Chapter Two

We’re already here at the reception and I’m currently talking with five guys. They’ve explained what is really happening and I found out that the guy beside me was forced to marry because if he doesn’t, his grandfather will take all of his riches and send him to their farm. 

I scoffed at his reasons. What’s wrong with being a farmer? For his information, it is the farmers that provide us food to eat but unfortunately, they were unappreciated and often abused by the country’s government itself.

I stared at my ‘husband’. I studied his face. Hmm… He’s quite familiar.

But what boggles my mind is why does he have to hire a woman to be his wife? With his face, he can get any woman he wants in just a simple wink.

Is he perhaps…

I shook my head to get rid of that thought. C’mon now Nola don’t be so judgmental, so what if he has the same gender identity as Caleb? It’s none of your business already.

I cleared my throat and started reading the contract that was given to me. “This is to certify that Ms. Tiffany- hey! My name is not Tiffany!” I said when I read the name that was written in the contract. I shook my head in disbelief while my ‘husband’ massaged his temples.

“My secretary will get that edited later.” He said. 

I shrugged and stared each one of them. “By the way, what are your names? We’ve been talking four hours I don’t even know your name.” 

They stared at me in disbelief. What now? 

“Seriously? You don’t know us?” the guy with gray eyes said. I nodded and rolled my eyes.

The other guy cleared his throat and stepped forward to shake my hand. “I’m Link. Lincoln Quijano.” He introduced himself. 

My eyes widened in amusement. “As in Mr. August? The hottest firefighter in the country?” I asked and he nodded. Wow.  Hazel eyes, pointed nose and the infamous billion dollar smile! It’s really him!

Lincoln Quijano, if I know was hailed as the hottest firefighter in the country by a magazine. He was the son of a business tycoon. I wonder why he became a firefighter?

“Thank God it’s already September! I had nightmares whenever I see your face in my calendar!” I joked. He frowned and went back to his friends who were laughing.

“You guy with the chinky eyes, what’s your name boy?” I asked like a killer clown.

The guy with chinky eyes stepped forward, he smiled and suddenly his eyes disappeared. “Hello I’m Yñigo Mitchel Sy.” I nodded.

So he is the heir to the Chua-Sy Empire. 

“Malcolm Sullivan McQueen” the guy with green eyes introduced himself. I tilted my head to study his face. “You don’t look like a race car to me but how are you related to Lightning McQueen?” I asked.

His brows furrowed clearly confused. “What? Who’s that?”

“You know the race car that says kachow!” I imitated the cartoon character. 

“Seriously woman?” he said and went back to his other friends while shaking his head and scratching the back of his neck. I heard he owns an automotive company.

“Keegan Wyatt Moreau.” Said the guy with gray eyes, he bowed like a royalty and kneeled afterwards and flexed his biceps to imitate a Greek god statue. We all winced because of his actions, he just laughed and went back to his other 3 friends and started gossiping like high school girls.

So he is the new CEO of the Moreau Group of Constructions. 

All of them are included in the list of most eligible bachelors and well known in their respective fields.

I turned my head to the guy whom I married and anticipated to introduce himself like his friends. He rolled his eyes for the nth time. What’s with this man? Is he mad at the world?

“Aries.”

“Oh you’re an Aries? I’m Sagittarius!” I said and clapped like a seal. “But I’m not asking for your zodiac sign, I’m asking for your name.” I said.

“My name’s Aries dumbass! Aristotle Napoleon Higgins.” He exclaimed. I held my chest and looked at him with wide eyes.

“Chill bro, I was just asking! Why are you even mad?” I asked but then I realized something. “Wait, are you the Chairman and CEO of Higgins Group of Companies?” I asked him in amusement.

How come the most eligible bachelor can’t find a woman to spend his life with? If I’m his wife, I’d be the happiest woman in Earth! Oh, right! I’m his wife now. I chuckled.

“Yes, please continue reading the contract please...” he said and massaged his temples. He was clearly getting stressed out because of me.

