On My Terms

Ellie's POV

“Ellie, open the door for me”

Yes! That was it, but I wasn't going to give in quickly.

“Ellie, are you there? open the door, I'm stuck here, I don't know what happened to the lock. I think I'm locked from outside.”

I pressed my lips together. My shoulders were shaking from the effort of not laughing.

He still hadn't figured it out, that he was locked by someone. By me.

I waited. Silence on both sides, He was expecting a response and I wasn't giving one.

Then the knocking started with much shouting.

“Is someone there, I'm stuck here.”

I knew at this moment, I had to speak. Maybe a little longer.

But I couldn't hold it anymore. The laughter came before I could stop it.

The laughter got to his ear, and he kept knocking harder.

“Ellie, are you there? Have you been there all this while and I've been knocking and asking for help?” He paused, then with a calm tone he spoke again. “Please open the door for me.”

“Oh! You knew how to ask nicely with ‘Please’? Well, I locked the door from outside” my voice not shaking

“You did what?” His voice louder, shocked.

“I locked you. Simple.”

“Why would you do that?” He asked

“We just married, not that I want your attention, but how you want to taint this marriage, how would you go to a club on your wedding night, leaving your wife and spending time with another woman.” I paused. “I mean I'm not angry at you for making a fool of yourself, but what you did was an insult. An insult to me. An insult to this charade of a marriage.”

“That's it? what you want to say?” He asked. Much more like it didn't matter.

“What do you mean by what I want to say?” I chuckled “ Since you don't want to apologize or make sense out of this, you may as well stay in the bathroom. Without your phone.” I giggled, and walked to lay on the bed.

After a while, he called back.

“Ellie, open the door, I've got things to do.”

“Until you agree to let us talk.” I replied, not wavering. Just sure of what I was doing.

Nothing.

He didn't reply.

I guess I'd get used to his silence.

“Okay, open the door, let's talk.” He finally agreed. With a cold tone.

I reluctantly opened the door for him.

Not satisfied with his response.

He came face to face with me. His gaze stayed on me a little longer. Then he walked to his phone, picked it up and walked to the door.

He already held the door handle when I spoke out immediately.

“You only run away from responsibilities” My arms folded. He turned his face and I held his gaze. Not flickering.

I never knew how I blurted that out. But I'm sure I wasn't going to let him go without this conversation.

But his face said it all, I had just said something I shouldn't have.

“You said we should talk, and now you're backing out.”

“I just don't give my attention to anybody” he replied

I chuckled

“Says the cheater.”

“Mind what you say Ellie, I'm not going to have any argument with you.”

“Fine. I'll just go straight to the point.” I said plainly.

This was it. I may act tougher outside, but I can't handle his attitude towards me.

His attention changed. Like he wanted to listen and also didn't want to.

“I want us to make a deal, let's act like a couple for two years, then we divorce.” His expression changed as he looked at me like someone who just said nonsense.

Now I've gotten his attention. At least with that.

I continued “It's obvious we both don't want this marriage, as it was arranged by our both parents without a choice of our own. And it got me thinking, that your parents had something on you, and you had no way to decide. A son of a billionaire.” I scoffed.

I wanted the words to sink in. I wanted him to get every one of my words.

Not that I was sure his parents had something on him, his expression only made me realize that I wasn't all wrong.

I just needed to hit the right spot.

“I was supposed to marry a Prince since it's been like that in my lineage, and now I ended up marrying into a billionaire family. None Royalty. There's more to this and do you have any idea about that?” I asked.

It's been on my mind since I left home. Why did I marry him? What's this marriage all about? Was I sold off?

No answers from him. Maybe he was thinking about it.

He looked at me like he was going to give a good answer.

“I won't be part of this deal” he replied coldly. Without hesitation.

One look at him and I knew convincing him would really be harder. Why is it so hard for him to be obliged to the deal?

“We won't be able to share this room, until both of us are in agreement. I just can't run away here. It'll ruin my father's reputation and your home too, we can both end this marriage after two years. Within this period, whatever reason made us married would be resolved, and we go pir separate ways. Our separate lives."

“Then, suit yourself” he went to the closet, picked up some of his clothes. His phone, laptop and other things.

I stood watching him as he walked around carrying his belongings like he was being chased out.

“I'm giving you 24 hours and you'd move your things back here and accept this deal.” This wasn't just a threat. I had held myself better together than I ever had. I can't be quiet anymore, otherwise I won't have a choice, a life of my own.

No response. He just opened the door and left.

I took a deep breath and sat on the bed.

Just 24 hours. I don't know how I'd do it. But I need to start coming up with a plan.