Tangled In His Revenge

"You're late, Sienna."

Damian's voice was low, almost bored, but it still made Sienna stiffen. She turned from the mirror where the stylist had just fixed the last curl of her hair. He stood in the doorway of their bedroom, dressed in a black suit that probably cost more than her entire wardrobe back home.

"I was ready before you," she said, keeping her tone calm. She picked up her clutch and walked toward him. "You just didn't notice."

His gray eyes swept over her, cold and assessing, like a man looking at something he owned rather than someone he married.

"You're wearing red."

"It's Valentino. Your assistant sent it," she replied, lifting her chin slightly.

He didn't bother answering. He simply turned and walked out, expecting her to follow.

Sienna let out a slow breath before trailing after him.

They had been married for three months, and in all that time, Sienna couldn't remember a single day when Damian had looked at her with any warmth.

"You never say anything nice," she muttered once they were in the car, staring out the window.

Damian didn't look up from his phone. "Is that what you want from me? Compliments?"

"I guess it would be nice. Considering we're married."

His eyes flicked to her briefly. "We're married because you wanted something and I gave it to you."

Her jaw tightened. "You make it sound like I enjoy this."

"Do you?"

She turned to look at him sharply. "Do you?"

He didn't reply. He only went back to typing on his phone, the faint glow of the screen reflecting in his cold gray eyes.

"Do you ever stop working?" she asked after a moment, trying to get him to say something, anything.

"I don't have the luxury of wasting time."

"Talking to me is wasting time?"

"You already know what this is, Sienna," he said flatly, still not looking at her. "We're not here to play husband and wife."

She bit her lip, staring back out the window, her fingers tightening on her clutch.

The moment they stepped out of the car, cameras flashed. Damian's arm slid around her waist, firm and controlled, his grip almost possessive.

"Smile," he said under his breath.

"I know how this works."

"Then stop looking like you'd rather be anywhere else."

She forced a smile, gritting her teeth. "Maybe because I would."

"Not tonight," he said smoothly, his face still perfect for the cameras. "Tonight, you're Mrs. Voss."

"Funny," she whispered back, still smiling for the photographers. "I don't feel like one."

"Then pretend harder."

"You're good at pretending," she murmured.

He glanced at her briefly, his lips barely moving. "Better than you'll ever be."

She kept smiling, but inside her chest, her heart tightened with anger.

Inside the ballroom, Damian walked off almost immediately to join a group of businessmen. Sienna stood near the champagne table, holding a glass just for something to do.

"Mrs. Voss, you look stunning," a man said politely as he passed by.

"Thank you," she answered, forcing a polite smile before turning away.

A woman nearby gave her a curious glance. "Is Mr. Voss always this busy at events?"

"Yes," Sienna said with a small shrug. "He's always busy."

The woman smiled knowingly. "That must be difficult."

Sienna gave another practiced smile. "You get used to it."

Minutes stretched into hours. She watched Damian laughing, well, not laughing, but smiling faintly, with other men, his arm brushing against some women as he leaned to listen to someone speak.

He glanced at her once, his face unreadable, before turning back to his conversation.

She sighed, finishing her champagne in one swallow.

When they finally left, the ride home was as silent as always. She sat with her hands clasped, staring out the window, the city lights flashing past.

"Do you ever talk to me when there aren't cameras around?" she asked suddenly.

Damian didn't look up from his phone. "Do you want me to?"

"Yes."

His reply was quiet, almost careless. "Talking won't change what this marriage is."

"You're impossible."

"And you're stubborn."

She turned back to the window, biting back the words she wanted to throw at him.

Back at the mansion, Damian headed straight for his study. Sienna stood near the stairs, staring after him.

"Do you ever get tired of ignoring me?" she asked suddenly.

He turned slightly, his hand on the doorknob. "Do you ever get tired of asking questions you don't want answers to?"

"I want answers," she said firmly.

He raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure?"

She stayed silent, and he disappeared into the study.

She stood there, staring at the closed door for a long time. Three months of this. Three months of being treated like a stranger in her own marriage. She hated him for it, hated the way he acted like she didn't exist outside of public appearances.

But tonight, something inside her snapped, her hand hovered over the doorknob lightly.

"Sienna?" Damian's voice made her freeze.

She turned slowly. He was standing at the top of the staircase now, his shirt slightly undone, his eyes sharp and unreadable.

"What are you doing?"

"Nothing," she said quickly. "I was going to get some water."

He watched her for a long moment. "Don't wander where you don't belong."

Then he turned and walked away.

She waited until the house was silent.

Her bare feet moved across the marble floor as she walked down the hallway. Her heart pounded as she reached the door to his study. Her hand trembled slightly, but she didn't stop.

The doorknob turned with a soft click and for the first time, Sienna stepped inside Damian Voss's study.