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"Alyssa?" Briella called out to the maid as she descended the stairs. She looked all over the house for her husband, but he was nowhere to be found.

"Ma'am?" The maid greeted her at the bottom of the stairs.

"Where the hell is my husband?" she yelled.

"I thought he told you already," Alyssa shrugged.

"What did you say to me? If he had said something to me, I wouldn't have been screaming your name, would I?" Her patience had run out.

"He had gone away for a month and would return in a month "Alyssa added.

"Okay, please assist me in packing my belongings. I have a flight to catch "She directed her walking to her room.

"But, ma'am—

"No buts, Alyssa, no buts," she said as the maid followed her to her room. She only needed a few clothes because the rest of her belongings were in Los Angeles. She knew Alyssa was trying to stop her from leaving, but that meeting was too important to miss.

"Do you really need to go?" the maid inquired as Briella dressed.

"Alyssa, I have a board meeting to attend; it's not like I'm fleeing," she teased, as the maid sighed with relief.

"Well, it did appear as if you were fleeing," she admitted.

"I'm not," she replied, dressed in a pink blazer over a short white tube top and pink shorts and Nike Airforce 1 sneakers.

"So, when should I expect you?" Alyssa inquired casually.

"I'd be in LA for a week at most." She double-checked her outfit one last time.

The doorbell rang as Alyssa reluctantly went to get it. She was surprised to see Sage at the door. 

What did she want? she asked herself unable to hide the distaste on her face.

" Nice to see you again Alyssa," Sage snarled walking past her.

" Took you so long to come around huh?" Briella asked descending the staircase with her bags.

" I just came around to say, he'd always want me Briella. They always do," she smirked flipping her hair and walking away.

" Who the hell cares?" Alyssa fumed.

" Hey, don't let the wicked witch of the west get to you, Aly, I got to go. See you when I get back." Briella bid walking out of the house. 

~

~

"Hey, I hope your trip is going well. I had to leave for LA for a business meeting and I would be back in a couple of days. I thought it wise to let you know about it. See you when you get back." Briella left a voice mail for her husband. She'd been trying to reach him but to no avail.

At least I tried. she thought to herself as she boarded her private jet. Yeah, she had her own private jet that took her places. She was no damsel in distress, she was her own boss. She plugged in her headphones listening to music as the jet took off. She was always uncomfortable when the jet took off, so music was her comfort at those times to take her mind off it. As soon as they get up in the air, she becomes fine with that.

Kendrick got off his two-hour meeting. He was tired and completely drained. All he needed was some food, fun, and maybe rest. These were the moments where he missed Sage. He would sometimes bring her on these trips to have fun, quickies in between his breaks. 

He hadn't known Briella that much to suggest that to her. Besides she had her own work to do and there was no way in hell she would agree to do such. She had no idea he had even traveled for a business trip.

What a terrible husband I am. he thought to himself picking up his phone to see a voice mail on his phone from his wife. He played the voice mail to listen to what she had to say to him. 

" Hi babe, Im sorry I didn't tell you about my trip, it was impromptu and you were asleep when I was leaving that's why. It's no excuse and I am sorry. Have a safe trip and I hope your meeting goes on good. I would have called but I know you're on a flight at the moment. Do call me when you're free. Safe journey." he sent the message to her.

At that moment he needed to have fun just to release tension and stress and he knew just the place to go. Aside from being a gentleman, he had skeletons in his cupboard. He had call girls in every city he visited. When Sage wasn't with him, he was still covered and that was pretty much most of his trips.

In about 1h45minutes, Briella had arrived in LA. She had missed the city so much. She had left the city a bachelorette and returned a married woman. How time changes!

Her driver was at the airport waiting for her as she touched down. After checking and clearing herself at the airport, she was good to go.

" Hey Andy, what's good?" she asked sitting in the car.

" Nothing new ma'am, and congratulations on your marriage," he said to his boss.

 "Thanks, Andy, I missed you and your morning gists." she laughed.

" Missed you more, are we going home or to the office?" he asked of her boss knowing fully well where they were going.

" Work, we are going to work Andy." she chuckled shaking her head at his goofiness. Briella took out her phone to see if she had missed any call, but she wasn't surprised not to have received any call.

She played the voice mail she had received from her husband and an instant smile grew on her face. She was happy he had admitted to his fault and even apologized.

What a gentleman!

Andy was glad she was happy. She had never been lucky with love. Even though this was an impromptu forced marriage, she looked happy. And that alone was enough.

If only they knew...