In the span of a few days, they had been so wrapped up in a media frenzy over the news of their engagement that she hadn't slept for more than 4 hours in the past week.it was always makeup and hair for events,parties, interviews and the whole shebang of planning a wedding which his mother had completely taken over,fortunately. How could she live this life?
Even if it was for a short while she knew that all these would get too overwhelming for her and the only way she could think of to keep her grounded was the thought that her mother was going to be well again.News had gotten to her through Micheal that her surgery had gone well and that she was recovering well.Although she wouldn't be well enough to make the travel back for her wedding tomorrow.Her new iphone 14 that Micheal had gotten her,vibrated as she came out of the shower of her hotel.It was an unknown number.She slid the green button to answer. "Hello?"she asked curious.There was silence at the other end of the phone. "Hello?who is this?"she repeated.A Soft velvety voice spoke."Don't marry him.He's not to be trusted.He has a secret.Ask him,ask him where he was on the 13th of July?"the voice spoke frantically. She tried to understand what was going on but the call ended before she could ask."What the heck was that?"she thought out loud.confused.She went back to get ready for the ballroom dance classes that micheal had set up for her to be able to dance at their reception.All day,her mind kept wondering back to the mysterious woman that had called her.What if it wasn't a prank call,like she had convinced herself to believe.What if the woman was right?that he was keeping a secret .She had to know, at least to clear all her doubts.Later that evening they sat across each other enjoying the nightlight that loomed over the city from his hotel room.He had promised her that they would fully move into his house once they were wedded."So,how was your day?"he asked as he popped a piece of steak into his mouth.They were two days away from their weddings and he had initiated this dinner in order for her to sign the contract.This was the right time for her to ask the questions that had plagued her for so long before signing the contract."Are you hiding anything from me?"she blurted out.His hand paused midway to his mouth.He looked up at her from his dinner.His eyes narrowed to slits."Why do you ask?"he responded.She dropped her fork onto her plate and folded her hands under her chin."Because,if there's anything that would affect me after I become your wife,I would like to know"she retorted.He cleared his throat,reaching for a glass of wine to wash down the piece of steak that had gotten stuck in his throat.She waited for him to drink his fill.After he was done,he dropped the glass onto the table and shoved the plate away from him."You don't have to worry.There's nothing "he said holding onto his self-control."Now why do I find that so hard to believe?"she replied.A vein ticked at the side of his jaw.He let out a chuckle."Do you know one thing about me...I hate being interrogated "he confessed. glaring straight at her now.She felt the chill in her bones from just that one look but she had to stand her ground."That isn't the issue right now."she said as calmly as she could muster up."Then what exactly is the issue,Alina"he asked, dangerously drawing out her name."What are you hiding from me?"she asked again."I won't repeat myself twice"he responded."Just sign the papers"he said ,sliding the papers across the table till it landed in front of her.He knew that was where this conversation was heading to.She was having doubts and he wouldn't entertain those doubts.She folded her arms across her chest in defiance. His lips hardened. He wasn't going to tolerate her going back on her word.so to persuade her,he got up,crossed over to where she sat and offered her the papers."Sign these papers"she said through his clenched teeth.he was trying to keep calm but it seemed that wasn't going to be the case."Sign the damn papers now!"she jumped at the sound of his booming voice. Scared,she picked up the pen and scrawled her signature onto the line at the edge of the paper.He took a copy of the signed paper and left the other copy on the table."That is your copy of the agreement.Go through it"he ordered as he folded and tucked the piece of paper into his suit jacket.Satisfied,he turned to walk away."Where were you on the 13th of july?"she shot up from her sit.His head whipped around so fast she was afraid his neck would snap on impact.His eyes widened in confusion."Who told you that?"he whispered."How did you know that?"he asked again,this time his voice grew louder.she took a step back as he took one menacing step forward towards her ,his intent to kill.He took three long strides towards her as she backed up against the railing. "Who told you that?tell me!"he shouted as he gripped her arms tightly,shaking her."I don't...I don't know.Let me go Micheal, you're hurting me!"she cried trying to wriggle her way out of his tightening grasp.she knew it would leave a bruise. "don't you ever! bring that up again.Understood?!"he shouted.She nodded defeatly.Satisfied, he released her.Her knees buckled and she fell in a heap on the balcony floor crying into her hands while he loomed over her like a ghost. He wrestled with his emotions and his care for her and in the end his anger won.He walked out of