Chapter 33: A Control Freak
Skyline Events
“I’m outside your workplace parking lot.” Kourtney heard the man’s arrogant tone across the phone line.
“Uh? Wwhy are you even here? What reason?”
“Don’t ask me silly ass questions. Do I need a reason to visit my wife?”
“But you”
“Come down here. Right now!” Sebastian commanded before ending the call abruptly.
Kourtney heard the beeping sound and stared at the blank screen of her phone in anger.
‘This man! What is he doing here? Isn’t he supposed to be at the hospital?’
Her mind was in a mess right now. She’d already made plans to visit Sebastian at the hospital this evening, but now he came looking for her instead, at her workplace where others might see him. She didn’t know what to think as she shook her head nervously.
As she walked out of her cubicle, she couldn’t help but notice the curious gazes of her colleagues, their whispers filling the air. The last thing she wanted was for her personal life to become a spectacle in the office, but too late – the recent drama surrounding her was already the hottest topic for days.
Her footsteps echoed through the corridor as she walked to the parking lot, her mind racing with a million questions. Why did Sebastian show up unannounced? What was his game this time? She couldn’t help feelings of irritation and curiosity as she pushed open the glass door and stepped into the crisp air.
The parking lot was relatively empty, with only a few scattered cars, making her breath a huge sign of relief. Thankfully, no one would catch her here with Sebastian. She spotted him leaning against his sleek, black car, his arms crossed arrogantly. His presence exuded dominance like that of a King. As usual, he was with his numerous aides and bodyguards.
Despite the tumultuous nature of their relationship, Kourtney couldn’t deny the magnetic pull he had on her. His piercing gaze locked onto her as she approached, making her feel exposed and vulnerable. His expression was a mixture of anger and possessiveness as if he had come to stake his claim.
“You’re late,” he sneered with accusation.
Kourtney’s brow furrowed, confusion etching her features. “Late for what? We didn’t have any plans to meet here, Mr Woods.”
Sebastian’s eyes narrowed, the intensity of his glare unwavering. “Is that why you purposely kept your husband waiting?”
She squared her shoulders, meeting his gaze head-on. “Well… I wouldn’t have to if you didn’t show up unannounced like this. Why are you even here? Ain’t you supposed to be sick at the hospital?”
Just the other day, he was acting like a sick child who needed to be fed and pampered at the hospital. Kourtney had spent hours by his side, tending to his every need, worrying about his well-being. But today, he stood before her, looking perfectly fit and healthy. It was as if he had magically recovered overnight.
“Get in,” Sebastian gestured towards his car, his tone exuding dominance but in a lesser way than usual. He had never encountered someone who dared to challenge him so boldly, but he was slowly getting used to the woman’s deviance.
Reluctantly, Kourtney followed his command. As she settled beside him into the backseat, she could perceive his manly cologne in the enclosed space of the car. Her cheeks quickly heated up as she recalled their steamy encounter the previous day at the hospital. He wouldn’t be so shameless to try such in the car, would he?
Without further ado, Sebastian retrieved an exquisitely wrapped jewelry box.
“What’s that, Mr Woods?” Kourtney asked, eyeing the box with suspicion.
Sebastian grinned as he handed it to her. “Open it.”
Kourtney’s eyes narrowed as she glanced at the specially wrapped jewelry box in his hand. As she unwrapped its ribbons, her eyes widened in disbelief. Nestled inside was a dazzling diamond necklace that sparkled with delight. The sheer opulence of the piece made her gasp for air.
“This… this must have cost a fortune,” she exclaimed. It was a piece of jewelry that looked as if it could bankrupt a whole nation.
Sebastian chuckled, his arrogance undiminished. “Money is never an issue for me.”
Kourtney snorted. She couldn’t help but feel a sense of unease. The extravagant gift seemed more like a symbol of control than an act of affection. It was no news that the man was obsessed with showing off his assets with extravagant spending. And right now, it was as if Sebastian was trying to display and remind her of the power he held over her.
“I can’t accept this,” she said, her voice firm and resolute as she handed the box back to him. “It’s too much, Mr Woods… I mean…”
“Wear it.”Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.
“What?” Kourtney’s face contorted in confusion once more.
“I said to wear it. I want to see how good it looks on you.” Sebastian ignored Kourtney’s whining. All he was interested in was seeing his wife wear the beautiful jewelry he got. But she only continued to gawk at him.
“What? You don’t like it?” Sebastian’s face was starting to ashen with annoyance.
‘Just how many women would dream of wearing such a masterpiece?’ he pondered.
Kourtney shrugged. “Mr Woods, I’m not saying I don’t like the diamond necklace or anything, but you know… I’m seriously not used to wearing such overly sparkling, extravagant, inestimable, incredibly, and super expensive jewelry like this. And even about our wedding ring, I’m so stressed about the kind of attention it brought me at work today. You have no idea how annoying it is having to explain how I got it to every Tom, Dick, and Harry so they don’t glare strangely at me like I’m some insane person. Moreover, why are you asking me to wear this even when I just told you I can’t accept it? I mean… this is definitely not the kind of necklace to be worn without attending an exceptionally exquisite and agonizingly Glamorous event, you know what I mean?”
Sebastian took a breath for Kourtney. How the woman could say all that without inhaling was beyond him. He wondered if she truly wasn’t the materialistic type, but then again, all women were meant to love shiny and expensive things like this.
And isn’t she supposed to be the young mistress of the reputable Allen Family? They were known for their extravagant lifestyle and opulent taste. It seemed strange that Kourtney would reject such a lavish gift because, surely, this shouldn’t be the first time she came across such flashy things.
Sebastian’s expression hardened, and his tone turned colder as he tucked the jewelry box back in her hand.
“I don’t care if you’re not used to this. The Bottom line is – you’re my Wife now, and this necklace is merely a reflection of the lifestyle you should be embracing, so start getting used to it.”
Sebastian’s cocky words hung heavy in the air, suffocating Kourtney as she glared daggers at him. It took all the strength in her not to fling the necklace right into his devilishly handsome face.
She tried to rebel as usual but was too drained to speak. Eventually, he beat her to it.
“I’ll send the Limo to drop you off at home later. I have a flight to catch for an upcoming interview.”
“Uhmm. The Limo? Yyou don’t have to… I… I’ll take my own car home, thank you,” Kourtney replied.
Sebastian massaged his forehead lightly. Dealing with the woman was even much harder than his job as the president of Woods Corporation.
“It wouldn’t match your status as Mrs. Woods to drive yourself home in your car. Let me send the white Limo to pick you up each day.”
“No! I don’t need a Limo to validate my status. I’m perfectly capable of driving myself home, thank you very much. My car suits me just fine.” Kourtney snapped.
The man was a control freak, and she had had enough of Sebastian’s attempts to control her and dictate her every move.
Sebastian’s expression twisted into a mix of anger and frustration. He couldn’t understand why Kourtney kept resisting his gestures and rejecting his offers. In his mind, he believed that as Mrs. Woods, she should be treated like royalty and catered to at all times. That was really all there was to it.
“I’m just informing you about it, not asking for your opinion,” he asserted his control and dominance once more.
“You…” Kourtney was rendered speechless.