Rita walked into the mansion, hand in hand with Edmundo and she couldn't help feeling like a throphy wife. This wasn't her life, all this pretence she was suddenly thrown into. She was dressed in a long baby pink gown with a gold bracelet adorning her wrist. Her long jet black hair was tied in a severe bun, accentuating her beautiful face that was make up free.
Rita never bothered with makeup because she didn't see the use. The only time she applied makeup was if her face had a blemish she had to hide. Rodrigo was behind them and Rita felt drawn to him. He was dressed smartly in a navy blue suit, his hair was styled in an updo fashion and he easily beat Edmundo who wore a jet black suit.Edmundo left her soon, going over to greet some of the expatriates. Rita was left standing alone as she tried to blend in with the people she didn't quite know."You look beautiful Rita", Rodrigo said.Rita turned towards him, smiling at this show of compliment. She desperately wished she could leave here with him, somewhere far away from all these strangers."Thank you Rodrigo and you look dashing", she said, moving closer to him.Rodrigo took a step back when he sensed someone watching them and sure enough, Edmundo gave them the stink eye as he moved towards them."Shall we dance darling", he said, taking her away.Rita hated to leave Rodrigo's side but she had no other option but to go. Edmundo led her to the dance floor, gripping her waist possessively."I see you've become very familiar with your chaffeur", Edmundo said."Don't tell me you're jelous of an ordinary chaffeur Edmundo", Rita said, her heart racing.She had to think of a way by which she could divert his mind away from him. She didn't fully trust him not to do anything rash to him. She had to protect him with everything she had."Of course not. I just see you're getting closer to him each day", he said."Well, if you must know I only just recently promoted him as my personal guard. So you'll be seeing him around me a lot", she said."I see. Don't forget Rita, you belong to me and no one else. I placed that ring on your finger and it's a sign that we would get married very soon. Don't forget that Rita", he said."I know Edmundo, you've made that clear from the start", Rita sighed."Good", he simply said.Rita decided that she really needed to speak with her dad. The way Edmundo was going, she didn't like it. He was more possessive than ever before and that was something she wasn't comfortable with."Edmundo darling", a voice said.Rita broke away from him, staring at the blonde who just spoke. She was tall, taller than most of the women here. Immediately she saw her, Rita knew that she had implants. Her breasts were clearly fake, no doubt spending millions of dollars to get it done."Trisha, how lovely to see you", Edmundo said, giving her a peck."Hello", Rita said.She really didn't care about greeting the woman but she found it to be rude without at least, introducing herself.The woman gave her a condescending smile one that Rita knew was fake. She shook her hands lamely all the while her eyes were on Edmundo."Oh forgive my manners. Rita, please meet my friend Trisha, Trisha meet my fiance", Edmundo said."How lovely. I can't wait to attend your wedding if it ever holds that is", she chuckled.Rita smiled, not taking offence. As a matter of fact, she hoped that the wedding doesn't hold too. "Trisha, what has come over you?", Edmundo said, steering her away.Rita was once again left alone. She needed some fresh air from all the drama she had just witnessed. She made her way towards the balcony, stepping onto the patio."Bad company", a voice said.Rita whipped around until she discovered that it was only Rodrigo. She smiled, happy that he found her the minute she needed him."I just can't stand all those people. They're fake and I hate people who are fake", she sighed.Rodrigo moved closer, taking her hands in his. He gave it a little squeeze as they both watched the moon shining down brightly upon the earth."Come on, I want to show you something", he said, leading her downstairs.Rita had never been so excited as much as this before. She wondered what he was going to show her and she couldn't wait to find out what it was.Rodrigo led her towards a fountain at the back of the building where the party was being held. They walked towards it, taking the seats they found there. He released her hands, pulling out two coins from his pocket."Ever heard the tale where you throw a penny into a fountain under the moonlight and make a wish?",he asked."My grandmama used to tell me that but I never really believed it. I thought it was an old child's take", Rita smiled."Ah my dear, you would be surprised that wishes do come true", Rodrigo smiled.He handed her a coin, smiling as she stared at the coin in wonder. Sometimes, he wondered how she grew up especially with no sibling around. At least, he had his cousins who constantly came to visit so he didn't feel alone."Go on, make a wish", he smiled.Rita whispered into the coin, throwing it into the fountain as she watched it sink to the very bottom before the water covered it."Your turn", Rita smiled.Rodrigo did the same, immediately throwing his into the fountain. They watched as the coin sank to