Chapter 6

Author’s POV

It's been a few days and two weeks since Gabriella and Diego got married and the both of them had a lot to do and say. 

Gabriella certainly didn't have something she was looking forward to when she got married but it didn't include her getting forehead kisses early in the morning, it didn't include her always waking up in Diego 's arms, it didn't include Diego accompanying her to school a few times, it didn't include patiently waiting for Diego in the evening so she could share how her day went and what lecturer pissed her off and what her friends Mona and Angel did to her that day, it didn't include Diego laughing hilariously at her and then making nerve cracking jokes, it certainly didn't involve her chest beating furiously on her chest each other she stared at him. It was supposed to be an arranged marriage, an arranged marriage that neither of them expected to be able to co-exist peacefully under the same roof. 

Diego had surprisingly transformed from being the arrogant man Gabriella had married a few weeks ago, to a very sweet and loving man. Gabriella still couldn’t wrap her fingers around why he changed towards her. 

Diego even broke off his relationship with Valentina, his ex girlfriend, just so he could be a good husband to Gabriella.

Gabriella opened her eyes and for the first time in a while, the bed was empty but she soon realized why the bed was empty when her eyes drifted towards the digital clock placed on the table.

Cursing underneath her breadth, she rushed out of bed and quickly rushed into the bathroom. Having gotten woken up late quite a number of times before; getting ready in a rush wasn't such a big deal. Deep down she was mad at Diego for not waking her up; didn't he know she had school today?

She was trying to wear her sweat shirt when she got into the car,

“Adbed, step on it please" Gabriella said, bending down to tie her messy shoelaces. Abded had obviously realized how late she was and wheezed through the streets till she got to school.

"Have a nice day" he hollered after her as Gabriella got down from the car hurrying into the school premises.

Remembering the professor who was to teach her that morning, more profanities spewed from her mouth.

She could feel her phone buzzing in her back pocket and she was sure that it was either Mona or Angel or worse comes to worse; it would be both of them.

The female lecturer who took that particular course was used to students claiming her class was very hard and it was hard to pass so she was sued to very few students passing very well but after teaching Gabriella's set, Gabriella totally crushed her ego as she kept getting full marks in her tests and class works, assignments not excluded. She made her assignments and tests even harder and Gabriella would either get full marks or almost get full marks, over time, she had grow an irritation for Gabriella and everyone in their department knew it. But just to be on the safer side, Gabriella almost and made sure she never got on her bad side. She was always in class early, never gossiped with Mona and Angel during her classes making her unable to find fault with her but it seems as

though her jar of luck with her had expired that morning because Gabriella could clearly see the triumphant smile on her face as soon as she stepped inside.

"That's new" she started.

"You are late Lopez" she added as

Gabriella winced trying to wear a straight face. She knew trying to come up to her or give excuses no matter how reasonable it was useless.

"Good morning Professor Martha "

Gabriella greeted in reply as the woman nodded quietly. She was an

Black- American who had a flawless dark skin and was very much admired by most of the students. She had earned the respect on her own.

"Let's see how well you did on your assignment" she said as Gabriella froze.

She had gisted with Diego the night before and totally forgot about her assignment. 

She turned towards the students and met Mona's eyes who were asking if she had done the assignment. Both hers and Angel 's eyes widened when she slowly shook her head.

"I'm waiting for you Lopez" Professor

Martha said. She had gotten a hint that Gabriella didn't do her assignment.

Happiness filled her heart as she watched Gabriella gleefully, now she could pour out all her pent up frustrations, Gabriella sighed as she dug into her bag and brought out her note while handing it over to her without even checking it. She was sure she didn't do it and she was so in for it with professor Martha but as she looked up she frowned as a look of surprise fitted across her face. Professor Martha glanced at Gabriella in surprise then glanced at the book in front of her. The assignment had been done neatly in her note. A firm but neat and conscious handwriting spread through the note.

She knew it wasn't obviously Gabriella 's handwriting and what was more; the assignment had been done in such a way that even her dullest student would easily understand. She had to swallow all the words in her mouth as she gave Gabriella back her note.

"Lopez, you want to tell us why you came late and why there's someone else's handwriting in her note?" she asked as the class went into an uproar.

Gabriella wasn't very familiar with most of her departmental mates but they all knew and revered her. They all knew of her family situation and when they needed help, they were quick to look for help and she would always help.

She had no friends aside Mona and

Angel so it was a huge surprise to hear that there was someone else's handwriting in her note.

Gabriella had long flipped open her note and was shocked to see Diego's handwriting spread all over her notes.

She couldn't even imagine when he had done it. A small smile fitted across her lips but she was quick to hide it. She closed her note and stood upright meeting the Professor's eyes as she answered her question.

"I woke up late, '' Gabriella replied honestly as Professor Martha raised her eyebrow and chuckled.

"And?" she asked; she wanted to know who the owner of the handwriting was.

