Chapter Three: The Rules Have Been Made

"Nicole did you hear me?" Victor demanded heatedly, angry at being ignored by a mere woman.

"Um, n-no Victor. I'm sorry, my mind was elsewhere." Nicole stammered. She never used to stammer but now she was growing accustomed to it.

"Well you better listen, and you better listen damn well," Victors voice may have been soft but it held the steel of a frightful promise. Nicole sat up straighter and listened, "I think we need some rules.

"More rules? Isn't bad enough you already keep me locked in the horrid mansion for weeks at a time." She snapped unable to curb what hostility he hadn't taken from her.

"You're damn lucky I don't lock you up in the basement, but with the way you're acting I would say it isn't a possibility. Rule number one…" He started

"More like rule one thousand two hundred and sixty four," Nicole muttered to herself.

"Rule number one," Victor continued as if he hadn't heard her, "You will never attempt to talk business. I will not have my wife sounding like some hot shot employee."

Nicole had a scathing remark but bit it back. "Where there's a rule number one there must be a two," and a three and a four and a five Nicole thought, forcing the acid disdain down her throat.

"Rule number two, after the scene you have just caused you will not be going out at all. You will be allowed in the stables and to the gate, and if I must bring you with me you will avoid talking to anyone, understand?" Victor asked.

"Yes, Victor." Nicole nodded meekly while running through a list of very descriptive curse words that suited her husband. Actually, she discovered, every cuss word she knew fit him in one way or another.

"Rule number three, you are not to speak of our marriage ever. To do this will result in dire consequences." His face that was already carved of stone seemed to turn into a face carved of hate.

"Fine," Nicole knew he couldn't stand failure. No, Victor never failed. Except for their marriage and when he couldn't have the perfect married life he decided to take it out on her as well as to produce the image that they did.

"Rule number three, you will not talk to Austin Reed! You cannot not control you're facial expressions around him." Victor stated.

"Fine by me," Nicole's face-hardened at her husband.

"We're leaving," He stated. He grabbed her upper arm. Nicole knew from everyone else's viewpoint it looked as if he was simply assisting her out of the Blue Note. She knew no one else could tell how hard he was digging his fingers into her flesh. Nicole knew no one would see the bruises.

As the exited the door Nicole couldn't help but throw a helpless glance over her shoulder at Austin. Nicole knew now she was wrong before. But this was truly their last goodbye.

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