the bottom before the water covered it."Thank you, it was beautiful", Rita said."My pleasure. I just needed to rescue you from those people before you lost your mind. I could see that you really needed saving", he laughed."Honestly. Sometimes, I wonder how Edmundo could be so insensitive and he calls me his fiancee. It's just really annoying. I just don't understand why my parents can't see under his guise", Rita sighed."Sometimes, people put on a perfect deception and it would really be hard before you can determine if they're genuine or not", Rodrigo said with a far away look in his eyes."You seem to speak from experience, is there a story behind this", Rita said.She didn't mean to pry but she was quite inquisitive. Rodrigo smiled, throwing a stone into the distance."I wasn't an only child. I had a younger sister, she died", he said."Oh Rodrigo", Rita sighed, taking his hands in hers."She had an accident caused by her then boyfriend. When she met him for the first time, she was swayed by his sweet words. I knew right away that he was a fake, someone who could not be trusted", he said."What did your mother do?", Rita asked."You know mothers, she screamed and threatened to disown her but my dear sister paid deaf ears to our warnings until one day, she absconded with this guy and they got involved in an accident. The last I saw of my sister was her mutilated body, both of them died on impact", Rodrigo said."I'm so sorry, it must have been hard on you and your mother. What is her name", Rita said."Sophia, she was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen", Rodrigo said.Without thinking, Rita hugged him. Rodrigo was taken aback by this but he waved away his surprise, hugging her back."I'm always here if you ever need me. Please don't see me as only your employer but as a friend and a confidante", Rita said."Thank you", Rodrigo said."I should get back in, I don't want Edmundo suspecting anything", she said, rising to her feet.They made their way into the building, hand in hand. Upon getting into the reception, Rodrigo dropped her hands but not before giving her a quick kiss on the cheek. Rita smiled at this show of affection before she moved towards Edmundo who had no idea she was gone.She smiled because she had just found a new friend in her chaffeur. One she hoped was more genuine than Edmundo's."Where did you go?", Edmundo asked."Oh, no where. I just took a stroll because I was feeling the heat get to me", Rita said."Come, let's go greet some of my friends before we leave", he said.Rita sighed inwardly. No doubt, this would be another round of boring talks and short conversations that never seemed to lead anywhere.She endured it all and when they were done, she felt much happier."Such a lovely party", Edmundo said.Rita sighed, wishing to never experience any of that again.The next morning, Rita paid a visit to her dad. Lawrence Anderson was getting on in years. His usual brown hair had a lot of grey undertones. He was a man of medium height with an oval face and a strong jaw. Rita took his complexion, a bright caramel that seemed to sparkle under the sun. His eyes were a deep blue, just like the ocean. It usually drew people in especially prospective investors.It was no wonder why he had a lot of clients, wanting to associate with the Anderson group. Apart from his attractive physique, Lawrence Anderson was blessed with the gift of convincing people. He had a sugarcoated mouth that moved investors and clients and before they knew what was happening, they had already signed a deal. It wasn't a surprise to anybody that his daughter had taken his traits, one she used judiciously in running the empire."Hi Dad", Rita beamed, pecking his cheeks."Glad of you to come see me, it's been so long. How are you?",he said."I'm sorry dad, I k
"Please no visitors today Yasmin except if it's very important", Rita said through the intercom."Yes ma'am"."And please call me the head of the Health department, I need to have a word with him"."Alright ma'am, I'll send him up"."Thank you", Rita said before switching off the intercom.Few minutes later, there was a knock on the door. Matthew Dallas, the Head of the Health Department of the Anderson empire walked in."Good morning ma'am, you sent for me", he said.Even though Matthew was a bit older than her, he still addressed her as if they were of the same age group."Please sit down. You really shouldn't address me like that. Rita is fine please", she smiled."Don't worry about it ma'am, I'm perfectly okay with it", he said.His salt and pepper hair was styled neatly to the side, accentuating his face. He was a handsome man, gradually ageing. Rita couldn't remember when he began working for the organization but she knew that
"Darling, how lovely to see you", Rita faked a smile as she hugged him.Rodrigo stood at a corner, his hands fisted at the back of him. He hated to see her with a man who didn't give a shit about her."What took you so long to get the door, I've been knocking for a long time", Edmundo said.He walked in without any care in the world like the pompous man he was. Rodrigo remained where he stood, watching the scene before him."Sorry, I was in the inner office going over an important file", she lied smoothly."Ma'am, I shall take my leave now", Rodrigo said."Oh, I'm sorry for keeping you waiting. Thank you, you may go. Please pick me up at the close of the day, thank you", she said.Rodrigo nodded, leaving but not without giving her a wink unbeknownst to Edmundo who was facing the other side.Rita smiled, watching him leave. She shuddered when she remembered she was here alone with Edmundo."Would you like anything to drink darling?",she as
