the phone," Victoria replied, deep down she was hoping Stacey didn't go back to her bedroom. The way she stared at Arthur today, makes leaving them alone dangerous, her daughter might fall for that useless man.
• Caine had been pursuing Stacey ever since they were in high school. Despite her making it clear that she's not interested.
• Arthur gazed at the people sitting in the living room, as he heard them talk about him.
• "Talk about that valueless son-in-law." Victoria bitterly said as she spotted Arthur walking down the stairs, wearing a black suit, his suit was so cheap, but he looked a thousand times more handsome than Caine, not to mention he had a pretty face that would make even guys fall for him. And It really bothered Caine, it was something he had to leave with when they were in college, despite him being rich, Arthur always looked better than him, Arthur always had the school beauties hanging around him, and he was more popular than Caine Duhamel. That's one of the reasons Caine never liked Arthur. One of his happiest days was when Arthur dropped out of college, but then he found out that the only reason why Arthur dropped out of school was that he married his dream girl Stacey Roth.
• "I bet he feels like a billion bucks in that cheap suit," Caine mocked, Victoria and Elsa laughed out pretty hard, just so Arthur could hear them and feel bad.
• Elsa's laugh attracted Arthur's attention,
• he looked at her with a smile, and she immediately blushed, as she found him attractive.