I'm married

My heels clicked on the ceramic tiles as I walked into the company. Preston was back and I didn’t know what to do or how to explain things to him. I knew Dad had intentionally sent him out of the country months ago because he wanted to get his way around things.

I entered the office and went to my chair and sat down, closing my eyes to think. Suddenly I heard a knock at the door and I could see who it was through the glass, though the walls muffled the sound.

“Come in,” I said.

“Miss Wright, you’ve got to go to the board meeting,” she said, offering me some files.

“You mean now?” I stood up and sprayed some perfume.

“Yes, everyone’s waiting for you.”

“Why didn’t they inform me about this?”

“You were in your honeymoon phase, so your dad instructed us not to tell you.”

“You may leave,” I gestured with my hand.

I entered the conference room, and there he was, smiling lovingly at me. I looked at him, dazed.

“Come, have a seat,” Preston urged, and gave me a grin, I faked a smile, looking totally confused as I walked and sat at his left side.

“The sales have decreased in the last month due to the wedding we had.”

“Whose wedding?” Preston whispered into my ear, and I instantly turned, no longer listening to what my dad was saying.

“Uhm” I wanted to tell him the truth, but I couldn’t find the courage to. “Well, it’s—”

“We’d like to hear what the managing marketing director thinks,” My dad concluded as everyone turned to look at me. “Melanie,” he called, I turned to find everyone staring questionably at me. “You weren’t listening.”

“Uhmmm… I think we’ll have to work harder to come up with a new strategy to sell our shoes.” I wasn’t listening, but what to do — through the topic of a meeting, it would be easier to know what to say… It’s the life of a professional businesswoman.

“Melanie,” Dad called.

“Yes? Mr. Wright”, she answered, and he scowled at me but I didn’t care, he could be angry for all I care.

“Get a new proposal and submit it at the next board meeting,” he instructed.

“I will,” Lucas told Dad as they both walked out of the room and I just packed my things.

***

What the hell was I going to explain to Preston? I couldn’t figure it out. I could hear him call my name, but I didn’t turn ‘cause I knew he’d ask questions, I can’t lie to him — ‘cause a day will come when he’ll find out.

“Melanie,” he called, running after me as he held my hands from behind.

“Oh, Preston” She pretended not to have heard.

“Are you avoiding me?” he asked as we walked to my office.

“No… why the sudden question?” I asked, pushing her office door open.

“You’ve been ignoring my calls” he closed the door behind us

“I’ve been busy lately,” I lied.

“Busy with what?” he asked, holding my hands. “How many times do I have to tell you to reduce the way you work?”

“I…”

“Come here,” he pulled me into a long hug, releasing me, he held my cheeks. “I miss you a lot.” He leaned forward to kiss me, but I recoiled.

“I’ve got something to tell you.” I walked away, backing him. Seeing his face would make me lose the courage to tell him.

“Yeah, who got married, and when did you start formally calling your dad? A lot happened while I was away,” he asked, hugging me from behind, and I released myself from his grip.

“I’m married.” I let the dog out of the cage, I turned to face him as tears rolled down my eyes.

“What?” He looked bemused, I don’t blame him.

“It sounds crazy, but it’s true, I’m married to–”

“To Jethro?” he interrupted and I nodded. “Tell me you’re joking.” She could see he was trying to hide his tears.

“I’m sorry,” I apologized, lowering my head, not able to look at his face. He took my hands and his eyes fell on the ring.

“It actually looks nice on you,” he commented with a smile, and he immediately left.

“Preston,” he was already gone. I walked and sat behind my desk. I could see he was badly hurt by that. I hoped he didn’t do something crazy.

Walking into the house as my heels kept clicking, I just walked up to my room without asking if Jethro was back. Preston left the office, and until now I haven’t received a call from him. I was beginning to get worried.

The moment I got into the room, I took out my phone to call… but he wasn’t picking any of my calls. “Where the hell could he have gone to?” I asked no one in particular, as I flung my phone on the bed and went to the bathroom.

***

I couldn’t concentrate, all my thoughts were on Preston. He hasn’t called back since last night, and I was beginning to lose it. Where could he be? I tried shoving the thoughts out of my head and continue with the new project I was handling. I carried the telephone, dialed the receptionist number, and brought the phone to my ear.

