A marriage certificate

The bright sun shone into the big study at the Vladimir villa, old man Vladimir sat facing the two men sitting on the couch while Beverly sat opposite them.

“We are sorry to come directly to you Chairman Vladimir, yesterday was supposed to be the movie premiere date but due to Mr Damien's withdrawal, we couldn’t make the premiere possible and it’s going to affect us. We have asked Beverly to speak to him but she didn’t give us any positive feedback. I came here with the lead actor Micheal and as the director, it’s my job to make sure everyone benefits. Please Chairman Vladimir we need to ask Mr Damien what went wrong.” He said for Grandpa Vladimir to sigh looking at Beverly and then the other two men.

“I have talked to him, don’t worry he will come around just postpone the premiere date.” He said with confidence knowing his grandson will not want to give space for his illegitimate brother.

“Ok sir, we will….

A knock was heard cutting the director's words. The door opened and Damien stepped in, immediately the atmosphere in the study changed. His cold gaze laid on Beverly who immediately bowed her head then he shifted to Micheal who looked away.

“Good afternoon Mr Vladimir” the director greeted but Damien didn’t respond. He dropped the brown envelope he was holding on his grandfather's desk then was about to leave when his grandfather stopped him.

“Please wait,” he said for Damien to stop turning towards him.

“Please Director, you all should give us some privacy, just do as I have said,” old man Vladimir said for the director to nod.

Micheal stood up and left first then the director before Beverly stood up, she gently walked towards Damien who glared at her.

“Baby” she whispered for Damien to look at her with an expressionless face.

“Ba…

“Beverly please excuse us” old man Vladimir said for Beverly to sigh as tears began to form in her eyes while she walked out of the study and closed the door.

“What’s this?” He asked looking at the brown envelope on the table.

“You said I should either get married to Beverly or lose the family fortune to Daniel. I’ve worked too hard to do that” Damien said for his grandfather to smile.

“So have you finally decided to marry her” he asked for Damien to scoff.

“Open it,” he said to old man Vladimir who opened the envelope, he gently brought out the paper which made him frown immediately.

“A marriage certificate?” He asks Damien for Damien to nod.

“With who?” He asks for Damien to sigh.

“Read it, Grandpa, you are not illiterate,” He said for Grandpa Vladimir to frown carrying his glasses then began to read it.

“Who is Aurora?” He asked for Damien to sigh walking to the window side.

“I rather marry a girl I just met a few days ago than marry Beverly,” he said turning to his confused grandpa.

“Is she an elite or some peasant girl?” He asked for Damien to scoff.

“Your condition is that I should marry Beverly or lose my fortune to your illegitimate grandson but now I’m a married man, I’m not ready to be a husband to two women, I have never planned my life like that and besides who I want to spend my life with shouldn’t be your problem. I heard grandma was also a daughter of a farmer..” He said for the old man to scoff.

“How dare you? You are a rascal, that’s not.

“Except you just want me out of the family fortune Grandpa” Damien cut in.

“There is no reason why you will still want me to get married to Beverly after showing you my marriage certificate. Are you tired of me?” He asked for the old man to sigh dropping the envelope.

“I can never be tired of you Damien, we are here today because of your hard work and influence,” the old man said for Damien to nod.

“Good, you recognize that it will be an honor if everyone recognizes that and doesn’t bother me with Beverly.” He was about to leave when his grandfather stopped him.

“I want to see my new granddaughter-in-law, bring her for dinner tomorrow,” he said for Damien to chuckle then he looked at the old man.

“I will say the date when I will introduce my wife,” he said and left for the old man to scoff hitting his fingers on his desk.

“Just like his mother, stubborn but she is reserved, unlike this rascal.” He whispered looking at the paper on his table.

“A marriage certificate of Damien and Aurora Vladimir.” He looked at the signature, Sighing.

Down the stairs, Damien who was about to leave saw the director and Beverly standing as if they were waiting for him. Without paying any attention to them, he walked towards the villa door when Beverly rushed towards him holding his hands.

Damien sighed as he gently removed her grip from his wrist and then turned towards her.

“Are you dumb?” He asks for Micheal and the director to frown.

“Damien, I’m sorry,” Beverly said for Damien to look directly at Micheal's eyes without breaking contact with him, he spoke.

“I know you are not brilliant nor wise enough to be with me but yet I stoop low, I have moved past that now, I don’t share what’s mine, once it has gotten tasted by another, it’s no longer mine.” He said for Micheal to quickly look away then Damien looked at Beverly.

“You are too dumb to be my woman” he finally said then left making Beverly confused.

The director looked at Micheal and then Beverly while looking confused by Damien's words.

“I’m leaving, we will just do what the chairman said,” he said and left.

Micheal sighs as this movie will be a box office movie if aired, and he is anticipating an Oscar with the movie.

As he was about to leave, Beverly stopped him.

“What are we going to do?” She asks for Micheal to sigh.

“We wait for the chairman,” he said for Beverly to sigh then Micheal cleared his throat looking around.

“Are you sure he’s not aware about us?” He asked for Beverly to quickly shake her head.

“No,” she said looking around.

“His words earlier seem like it Bev, if he is aware then there’s nothing to.

“Let’s talk in a coffee cafe, I will tell my assistant to send you the address.” She said leaving while Camila who was coming from the kitchen area hide behind a pillar and listened to them. She frowns after hearing their conversation.

“Are they having an affair?” She asks herself before scoffing.

“It must be” she chuckles walking to her grandfather's study room.

Inside Damien's mansion, boasts vast, open-plan living spaces with polished marble floors and high, coffered ceilings. The living room is anchored by a modern fireplace and features plush, cream-colored sofas arranged around a glass coffee table. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame the panoramic views of the ocean, making the room feel like it’s floating above the sea. A grand piano sits in one corner, inviting impromptu performances.

Aurora gasped as she had never seen such a unique interior design and big space like this only in movies. Is he an actor?

She wondered as she sat in a wheelchair while an elderly man in an ash color shirt and black pants walked towards her and Simon. She looked as girls in the same uniform rushed down and lined up.

“Butler Thomas” Simon called for the man to nod.

“This is the boss's new wife, she’s here for six months only and during that process, she will be healing so I want you to assign a good maid to her.” He said for the butler to nod while the maids whispered.

“A wife for Six months, that’s crazy” they all whisper with curiosity.

“Please take her to her room,” Simon said then turned to Aurora.

“I’m leaving you under the care of the mansion butler, don’t worry he will take care of you,” he said Aurora to nod then Simon left.

The butler looked at the confused Aurora who kept looking everywhere with curiosity.

“Quiet,” he said for the whispering Maids to all keep quiet.

“Anyone found gossiping will face consequences,” he said then pointed at a maid.

“Stella, you will be in charge of her,” he said for the maid to frown while her colleague laughed at her.

It was 8 pm, and Agatha was so worried about Aurora's disappearance, she called Audrey but his number was not reachable so she decided to go to the apartment, after stopping a taxi, she entered and it drove off. A few minutes later, the taxi stopped at the entrance of the apartment, Agatha paid and walked towards the door. She knocked but no response, as she turned the doorknob, it opened making her step into the apartment,

“Hello, is anyone home?” She called but no response, as she walked towards the stairs, she began to hear moans which made her frown. Agatha immediately rushed upstairs and opened the door only to see Audrey and Sara naked in an intimate moment.

“You” she called for Sara to immediately cover herself including Audrey.

“What did you both do to Aurora?” She asked unbelievably……..