Chapter 8
Isabella
I hadn’t received a letter in weeks, and my afternoons hadn’t entirely been the same without them. With the successful IPO behind me, my plan to expand into the Asian market would be moving forward. Our marketing data suggested our products would be a massive hit in South Korea, Japan, and parts of Beijing and Shanghai. Although it seemed as if everything was great now, I still felt empty. Nathan refused to do anything with me, and as it was now, it would be more of an embarrassment if we were to go out in public.
Things just seemed to be getting worse between us. He refused to bathe regularly, and he hadn’t left the house in a month. Despite my urging and the wasted beautiful days of the harmonious summer weather, the only thing he cared about was being away from me.
I didn’t want to become a nagging wife, but I felt as if I had no other choice. He wouldn’t listen to me, and every time I confronted him about our lack of communication, he got upset. This wasn’t the man I’d married, nor was it the type of man I wanted to be married to. We had been together for so long that I couldn’t imagine myself with anyone else, to be honest. I knew my work kept me busy, but I didn’t think I neglected him in any way. For the last three years, things had been going downhill for us, but over the last couple of months, he had slowly been drifting away more than usual.
Maya suggested I put surveillance cameras around our house to see what he did when I wasn’t home. But I was reluctant to do anything to that extent. I might see something I didn’t want to see. I was such a coward.
Today, I was going to ask him about those secret meetings he’d been going to. I had to confront him about this, and I had to do it now. I heard him come down the stairs, so I stood up from the couch and headed into the kitchen. Cup in hand, he followed, looking for something to drink.
“Hey, babe,” he said. I turned to him in shock. What the hell was he wearing? I didn’t know what made him think a black thong looked good on him. Disregarding his appearance, I reached into the refrigerator for a glass of wine.
“We have to talk,” I said.
He sighed and looked at me disgruntledly. “Shit. Not again. What did I do this time?”
I tried to keep myself calm. I didn’t want to feed off the attitude he gave me. “You haven’t done anything. I just want to talk.”
He released a long sigh and sat in the chair adjacent to me.
“Talk,” he hissed. His voice was agitated and he already looked pissed. I was beginning to think this persona of his was a cover to hide something from me. Either that or he was just becoming more of an asshole as time went on.
“Tell me about these meetings you’ve been going to.”
He looked at me with annoyance. “What meetings?” He sipped from my glass of wine.
“The meetings you told me you were going to. You know the ones where you just can’t be bothered to answer your phone when I call.”
He rolled his eyes. “Those are private. I can’t tell you, so don’t ask.”
I gritted my teeth. “I’m sure you can share them with your wife. I want to be involved with whatever it is you’re going through. I’m not asking for details; I just want to know what these meetings are about.”
He threw his hands in the air, almost spilling my glass. “There you go again. Trying to insert yourself into something that is very private to me. I said I couldn’t talk about it, so I’m not going to talk about it,” he shouted. What the hell was his problem?
“Why are you overreacting like this? I’m not trying to insert myself into anything.”
“Yes, you are.”
“Look, I’m not trying to invade your privacy, Nathan. I just want to know what the hell is going on with you.”
“Oh, so now you suddenly care what’s going on with me, do you?”
I curled my brows and stood from my chair. I had no idea why he was getting so upset with me after only a few questions. “What is that supposed to mean?” I asked.
“You know what I mean. You care more about your business than you do me.” I looked at him speechless. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I put the same amount of time and care into this marriage as I did my work. To think he would have the gall to say such a thing.
“You’ve been distant these last couple of months, and I want to know what’s going on with you.”
“I’m a neglected husband—that’s what’s going on with me. You’re lucky I haven’t fucked someone else by now.”
I balled my fists, ready to lash out. “How dare you say something like that? How the hell have I neglected you, Nathan? I’ve done everything for you. I work all day. I cook for you when I get home. I pay you an allowance. I fuck you whenever you want to be fucked—something we haven’t done in a year. How the hell can you say I’m neglecting you?”
“Your heart is not with me. Your heart is in that business. And I’m done talking about this. I’m going to take a shower.” He gulped down the rest of my wine and turned away from me.
“This is the type of crap I’m talking about. Every time I want to communicate with you, you get defensive and walk off.”
“Pleasure and pain, my dear. Pleasure and pain,” he said.
“Pleasure and pain? What the hell are you talking about, Nathan?”
He turned to face me and smirked again.
“Nothing,” he said before walking out of the kitchen. He must have been drunk or off his meds. I headed him off into the living room and blocked his path before he could sit on the couch.
“We are going to talk about this,” I demanded. He grabbed my hair and pulled it back, pressing his body against mine.
“Do you wish to be dominated, Isabella?”
My eyes fluttered and I took hold of the hand fisted in my hair. “Are you insane? Let me go.”
He smiled. “Didn’t think so.” He tossed me out of the way, and I stumbled over the couch. I gathered my footing and approached him again, this time on guard.
“Are you off your meds or something?”
He laughed. “Of course not.” He turned his back on me and walked up the stairs.
“Don’t walk away from me. Are you drunk? Is there someone else? What is it?” I shouted.
He faced me. “Cheating is an illusion. It would be selfish for you to think I belong to you.”
I felt my face turning red with fury. “What the fuck do you mean you don’t belong to me? So you are fucking someone else? Who is she, you son of a bitch?” I screamed. His laugh became more devious.
“As I have said, cheating is an illusion and so too is the act itself. One cannot perform an act that doesn’t exist. I love you, Isabella, and that’s all that matters.”
“Enough with the cryptic bullshit, Nathan. First, you said I’m neglecting you, and then you asked me if I want to be dominated; now you said cheating is an illusion. You’re all over the damn place. If you’re off your meds again, I swear—”
He came back down the stairs and embraced me. Whatever cologne he was wearing was so sensual it almost swayed the feelings of anger and heartache within me.
“You are my wife. I would never lie to you. I’m taking my meds just as the doctor instructed me. Now look, I love only you, and I would do nothing that would deprive you of pleasure. If only you could see that.” He kissed me on the cheek, and then started to head back upstairs. “Are you coming to bed? It’s been a long time since, you know.”
I sighed, unable to bring myself to reply. He didn’t answer any of my questions. I went back into the kitchen to turn off the light. “I’ll be up there in a moment,” I said.
“All right. Just come up whenever you’re ready.”
I put the dishes in the sink, then turned the light off and set out into the living room to clean up a bit before I made my way upstairs.
“By the way, your cousin Valentina came by the other day.” He gave me a smirk.
I raised my brow in suspicion. “Really? What did she want?”
“Nothing special,” he said, before he went into our bedroom and closed the door.