“Wait I didn’t even introduce myself yet!” I said and stood up. “Hello I’m Nola Florentina Balthazar! 23 years old. I was born on the rainy November 6. Do you know why?”

“Why?” the four guys asked foolishly.

“Because the heavens are mourning because they lost an angel” I said and laughed hard. They all stared at me blankly.

“Please continue reading the contract.” Malcolm said and continued talking like a teenage girl to his other three friends.

I frowned and started reading the contract. “Rule number one! We should mind our own business not unless she is dragging my reputation. Reputation? Are you Taylor Swift?” I said and started dancing and singing to Taylor Swift’s Look What You Made Me Do.

He glared at me. “Alright! Alright I’ll continue! Rule number two! We should live in the same roof, but we will treat each other as housemates. Wow! I didn’t know I entered the Big Brother’s house.” I mumbled and looked at him. “Big brother is that you? Is it time to show my alligator tears?” but how come your filthy rich and have only a roof for a house?”

He massaged his temples again and ruffled his hair in annoyance. Nola, it’s time to shut your mouth. I heard the faint laughs of the four but immediately stopped when he glared at them.

“Florentina please…” he said trying to control himself. And what did he say? Florentina?

“It’s Nola my dear. Don’t call me Florentina I might bash your head on the wall.” 

He smirked. “Florentina.” 

“Yep, I know you’ll say that again. Rule number three! No one should know about our contract. But why are they here? This rule is useless.”

“Except for the okay? Would you please read the whole contract without your useless side comments?” he hissed. 

“I’m sorry okay? Rule number four, you should give me a child- a child?!” I shouted and glared at him. “Do you think I can easily buy a child at your mall? Are you high?”

“Continue reading.” He said while doing some weird hand gestures.

“You should give me a child within a year. 20 million will be given immediately and you should not have connections or any contacts with the child. What the actual fuck is that?” I asked in disbelief. “I won’t allow this! 20 million is too low. I’ll get pregnant, I will be fat, I am the one who will be in labor for almost a day and I’ll push the baby out. Hello?!”

“Fine 25.”

“Higher banker.”

“30 final. Take it or leave it.” 

“Deal.” I said and shake his hand. 30 million is a good deal. It will be more than enough for my sister’s treatments and to start a small business and most importantly I will be a millionaire instantly!

“Rule number five, the most important rule, you should not fall in love with me. Break one of these rules and none will be given to you.” I looked at him in purely disbelief. “Excuse me? Me fall in love with you? This rule is narcissistic on the highest level! What if you’re the one that will fall in love with me?”

He scoffed. “Me? Fall for you? I’d rather be single for the rest of my life.”

“Alright, don’t eat your words. Don’t go running after me if you fell.” I said as I shrugged my shoulders. He rolled his eyes and stood up. “C’mon let’s go out.”

I stood up and fixed myself before walking with him. He snaked his arm around my waist as we walk towards the table of his parents and grandparents. I looked around and I felt my mouth watered as I saw delicious foods served in the corner of the hall.

The roasted pig looks so delicious!

“Aries, can we eat first? I’m really starving right now.” I whispered.

“No.” he said and then turned to smile at his parents and grandparents. What a two-faced man. 

“Everyone, meet my wife her name is Nola Florentina Balthazar- Higgins.” He introduced me to his family.

Her grandmother approached me first. She hugged me tightly and kissed me on the cheeks. “Hello Nola, I’m your grandma now! My name is Adelaide you can call me Granny Adel and this is you Grandpa Benji.”

“Hello hehehe.” I waved my hand awkwardly. Grandpa Benji stood up hugged me tightly.

His mother approached me next. “Hello Nola, I’m Sadie Higgins. You can call me Mama and this is my husband Augustus you can also call him Papa.

“How many years are you in a relationship? Aries hasn’t told me about you Benji always asks him to get married, but he would always say he doesn’t want to” Granny Adel asked

“Three years.”

