CHAPTER 10
Moving into a new place felt weird.
This wasn't my first time settling in a new place, in fact, this is my third but I haven't gotten used to it yet.
After Richard had asked me when I was going to move in with him, I quickly thought against it and declined immediately. There was no need to hasten the process at least not until Abigail was cool with the whole thing.
I should have known that Richard was as relentless as his daughter, he gave logical points on why I should and I couldn't say no to him anymore.
I surveyed the room which had been prepared for me in the Berlette's mansion. It contrasted that of Abigail's with few similarities.
The design of the room is very unique like everything had been put in place for a reason. The walls were as chocolate as a cadbury bar. A queen-sized bed with a wooden bedroom suite. The chandelier situated on the roof fangled elegantly with shimmering lights. The empty closet was twice the size of my old cramped room. The collage paintings were the things I liked the most in the room. I used to paint when I was still at a foster care home but it is nothing but a lost art now.
I sat on the bed slowly taking my surroundings in, my eyes fell on the only luggage I brought with me and the food warmer that Mrs. Crest had packed for me to remind me of her for a short period before I was going to see her again. She engulfed me in a warm embrace with tears in her eyes sensing me off to my new abode.
I noticed the shock in her expression when I told her I was getting married. She didn't ask questions and I was glad she didn't. I didn't want to lie to her. I couldn't bear the thought of it. She left my room with only words of "Congratulations, I am happy for you."
I don't have a lot of things, I only have enough to keep me by. My entire existence was in that single box, nothing but vintage dresses and shoes. No photographs, journals, nothing. I was adequately careful not to leave a trace behind.
Now that I am here, I'll be seeing Abigail quite a lot.
I miss her.
It has been a week since we broke the news to Abigail and in all that time I haven't laid my eyes on her not to speak of conversing with her over the phone. She must really hate me right now.
I heard a soft thud coming from the direction of the door, I turned to see Abigail standing by the doorways with her arms crossed over her chest.
My jaw dropped and my eyes widened in disbelief as if a sudden jolt of electricity had coursed through my vein leaving me momentarily stunned.
The corners of her lips curled up. She had a captivating smile on her face, which spontaneously put a smile on mine too. She stepped inside, her eyes scanning the room.
"I see you've moved in."
"Abigail!." I breathed, jolting from the bed and beaming towards her.
Her eyes connected with mine, the grin still playing on her lips. "I came to apologize for the way I acted towards you that day."
"I should be the one apologizing. I'm sorry for not telling you earlier and I promise you I am not a scheming brat. I didn't plan any of this." the words rushed out of my mouth.
"Marah, I'm sorry for calling you a scheming brat and for acting bitchy. I was really taken by surprise and it was like I forgot how to act properly. I'm really, really sorry for other hurtful things I said to you."
"It's fine now," I said as I wrapped my arms around her in an embrace. Her hands lingered loosely on my waist before pulling away.
"I've spoken to my dad and he assured me that this is what he wants. I would be a bitter daughter if I wasn't happy for him. I give you two of my blessings. Go on and love each other." she said in a playful tone.
"Thank you."
"I wish either of you would tell me how the relationship started brewing or better yet how it sparked. It's really unexpected."
"I know it's unexpected for both of us. But love works in mysterious ways right?"
"I suppose so," her lips pressed together.
"I couldn't reach you for a week. I was worried about you."
"After dropping the bomb on me I needed space to think so I went to a hotel." she chuckled. "I spent most of my time in a sauna." Then her facial expression turned serious like someone that was about to drop bad news. "I did a lot of thinking yeah and I came to a conclusion. The best thing for me right now is to move out."
"Why? You don't have to move out. There are enough rooms." I innocently suggested.
"You don't have to tell me, Marah, I know the number of rooms in this house." She snapped at me. As if realizing she lost composure, she made an apologetic face. "Put yourself in my shoes. Would you want to live with your dad and best friend who are married to each other?"
My answer was no, but I didn't say it out loud. If I were in her shoes I would have probably done the same. My suggestion only came out of a place of selfishness. I wanted to have her here with me for my desire.
"Where do you plan on staying?"
"In one of Dad's penthouses. It's a good space. For me."
Abigail's eyes darted across the room again. "Do you like your new room?"
"I like the paintings and the color." inside truthfully. I've always had a liking for the color chocolate and no, it's not because it's the same shade with my eyes.
Her eyes landed in something and one of her brows lifted in confusion. I followed her gaze and it fell on my crooked box that had withered away with time.
"Where are the rest of your boxes?"
"That's the only one I've got."
"You know what, I'm not surprised."
I laughed quietly at what she said. In the span of time that she had known me, she would have seen a lot of repeated outfits on me. Not that I was ashamed of what I had, in actuality, shame couldn't hold a grip in my mind. My outfits were like armor that shielded me against the terror that trailed behind me.
We both stood in the middle of the room for a minute without saying a word to each other until Abigail broke the silence. She sucked in her breath. "I should get going. I still have a lot to move from my room. See you later." she said, pulling me in an embrace.
"Later ."
I watched her slim figure disappear from sight and I walked back to the bed to sit on it, thoughts of what the future held clouded my mind.
***
"To future Mr and Mrs Berlette!" The crowd echoed in unionism.
My eyes widened when the words settled in my brain.
You are engaged now Marah, you are engaged!
