Arranged marriage : Married to an unknown man

Ariana

I had been sitting in my office, thinking about how one and a half weeks went by after that embarrassing moment in his office.

Till now, my thoughts had been revolving around that office incident. I felt so embarrassed. I couldn’t meet his eyes every time I met him after that. And strangely, he didn’t snap at me for the whole week.

He said I did that to gain attention. He also compared me with Scarlet. He thought I was like her who gains attention by doing anything she could do.

I didn’t feel this much hurt when Bianca, Diana, and Katherine accused me and insulted me. But I didn’t know why his words affected me so much. His words felt like needles, needles that were still pricking in my heart at a slow pace giving me heartache.

I think he didn’t ever learn that never judge anyone without knowing them.Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

I was pulled out of my thoughts with a beep of my phone. I picked up my phone to see a message notification…

“Your account has been credited…”

I immediately opened the message. My eyes went wide as I stared at the amount that was credited to my account.

My first salary since I started working as a P. A and it was the amount that was equal to the 6 months salary I used to earn from my last job.

Why was I even shocked? I guess this is what you get as you work for the CEO of the USA’s topmost company.

The corner of my lips tugged up and within seconds I was smiling like a fool. My savings were nearly ending, now I didn’t have to worry. But my smile faded when I realized something.

Watching the message of my salary made me realize that…

One month had already passed.

It had been a month since I got married to Xavier Knight. It’s been a month since I entered my new phase of life. A month since I got free from Smith’s.

And…

A month since he became my husband but I never became his wife.

It’s not that I wanted to be called his wife but at least he should not judge me without knowing me. And I didn’t know what the coming days will bring to me. Will he ignore me for eternity? Will he ever change his opinion about me? Will I be tied to this loveless bound for life?

Sighing, I placed my phone aside. The situation wasn’t in my hands. The best I could do was concentrate on work so that I would not think of all that happened in a month and I’d not think of what will happen in the coming months.

During the lunch break, Mrs. Miller, Kevin, Lauren, Scott, and I decided to go to a small diner near the building since our bosses were out for a meeting so, Lauren suggested that we should go out because our bosses won’t demand us and we didn’t have to rush to them between our lunch break.

So, here we were, sitting at a rectangular table in a cozy diner ready to order our food. I was sitting between Lauren and Mrs. Miller, Scott and Kevin were sitting across us.

“Listen, everybody,” I said excitedly. They all turned their attention to me.

“Today’s lunch is on me,” I beamed.

“What’s the occasion?” Kevin asked, raising his eyebrows.

“Actually…” Before I could say anything Scott asked excitedly.

“Why? Is it your birthday today?”

“No!”

“Why? Someone proposed to you today?” Lauren asked excitedly, wiggling her eyebrows.

“What? …N.. No!” I blushed. Why would she ask that?

“Then, you proposed to someone?” Mrs. Miller asked teasingly.

“No!” Goodness, they don’t know that I am married.

“Then?” They all asked in unison.

“It’s nothing that you all are thinking about. The thing is, my salary got credited today. One month completed.” I said excitedly.

“Already?” They all screeched in unison, making all other people in the diner stare at us.

“Shhh…lower your voices.” I hushed them.

“Oh god, Ariana, a month has already passed? It feels like we just met yesterday.” Lauren squealed, side hugging me. I laughed at her reaction.

“Time truly flies so quickly.” Mrs. Miller said, pulling me in a hug from another side.

“One month since we have known each other.” Scott smiled warmly. I smiled back at him.

“Really? One month already passed in admiring your beauty?” Kevin replied, grinning ear to ear, making my cheeks turn pink.

“Goodness, Kevin, you made her blush.” Lauren laughed, poking my cheeks. I swatted her hand away softly.

“Okay enough. Order now.” I said a little sternly so that they won’t make fun of me anymore.

“Aww… Ariana, you look too cute when you act stern.” This comment from Kevin made my face go red. All of them laughed watching me.