“Two years

We answered in unison and looked at each other. I gave him the look and turned to his family and laughed. I wrapped his hips and smiled. “My God Honey-bunch sugarplum pumpy-umpy-umpkin you’re so forgetful! You’re always busy with your work to the point that you have already forgotten about it!” I acted.

I think I deserve and Oscar award for this.

He cleared his throat and smiled awkwardly at them. “Sorry my love. I thought we are in a relationship for 2 years.” He said and kissed my forehead. He also deserves a nomination for the best actor award for this.

“What’s your work my dear? And I’m confused, where is your family?” Grandpa Benji asked. I immediately looked at Aries for help but that bastard just looked away.

I cleared my throat and smiled lightly. “Ah eh… I’m working as a pastry chef at Higgins Hotel” I said and Aries immediately looked at me.

“Oh you’re working at our hotel? That’s nice… did Aries helped you get hired?” Mama Sadie asked. I shook my head and they all nodded.

“My parents are already dead two years ago they died in a vehicular accident while on their home from the city to buy ingredients for our pastry business and my sister is in the hospital, she was diagnosed with lung cancer and it’s already in a late stage.” I answered. Well, at least I didn’t lie about that part.

They looked at me gently, trying to sympathize with me. “I’m so sorry my dear. That must’ve been rough. How is your sister?” Papa Augustus asked.

“As of now, I’m still finding money for her surgery and for her treatments. She is really in a bad condition right now.” I wiped the tear that fell on my cheek. “Ah… why I’m crying.” I said while trying to stop myself from crying completely.

Granny Adel stood up to hugged me tightly. She then glared at Aristotle. “Why didn’t you help her? Nola you could have asked Aries for help. We will be more than willing to lend a hand.” she said while Aristotle on the other hand held her chest and acted as if he was shocked.

“I don’t want to bother people that’s why I chose to hide it from Aries. People might think I’m dating him for money.” Aries scoffed beside me. I pinched his waist secretly.

This fucker doesn’t know how to ride the drama.

“Mama let’s stop talking about that! It’s their wedding day they should be happy!” Papa Augustus said. I nodded and smiled.

“Nola how’s the food?” Grandpa Benji asked.

I glared at Aries and then turned to smile at Granpa Benji. “I haven’t eaten anything yet.” Yes and it’s your grandson’s fault. I want to say that but I chose not to.

“Aries c’mon let your wife eat! I will really bash your head if you don’t feed Nola!” his grandmother threaten Aries. He dragged to the table full of foods.

“Was that all true?” he asked while putting food on my plate. Wow. He can be a gentleman after all.

“Ah yes, it is a good decision to tell the truth, what if they want to meet them? I’ll be digging their graves in the cemetery.” I said and he chuckled.

“Hey Nola!” our Sous Chef greeted. My eyes widened. So they were assigned to cook the foods here huh? My co-workers went to my direction. Lea even smacked my head. “You little bitch! You didn’t even bother to tell us that you are the wife of our big boss? Unbelievable!”

The feeling is mutual, I didn’t know that I’m the wife our big boss. “I apologize, God bless you.” And for the second time, I was smacked in the head, this time it was Jia.

“Hey that hurts! What’s with you and smacking me in the head? I’ll this to my husband, you’re all abusing me!” they all frowned because of what I said.

“Nola.” We all looked at the man who called me. It was Aries, they all went back to their works.

We’ve been talking and smiling with the guest for hours and my jaw is literally hurting right now. My gums are all dried up from smiling and my feet really hurts. There were many guests and majority of them are well known! Some are politicians, well known business tycoons and even celebrities!

I even talked to the protagonist of a drama that I’ve been watching every evening!

When the wedding was over, we went directly to a suit upstairs. “I’ll shower first.” He said and immediately entered the bathroom. I didn’t mind him and went to lay on the bed.

Ahh, rest finally… My feet really hurt and stings! I think it has already a wound from talking to every table at the reception. We didn’t have the time to take a seat.

