Not the Ideal Man

I don't know where the hell gramps got the idea but it's a good start for all of us. At least my first impression of getting a hard slap from neither of them did not happen.

"Gramps... How could my husband meet you at those events? He just got back from Europe." I intentionally clasped John's hand in front of them to make my words more convincing.

And John was all for it when he gently caressed my hand. "I don't know if you remember me, but yes. We already met on one of your business trips, gramps."

That wasn't part of the plan but I could see John was serious with his words. But I seated beside him to support whatever he claims to make sure the two of us will not get doomed.

"Mall of Asia. September 21, 2019. You were our guest speaker that night. Truth be told, I was the only one who dares raise a hand when you ask a difficult question. Hope that helps you to remember me."

"So, you were the lucky one who got my glimmering reward, huh? A million dollars for a bet who can prove my hypotheses was wrong." gramps agreed which caused my level of anxiety to ascend.

For what it's worth, John stated a fact, not a lie that no one needs to cover up. It means to me that he had the situation under control.

"So, may I ask what did you do to the cash prize? That huge amount has to be spent appropriately. You took a business course. So, I guess your professor told you about investments. Am I right?" gramps seems to love the conversation as he bestowed his luxurious smile on John for the first time.

"Yes, our professor discussed investment with us." John retorted before he took a sip of the glass of wine. "But, I didn't invest the prize. Instead, I used it to travel to a lot of places. Booked some deluxe rooms, and eat delicious food and drinks like these in front of us. What else did I do..."

"STOP!" exclaims gramps before he heaved a sigh and drops his spoon and fork back onto the table.

My anxiety starts to ascend again when his mood suddenly changed. John could have just lied in front of grams that he invested the money in a small business or bought a piece of land or a house perhaps.

But he tells us nothing but the truth. And for gramps, wasting a penny for nothing, especially coming from his pocket was similar to wasting a wonderful opportunity.

"That's not the ideal man I want for my granddaughter," he added. "so, before that useless marriage goes out of control, better end it now."

Gramps rested his back on the chair with his sharp eyes pointing at me. Even without a word, I can sense and feel how disappointed he is in me right now.

"Don't worry, dad. I'll make sure they get annulled as soon as possible." mom uttered on our behalf.

Not that I don't like the idea, but they haven't heard our stories yet. That was supposed to be the plan. Tell them that we made a contract four years ago and were about to expire soon.

But they already decided my fate, helping me to expedite the process. John is a promising and good-looking man, but I like him simply because I owed him something big - the truth of our past.

"No," John announced. "I love Malia since the first day I met her. Everything that happens to me now is all because of her. And we got married. We all know that Malia is already her legal age to decide it on her own."

That I didn't expect and was never discussed in the plan we construct the other night. Is John for real about his feelings for me the second he met me back in his apartment?

Gramps and mom already arranged for me, someone, to marry. But I barely like the guy. And I hated it when someone dictates my future.

"So, it's up to her if she wants to do what you really want for her." John tightened his grasp on my hand with his eyes pointed at gramps and mom.

"Are you threatening me?" dad started raising his voice.

"Enough!" could not make it anymore. We were supposed to tell them the truth but John is right. It's up to me to decide whether I should continue lying to gramps or not.

So, after telling them my decision, I locked myself in the room after sending off John back to his apartment. While lying on the bed, my phone suddenly dinged.

I was feeling hesitant if I should answer the call or not when it comes from the devil - Uncle Robin. After the ringing ended, it rings again and again.

Leaving no choice, I answered the call considering he will not stop until he could talk to me. Because if I kept ignoring his call, his shadow would probably appear in the safe house invited.

"What do you want?" I asked him straight to the point.

"Come on, Madam President. What I want is also what you want," he said. "you're seeking freedom. But we both know you cannot have your freedom if you stayed at dad's appointment. Did you get the message?"

I hung up the phone for a few seconds while thinking about what Uncle Robin meant. He was probably right. As soon as the announcement of my appointment gets sealed, there is no way I could get out of the hectic schedule just like dad.

He only got his freedom when his body was buried six feet under the ground. And that is going to be my fate eventually if I wanted to get out behind gramps' shadow.

"But, if you pledge the position to me, you can do whatever you want. Travel the entire world with your sex toy..."

"John is not my sex toy. He is my husband. And we got married for four years already." Because of too much irritation, I dropped the phone back on the bed and let him talk whatever he wants over the phone.

While holding onto Uncle Robin's advice, I did not expect my body could have given up and falls asleep. Three hours later, I jumped out of bed and walked outside when the voices coming from the balcony were completely deafening.

When I got the chance to catch a glimpse outside, I was completely surprised when several reporters pointed their cameras at me.

They were throwing questions about me getting married to John Mcwell. Yes, they even know his complete name. And I believed they might even have his address as well.

"Madam President, are the rumors about you being married to someone ordinary man true?" asks one of the reporters.

"How did you two meet? Is it true that you married him four years ago and kept it from your family? What did your grandfather say when the news reaches him?" added one of the reporters.

Good thing our bodyguards were keeping the entrance closed so no one from the 'hunger-for-news" personalities could manage to get in.

"I'm so sorry, but my niece is not in her condition to answer all your questions. Don't worry, I'll make sure you could get them as soon as possible." eagerly announces Uncle Robin in front of those cameras.

Publicity, as he always wants. And he's probably doing that to get their attention for them to take his side in the future. That kind of drama is no longer new to me.

So, instead of saying a word to him, I bubbled out from the balcony and searched for gramps or mom.