My knees see-sawed as I examined the audience. I saw no one that had a resemblance with Edward. I didn't invite him because that would be cruel of me to do but I had thought Richard would at least invite him since they were associates.
Or he was invited and he didn't just want to come.
People clinked their glasses together, in cheer for the engagement. I crossed a leg over the other to prevent me from falling over. The atmosphere of sophistication and elegance in the room was suffocating and the smiles they had on their faces were far from genuine.
I rubbed my hand on the deep blue-inked cocktail dress that was picked out for me by the stylist Richard had hired for me.
The hairstylist had pinned my hair up into an elegant bow with plaits and decorated it with Yueton vintage metallic hairpins that held up my thick straight dark hair.
Richard's eye collided with mine. It was reflexive, something we have been doing quite a lot since the news of our engagement got the media.
"Breathe." He said as he grabbed my left hand, where the oval-shaped diamond ring I was wearing weighed my finger down. I had no idea a ring could be this heavy. The warmness of his hand made my stomach somersault. It was unnerving how he could tell when I was anxious even when I tried so hard to hide it.
"Marah and I will be having a private wedding, family only," Richard announced.
We were surrounded by a range of reactions, each person having a different expression of shock. Richard had filled me in on how the wedding was going to be. A quiet contentment spread through me upon knowing
that.
The silence was deafening. My stomach threatened to dump its contents on the marble floor, but I was able to swallow back the lump in my throat.
I was certain they were expecting such news from the renowned business mogul himself, a person of his caliber who had just decided to settle after so many years, to throw a private wedding at the expense of the curiosity of the onlookers.
Abigail broke through the crowd and raised a glass of champagne in the air. "To family."
A few people echoed along with her, while the rest couldn't pretend to hide their irritation.
"We will be leaving in the next thirty minutes, is that alright with you?" Richard asked, his voice so low, that only I could hear him.
I was so paralyzed with happiness that I could only nod fanatically but a little voice in my head raised a worry. With the kind of announcement Richard just made, will we be able to leave within that frame of time? For a man of his status, everyone would want to have a few minutes with him. Disappointment weaved through the corners of my heart.
I looked into the crowd once more and noticed the ginger-haired lady I had seen at Richard's birthday party strutting towards us. She held a glass in her hand and wore a smile that was sly and mischievous like she was hinting at a secret or a joke.
"Richard," she called out in a sensual tone, as he kissed both sides of his cheeks. She didn't bother to acknowledge my presence. I stood there and gawked at them like I was invincible.
"Stella." Richard returned the greeting.
So that was her name.
She looked like a Stella. I watched her intently, her hair was pulled back in a slick ponytail. She was wearing a beautiful cocktail dress that brought out her curves and tall stilettos that complimented her outfit. The diamond piece necklace above her chest created the finishing touch of her look, like a bow on top of a present. She didn't look a day older than thirty.
"I figure some congratulations are in order." Stella smiled at me for the first time. I could see the fakeness in between the lines of her face. "I bet Richard is lucky to have you in his life."
I gingerly returned the same smile. "I bet he is."
"She is the best woman I know." Richard wrapped his arm around me. While his gesture caught me off guard. I appreciated him for doing that, at that moment just to wipe the grin off Stella's face.
"It was quite a surprise though, hearing about the news. I mean you never mentioned her to me. From our previous discussion, you were ranting about how you were going to commemorate your years as a single man when you turn fifty, and next thing I know, you are getting married to your daughter's best friend." Her words were as bracing as a slap in the face.
"Seems like you've forgotten how the previous discussion went Stella. I was simply making a joke with a glass of wine in hand." Richard replied.
She scoffed and eyed him sternly. "You made that a little bit believable."
"Maybe the wine we had clouded your memory."
There was a crack in Stell's mischievous smile. It was so brief that if I had blinked I could have missed it.
"I can take my alcohol pretty well, Richard. Can't say the same for you."
Richard chuckled and his other hand in defeat.
"I have some finishing up to do at the office. I'll see you," she paused. Her eyes darted to me and back to Richard. "When I see you."
Stella turned on her heels and exited the ballroom without paying attention to anyone around her.
Someone new entered our vicinity and called out Richard's name.
"Liam!" Richard muttered under his breath.
"You've finally gotten out of the abyss of singleness. And for a goddess!" the man uttered as he smacked Richard on the shoulder. He turned to me with a toothy grin. " You are indeed beautiful," he said while placing a kiss on the back of my hand. He whispered into Richard's ear and left afterward.
There was a beeline of people who offered their congratulations and their displeasure regarding the private wedding. After an hour, we were finally given an opportunity to scurry out of the place.
"Are you ready?" Richard whispered into my ear.
"Yes." I wore the best smile on my face.
Richard got up and I followed him, he placed a hand on my lower back, as we walked out of the venue.
Just as we stepped out, a camera snapped in my direction and the smile I had on my face vanished.
I looked around to see a few men clutching their cameras tightly to their eyes and snapping away.
Is this some kind of paparazzi?
"Miss Gale, how does it feel to be married to the longest eligible bachelor?"
Click!
"Mr Belrette, why did you opt for a private wedding?"
Click!
There were more flashes and I felt myself being pushed through the crowd to get into the car. All I saw were men clad in black suits and flashes.
"Do you feel any sort of shame getting married to your best friend's dad?"