Nathan's secretary opens the door for me. I observe his office, it's very big but very typical. So boring. It has beige walls and typical office furniture. Nathan is sitting on his desk, engrossed in his laptop. I stand by the door waiting for him to acknowlege my presence but he didn't. I clear my throat to grab his attention. I move forward and hit my toe at the coffee, falling down.
"Finally, you are here." he looks up, "April, this is not the time to make out with the floor!" he says in a completely plain tone.
"I'm not making out with the floor!" I snap and get up, "What kind of a person would make out the a floor?"
"You!"
"No I won't!"
"Well, you did it. When you were drunk." he rolls his eyes and opens the door for us to move out.
I turn red from embarrassment. Damn that day! I follow Nathan to his dad's office. Robin is already waiting for us with the paperwork. He makes us sign a few papers. While I'm reading the agreement of our marriage Robin and Nathan discuss something in a low voice.
"April," Robin calls for me, "Prepare yourself to make a press statement."
"What? But I have never given one."
"Don't worry, just follow my lead." Nathan says to me, "And for once on the face of this earth, do as I say." he says in a begging way.
"I will try but no gaurantee." I give him a smile of triumph, "Will my dad be there?"
"Yes, of course." he answers.
"Alright, see you two at the press conference in next 15 minutes." Robin takes a leave leaving me and Nathan alone.
For the next 15 minutes Nathan lectures me on the dos and don'ts of the press conference. He tells me to behave myself, like I'm a 5 year old. I roll my eyes to that. After we are done, we move to the top floor of the building for the press conference. When I'm about to enter the hall Nathan keeps his arms around my waist and I tense up.
"Relax, it's just for show." he whispers in my ear and shivers run down my spine.
"What the hell! I don't care! Stay away from me!" I try to push him away.
"Shh!" he shushes me and opens the door. As soon as I enter camera flashes in my eyes causing me to flinch closer to nathan. The hall is full of media, cameras flashing everywhere, taking our pictures. The room is a complete chaos. I see my father sitting with Robin. Nathan flashes a smile to everyone. I too force a smile. God, I hate it. I hate everything about this. I take a deep breath and take my seat next to Nathan.
"Good evening, everyone!" Robin starts, "I know you are eager to ask your questions to the newly wedded but please maintain the decorum and make it quick."
"Mr Walsh how are you feeling with this sudden change in your life?" one of the reporters start.
"It wasn't sudden, I have been in love with April since the day I saw her." Wow! He is such an attention to detail. I don't think I would have even noticed what "sudden" indicated. "Also, I want to say that I couldn't have been more lucky to have April in my life!" he intertwines his fingers in mine and keeps our hand on the table so that everyone could see. Attention to detail and a show off.
"But, you already had a girlfriend Mr Walsh. What about her?" Wow! That was below the belt. A snort appears in the back of my throat but I disguise it in a cough. Nathan looks at me with his jaw clenched. I turn serious again and look straight, avioding his gaze.
"That's my past. April is my present." he says with a straight face, "Now can we please move on to the next question."
"April does it bother you?" another reporter asks.
"No, not at all. I trust him." I simply say.
"April Grey," someone from behind stands up, "Am I right?"
"Yes,"
"Why didn't you change your name after marriage?"
"Because I don't want to. It's completely my choice, isn't it? Last I checked we were still in 21st century." I hear my dad laugh, trying to lighten the air.
"Agreed," he smiles at my slyly. What is wrong with this guy?
"So, tell me April Grey, why haven't we ever seen you with Nathan before your marriage?"
"Maybe that's your fault. Your cameras must have failed to capture us." I answer with full confidence.
"What's wrong with him?" I whisper to Nathan.
"Just keep answering." he says simply.
"Did you even know Mr. Walsh long enough to marry him?"
"Well, I know enough to make him my life partner."
"April is it true that your father merged his company with Robin's just after your marriage with Nathan?"
"Yes,"
"Why?"
"That's because we wanted to expand our business. My daughter and Nathan has nothing to do with it!" my dad interrupts.
"Is there a good question? If not then let's wind up." Robin speaks.
"Is true that this marriage was against Miss Grey?" another reporter shoots at me.
"Not at all!" I bang my hand on the table.
"Then do you love Nathan?" Another stands up, "Why haven't we seen you guys together?"
