The baby is hungry

Caden

I enjoyed the life I was living. I didn't want to get caught in a union called marriage. I wasn't ready for it. But my mother had to make me marry a stripper; a girl I had only met once. She could be lying for all I know. Someone could have planted her in my life. 

That's why I told Anthony  this morning to keep an eye on her after she came home with a red and swollen cheek. She had told me she fell down the stairs while she was at her home. That didn't look like something caused by a fall. I would have asked Lucas about it, but I didn’t want to. The guy and I met occasionally and we're not close like before.

My mother has always wanted me to get married but I didn't know it would be something like this. I knew her sole reason was because she was from the King's family.

The next morning, I sat in my office, when a knock came on the door.

“Come in.” I said.

Bruna pushed the door open. A familiar looking silver tray in her hand. 

Her brown hazel eyes, which looked familiar somehow, scanned my office.

I took notice of her eyes when I first saw her in my hotel room. I was startled for a moment but reminded myself that she couldn't be the one.

“Good morning,  Mr. Caden. I brought you some breakfast coupled with your morning coffee.”

Hadn't it been we were in a dark room, the smile on her face would be able to illuminate said room. 

I leaned into my desk, my pen in my hands as I stared at her in front of my office door. 

“Didn't I tell you not to show your face anywhere near me unless I asked you to?”

I knew we were married and there was no possible way of avoiding her, but all I needed was her to respect my decision and stay away.

Like she was actually dumb or maybe lost her hearing, she slowly walked into the room with the tray in her hands. She pulled a small black stool  below my office desk  and placed the tray on it.

 She then placed her weight on the brown couch behind her and stared at me with a serious look on her face like she was about to give me a lecture.

“Look, I didn't want this marriage…” She pushed a few strands of her hair over face.

“Your mother made me do this. I was ready to take care of my child if you had said you didn't want it”

I can't believe I was actually listening to her, but here I was. 

She leaned into the seat and crossed her legs.

“Since it already happened, I promised to do my best as your wife, to take care of you.”

My brows almost touched my hairline at what she said. As my wife!

With that, she stood up and left.

My phone hummed on the table. I picked it up and rolled my eyes at the message. 

Adeline: Are we meeting tonight? I promised to make it worth your while.”

I just had to delete the  message and keep my phone back on the table. 

She was one of the strippers I met some months ago at Vortex. She was a good fuck and knew exactly where to touch. I had given her my contact in case I needed her during a boring day.

 She started  bugging me as though we were exclusive. 

I didn't have that time on my plate. I had to go to the company after the campaign meeting to see how things were going down there.

When I was done, I stood up to leave to go prepare for the campaign. My eyes caught  the tray that was still untouched.

I sent a text to the maids to clear my office. 

I stood in front of my mirror adjusting my tie, when the door to my closet opened revealing my mother. I watched her through the mirror as her gaze moved up and down my body. 

“Isn't your wife coming with you to the campaign?” She questioned, crossing her arms.

I whirled away from the mirror and looked at her with narrowed eyes. 

“She doesn't have to come, mother. We have only been married for two days and she doesn't have to be in my business unless I say so.”

I picked up my favorite perfume brand and sprayed it on me, oblivious of the fact that she was still standing there.

The only connection I had with that girl was my child and nothing else.

“How do you expect to get acquainted when you can't go out with her?”

“I only care about the child, Mother.”

I placed the small bottle back in its place and turned to leave

“She will be ready in thirty minutes.” She finalized and stepped out

Ofcourse, I left with her because my mother made me.

Before reaching the campaign hall, I turned to her “ You have to be at my side at all times. Do not talk to anyone. And no one has to know I married a stripper.”

Like the word struck a nerve, she glared at me with dark eyes.

 “Repeat your last sentence again. I didn't hear that.” 

“I said, no one has to know I married a stripper.” I repeated like she asked. She didn' look at me but the window. I watched her bite her lips like she was holding back on saying something. 

The hall was almost filled when we made our way inside. I walked on the red carpet till I made my way to the stage. There were a lot of people.  Anxiety started building in. I braced myself. If I wanted this, I had to go through with this campaign.  I had to learned to cope with the crowd.

Before taking a seat, I spotted Bruna at the far corner with Anthony and Knox. She said she preferred standing behind rather than coming to the stage with me.

I made my way to the stage “It is with absolute honor that I stand before you all today to talk about the upcoming elections.”

A few cheers and claps echoed in the hall, camera lights flashing in my direction as always.”

“Be rest assured that everything will turn out good for the betterment of the country if you give me your full support.”

It was the same routine over and over again and like before, cheers erupted but were louder.

“How do you expect to accomplish all that?”

A reporter asked from the crowd. I forced a smile and responded. “Just give me your support and find out.”  

I said that, not looking at the journalist but where Bruna stood talking and smiling with Kendrix Tauren. There was no doubt that the news about my marriage was all over the tabloids but I remember telling her not to talk to anyone. 

 They smiled at each other like they were colleagues. What the hell were they talking about?

My hands clenched around the mic.

I signaled Anthony to take her away from there, but he didn't pick up the hint. So,  I decided to do it myself.

I turned to the anticipating crowd “ sorry about the intermission. Something came up.”

“We are leaving.” I grabbed her wrist and dragged her out.

“You're hurting me.” She squirmed under my hold as I yanked her into the car.

“Didn't I tell you not to talk to anyone? These people are vultures in human form and you don’t have to interact with them.”

She rolled her eyes at me and massaged her hand “ says the king of vultures himself” she scoffed, eyes almost rolling to the back of her head. 

“Drive me to the headquarters.” I turned away from her and told Anthony.

Once at the company, I made my way directly to the top floor.

“Welcome, boss.”

“Welcome, boss.”

The workers greeted me as I walked past them.

“This is what we received from Lunaria.”

Mark handed a green file to me. I opened it up. My eyes scanned the documents. I flipped through the ten or so pages.

My eyes narrowed when I didn't get what I was looking for. 

“Jerome said the  land documents couldn’t reach us because there have been some protests on the land. The natives don't want another oil and gas company to open up in that area.”

A sinister smirk formed on my face. Looks like I will have to go down to Lunaria myself.

“Lunaria huh? Planning to open another big company there?” Bruna came to stand in front of me with curiosity written all over face.

She continued when I didn't say a word.

“I heard the people are protesting against such companies given what happened five years ago. It destroyed a lot of properties, some people died and others lost their families.”

“How did you know that?” I asked, hating the fact that I had to be reminded of that incident. 

“You know, rumors and all that.” She shrugged.  Her fingers drummed on top of my table. 

“Hopefully you lead by example when you become president so that others won’t repeat the same mistakes.”

“The baby inside of me is hungry. Let's get something to eat.” A yawn left her mouth as she grabbed my hand.