~ Andrea ~What happened yesterday felt like a dream. I really did it with Derrik. I opened my eyes and saw Derrik looking at me with a huge smile on his face. I mean, a very huge smile. I thought it was just my imagination yesterday but he is still smiling again. “You are awake. I can tell you slept well.” He landed a light kiss on my forehead. That feeling of love engulfed me. “You are blushing little missy.” Derrik teased as I tried to hide my face. “I will get you breakfast, just stay in bed. You need a good rest. ” He hurriedly got out of the bed and rushed out. I was really surprised he was acting this way. The Derrik I know was always scolding because of one thing or the other. I felt like a queen. I just hope this lasts forever, I pray it does. "Argh!" I felt a sharp pain when I made an attempt to move from the bed. This is really not happening. I need to wash up before he comes back. “Arrgg!” I made the attempt the second time and the pain was unbearable this time arou
~ Andrea ~The rest of the day was spent talking and bonding the most. The room was filled with laughter. I smiled watching the man in front of me, laughing his pains away. Night came by real quick. Derrik and his dad had everything set for the date night. The room was decorated with roses. This was just like the date I imagined with my husband when I settle down in years to come. Derrik was doing all that. In just a few days, we were building something. I felt an irresistible attraction towards him and I felt he did too. “Andrea, do you like this?” He was nervous. Derrik King was nervous. This was the first time I'd see him like this and I was happy it was because of me and not some other lady. “I love it. This is perfect Derrik, so perfect.” He held my hand and stared at me intently, the longest stare ever. His eyes were filled with so much emotion. Love. Fear. Betrayal. I didn't know what to think of it. “I wish I could stay like this with you for the past coming years.” He spo
~ Andrea ~Valentine!I woke up to the sound of my cell ringing. It was none other than Valentine, my best friend. It was almost seven and I was late for work. Derrik didn't bother to wake me up. “Girl !!” She exclaimed excitedly the moment I answered the call. Valentine has always been my confidante. She stood by me during tough times in my childhood and I was heartbroken when she broke the news about traveling out of the country with her parents. I had no other choice than to wish her the very best since I could do nothing to stop her. It's been close to four years since she left the country. Within these years, we fell widely apart and hardly communicated. I was surprised to see her call and happy as well. “Vale, is this really you?” My bottled up emotions were coming out. ‘Vale’ was my own special name I gave her when we were young. “Yes, baby. It's me!” She screamed. That was typical of her, always screaming and exclaiming at little things. “And I have good news for you ba
~ Andrea ~I knocked when I got to the door and waited for a reply until one came after the long wait. “Come in,” Derrik's reply came from inside the office when I knocked. I entered only to find him with his head on the desk. “You called for me Sir.” “You still don't have to address me as ‘Sir’ after everything.” All this while, he had his head on the desk. Maybe he was sick or stressed. I was concerned and could not help but ask. “Are you alright?” I waited for a response but nothing came so I moved closer to him and patted his shoulder. “Derrik, are you alright?” He held my hand and nodded but that wasn't enough assurance. Just when I was thinking of how to get him to talk, he rose abruptly and kissed me, lightly. I was surprised by his action that I turned only to find him smiling. “I just wanted to see you Andrea. I know I left the house without you and I’m sorry.”I didn't know what to say or how to feel. I was seated on his lap this time around as he spoke. “I want us
~ Andrea ~We got to the beach house moments later and it wasn't like I imagined. Yes, it was more than that! These rich people have their properties speaking for them. I gaped at the sight of the interior decoration. Damn! It has large windows, the lightning was warm and welcoming but spoke volumes about who owned the house. I circled the place thoroughly for about three times. It had four bedrooms and a wide parlor. The kitchen was spacious as well with different electronics to make cooking easier. The furniture! Plush Sofas and armrest. The wine cellar had different drinks I had never seen nor heard about. I walked towards the cellar and took a wine with bold inscriptions ‘Brooklyn Winery’. “Don't tell me you want to try that?” Derrik suddenly comes behind me causing me to exclaim in shock. “Aaah!” I held my chest to calm myself after realizing it was just Derrik. “You scared me.” I returned back to checking the wines ignoring his presence and the question he posed earlier.