"There has been many romours that Mr. Walsh was against this marriage as well. Are they true?" The reporters starts to gather around in a group.
"Alright that's enough!" Nathan stands up. He takes me by my hand and start to move out.
"Sir, you walking out of this conference clearly means that you have forced Miss Grey for this marriage." the reporters surrounded us, badgering us with questions.
"Is it true Mr Walsh, Miss Grey? You have to answer.." they keep on asking us until we reach the door. We leave from the back gate which lead us to a quiet hallway. I rest my head on the wall and Nathan stares down at me.
"I'm sorry." he says.
"Oh no no. You don't have to be."
"I didn't know they are going to bring up such questions. If I did I would have trained you a bit."
"It's okay." I say and look away from him, "I am going to stay at my house for the evening."
"Okay," he simply answers and leaves.
I take a taxi and leave for my parents' house. It was quiet as usual with my mom-dad not around. But it was my home. At last something that I could call mine. I enter my room and slip into a pair of pajamas and an oversized black t shirt. I go into the kitchen and grab some cupcakes, tortilla chips and salsa dip. My mom knows exactly what I want. I run back to my room and switch on the TV.
"It's Game of thrones time!" I say with joy and throw myself on the bed. After watching one whole season and eating all the cupcakes I fall asleep. Aahh, I feel so comfortable. Finally, I'm in my house. My room and my bed. Everything here is mine...
I wake up to someone shaking me. "Mom," I whine, "Let me please sleep." I cover myself with the blanket.
"Get up." a voice says. This isn't my mom's. I peak out of the blanket to see Nathan sitting on the bed next to me.
"What are you doing in my room?" I wake up with a start.
"Your parents invited me to dinner. Then your mom asked me to wake you up, so here I am." he replies and gets up from the bed, "By the way, how much do you snore!" he makes a face.
"Hey I don't snore!" I protest.
"Yes you do!" he chuckles, "I'm so lucky I don't have to sleep with you." he moves out laughing. I puff my cheeks and follow him to the dinning area.
"Why is he here?" I point at him and ask my parents.
"To have dinner with us." my mom replies.
"Yes, but why?!"
"Whoa, what did you do Nathan?" my dad asks him amusingly.
"I just told her that she snores at lot while sleeping." he shrugs his shoulders.
"Haha, just like her mom," my dad laugh along with Nathan and they hi-fi each other.
"Excuse me?" my mom gives my dad a death glare.
"Oops." Nathan says and we all start laughing. Wow, Nathan coming home for dinner was not that bad. He is quite nice to my mom and dad. He is a normal person to them and a stone wall to me. We eat dinner in chatter of my mom, dad and Nathan discussing business and me getting bored as hell.
"April I was thinking," my dad starts, "You can also join the business. You know it will be a good helping hand to Nathan.
"Dad we have had this conversation a thousand times. The answer is still no. I have no interest in slaving my life in a corner office.
"Yeah, I understand." Nathan says to me, "Nobody should be forced to do anything they don't like. We have plenty of help, don't worry."
It surprises me that those words came from Nathan's mouth. Did Nathan Walsh just agree with one of my decisions? Is he sick or something? This is weird.
"And I hope that you are coming home with me." he adds.
"No, why would I do that?" I say, confused, "I already told you I'm going to stay here for the night."
"Yes but you can't, love" my mom says.
"Why?"
"Didn't you see what happened in the conference today? The media is clearly targeting you. You have to be very careful. Right now staying with us will only prove that this marriage was against your will, which will affect our reputation in the market." she replies.
I lower my head and eat my food. I can't believe it. This is so not fair to me.
"Listen April, I know it's hard." Nathan says, "I promise you can stay here for as long as you want after there is water under the bridge." he taps my hand.
After dinner we immediately leave for Nathan's house. I give my parents a tight hug and sit on the passenger seat.
"Uh, thanks for taking my side today." I say to him hesitantly.
"When did I do that?" he asks with a straight face.
"When I declined my father's offer of joining the business."
"Oh, you think I did it because I really wanted you to follow your heart? Hell no! I only did because I already have a gold digger as a wife, the last thing I want is a whistle-blower as a partner."
My jaw drops. How can he think that low of me? I continue to stare at him through a puddle of tears. As they start to fall down, I look away. What kind of a monster am I married to? Has he lost every bit of his humanity? Will he ever give me the benefit of the doubt?