Chapter 5: Motivation.

The following morning, Dua sprang up from sleep, disappointed in herself for falling asleep in the same room with a complete stranger. She quickly checked herself to see if he touched her, but seeing that she was intact, she sighed in relief. She looked around the room and discovered she was alone, so she seized the chance to quickly get ready and escape from the house.

She rushed out of bed to the wardrobe and picked out a comfortable outfit for her mission, then she was off to the bathroom to take a bath, and in a jiffy she was out.

She gently and carefully opened the door that it made no sound, and quietly leaped out. Arriving the living room, it was empty. But she could hear chopping sounds coming from the kitchen, notifying her that there was someone in there. She took extra caution and tiptoed slowly to ensure that she made no sound, but then, "where do you think you're going?" Steven's deep voice halted her and she cursed silently, "shit."

She turned around to find him all dressed up, with his arms crossed, and she smiled awkwardly, "good morning."

All she received was a handsome face void of expression. She turned to leave and he halted her again, "what are you doing?"

"Leaving, I'm leaving," she turned to him and replied.

"You're not allowed to leave this house without my permission," he said and she rolled her eyes.

"Please, Mr, may I take my leave?" She said, giving a sarcastic tone.

"No, you can't leave this house," he replied.

"And why is that?" She crossed her arms too.

"Because this is my house and this is my rule," he said.

She looked at him, scoffed and left the house. As she approached the gate, a few young men in black stood in front of her, blocking her way. She took another turn, and they blocked her again. "You can't leave, madam." One of them said.

She paid no attention to them and took a different turn, but they stopped her yet again and she gave them a deadly glare, making them look down.

"Who am I to you?" She asked.

"You're our boss's wife, our madam." They replied.

"Good, now get the fuck out of my way," she ordered them but they stayed still.

"Sorry, ma'am, we're following boss's orders." They replied.

With frustration and anger, she stormed back into the house. "Knucklehead come out!" She yelled, and all she heard was the chopping sound from the kitchen.

With more anger, she stormed into the kitchen and yelled, "Hey!!" But Steven continued his activity, totally ignoring her.

Being more provoked, she threw a punch at him and he turned and caught her fist. "You're quite feisty," he let go of her hand.

"What thrash orders did you give those guys outside?!" She shouted.

"I told you, you can't leave," he answered calmly.

Fuming with anger, she decided to step out of the kitchen to avoid making any rash actions that might cause her to regret later.

"In my nineteen years of life, I've never been this annoyed," she sat on a couch and crossed her arms tightly on her chest.

While trying to cool off, her eyes caught sight of Diane's phone on the table, and an idea popped into her head. She walked back to the kitchen and nicely asked, "please, could you let me step out for a while, I need to unlock my phone. I can't remember the password."

Steven paused his activity and turned to her, "you can't remember your phone's password?"

"Didn't I tell you yesterday that I'm not who you think I am?" She sighed. "Forget it, you won't understand no matter how I try to explain it."

"Give me the phone," he stretched his hand to her. "I'll unlock it right now for you."

"Now?" She raised a brow.

"Yes, I can break into any tech device," he replied, ruining her plan.

"No, I can't leave the house this way." Dua thought.

"No," she held the phone tightly to her chest. "I don't trust your competence."

"Then I'll take it to a phone shop," he said.

"I don't trust you either. What if you invade into my privacy after the phone is unlocked?" She said.

"Shane will do it for you," he said.

"He's one of your minions, so I don't trust him too," she said and he sighed, already frustrated by her.

"Then get the fuck out of here and let me be in peace," he said and turned to continue what he was doing.

"The plan is gonna completely be ruined, Dua," she thought.

"Let's go together," she said to him and what followed was silence.

"Why's he quiet?" She thought out loud.

"It means he's agreed, and will grant your request," she heard behind her and she turned to see Shane.

"Really?" She asked and Shane nodded.

"That's the easy thing he couldn't say," she hissed at Steven and Shane chuckled, "pardon him, please. That's his nature, he doesn't talk much."

"Come, let's sit here and wait for him." Shane led her to the dinning area in the kitchen. They settled at the table and Dua watched Steven cook. His hands moved gracefully as he handled the ingredients and utensils like treasures. He turned to her direction and she looked away quickly, looking down at her palms. "How can someone look so sexy when cooking?" She thought.

