02

I was walking down the aisle in my wedding dress with my hand draped around dad’s. The day I dreaded became a reality. The blinding lights flashed across my eyes as the reporters took photos of my grim reality.

My friends, my business partners and the media were all here but none of them knew this was a forced marriage. Only my best friend who was currently traveling the world knew and every second I wished she was here with me.

I was one of the many who were forced into business marriages by the RJ. Foolish me thought belonging to the main family would be a privilege to get out of their wrath but I couldn’t. If I back down the Grahams would lose their position as the main family.

I’m not just a woman but a business woman. I knew how important this marriage was to me and to the Grahams. So I need to do this even if I hated it.

I walked with my head bent low thinking all the reasons to justify this marriage.

“Camilla”

My dad cleared his throat reminding me to look up at my dear future husband.

There he stood wearing a black suit looking like an angel with his broad shoulders, black hair and green eyes. One could tell at first glance that he had an amazing body. Not that I was interested.

My dad gave my hand to Marcus and I climbed the steps to stand before the priest. He talked and talked but I didn’t pay any attention to any of it.

I was desperate to get out of here. I didn’t care for this marriage earlier. But now that it was happening I was feeling more anxious than ever.

Marcus cleared his throat and narrowed his eyes in anger. I looked around to see that everyone was staring at me.

“Camila Graham do you take this man to be your husband?” The priest asked once again.

“Uhh I- I do”

Then I felt someone touch my hand.

I frowned and looked down only to see it was Marcus. He brought my hand up and quickly put a diamond ring on my finger as if he was disgusted by the mere thought of touching me.

I rolled my eyes and took his ring from the ring bearer and shoved it in his finger. Happy?

“Now you may kiss the bride”

I scowled at the priest and Marcus also did the same. Then he closed his eyes and sighed before looking back at me.

I thought that he was going to ignore what the priest said and embarrass me on our wedding day but instead he leaned in and pecked my lips .

I was shocked for a moment until I heard everyone around us cheering and clapping.

After the ceremony we walked to the car to get to the reception. The entire drive was very awkward and very silent to the point I thought I could hear my heart pumping blood to the veins.

I was happy when we reached the reception but without assisting me with the dress Marcus walked out of the car.

Great.

At the door stood many reporters, holding their cameras out to take more pictures than they already had. Few were shouting out questions about our relationship which I had no intention of answering.

Marcus also realized that going without me would cause chaos. He walked few steps back and held his hand out with a scowl on his face.

I quickly got out and forced myself to smile as I stood beside him, linking my arm in his.

“You are shit ugly when you scowl” I whispered to Marcus and his scowl only deepened at my words.

He gave me one side glare and dragged me inside, almost making me trip and fall several times.

As we reached inside he dropped my hand and shoved his inside his coat pockets.

Just wow. I shook my head and looked ahead only to be bewitched by the sight before me.

It was a garden reception with a colossal water fountain in the middle, flowing water out of it’s head in a heart throbbing pace. The cobble stone around the fountain was decorated with light pink rose petals while tables were draped in silk clothing with colourful rose bouquets attached to the side. Lit candles were kept along the tables giving a shimmering bright to the greenery hanging from the ceiling.

“Marcus come here. Meet my siblings” Dad came running to us and dragged Marcus to my relatives who were gathered near the buffet.

Nice dad. Now I’m standing here like an idiot.

Time passed quickly and I was talking with some of my business partners when I saw someone leaving for the exit.

I squinted my eyes to get a closer look and realised it was none other than Marcus Anderson. I excused myself and quickly ran up to him.

“Are you leaving?”

He ignored me.

“The wedding isn’t over. Don’t you dare leave me here to be embarassed” I exclaimed in horror.

But before he could run away a slow song started playing in the background. “You two come here” I saw my aunt waving her hand and everyone was now looking at us expectedly.

“Come and dance” She urged in a hurried voice.

Marcus sighed and dragged me onto the dance floor.

With another frown in his face he kept his hands on my waist and waited till I keep my hand on his shoulder. Which I did.

