I saw the fear flicker in her eyes when I called her my wife. But it was our new reality, and she'd have to accept it. It was my duty to make her understand that.
"What about my family back home?" she asked with a shaky voice. "They'll be worried searching for me if you don't let me go." Her eyes pleaded with me, filled with desperation.
"I'll send someone to inform them you're safe. You're coming with me".I reassured her, my tone firm but controlled. She looked at me, speechless, her eyes empty of further excuses.
I turned to Mark, who watched us with a mix of curiosity and concern. "Please escort her to the car," I instructed him. He nodded and stepped forward, offering the young woman his arm. She hesitated, then took it, her eyes flashing with fear and resentment toward me before following
.
It wasn't like needed her love; I just needed to fulfill my grandmother's dying wish. She wanted to see her "sweet boy" married to a beautiful woman before she passed away. And I wasn't ready for that. With her time running out, it was the least I could do for the woman who meant everything to me.
I just hoped she'd like-
"Boss, you have a call," Mark interrupted, his voice low as he stretched his cellphone to me.
I took a glance at the caller ID and my heart skipped a beat. "Shit! Grandma?" I muttered under my breath as I grabbed the phone from marks hand.
I took a deep breath and answered the call. "Ama, hello!" I tried to sound cheerful.
"where are you? I've been trying to reach you all day," my grandmother's voice came through the line, filled with concern.
"I'm sorry, Ama. We had a hectic day today. But I promise I'll come see you soon," I replied, trying to placate her.
"That's not what I'm asking, Lu. Where is she? I want to meet my future daughter-in-law. You promised me you'd bring her by today," she reminded me, her tone firm but weak at the same time.
I hesitated, unsure of what to say. "Umm, Ama, we... uh... she's a bit tired from the journey. But I told her all about you, and she's really looking forward to meeting you soon," I stammered, trying to buy some time.
My grandmother's silence on the other end of the line made me nervous. I knew I had to think fast to avoid raising her suspicions.
We'll be there first thing in the morning Ama" I promised but didn't get a reply she just ended the call Abruptly. It was a clear sign that she was mad. But what could I do ? I spent all day looking for her wish for a daughter in law getting a perfect description wasn't easy but worth it.
I'm sure she would be happy when she saw the daughter in law I brought for her.
I immediately followed mark ; I slid into the back seat beside her, Mark getting into the driver's seat immediately I did, while my men dispersed into the other cars. As we began to move. After a minutes of silence, I turned to her.
"You never told me your name."
She looked at me, her eyes welling up with tears. "Um, I don't remember you asking. Just forcefully marrying me out of the blue." Her voice trembled, and I could see the fear radiating from her.
I chuckled, trying to lighten the mood. "Okay, I'm sorry, okay? But I promise I'll explain everything once we get back. Trust me, okay?" I tried to sound sweet, but she just looked at me skeptically.
"Back to where?" she asked, her voice shaking. "Where are you taking me? Please, just let me go. I beg of you, this is against the law. You will get arrested if anyone finds out. But I won't tell, I'll act like nothing happened if you just please let me go."
I smiled, a cold, calculated smile. "First of all, in this city, I am the law. Secondly you are only going to make this hard for yourself if you keep this up.
"You had a fucking gun to my head !"
"And I just said I'm sorry …okay?"
She held her tears back, her eyes brimming with unshed drops as she threw her gaze back out the window. I knew I couldn't take her to my grandma the next day if she was going to act like this. She was just one of the many difficult things I had to deal with at the moment. As much as I hated stress this was my mess to handle.
And I was determined to make it work. If I didn't want my grandma to be suspicious, I knew I had to convince her to go along with this charade willingly.
I remembered the way she looked at me back at the ball - those innocent eyes. I knew she was a soft-hearted innocent lady, and I just had to reach that part of her.
I took a deep breath, removed my coat, and shifted closer to her. Our laps touching each other's. But she kept her gaze fixed outside the window, avoiding eye contact.
I gently reached out and softly held her small jaw, turning it towards my face. Looking into those beautiful blue eyes of hers, I saw a mix of fear, sadness. And it was beginning to make me feel guilty in a way.
If I didn't stop her soon she could break down from all this crying and that was the last thing I needed now.
Drawing closer to her, I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but there was something about her scent that drew me in. It wasn't her perfume; it was the natural fragrance of her skin: her body. I found myself wanting to linger near her, to rest my nose against her skin and breathe her in. But I knew better than to confuse this attraction with love. I was sure it was purely physical lust.
"You do know you are actually too pretty to be crying". I said gaining a side eye. As much as I meant that as a lie taking a look at her even from behind made it feel so true.
"Look, I'm sorry for everything that's happened," I said, trying to sound sincere. "I'm sorry if anything we did scared you. But I had no other choice. I promise to make it up to you - triple the price of the money you won. All you have to do is be my wife for a few days, and that's all."
I held her gaze as I spoke, but she didn't respond. Instead, she slid her jaw out of my hand and turned away, facing the window once more.
Her rejection stung, and for a moment, I regretted my words. I wanted to take them back, to make her pay for hurting my pride like that. But I bit back my anger, knowing I needed to keep my cool if I was going to get what I wanted.
But just as my frustration was getting to its peak,
(Sniff)
She spoke.
"It's Bella… the name's Bella.