By the time she looked back up, he was right beside her, setting the food on the table. She looked at the food and was amazed, "wow, even the food is as beautiful as him. But will it taste good?" She thought, but it was loud.

"Taste it, and get put to shame." Steven said and she hissed, "you're the one who's already in shame."

She picked up the cutlery and began to eat, and she got the taste of heaven that even her face couldn't hide the fact.

"So how's it, the feeling of shame?" Steven smirked.

"What do you think, it's remarkable, you should experience it someday too." Dua smirked in return.

Shane looked at them and smiled, "savage meets savage, he said silently.

In a few minutes, Steven stood up and left the table and Dua asked, "what's with him?"

"He doesn't eat much." Shane replied, standing up, "and so do I. When you're done, leave the dishes, I'll take care of it," he added and left.

"What's up with this rich people? They made this food with efforts, and just eat little," she shook her head and continued eating.

By the time she finished eating, Shane came back to the kitchen and began to do the dishes.

"Why are you doing dishes, don't you have workers in the house?" Dua asked.

"We do, but they're not live in workers. They come early in the morning, clean up the house and then leave. They do this everyday. This is because Steven cherishes his privacy. Most of them haven't even seen him before, but they work for him. Only Steven and I live in this house." Shane explained.

"If it's just you and knucklehead living in this house, then what about those guys outside?" She asked.

"They live in the guesthouse not far from here," he replied and she nodded, finally understanding it.

Some minutes later Steven came in and, "let's move," he announced and left the kitchen.

Dua scoffed, "look how he's talking like he isn't the one we were waiting for."

Shane and Dua left the kitchen to the compound where Steven was waiting for them in the car. She opened the door to the back seats and when she saw Steven, she shut the door and opened the front door to sit with Shane who was gonna drive. "Aren't you gonna sit with your husband?" Shane said.

"No, I'll rather board a cab than sit with him." Dua replied, entering into the car and Shane drove off.

After a short drive, they arrived at the phone repair shop. Dua stepped out of the car, stretching her legs, and Steven followed suit, his eyes scanning the surrounding area, then finally fixed on her. "Why are you following me?" She asked, a hint of wariness in her voice.

"Just as you don't trust me, I don't trust you too," he replied and walked pass her.

She grimaced at his backview and then followed him into the shop. At the long counter in the reception, there were so many workers attending to customers. So they both stood in front of the one who's less busy. "Welcome sir, and madam." The young woman smiled at them and Dua smiled back.

"I'm here to unlock my phone." Dua presented the phone to the young attendant.

As the attendant got to work, she looked at Dua and Steven and smiled, "are you two a couple?"

"Mind your job and stop being nosy." Steven gave a cold reply, shutting up the young woman as her face fell.

"Don't be offended, sir. I asked because there's a program we're running this week for couples. As long as you're a couple, you'll be getting a 50% discount on anything you do here." The attendant explained herself and as Dua opened her mouth to speak, Steven spoke, "we don't need it."

"Oh," the attendant's voice was almost a whisper as she looked down and continued her job feeling awful.

In two minutes the attendant returned the phone to Dua alongside the bill and Steven paid and left. Dua turned to leave too, but couldn't bear to leave the young woman feeling miserable. "I apologize to you on his behalf, please don't take what he said to heart." Dua said.

"Thank you, you're nice." The attendant smiled. "Thank you for your patronage and have a nice day."

Dua smiled back and left. She reached the car and Steven was waiting for her in front of the car. He moved to get in but was halted by her words, "the way you spoke to that lady was mean, don't speak to anyone like that again."

"Like you're nicer," he scoffed and she scoffed too.

"Listen here, knucklehead, I'm nice to who is nice to me, and I'm mean to who is mean to me." She stated but he ignored her and entered the car and she followed suit, sitting in the backseat with him.

"Didn't you say that you'll rather board a cab than sit with me?" He said.

"Yes, but you've just motivated me, so enjoy the result of your motivation," she smirked.

Shane who was at the front seat couldn't help but shake his head and chuckle to himself as he began driving. As they approached the bridge, Dua's mind suddenly flashed back to her luggage. "Wait, my luggage!" She exclaimed, but Shane and Steven ignored her and drove pass the bridge.

"Stop now or I'll jump off this car!" She threatened, opening the door.

Steven looked at her and laughed, "stop being ridiculous, who'll jump off a moving car?"

"Watch me." Dua smirked and jumped out of the car.