“Riss, has Preston come to work today?”

“No, ma’am.”

“If he does, call me immediately.”

“Okay, ma’am.”

Just as I ended the call, they was a knock at the door, and everythingin me felt like shooing the person away, but it could be important. A good and professional business woman doesn’t mix business and personal life together… dad always reminded me of that.

“Come in,” I instructed, and the door yanked open and Tiana walked up to her, handing me some files.

“We’re done with this, you can check it for any mistakes.”

“Okay,” she dropped them on my table and I started going through it. But instead of Tiana going, she stood looking at me.

“Anything else?” I asked, raising my head up.

“I know I shouldn’t interfere with your family problems, but ma’am, you shouldn’t be angry with Mr Wright, he loves—”

“Tiana!” She half yelled. “It’s none of your business what’s going on in my family.” I glared.

“I know, ma’am, we’ve known each other for six years now, I wouldn’t want to see you and CEO Wright in a—”

“Tiana, please leave my office.”

“I will, ma’am, but you need to listen to this.” Tiana paused looking at me for approval, after she noticed. I was listening, she continued. “I was about leaving your dad’s office when he got a call from someone and I could see he was troubled, his voice was harsh, I didn’t know what they were talking about but I heard him call your name countless times, they were talking about marriage, and Jethro then you” I didn't know what to say. What could they be hiding from me?

“you may leave if you’re done.”

Dad was in a haste to get me married to Jethro, although he knew that I hated that man, still he got me married to him without a second thought. Could they be something behind all this? Is Jethro blackmailing him? I'll have to get to the bottom of this. Dad’s the only one who can explain it, what if he doesn’t? If he wanted to, he would have done it a long time ago… “Jethro.”

***

“Hey!” I shouted at one of the maids as I got home from work. The last thingi could do was care to know about their names or anything, Jethro’s the only one that can disclose those things to me.

“It’s June, ma’am,” she politely said.

“I don’t care about your name, whether it’s June or July,” I replied rudely. I could tell June was frightened. The normal Melanie could never be this mean to anyone, I guess it's Jethro’s effect

“Sorry, ma’am.”

“Where’s Jethro?” I didn’t bother replying to her — all I wanted to do is to talk to that fool.

“He’s in his study,” June replied.

“Where’s that?”

“It’s over there,” June pointed as she walked towards the stairs. I could tell she was hesitant to tell me, but she did.

“Ma’am,” she called, running after me.

“What?” i asked, irritated.

“He doesn’t like getting disturbed when he’s in there” she informed

“Okay,” i replied, but she still blocked my way. “Get out of my way,” I softly said, I wanted to talk to him badly now.

“He’s in the room,” I knew she was lying, I could tell just by looking at her face. She was not scared for me, she doesn't want to lose her job.

“Alright”

***

I took a shower, got dressed, and put on a yellow satin nighty with its long net robe, dried my hair. I applied some lotion and sprayed my night perfume… I've actually gotten so used to spraying night perfume. It’s not actually night perfume but that’s what Melissa called it.

I always thought one day Preston and I would get married, but it’s different now. Melissa told me how Justin likes Sun Blue perfume and me told her to try and make sure i gets used to it, that all men like it, especially at night and that it brings out romantic feelings… But here I am married to a beast, a demon, yet she still uses it. “You’ve got to stop this habit of yours,” I told myself.

I instantly stood up from the makeup stool as the door went open. I knew who it was… who else if not Jethro. I trailed my way towards him, not knowing how to start… I could feel his gaze at me, it wasn’t leaving her body.

“Jethro,” I called, looking up at him. “I’ve got something to ask you,” I told him,my eyes not leaving his face, wanting to capture every expression he makes.

“You’re tempting,” I felt like punching him hard, here I am trying to talk something serious and there he was saying something entirely different

“Do you by any chance know–” his lips were on my neck

“You smell so good” he interrupted

“Do you know what’s –”, but I found myself falling, his touch has always been intoxicating, I couldn’t fight it “What’s the dread between you and my dad?” I asked,

“That depends on how good you’ll be on bed,” he whispered into my ears as he sucked my ears.

“Jethro…”

“Your performance will tell,” he slowly untied the robe and it fell to the ground.

My performance...