I also slightly massaged my jaw. Damn! So these are the disadvantages of being the wife of a billionaire. You’ll have locked jaw and dried gums from smiling at every guest.

Minutes have passed and I have just realized something.

I don’t have clothes with me! Even my phone wasn’t here, I left it at the apartment because I was running late for my photo shoot- turned into a wedding shit. How can I contact Caleb? That bitch will rip my head apart tomorrow for not showing up.

I was about to knock on the bathroom’s door when it suddenly opened. Revealing topless Aristotle showing his well-toned body.

Oh my goodness gracious, delicious, malicious, dangerous! Are those pandesal? How many are those? Two, four, six, eight. Oh, lalala…

“Like what you see, my love?” he said and chuckled. I glared at him.

“I make those at our bakery, they are more tasty than those pandesal of yours.” I said and rolled my eyes.

“Okay if you say so” he said and sat on the bed even if he is just wearing a towel on his lower part of his body.

He took a glance at me. “Aren’t you going to take a bath?” he asked. I almost forgot! I was about to ask for his phone, so I can contact Caleb and ask for my clothes, but I was slightly distracted by his abs. Just slight.

“Ah eh… I don’t have clothes with me.” I said while still standing in front of the bathroom door.

He sighed and he opened his phone to call someone. “Hello Bea, buy some clothes for my wife. Huh? Size?” he studied my whole body as if he was a walking tape measure. In the end he just shook his head. “Maybe just buy clothes as if it’s for you. I think you have the same size. What? No dumbass.” He said and ended the call.

“Wait for thirty minutes.”

“Are you really that close with your secretary?” I said and sat on the single seated sofa.

“Yeah. Are you jealous?” he said and smirked?

“Wow, excuse me?”

“She’s my cousin.” He explained.

“No one asked.”

“Tss.”

Silence surrounded the room. 

“Uh Aries…” I called him.

“Hmm?” he answered while his attention was on the television.

“Can I borrow your phone? I need to contact my sister and my friend.” I said while sticking my two pointing fingers together.

“Here.” He said and threw his phone at me. Good thing my reflexes are wonderful and caught it perfectly. Really? Are billionaires always like this? “Hey! These are expensive you know!” I said.

“Nola, I can buy the entire company of that phone.” He said in matter of fact.

I shrugged my shoulders and opened his phone. Not long after, I returned his phone. He stared at me weirdly. “I thought you were going to contact your sister and friend?” he asked

I scratched the back of my head. “ I can’t remember their contact numbers and I just remember that my sister doesn’t have a phone.”

He shook his head. “Crazy woman.” He whispered. I was about to re-butt when we heard the knock on the door. He immediately stood up and went to the door to open it. I followed him.

“Here! Hello!” she greeted when she saw me. “I don’t know what’s your type to wear, so I bought everything that you might like.” I stared at her hair. It was rainbow. How cool is that! One of these days I’ll might color my hair just like that.

She gave the paper bags to Aries and Aries gave it to me. “It’s too much! Pajamas and a shirt will be fine for me. You don’t have to buy so many clothes.” I said while staring at the paper bags on the floor.

She waved her hand dismissively. “ Nah it’s alright! My cousin won’t go bankrupt by these clothes. It’s just pennies for him! I’ll go now and you!” she pointed her fingers at Aries.

“What?”

“Do your best tonight, performance level! Move like sewing machine! Bye!” she said and walked away.

Aries slammed the door. “Dumbass.” He mumbled and went back to bed. I didn’t mind what her cousin just said and went to the bathroom to clean up.

I winced at the clothes his cousin bought. I don’t wear these kinds of clothes for god’s sake. Most of them are sexy lingerie what the fuck? Good thing she bought a pajama and a tank top. This will do.

I went out of the bathroom after changing my clothes and saw him in the bed still watching television. “Where will I sleep?” I asked. I won’t sleep beside him duh!