It was rather a beautiful handwriting that had caught her attention. She couldn't take her mind off it.

"Professor Martha , can we step outside for a moment?" Gabriella asked as Professor Martha raised her eyebrow before stepping outside with Gabriella.

"So?' she asked as Gabriella swallowed her saliva.

"I really didn't do the assignment myself. And I didn't want to say this in front of all the students because it could cause something else but my husband did" Gabriella replied as Professor Martha froze for a second before she chuckled.

"Your husband?" she asked in pure shock and surprise.

"Yes. My husband did" Gabriella replied, pursing her lips as Professor Martha stared at her as if she had grown two heads. 

Most of the Professors knew of Gabriella's family situation so most of them never gave her a hard time and most times gave her a leeway when necessary and what was even more, Gabriella was a straight A student despite her family situation so she had won the admiration and love of most of them so it was Professor's Martha first time of hearing that Gabriella was married.

"Put your husband on the phone"

Professor Martha said as Gabriella frowned lightly.

'He's at work. I don't think he would be able to answer the phone" Gabriella replied as Professor Martha chuckled.

"Are you saying your husband won't pick up your call?" Professor Martha asked as

Gabriella winced and chuckled internally. 

Professor Martha 's question had poked her sore spot and although she had never called him during work before, Gabriella was nervous as she brought out her phone and dialed Diego 's number.

At Rodriguez Corporations, Diego was currently having a meeting with the 122 Directors of the company. 

Most of the Directors had sweat sticking to the back of their shirts with their suits and coats hiding their nervousness and fear. 

Who said Caleb Rodriguez was harsh and overbearing? Why don't they take a look at his grandson? The conference room was quiet and no one spoke while keeping their eyes on the younger man in front of them.

A phone suddenly rang in the room bringing an end to the silence and almost everyone wanted to insult the owner of the phone but they all looked on in shock as Diego grabbed his phone and the frown on his face disappeared as he picked the call.

"Hey" Gabriella's voice drifted into his ears.

"Where are you?" Diego asked, his voice soft and low.

"School. My professor wants to speak with you" Gabriella replied as Diego raised an eyebrow.

"Why?' he asked.

'It's all your fault" , Gabriella replied through gritted teeth. Her voice was low but Diego could clearly hear her.

"You did my assignment and now she's asking who did the assignment. She won't believe my husband did it" Gabriella said.

"Oh" Diego replied as he lowered his head and a light chuckle escaped his lips freezing everyone in the room to their seats.

"Good morning Mr, well I'm sorry I don't know your name. Are you Gabriella's husband?" a light female's voice drifted into Diego 's ears as a straight look appeared on his face.

"Yes, I am Professor Martha . 

How can I help you?" Diego asked as there was silence on the other side.

"Er... i..

I wasn't sure.... i didn't know that Gabriella was married" she replied after a while stuttering as she spoke.

"Professor Martha ," Diego called quietly.

"I understand that you've been giving my wife a hard time," Diego started.

"From now onwards, you will treat her like every other student and you will not make things hard for her," Diego added.

"And yes, you will hand over the phone back to Gabriella with a wide smile on your face and apologize for going through all these trouble" Diego said as he sighed.

'You asked for my name earlier. You can call me Diego , Diego Rodriguez ".

Gabriella sighed softly as soon as she handed over the phone to Professor

Martha . She was so relieved when Diego picked the call on the second ring. The moment his voice drifted into her ears, she felt her inside turn over.

No matter how many times she had heard that voice over and over again, she couldn't exactly get used to it. 

She listened to Professor Martha talk to Diego then went quiet before turning to Gabriella quietly. Her ears seemed to have gone red and she wasn't saying anything. 

The next time Professor Martha spoke, she was stuttering much to Gabriella 's shock.

"E....i wasn't sure.... i didn't know

that Gabriella was married" she said as Gabriella sneered inwardly. She clearly told her but she refused to listen.

Gabriella folded her arms and watched as Professor Martha 's face went white and then shock spread across her face. Then she wore a smile that Gabriella needed no one to tell her that the smile was forced. 

She watched as professor Martha handed back the phone to her.

"I'm sorry" she muttered as Gabriella stared at her in surprise before nodding her head.

"It's okay Professor Martha , no one would believe i am married either" Gabriella replied as Professor Martha nodded, winced and stepped inside the class when almost tripping along the wall making Gabriella very much curious to know what Diego had said to her. 

She placed the phone back to her ears slowly.

"What did you say to my Professor?"

Gabriella asked giggling quietly.

"She almost tripped just now," Gabriella added.

"Oh really?' Diego asked as Gabriella nodded even though she knew that

Diego couldn't see her.

“Yes. Her name is Professor Martha , she's such a pain in the ass" Gabriella replied as Diego nodded.

"So that's her name" Diego said as Gabriella nodded.

"Yeah," Gabriella replied as she pursed her lips.

"Thank you Diego "