CHAPTER 3• PLAN B.

~ Chiara.

"And please God help me , don't tell me you actually said no?"

We met up for drinks at an out-of -the -way bar where I gave her a blow by blow account of the event this morning

I frowned. “Isn't that already obvious?I don’t want to be married.”

It was a spur of the moment thing which was not supposed to happen anyways. We had simply gotten carried away by alcohol that night.

It didn’t help that my memories of that night were vague. How did we go from the bar to a registry and eventually ending up in bed in a hotel room? Something smelt fishy to me.

Maybe he had planned it all along but somehow he didn't seem the type to waste his time duping drunk heartbroken ladies.

I shook my head .I couldn’t understand.

Before he left my apartment, Alex sat me down and gave me his offer.

He needed a wife for business reasons. Someone to help him look responsible and family oriented to the board while he gunned for a deal and also to get his stepmother off his back for a share in the control of the company

“Why don’t you just pick one of your wealthy friends' daughters or something? Won’t I look like a gold digger to the rest of the world?” I asked.

The way he looked at me gave me the answer.Alexander Carringtons history as an eternal playboy bachelor in the States was something of a legend.At the rate the tabloids published pictures of him and another sexy arm candy at one gala or the other ,I was sure he had fucked more than half of the women around here.

So a sudden marriage announcement to any one of them would raise eye brows.

“Ms DeLuca, the media can easily be manipulated. Everyone loves a good love story.The heir married the poor country girl” He drawled .

My palms fisted at my sides as I seethed.

Arrogant?

That was an understatement.

This guy was unbelievable.He had immediately taken it for granted that I'll agree to his little offer like the rest of his kind.

I smiled wickedly to myself and let him continue.

“You will be duly compensated after one year when we get divorced. And during the time period, I’ll ensure you’re properly taken care of.” He’d said.

I made a show of turning the thought over in my head for a few seconds before I shook my head.

“I can’t do it.” I said immediately , jumping up from my perched position on the chair to start dressing.

He remained seated. “Don’t be in a hurry. Think about it first.”

Dipping two fingers into his breast pocket, he brought out his card.

“Call me when you’re ready.” He said with quiet emphasis

I took the card and broke it in front of him .

I expected anger to darkness his features but instead they lighted with interest.

"If I'm doing any calling,it's to know when we'll be heading to court for an annulment.Now I'm late for work so please- "I stared pointedly at the door,a little breathless by my tirade"-let yourself out."

And he laughed.

He actually laughed at me .

"Cute -"he mused indulgently "-I'll be waiting for your call."

I have never been so annoyed by a guy like that in my whole life as when he actually called my annoyance 'cute'

Jessica’s yelling brought me back to reality. She shook me by my shoulders

“Earth to Chiara ,over !!!"

"Huh?“

"It’s just one year,babe! Think of the benefits. The bag!!!!You’ll be married to one of the most elusive eligible bachelors in America. You can help your company secure that gig and get a huge promotion and by the time you both part ways, you have enough money to fund the lifestyle we both want.”

To be fair, the offer seemed tempting. But being in the public eye was not what I wanted for myself. I am a homebody . Which is equally ironic because I work at the marketing department in my company.

“You don’t even know how much he plans to give me.” I pointed out in my defense.

“I know it'll be way more than your salary in two years ,girllllll" She shot back , munching.

“Jessica…” I laughed.

“Girl I don't know about you but I'm tired of this 9 to 5 life and you know I’m being for real right now!”

I laughed and shook my head.It was during moments like this that Jessica's fully African -American .

But even at that,it was not enough to convince me.

“I can already picture your wedding. It’s going to be lit.Me as your Maid of honour” She grinned.

“Technically we’re already married.” I pointed out with my fork not minding the ridiculous dreamy smile on her face.

“Even better but there has to be…” she trailed off , something behind had caught her attention

“Oh. My. Goodness.” Jessica’s eyes widened to saucers as she looked behind.

“What is it?” I tried to turn but she immediately held my head in place.