“I guess you all don’t want a treat. It’s okay, fine by me.” I shrugged my shoulders trying to tease them.

“Who said that? Okay, guys, we’ll talk afterward. Now order.” Lauren said hurriedly. I sighed in relief.

“Okaaayyy..” they all replied in unison like singing a song.

I laughed. Goodness, how did I become so lucky to have these amazing people in my life? It was the first time I was sharing my happiness with someone…not just someone… I was sharing it with my friends.

For the first time, I got to know how it feels to celebrate or share your happiness with others. My heart swelled with contentment seeing these people celebrating with me. It felt so good.

After lunch, I paid the bill then we all went back to our respective departments to continue with our work.

An hour before the end of work hours my boss returned and asked me to come to his office. When I went there, I saw him standing near the window, looking outside, his hands were in his pockets.

“Sir,” I said.

He turned to face me then slowly walked to his desk.

“I got the invitation to Scarlet Smith’s birthday party which is tonight.” He said, pointing towards the card placed on his desk.

Oh… it’s her birthday today. It’s not that I forgot, I just didn’t want to remember. I was never allowed to join her lavish birthday party which was held every year in the mansion. I was sure this time too it was going to be lavish.

“I won’t be able to attend the party since I have a meeting with a client. So, the thing is, I know you must be invited there, so you go to the party and apologize from my side. I’ll have Finn bring a gift for Scarlet.” He said while gazing at me intently. His voice was gentle, it was like he was asking me to that, not ordering me.

But my main concern was the party. He wanted me to attend the party, but how should I tell him that I wasn’t invited there, never was and never will be? How do I tell him they would not be pleased to see me there since they had already tossed me out of their lives.

“Besides, you haven’t seen your mother for so long. So, it’ll be good for you to meet your mother.” He mumbled gently and this time his gaze held gentleness as well.

His statement shocked me but I didn’t allow my face to give any type of expression. Why did I feel like he was concerned about me that I hadn’t met my mother for so long?

Mother? I scoffed. What mother? A mother who didn’t listen to her own daughter’s requests. A mother who didn’t love her own daughter, a mother who didn’t even call once to ask how her daughter had been doing. I was sure she would not be happy to see me there.

But I couldn’t say no to him. What reason would I give to him? He didn’t know what pain I had endured there, he knew nothing. And I didn’t want him to know. After all, what could he be able to do if he gets to know about it? Probably nothing.

So, I decided that I would just go there and would return after handing the gift to one of the guards. I would not go inside the mansion.

“Umm, okay,” I replied, not giving any kind of expressions that could make him suspicious about my intentions.

He nodded his head and said,

“And I’ll have Finn to drive you there.”

I got alarmed. Why his driver. What about my plan now?

“No.. it’s not necessary.” I immediately replied, panicking.

“Finn will drive you there and that’s final.” He said with finality in his tone, gazing directly into my eyes.

I lowered my eyes, gazing down at my shoes. Why did he want me to go in one of his cars? I had no idea. The change in his behavior had been surprising.

“What did I tell you, what to do when I talk to you?” He asked in a calm tone.

Look at me when I am talking to you… His words rang in my mind.

I immediately looked up to see him staring at me intently. My heartbeat began to speed up. Why always it felt like he’s trying to see through me by looking into my eyes.

I tried to keep calm but my heartbeats were saying otherwise.

“Is that clear what I said earlier?” He asked, arching an eyebrow.

Oh, the car and the driver. It seems like I can’t escape this.

“Yes,” I replied, looking at him. Now I have to think of something else.

“Good. Now you can go back to work. I’ll be leaving for the meeting in fifteen minutes.”

Saying okay, I exited his office and went to my office. I began to formulate a new plan. I walked back to my chair to sit when something struck me.

It’s Scarlet’s birthday. Which means…

They will be there.

No, no, no, no. I couldn’t go there. I didn’t want to see them. They were my biggest nightmare.

My legs trembled and I fell on my chair with a thud. How could I forget about them?

What should I do now?