the room leaving her shaken. Fear for her future imminent. As she walked down the aisle two days later,her thoughts tossed in a million other directions.but the one thing that took precedence in her mind was the clause in the contract that had bared her down these past few days leading up to the wedding.The clause that read:'once wedded,is to be my wife in every way.in bed and in life until a child is sired.'What a funny game that life had to play on her.She watched as his eyes followed her movements. They were sitted across from each other on his private plane on their way to their honeymoon.The wedding had ended in a frenzy with his mother being emotional,his younger sister ignoring her and his father nodding in approval as they walked down the aisle hand-in -hand as husband and wife."You can stare at me all you want.I won't crack"He stated still focused on the opened pages in his hand."I want to go see my mother"she declared."We'll talk about that once we are back from our honeymoon.I do not want anything ruining my plans"He said nonchalantly as he flipped through the business magazine that had been brought to him as soon as he got seated.She grimaced."What plans?this is a marriage of convenience for you.And anything that you think you've "planned" would just be a wasted effort because there is no love between us.There never can be "she responded ending with a defiant pout on her lips that he found was getting difficult to res
As she stared up at the blazing hot sky,she wondered what her life was going to look like .The clouds floated around happily in humor to her predicament.Being fired from the only place she had worked so hard to get into after graduation was quite a comic story indeed.As she crossed the pathway leading up to her rundown apartment closeby,a few blocks away from the building that had held all her dashed hopes and dreams,her heel got stuck in the broken cemented sidewalk.Thrusting out with all her might,the heel of her favourite suede stiletto broke.She stumbled backwards and landed on her butt, grazing her hands onto the ground.It hurt.She knew that right at this moment ,the universe was mocking her.Working endlessly and tirelessly for years only to come out with the best degree and getting admitted into the workplace she had applied for seemed so far away now.shelooked down at her stubbed heel and wept for her bleak life."What's a beautiful girl like you doing on her ass on the sidew
"I guess the surprise has already hit you"he observed.Unable to speak,she nodded her reply."I know that this may come as a shock to you but you were highly recommended "he continued.She frowned in confusion. "What is that supposed to mean?"she asked skeptical of his intentions. With a wide grin on his face,he leaned in closer across the table."I have a proposition for you"he said."What proposition?excuse me,but am trying to wrap my head around the fact that am sitting across from the owner of the enterprise I work in.Wait,was this even planned?"she blurted out.Her mind going in different directions trying to piece everything together.He straightened up now.And gave her a once over before opening his mouth to speak. "This meeting was purely coincidental.Although I can't say,we wouldn't have met either way.But am glad it happened sooner rather than later."he explained."So what do you want from me?"she asked ."I just want to propose something to you"he declared."You've said
"You're such a vile person!"she spat out with as much venom as she could muster.She felt her eyes sting with tears and her throats constrict in discomfort.No way was she going to let him win.She wouldn't let him.So with a defiant stance,she stood from where she sat,glaring at him."This conversation is over,Mr.Micheal.Thank you for coffee "with that she walked out leaving a very confused micheal thinking through the points that may had lead to this very moment.Never in a million years had he seen this coming.No one had ever attempted to walk out on him or end the conversation until he was done. He pulled out his phone and dailed.His secretary picked up at the first ring."Doris,I want you to do something for me.Its about Alina"he spoke.* * * *On her brisk walk home, her mind reeled and her heart picked up a few more beats unable to calm the sensation that had washed through her with her encounter with her boss. She had never thought this day would go this way but she was det
All eyes were on them now as they watched the scene unfold.She had heard many stories about mother in laws and how they were always opposed to their son's choice in women.Always.She'd seen them in all the telenovelas her mum had loved to watch before she got too Ill to watch anymore."Don't be worried about my mother "his words had played over and over as she watched the beautiful older woman walk over to them with her entourage of women that seemed judgmental from the looks and stares from around the room.Her thoughts drifted to the events of this evening..."I don't understand whey you have to plan this huge party .Its completely unnecessary."she had cried out as she sat in his office memorizing information about the important people that were going to be there at the party he was arranging for them. It sounded absurd at first.She had not seen the need to publicly announce their engagement when this was meant to be shortlived."I cannot wed without showing my family and people who