Shadow's Decree

Safia had to reach the 29th floor where the coffee machine was situated using the stairs because the elevator wasn't working. By the time she reached the floor, there was a huge line at the coffee machine. She waited and made black coffee for Sion just as Layla instructed her. “People with black heart always prefer black coffee.” She thought to herself and dragged her feet in high heels back on the staircase.

“Why are you so late? Does making a simple coffee take twenty minutes? Or you were on your way impressing another man over there who could clear your company’s dues?” Sion asked while taking the cup of coffee from the tray.

Safia tightened her lips in indignation. “The elevator broke. I had to take the stairs to bring coffee for you. Even near the coffee machine there was a huge line. I had to wait in the list.”

“Are you Queen Victoria that people will give space for you leaving their turn?” He asked, sipped his coffee and put on a face like he was about to puke. Sion immediately threw the rest of the contents in the dustbin. “What sort of beverage is this? I have never tasted such bitter coffee in my lifetime. Don't you even know how to make coffee?”

The face of Safia became pale like a ghost. “I noted down your coffee preference from Layla and made it exactly the way she instructed me.”

“Oh, is that why this is so perfect? Come on, make another. I can't function without my morning coffee.” He said and started typing on the computer.

Safia stood there for a moment more contemplating if she could ask him permission. Her legs were urging her to give them a break. She opened her lips and then closed them like a fish but nevertheless decided the heartless monster before her wouldn't ever agree.

“Why are you standing here before me like a statue? Come on, get to work.” He looked at her clueless as if he had no idea about her misery. No sooner had the door closed, the lips of Sion stretched from one end to another in vainglorious satisfaction.

‘Is this why he told her to have breakfast and only then come to the office? The man is a rogue.’ - Safia thought aloud. He married her only for revenge and to make her life miserable. There was no way he could tolerate her happiness even in her work place so he brought her to his office to make her suffer.

The whole day he made her go around making him coffee using the stairs. By the time Safia reached home, both her legs were swollen like elephant’s legs and she could not even take steps to the washroom. How was she going to survive in his office and save her company?

The next day she wore flats instead of pencil heels. Safia wouldn't take any chances regarding the devil for a boss. By 5:30 in the morning she was dressed in a pink blouse and black plants with her hair in a bun.

Safia was waiting in the dining hall for Sion while sipping her morning coffee. The maid did not arrive as it was still early in the morning. So she made a few toasts with fried eggs and fruit juice. It had been more than half an hour and Sion had not even come down.

On further thought Safia decided she should start at the office before he accused her again.

There were several cars parked beside the lobby with drivers in white uniform waiting. One of them came forward and saluted her. He tried to take her bag as soon as she came out. But Safia refused. “Thank you for the help. I have already booked an Uber. It's waiting for me over there.” She pointed to the taxi parked a few steps away from the fleet of cars Sion owns.

Safia did not want to use any benefits of being the wife of Sion Canes, the world's famous billionaire. She was just his spouse on paper.

When she stood before the entrance of Wellcrow Vineyards head office the place looked quiet. Nobody had arrived at the office yet. But Sion told her that they start by 6 am in the morning.

The security guard was stunned, greeted her and asked, “Ma'am how come you're this early? The staff arrives at 9 am in the morning.”

Safia understood it was all his way of torturing her. While he sleeps soundly on his bed, she has to work in his office from early six in the morning.

Safia gave a forced smile. She did not want to let the security guard know Sion was in the process of torturing her. “I have a heavy load of work. So I thought I should come early and finish it before the boss arrives.”

The guard flashed a friendly smile and gave her the way to get inside through the entrance.

By the time Sion came back home after his morning walk the maid Freya had informed him that Safia had already left for the office. A sadistic grin occupied his features after hearing the news.

Half an hour later, dressed in a crisp black suit, he settled on his leather chair and rang the bell for his personal assistant to come in. But instead of Layla, Safia came rushing inside. “Why are you here? I don’t want to start my work every day after looking at your ugly face. Where is Layla?”

That comment was too much for Safia to bear. “That’s right. I don't want to see your mucky face either. But you told me to be here by six in the morning because we start the work early. Also I came to know everyone on your staff starts work at 9. Why do you call me so early when you even loathe to look at my face?”

“This is the special advantage only you have over others. Everyone else will come at nine. But you will be in the office by six because you are my favorite employee.” He spoke sardonically with a smile.

If Safia had the right to kill a person without going to prison, she would have murdered Sion long ago. Such was her irate upon him. “Here is your coffee and it's perfect, just according to your taste. No sugar, two teaspoons of freshly ground

coffee beans and half cup of water.”

Sion moved forward and took a sip. “Hmm, good you learned how to make coffee.” Safia was on top of the world because it was the first time Sion spoke something positive about her. But the happiness didn't last even more than a minute.