“In the bed? If you don’t want to sleep beside me there’s the sofa.” 

“Wow what a gentleman.” I said and rolled my eyes.

“I paid for this suite. I deserve to sleep on the bed and besides I won’t do anything to you. You’re not my type. Don’t be so assuming”.

I frowned and laid on the bed beside him. “I’m warning you I move a lot when I sleep. I apologize in advance if ever I’ll kick you anywhere tonight.” I said and covered my body with comforter.

“Whatever.”

I didn’t bother answering and fell asleep. I’m very tired because of this shit I went into. 

And my warning isn’t wrong. I woke up at around 7:30 and my head is already at the corner of the bed and my feet is at his face. I immediately stood up and to take a bath and get dressed. I need to go to the hospital today.

Luckily his cousin bought a casual dress and a strappy sandal so I didn’t have any problems. I tiptoed towards him. He was still sleeping like a dead person.

“Bro, I’ll just go to the hospital.” I whispered in his ears.

He’ll hear it right? Whatever! I went out of the hotel and hailed a cab to go the hospital good thing I have still money for my fare.

When I open the door of my sister’s room Caleb immediately went to me and grabbed my hair. “You bitch! Why didn’t you show up? Do you know I almost got fired because you didn’t show up?” he shouted while grabbing my hair.

“Hey ouch! Let go of my hair and I’ll explain what happened.” I said and he immediately let go of my hair. We went to my sister’s area because the other patients and its guardians are laughing at us.

“So what now?”

“So here it is, I went to the wrong venue.”

“So dumb and then?”

“I got married.” 

“Ah you got ma- wait? You got married?!” he screamed causing to wake Niah up. I smacked his head. “Nola, are you married?” Niah said while opening her eyes.

I went near her and brushed her hair gently. “Yes, Go to sleep again, you need to rest. Did you eat?” she weakly nodded and went back to sleep.

“Who’s the unlucky guy?” Caleb asked.

“It’s Aristotle Napoleon Higgins” I answered which he laughed like a witch.

“Did you take some illegal drugs yesterday? The billionaire Aristotle Napoleon Higgins is your husband? Wow, your dreams are getting harder to reach every day.” He scoffed.

“Whatever. If he shows up here I’ll smack you in the head.”

“I’m sorry is just that you are so funny these days. Why don’t you apply to be a clown? And by the way, is today the last day of your apartment?” he asked. My eyes widened. Shit it’s the last day.

“Oh shit it is! Do you have money that I can borrow?”

“I’m sorry my friend but I also paid my own bills yesterday with my money I earned from the photoshoot.” He answered. I shook my head and immediately ran outside and hailed a cab to my apartment.

That woman might throw out my things. Fuck this. 

When I arrived at the apartment I immediately went inside. They have opened the door. What the fuck. I saw Ms. Castillo ordering some men to bring things out of the apartment.

“Mrs. Castillo please… just one week. Give me one more week and I promise to pay our rent,” I begged.

“Nola, I already gave you two days, that’s already too much.” She looks at the men who were bringing out my things. “Alright bring them out!” she ordered.

I followed her outside and kneeled in front of her, my tears are already falling. “ Please just one week…” I sobbed. 

“Nola, I’m going to be honest with you. I already sold your apartment, the new tenants are moving in tomorrow so find another home to live with your sister.” She said and walked away. The workers even changed the door lock, so I can’t come inside.

I sat on the road and cried helplessly. Why is this happening to me? It feels like my sister and I absorbed all the bad luck in the world.

My old neighbors are looking at me, some of them are whispering things about me and my sister. I didn’t mind them. I don’t want their sympathy, it makes me feel like I’m weak. I just cried until an expensive pair of shoes stood in front of me.

I looked up and his blue eyes met mine. He sighed and crouched down to be able to see my face.

“There you are…” he said gently using his hoarse voice. “I’ve been looking all over the city for you. Why are you crying my love?” he gently wiped my tears that fell on my cheeks.