~ Andrea ~Valentine called an hour ago to inform of her arrival this morning. I couldn't allow her into Derrik's house without his permission. I suggested she go to my family's place but she insisted on staying at the hotel and I had no choice but to agree. I can't force her to do something against her wish. Derrik and I were just about to leave the beach house since he was already receiving calls from his father concerning our whereabouts. “Derrik,” I called for his attention as he was busy dressing up. “Mm..” He mumbled giving a go ahead for me to speak. “I won't be in the office until afternoon.” He turned to look at me with raised brows. “My friend is coming over and I was thinking of catching up with her.”“Who is this friend?” He groaned and tightened his fist as if ready for a fight. “A friend from school. Valentine. That's her name.” “Oh,” I watched as he released his fist and mumbled. If I didn't know better, I would have said he was jealous. “We have to work on the
~ Andrea ~“I got a job at a very reputable place and thankfully, I am now able to take care of the family.” I started filling her in. “Do you ever think about yourself? Does your life only revolve around your family?” Vale asked, rolling her eyes. “Listen Andrea, you have to think about yourself now. About your life and how you want it to end. I know you have so much planned out but you are thinking of sorting your family out first.” She held my hand this time rubbing it. “You have every right to take care of your family but do try to dedicate some moments to yourself.” This was why I was able to be friends with Vale all these years. While I was always thinking about my family, she was watching my back and finding ways to convince me into doing things for myself. To be honest, she was right. Everything I have ever done till date was in favor of my family and not myself. “That aside, tell me more Andrea.” I knew she was trying to change the topic and I appreciated that. “Well..
~ Andrea ~ “You are what?!” She screamed, banging her fist on the table, her face all red. I was shocked at the intensity of her fist coming in contact with the table. “Calm down Vale.” “Calm down? Really Andrea? So it was really true. You got married without telling me anything. It was all over the news and I needed to confirm everything from you. You didn't think of inviting me, your best friend.” She really was annoyed. “I am sorry. It was so sudden.” “Aah! I am happy for you!” She changed almost immediately. Now you understand why I said she knew how to play with emotions. She scared me with that act from earlier. I thought she was going to strangle me. “But tell me, how come you got married to your boss?” She raised her brow in curiosity. “It's a long story Vale but I will definitely fill you in some other day.” “I have to meet uo with my brother-in-law soon and warn him not to hurt you or even think abiut hurting you else, he is so dead!” I watched h
~ Andrea ~“Uncle Max is the best!” Lina shouted. “Now everybody knows I have a very handsome daddy.” She added, finding it a little too difficult to pronounce handsome. Liam was quiet all through the ride and it bothered me. We finally got home and Lina was the first to run out of the car. “Lina Price, stop running around!” These kids. Lina dropped her bag on the couch and started playing with Max while Liam sat quietly, his eyes fixed in a particular direction but fixed on nothing. I decided to use this opportunity to cook something for them. I hurriedly changed and went to the kitchen to get things set. After about forty to sixty minutes, I was done with everything. I took the food from the kitchen to the table and set it up. Thankfully, Max had help with changing their clothes and getting their homeworks done. That was a great help to me. These two would have made my life hell by just changing their clothes. I went over to them and sat beside Max, watching Lina make a displ
~ Andrea ~Three years later“Liam! You better stop hitting your sister.” I shouted for the upteenth time today, making my way to the kitchen to get their breakfast ready. “But mom, she started it!” He retorted. “I don't care who started it. Just stop hitting her!” I responded. Three years ago, when we left Brooklyn, we relocated to Sicily, Italy. Before then, we stayed for some time at our Aunt's place until we were able to get little money to relocate to Sicily. For the past few years, I have known this city to be very dangerous with different gangs. Liam and Lina were a result of my contract with Derrik. They are everything I have ever wanted. Even though I wasn't ready to have them, I am still happy they came. I was preparing breakfast to take them to school. I got a job as a personal assistant again months after I gave birth to the twins. My boss is nicer to me and sometimes I feel weird but I am glad I didn't meet another Derrik. Speaking of Derrik, I'd be lying if I say I
~ Derrik ~ I paced around in my office waiting for Carl to relay any information to me. “They are all set to hear you Sir.” I followed Carl's lead till we got to the conference room where I was going to give the release. Cameras were clicking everywhere. “Hello everybody. Thank you for honoring today's call.” I bowed before down. “I know the rumors about the contract agreement with Miss Andrea have been circulating the internet for a while now.” I started. “How it came to the general public we know nothing about but the truth is–” I sighed and looked at everybody present. “We were indeed in a contract marriage.” “Contract marriage?” “It was all fake from the onset?” “This is surprising.” They kept whispering. “Circumstances push us to make some situations and it did the same to Andrea and I but I do not regret my actions in any way.” “He is so arrogant.” “He deceived people and now he is saying he is not sorry.” I smiled at the new set of whispers. “My action