We danced to the rhythm without having any eye contact. I could sense that he was frustrated. Well who said I wasn’t? I want to get the hell out of here.

“So annoying” He murmured.

“I know the feeling” I shot back earning a scowl from him.

After the dance we stayed with the guests for couple of hours and left to the car.

We planned on not having a honeymoon for the obvious reasons that we were strangers and had a business trip with Boltons coming up.

This marriage was planned ahead to go against rival groups in upcoming business deals so this would be the first time in action.

The car ride was once again pin drop silent so I was looking out the window the entire time. Marcus was immersed in his phone and didn’t look up at all.

Finally after a long drive we got into the private jet of the Empire’s. Marcus sat in the very corner while I absorbed myself staring at the meaningless shows in the TV.

I saw him glancing at me several times in annoyance, his lips twitched to a scowl whenever he met my eyes.

We both knew that we had to share one room when we go to the hotel because our rivals in business would also be there.

…

“Miss wake up. The flight has landed” The air hostess shook me several times.

I rubbed my eyes and slowly looked around. Perplexed, my brows furrowed as Marcus was nowhere to be seen.

“Where is Marcus?”

“ Mr. Anderson already left”

“He left?”

“Yes miss. Another car will be coming to pick you up”

Wow I can’t believe it. He was worse than I thought.

Before I left the jet I changed from my wedding gown to pants and a red tank top.

The car took me to an enormous hotel facing the sea. Palm trees were lined along the entrance while small yellow light bulbs flickered at the side giving a golden glow to the walls of the hotel.

“Miss your bags will be brought to your room. Please come with me. I’ll show you to your room. Mr. Anderson is already waiting.”

I followed the hotel staff to my room. I opened it to see a Mr. Rude working on his laptop on the table. I sighed and went to the bathroom with one of my bags that had already arrived.

I stood in front of the mirror and inhaled sharply bracing myself to the future I would be having.

“Phew okay let’s do this. Let’s not give a damn about what he tells or does. Let’s never talk with him. Let’s do this!”

I nodded my head in satisfaction and changed into a comfortable t-shirt and pants. I walked out with my chin held high only find Mr. Rude lying on the bed typing on his phone.

“Who said that you could sleep on the bed?” Well I guess no talking was not an option anymore.

“Who said I couldn’t?”

“Where the hell am I supposed to sleep if you sleep on the bed?”

“It’s your problem. I don’t care”

He didn’t look up once from his phone as he spoke.

I looked back and forth between the couch and the bed. Why would I sleep on the couch? My precious spine.

“Hell no way I’m sleeping on the couch. Move your butt!”

He rolled his eyes and moved, giving me space to sleep.

I got inside the sheets and covered my body. I was so tired that I instantly fell asleep.

…

I woke up to a sound of a phone ringing. My eyes were too heavy and I was too bored to open them. The bed was very comfortable. I wondered how they made the bed so warm that I felt like heat was radiating in front of me.

I decided that it was probably the pillow that I was hugging. But why does it feel like the pillow is hugging me back? So weird.

The phone started to ring again

“Uh” someone groaned in irritation. A musculin voice to be exact.

Who was that? I was sure I didn’t make a sound like a horse choking. I opened my eyes and saw a handsome face, shadowed by the sunlight falling in right in front of me.

Marcus was hugging me from my waist and I was doing the same. Our legs were tangled in the sheets providing me with no escape unless he moved away.

I felt as if my eyes were bulging out of their sockets. At the same time Marcus opened his eyes mirroring my reaction.

Like a flash we quickly moved away to the two ends of the bed. The phone was ringing again and now I thanked it for occupying my mind so that I didn’t have to think about what happened seconds ago.

He raised his eyebrows and looked at the ringing phone. I turned to where he was looking at, only to find that it was my phone that had been ringing all along.

I quickly picked it up to see my annoying brother calling me early in the morning.

“Hello Jake why are you calling me so early in the morning ?” I whispered to my brother.

“ Why? Do your hips ache?”

“WHAT?”

I heard him laughing from the other end.

“Well I called to tell you a surprise”

“What? “

“ Brandon, your ex is here “