"When are you leaving for Los Angeles?", Edmumdo said, over lunch the following day.Rita could see some changes in him. His eyes were hollow and his cheek bones seemed to be sunken."On Friday, this week", she simply said."I see and who is going with you? Yasmin?",he asked.This was the part she hated, the part were she would tell him that it wasn't Yasmin but Rodrigo who would accompany her."Rodrigo, my chaffeur", she said.She waited for his outburst but when none seemed to come, she looked at him, willing him to say anything and not just smile like a deranged fellow."You know, you're getting too close to this chaffeur of yours. I might have a word with your father to terminate his appointment if you wouldn't do it", he smiled, sadistically."You wouldn't dare. Edmundo, this is my empire and I decide who gets to stay or not. I don't need you meddling into my affairs", she seethed."You'd be surprised at the things I can do. Remember
"A little birdie tells me that the Senator stopped by at the office today", May said as soon as her daughter walked in.Rita groaned, wondering why her mother was bent on frustrating her life. She never gave her a moment's rest, it was all about Edmundo and his family. She was sick and tired of her mother's desperation for her to get married to Edmundo. It was driving her crazy and she wished there was something she could desperately do to end this."Yes, you heard well. Now, would you let me go", Rita groaned."What did he come for?",she probed, sipping something that Rita suspected was coffee.Coffee was like a drug to her mother. She hardly went any day without it, sometimes she wondered how people could stand the smell talk more of the taste. Rita hated anything coffee related and she was grateful that there was tea else she would be going without breakfast most of the time."Mum, if you want to get the gist I suggest you go gossip with Yasmin. I'm very
"Don't think about it, just let it go", Rodrigo said.They were in her office. He tried comforting her as best as he could but she just couldn't shake off the disgusted feeling within her. After she saw the offensive magazine, she ordered the security men to send away all the reporters from the building. She couldn't deal with them and seeing them around her building was a constant reminder of Edmundo's infidelities."The thing is, I'm not bothered about what he does with his life. All I'm concerned about is that my name gets dragged together with his. I'm not so comfortable with that", she said, pacing about.Rodrigo walked towards her, taking her hands in his. The only way he knew how to comfort her was to touch her. His touch was like a drug to her, halting every discomfort within her. Just like he suspected, she stopped pacing as she rested her head on his chest.He stroked her hair, loving how soft it was. Rita gripped him tightly, fearing that he would go i
"I'll be traveling to Los Angeles tomorrow", Rita said over dinner the following evening.Earlier, she had already informed Edmundo who never failed to hide his displeasure about her plans on going with Rodrigo. She didn't care about what he thought and the only reason why she informed him was just for formality sake.She planned on leaving very early tomorrow morning with the private jet. Los Angeles was quite far and she wanted to get there as soon as possible."Alright darling, have you informed the pilot?",her father said, cutting into his chicken."Yes, I sent him a message earlier today and he assured me that the plane would be ready by morning", she said, munching on her food."Who are you going with? Yasmin?",her mother asked."No, Rodrigo", she simply said."Why him? Why aren't you going with Yasmin?",her mother said, dropping her fork noisily."With all due respect mother, whoever I decide to take is really none of your business", sh
Few hours later, the jet touched down Los Angeles. Rita heaved a huge sigh of relief when they finally left the plane. Ever since she was a young girl, she's been so terrified of planes, always wanting to take the bus or a private car if she could help it. Now, her phobia for the big bird was reduced.As they walked towards a private car that was already parked, waiting beside the airport, Rita breathed in the cool air of Los Angeles. This would be one of the numerous times she had visited the city. A distant family, now dead used to live here and every time she went on a holiday, she always made sure she visited."This is my first time visiting the state", Rodrigo chuckled.He manned the wheels as they drove towards the city center. From his words, Rita had a feeling that he didn't go out that much. She felt sad about this, knowing that he had the dream of traveling round the world but the resources to make it work was limited."Have you visited any other countr