~ Derrik ~ I came down the stairs to look for Andrea but she was nowhere to be found. Where could she have gone? I was still looking around when a hand tapped me. “Are you looking for Andrea?” Miss Karen asked when I turned. “Yes, where is she?” She sighed at my question. “Her mother came for her.” “What?! Her mother?” I asked“Yes, she was really angry that she left without telling anybody except that I witnessed the whole scene.” “Damn!” I walked past her into my room. When Andrea had said her mother will be coming for her, I thought we could settle this when she comes but turns out I was wrong.“Dad! Dad!” I walked to my fathers room shouting his name. “Where are you manners young man?” He asked but this is not the time for that. “Dad, Andrea left.” He stopped what he was doing to look at me. “Left? To where?” “Her mom came for her dad. She could have allowed us to sit down and talk about it.” I told him. “She is right. Whatever action she takes is for the best.” He return
~ Andrea ~I was in the parlor all by myself when I saw mom storming inside. She moved to me at a speed and slapped me across the face. “Mom!” I screamed holding my cheek. Miss Karen rushed out of the kitchen to the parlor. “You took a serious decision like this without informing anybody and now you are stuck in a contract marriage. Were you really going to waste your life for a little amount of money?! Huh!” Mom shouted. I watched her and could only cry. “We are leaving here at this instant. The contract has to be terminated whether both parties agree or not.” Mom grabbed hold of my hand and started dragging me. Miss Karen tried to interrupt but was cut short. “Stay away from this please.” Mom told her as she dragged me outside. “Mom, this is not right. Please let me go back inside.” We were now looking for a cab to take us home. “So you can continue making stupid decisions? You are never going back there Andrea and for your work, you quit from today.” “Mom!” I exclaimed. A ca
~ Andrea ~The first thing I heard when I woke up was Derrik's screams. He sounded angry but I don't know why. I stood from the bed and walked to Derrik. “What is the problem? Why are you passing back and forth?”“You wouldn't believe the news just like this.” He showed me the screen of my phone.“Our contract? How did this happen? How did this get into the hands of the media?”“This is surprising to me as well.” Derrik replied. I was still in thought when I something clicked I had told Valentine Day and I believe she wouldn't go against me should I just call and ask everything “What do you suggest we do about this now, Derrik?”“I am not too sure what you should do now.”We were still facing each other when the door burst open, revealing Mr Johan. “What is the meaning of this?” He questions. “Derrik, tell me this is not true. How can you two get into a contract married? You deceived me and the general public now this action of yours will put us into serious problems.” He was rea
~ Andrea ~“Don't think about it too much Andrea Just wait right here I'll get you something to eat and then you can take a nap afterwards.” She left out for the food like she said. I just couldn't stop thinking about it. Pregnant in a situation like this. In the middle of a contract marriage which is ending in 4 months, how could you speak like Andrea? What if this thing ends and then you have to take responsibility for the child? How do I even know Derrik wants a child? What do I do now? I can't just stop thinking about it. I have to find a solution. Should I tell him about this just like the doctor and valentine suggested or should I keep it to myself and then think about the solution I was still in thoughts when I heard Valentine talk. “I thought I told you not to think too much Andrea. remember you have a baby inside of you and wouldn't like to have it hurt will you?” I shock my head disagreeing about the fact that I won't want to hurt the little being inside of me. I took t
~ Andrea ~I woke up to the sound of my phone ringing. I had missed five calls from my family. What could be the problem? I called the number which was my mother's number in haste. “Mom, what is the problem? Why did you call me this early?”“Andrea, you might have forgotten something today is Lisa and Laurel's birthday. How could you forget such an important day?”Oh shoot! I forgot their birthday. “But mom, you should have told Derrik and I when we came over for dinner. Why didn't you?”“Because I wanted you to remember your siblings' birthday. They are so mad at you right now. You better come home.”“I will be there soon. Please tell them I am sorry.”“You have to come and do that yourself and yeah, I don't have the strength for that.”“Okay mommy. I'll be there soon.” I rushed into the washroom, took my bath and then dressed up. I didn't want to disturb Derrick so I dashed down, even missed breakfast and then called the driver to drive me to my mother's place. Few moments late
~ Andrea ~I was talking about how much I miss my family all through the ride. Derrik was quiet and I assumed he was listening to me. We finally got there and I saw mom Lisa and Laurel waiting by the door. They might have thought we were not coming. "My baby is here!” Mom exclaimed the moment we got out of the car hugging me. "Good evening Ma'am." Derrik greeted politely. "Oh come here Derrik. you are like a son to me." Mom hugged him and ignored me. Really? Mom was treating him like the son she never had, serving him more meat on the table and ensuring that he was satisfied. I was happy Derrik was having someone fill the void of a mother in his life.All through the night, he was taken care of by mom, Lisa and Laurel. When it was finally time for us to go, mom wouldn't let us, not because she was going to miss me but because she was going to miss having Derrik around. "Really Mom you're not going to miss me but Derrik?" Lisa and Laurel laughed at my question. I glare at them,