Chapter Four
The helicopter landed on a personal helipad amidst lush greenery all around. A black Camaro awaited them as they climbed out of the helicopter.
Thankfully, Carol was allowed to walk. An attendant carried their luggage to the car.
"Where are we?" She asked looking around in wonder.
"My island, Stephens Isle," he said, glancing at her as he held open the passenger door for her. A gentleman with caveman traits! Only Maxwell Stephens could be such a strange combination. Carol giggled inwardly.
"What's with the smile?" He asked, looking curiously at her.
"Nothing important, " she said, dismissing him as he closed her door with a suspicious look. He came around and climbed onto the driver's seat and headed towards somewhere.
"Why are we here Max?" She asked him but he just looked at her wordlessly. Not getting a reply, she looked at him. Their eyes met. He held her glance for a second before concentrating on the road.
"You didn't answer?" She asked again.
"We're on our honeymoon babe," he said with a wink. Carol stared at him wordlessly.
"I want to go home to Huntsville, Alabama. All my friends are returning today. I have college from tomorrow," she said, helplessly flailing her arms.
"Who's there in Alabama? You're boyfriend?" He asked as he stared ahead with clenched teeth and fingers gripping the steering wheel tightly.
Carol looked at him with disgust. "No, my college and my besties, Julie, Sera and River. You saw them at your club," she reminded him in a bored tone.
He grinned and relaxed his hold on the steering wheel. "Home is where your husband is," he said with a smirk.
"I don't have a husband, " she said pointedly.
"Oh yes, you do. We had a real wedding, with a real wedding ceremony and all marriage papers intact," he said with an all serious look on his face.
"But I don't have a wedding ring?" She asked, showing him her empty fingers.
He showed her the wedding ring on his finger. He took out a similar ring from his breast pocket. "I took it out to clean it after you threw up last night, " he said and she stared at him open mouthed.
He stopped the car in front of a villa style bungalow with a shimmering swimming pool. It's turquoise blue waters matching with the ocean beyond. He came towards her, holding her gaze and picking up her hand, slipped the ring onto her finger.
"Welcome to our honeymoon escape, wifey," he said with a look she couldn't decipher.
"How long will we stay in this deserted place?" She asked, in dismay.
"As long as I want, " he stated.
"And my studies?" She asked him.
"You'll join online classes when we return," he stated and she rolled her eyes.
"Dictator Stephens," she muttered angrily.
She stared with disbelief inside the beautifully decorated warm and cosy villa.
Maxwell unloaded their luggage and carried them inside. Carol carried the rest inside. How long was he planning to stay here? Didn't he have work to do?
He climbed the stairs and went inside a huge master bedroom and kept the luggage inside the huge walk-in closet.
"Which is my room?" She asked from the doorway.
"This is our room, wifey, " he stated firmly like an order. Carol ignored his tone.
"I'll occupy the next room," she said, disappearing before he could respond.
The next room was smaller like a nursery. There was a small bed near the corner but it was enough for her. She deposited the luggage on the floor and opened the huge windows. The fresh ocean air blew onto her face, blowing her hair. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
This was such a different life from her dorm life at college. Her friends would be worried sick about her. She didn't have a clue where was. She needed her mobile phone. Stanley would call and all hell would break loose if Maxwell picked up her phone.
She was so lost in her thoughts that she didn't hear Maxwell approach her. He suddenly picked her up in his arms and started walking back to his bedroom.
"Hey, where are you taking me? Put me down this instant," she shouted at him angrily.
"You will sleep on my bed, wifey," he said angrily.
"No, I won't. Stop this drama immediately, Max," she said in frustration.
"It's not drama. You are my wife and this is real. You're stuck with me for life. I won't let you go. That's the reality. The sooner you learn to face it the better. I'm not a patient man, Carol. I don't hesitate to claim what is mine," he finished like a threat.
Carol stared at him in shock. Is she really stuck with him forever? Why her? There would be so many women who would willingly marry him.
He deposited her on his bed and turned around and went to the next room to get the rest of the luggage. He came back in two minutes with the luggage and deposited them in the walk-in closet.
He then strode out of the room angrily. Carol breathed a sigh of relief. Thank God he left her alone to steady her jumpy nerves. The last twelve hours had been so eventful that she felt as if she'd been hit by a tornado.
She left the room after fifteen minutes and went downstairs to see where that hubby of hers stomped off to. She grimaced at herself. No she wasn't missing him already. It was just that she was at an unknown place and was already feeling hungry.
She found him in the kitchen adding finishing touches to a delicious pasta dish. He grinned at her when she entered.
"Chicken and bacon pasta with spinach and tomatoes in garlic cream sauce, only for you wifey," he said as he brought two plates heaped with food to the table.
Carol's mouth watered at the delicious food. She sat down opposite him,"You can cook?" She asked in amazement.
"Yeah, so what do I get in return, huh?" He asked, with a smirk.
"Nothing. Don't think you'll get a kiss for it. You brought me here, so feed me," she said, shrugging her shoulders and attacking her food.
He looked at her amused by her remark,"I will kiss you sooner than you think and believe me you'll love it," he said with a wicked grin.
"I won't stay with you for so long," she said, with a laugh.
"That's where you're wrong, wifey. This is for life," he said with a deadly serious face.
"Why did you marry me, Max?" She asked, looking into his eyes, searching for an answer.
"I've fallen for you, Carol, " he said, as she stared back at him.
Was he again playing with her mind? They only met yesterday. She didn't know anything about him. How could he fall for her in such a short span of time?
