THE ITALIAN BOSS: Old Habits Die Hard

ANASTASIA GRIFFITHS "Anastasia," When I heard his cold voice, my heart stopped beating for at least a second. I was trying to sneak into the house without making a noise. I saw my husband's car in the basement parking lot and he was supposed to come back tomorrow. What the hell is he doing here!? "Huh? Amore," In a low voice, I said as I still froze in the same spot. I was scared… I was very scared. "Turn on the lights so I can see my wife whom I haven't seen in five days," Oh, no. This can't be happening. He is going to be angrier than he already is at me. How do I get out of this situation? "Uh, why don't I go upstairs and take a quick shower and," "Anastasia, turn on the light," He calmly said. My tears were already falling down. I walked up to the wall to flick on the light. When the light was on, I got to see him. He was sitting on the couch at the far corner of the room by the big window. He wasn't even looking at me, but looking at the city lights outside the window with a glass of cognac in his hand. I didn't know whether to go to him or stay right where I am. He didn't say anything or turned to look at me. I also didn't move or say anything. "Are you going to stand there or are you going to come here and kiss and hug your husband like you always do whenever I am coming from business trips?" That's true. I always did that except that, today is a different story. I try pulling down my very short, grey-glowing backless dress which is impossible, and slowly take my steps to my husband. I dropped my clutch on the coffee table on my way there and hugged him from behind, kissing him on his head. He didn't respond to my touches, but just gulped the whole potion of cognac in his mouth. "I disappeared for less than a week. When I came back, I found the twins still up and they hadn't even taken their bath yet. Do you want to know at what time I arrived?" He asked without turning to look at me. I wanted to retract my hands off him, but he held them. I was leaning behind him. "Don't even answer that. With the kids not sleeping, but screaming, running around the house, frustrating Beverly who is already frustrated with Leonardo who won't stop crying; I had to step in as their father and feed them, bath them and read them a bedtime story, while their mother is out there, gallivanting, doing God knows what with who!" I flinched and dropped my tears when his grip tightened around my wrists. "Do you know why I don't want to turn and look at you right now?" I wanted to say no, but I was just sobbing behind him; my tears rolling out of my eyes uncontrollably dropping on his head and shoulders. "You better answer me when I talk to you, Amore," He pulled my arms, hurting my shoulders. "I'm sorry," I whispered. "I'm not asking for your apology," "I don't know," "I will tell you. If I turn around and look at you, I might get even angrier and do something that I might regret later. Now tell me – where are you coming from?" "Amore, you are hurting me, please let me go?" I tried pulling myself away from him, but he wasn't letting me go. My arms are tired and my feet and legs too are tired, plus the stilettos are not having any mercy on me. "Where are you coming from, Anastasia!" This time he raised his voice. "I was out with my friends." "With the same friends I told you I don't like? Is this what you do every time I am away with business?" He let go of my hands and stood up, still not looking at me. "No, I swear this is the only time I ever went out. Baby, I'm sorry." I wanted to walk up to him, but what if he pushes me out of the window? "And you probably would have gone out often if I didn't catch you so soon. Look around you and tell me if this is the house your husband should come back to? Filthy and unorganized Beverly couldn't do everything all by herself!" "The maid is sick, and the babysitter needed to go home to her family. Beverly had no problem when I asked her to watch the kids for me." Now, I think I triggered something in him. He kicked the small table and flipped the one-seater couch he was sitting on and groaned. "FUCKING HELL! BLOODY-FUCKING-HELL!!!" He roared. "Baby, you are scaring me." I cried after I fell on the floor, from trying to escape my husband's tantrum. "You are not scared enough! Anastasia, you are a smart girl and I know that, but right now you are very stupid and naive, sweetheart! It is a fucking school night. Beverly needs to sleep! But, no… I found my baby girl at 1 AM, rocking Leonardo who was wailing for God knows what, when my wife was out there, wearing short skirts with slits on both sides of her thighs. Are you even wearing underwear? Please tell me that you are at least wearing a thong… Nastasia?" He looked at me with pleading eyes. I shook my head as I shamefully looked down. "I'm sorry, Amore." He closed his eyes with disappointment. If I wore underwear, it would have ruined my outfit. "Stop apologizing. You are only being sorry, because I caught you, Ana. You know, my business partners wanted me to stay another day at the resort, but I missed my wife and my kids so much that I packed everything and drove off so late, just so I could sleep next to my WIFE who is comportarsi come una PUTTANA!" I gasped. He just said I am behaving like a whore. He crouched down in front of me and pulled my hair hard to the back of my neck. I hissed in pain and I did not dare direct my eyes in his eyes. They carried so much darkness. I saw no love, but someone whom I never thought I would see again. The Devil. The very same devil that tortured me years ago after my months after my father passed away. Even though I am madly in love with my husband; I can never not be scared of that devil in him. I can never get used to that devil. "I don't have a whore as a wife, do you hear me?" I bounced my head vigorously. "Words," He warned. "Yes, I hear you." "Good. Stand up and get out of my sight, but just so you know, I never let things go unpunished – not even my wife." I gasped and my body instantly shook. He means what he says. ***