“Don’t look. Nathaniel and Yvette just walked in.”

“What the actual fuck?” I cursed.

I've been doing just great without the sight of them and now they just had to be here.Together

“Play it cool. Jessica’s coming.”

I glared at Jessica like she was the culprit.

The smell of Yvette’s favourite fruity body spray reached my nostrils before I saw her.

“Hi Jess,” she sang , grinning.

Jessica forced a sunny smile back. “Hi bitch,”

Yvette tsked, unfazed . “Easy now.Chiara's battles ain't yours.”

She faced me with a full mega-watt smile. “Hello babes,”

I gave her a once over. She was glowing. She looked happy. All dolled up and ready to gloat about the man she stole from me.

This was my chance to say the meanest things but when I looked at her all I could feel was the sting of her betrayal.

Well I was going to play it cool even if it killed me .

“Hi Yvette . how's Nathaniel doing?” I asked.

I saw a flash of guilt in her blue eyes but it was gone as soon as it came.

She shrugged instead. “No hard feelings,I hope Chiara.We just sort of happened.”

“There are thousands of men in this city and the one person you decided to 'sort of happened ' was my boyfriend?” I was even more aggravated by her nonchalance.

Well speak of the devil and he would appear.

Nathaniel appeared by her side in a few seconds.

“Babe, I just got us a table.”

“You don't say !!So you’re capable of planning dates?” I jibed with a sarcastic chuckle.

The last time I saw him, he felt guilty for his actions but now he was cocky about it.

“Yeah right ?I finally found a woman who deserved it.”

My hand tightened dangerously around the fork in my grip.

“And yet you were sneaking around with her for the longest time.” Jessica cut in with a sneer at both of them.

I felt a pang of hurt in my chest. All my time ,effort ,my sweet that I sacrificed just so my relationship with this bastard would actually work .My friendship with Yvette ending on a note of betrayal was so blindsiding. I would never have expected it in a million years. I was actually closer to her than I saw to Jessica in our friend group.But here we were.

“Oh well. We actually came here to celebrate some good news.”

“What?Nathaniel finally got a job?” Jessica scoffed sarcastically.

I fought back a scoff. I loved the African side of Jessica.

She was direct as hell and to hell with anyone who didn't like it.

Yvette batted her eyelids. “ Nathaniel already landed a job since forever.He got it as soon as he moved in with me .And guess what ?"

Jessica and I both stared at her wordlessly in shock.

So Nathaniel was fully capable of getting a job all this while .

"He landed a job as a sales manager in one of the Carrington Group holdings.Isn't that amazing?-"

She twirled happily while Jessica and I exchanged stunned looks.

"--Amd that's not all..."she continued and flashed an engagement ring in our faces.

“Nathaniel finally put a ring on it!” She squealed like a little girl.

Few months prior, I would have been over the moon that my best friend was getting married and I would inevitably be the maid of honor.

But today she was telling me to my face with daunting audacity that she was getting married to my boyfriend of five years .

I was angry. For five years, he never thought to plan dates, yet he was proposing to her in a few months.

At that point I was hit with the bitter truth.

Nathaniel Winston never loved me .Just used me as a lifeboat for the past five years and I stupid Italian girl that I was fell for his golden boy manoeuvres.

I made a decision.

With a forced smile I said, “Congratulations to you both. It’s wedding season after all.”

Jessica shot me a confused glance then dug her elbow into her side in a victory dance .

I returned her smile .

“It certainly is.” Jessica piped up, still smiling foolishly.

Yvette frowned. “What’s all this smiling about?”

“Oh, didn't you hear? I’m getting married too.”

Nathaniel’s smile immediately wiped .

Yvette scoffed in derision. “Right. Like you could find a serious man so soon.”

“Even more so , you'll be surprised by who it is .” I said, grinning wider.

Yvette let out an exultant laugh, bringing her face right up to mine .She sneered.

"Surprise me ,Chiara."

"It would be my pleasure."