5 Bubble popped

Chapter 5 

The sweet scented candle, the mouth-watering steak, the expensive wine beside the appetizers are all set for the dinner. Ever since I came back home, I've been anticipating dinner, preparing all the food and arranging it all by myself. 

Lily intended to help me but I was beyond excited at the thought of dining with my husband for the first time after our marriage. Truth is, I wanted to enjoy my one year of marriage in every possible way, it wasn't my intention to sign the contract paper if not for Callum forcing me to. 

I shook my head off from my thought, I don't need unnecessary sadness when I am about to dine with my husband. With a newfound energy, I waited for Callum to come home while playing with my phone. 

One year later, The food turned cold and hard, I finished the bottle of wine and I could hardly see things without seeing it for two. The sight of his empty chair only made my heart sink to the floor, I should have known he wouldn't be here, it was like every other occasion where I would be waiting for him to show up but he ignored my existence completely. 

I don't let the tears escape from my eyes. Crying means I’m a weak person,which I don't believe is me. I stood up from my seat and staggered a little, my head felt like a brick weighing it down.

I staggered my way up to the stairs and to my room, tuning out the sound of the outside world completely. 

The next day^

“Is this how you are supposed to work? I gave you a month! ” I flinched at his voice shouting at Belvina. This morning, I woke up with a throbbing head and loud voices weren't exactly my best friend right now. Minutes later, Belvina steps out of Callum’s office with a very annoyed face holding the files on her hips. The only person who doesn't flirt with Callum is only Belvina and that is partially the reason why we are close. 

“What did he do now?” I asked her the moment she slumped down on her seat. 

“He said, Get ready”

“Huh?”

“He asked you to get ready for the meeting” I jumped up from my seat and took hold of my purse and the file I needed for the presentation. 

Callum came out of his office and gave me a second glance before continuing on his way, I followed him to the elevator and stepped inside, he waited for me and pressed on the lowest floor. 

Belvina waves me goodbye before the door shuts and we are alone. 

I swear I could hear the sound of my heartbeat in my ears, It was too eerie in contrast to the thumping of my heart. 

“Is everything ready?”

“Yes,Sir” 

“I want you to quit working” 

It takes a moment for me to realise he's talking to me, my lips twitch and the familiar pang in my heart starts to appear. But when his words fully registered in my brain, something shriveled inside me and rage over power me. 

“What do you mean by quit?”

“It’s exactly how you hear it,I want you to stop coming here” 

“But I am competent enough! I don't just get the post with some easy way, it was all my qualifications!” I almost scream at him, I get that he hates me and he's the boss but he can't tell me to quit! I refused to abide by his word. 

“Competent!?” he says in mock-whispering. 

I held his dark gaze never looking away, Last night image of myself drinking until I can't walk starts flashing in the back of my mind, he's so ruthless and uncaring yet my stupid heart can't let him go. 

“Why? You don't have anything to say?I know for a fact that you put up with my mom for this job! ” he sneers at me. 

His mom? 

“What do you mean? Aunty Cassidy?”

“Don't act naive! I don't want you here tomorrow,Do you understand!?” he grips my arms forcefully. 

“Fuck you” the words rolled off my tongue before I can stop it. I wish for the ground to swallow me up, his dark eyes and pissed off face is enough for me to run hills if not for the elevator. 

“Don’t you ever step in this building! Fuck you” he spat and ingnore me for rest of the ride until we finally land on the first floor. He left without sparing another glance. As I stare at his retreating figure, I remember the nights I used to stay up studying my butt off drinking coffee with my eyes drooping low to the ground(which is a bit exaggerating) 

Callum gave me no choice but I was glad he couldn't hear my mind, the profanities in my head aren't exactly rainbows and sunshine. I even pray that his balls would be squished when he tries to get on with some chicks or he gets an STD.

The pinging of my phone resonated through the elevator which made me realised I haven't move from the spot he left me, 

I groaned but took it out from my pocket. 

Cassandra’s name flashed across the screen. 

I snapped it open.In a playful tone, I mumbled out, “The number you are trying to dial is currently speaking to someone else”

There was a chuckling, and then a girly scream,“Bitch! Why don't you tell me you got married? Do I have to find out about my best friend's wedding from my mom?” She sounded mad. My marriage isn't exactly a wedding I was proud of,besides Callum is always on the edge with me. 

He's not exactly the best husband, He's more like my anti-Tessa

“I am sorry but trust me, It's better that you don't know,” I groaned on the phone. 

“Huh?” 

I pressed a hand to my head,“You know how he hates me,I think he hates me more now that we are married,” 

She let out a groan,“Tess, Seriously, he's the biggest asshole on this planet!”

I nodded my head although she couldn't see it,“But Who would possibly love me? I am clumsy and uncoordinated,” 

There is a hissing on the other end, Cassandra is pissed,“Do I need to come there and Smack you? Don't you ever that.“You are the most amazing person,alright!?”

“Yes,Ma'am” I say playfully. 

“Anyway, I'll be back by Monday” her liveliness is too hard to keep up with, sometimes. 

“Bring me good food,”

“I know,” her sigh is enough to tell me the call is over. 

“I have to go now,Bye” the call ended abruptly. 

Cassandra,with the 'C' not 'k' is my best friend ever since I could speak the word, 'Mom' 

She is a ray of sunshine which is too bright sometimes, I could never keep up with her ball of energy that seems to be bouncing north and south,even in times -not necessary. 

She's a sweetheart regardless of her cute,quirky self. 

Callum villa^ 

“Mom,We are fine, Our honeymoon ended last week,Callum has some work and you know he's always busy,so,we cut the days short” mom on the other side let out a sigh,which only means she is either worried or tense. Both,which I rather ignore for the sake of my sanity. 

Every mom has their own way of dealing with their only daughter, some over care and breathe down their neck, I have seen some mother slapping their daughter because they fail to live up to her expectation or few moms talk about their daughter's lovelife, my mom fit in the last category( which I don't fancy)

I would rather eat sand than talk about Callum to my mother. 

“Tessa! You should try to bear me grandkids,I am not young anymore,” I rolled my eyes at her words. Of course, she would talk about kids. 

I groaned on the phone,“Mom! We just got married like a week ago” I say, because for someone like my mother, She needs a reminder. I know it would break her if she found out about the contract. 

I wish it wasn't a contract marriage. 

“So!? Many couples had kid before their marriage”

“But that's different”

“Well, I am saying your husband is someone people look up to, Does the people at the company know you are his wife?” I grimaced at the sound of her voice, I needed wine. 

My silence only confirms her suspicion. Of course people from my ex-company don't know. Callum would rather be impotent than people finding out about our supposed 'marriage'

I tune out whatever my mom is saying, my attention is now on the blinking of the car light outside the glass wall, Callum is back!? 

Why? 

Is he here because he finally wants to? 

How long will he be here? One day? One week? 

“Mom, I'll call you later, ” I ended the call before she could fire me another question. 

Fixing myself, I ran down the stairs in excitement and waited for the front door to open revealing his gorgeous face that I’m madly in love with. 

I waited with anticipation and trepidation. 

Blood rushed from my toes to my head. 

Sounds of the wall clock ticking from the living room. 

The door clicked open and Callum walks in, the smile on my face slips away seeing the women linking arms with him. 

And just like that, I took a step back. 

The spell was broken. 

And the little bubble I built up for myself popped.