"Darling, are you alright do you feel ill?" Rella snapped out of her thoughts at the feel of Stefan's warm calloused hand on hers, she furrowed her brows in confusion as to why he would use such an endearment for her but one look around told her why; Mr. And Mrs Stephenson were staring at her with concern waiting for her response.
Her palm was sweaty where he held her hand and Rella had no choice but to continue this charade. Stefan had a sacharin sweet smile on his face, almost like he was enjoying her mistery and Rella wanted to punch him so bad. She took in a deep breath and regretted because she almost felt sick to her stomach. Oh God he was now her husband, and now what? "I'm fine." She said finally mustering her own sweet smile. Mrs. Stephenson looked relieved. "It's not me is it? I didn't do anything to upset you did I?" Stefan asked and Rella wished he'd stop talking.She laughed uneasily. "No I'm just so overwhelmed with all of these." She replied honestly. " Happens to us all the time! " Mrs Stephenson said with a kind smile. " It'll be over before you know it so savour it as much as you can."There was nothing to savour Rella just wanted the night to be over already. "Don't worry, you'll feel much better after the first night." Stefan took their joined hands and pressed his lips at the back of it. "F-first night?" Rella blinked, almost choking. "First night. You scared?" Stellan said huskily as he trailed moist kisses up her arm and she shivered in reaction. Rella swallowed nervously, and wordlessly shook her head. She could see cameras flashing all around her and understood that he was putting on a show for the tabloids to see how utterly in love they were. "Ah young love," Mrs Stephenson purred dreamily holding on to her husband's arm who barely said two words. "Remember our wedding my love, we couldn't keep our hands off of each other so we snuck into the storage room of the restaurant where the reception was held. "uh honey I don't think…" her husband began to say in discomfort. Rella coughed while Stefan simply smiled in amusement. "There's nothing to be ashamed of and I can see that you two can barely keep your hands off each other. It wouldn't hurt to give you a few tips." "We would love that Mrs Stephenson but we've got to greet our remaining guests." "Oh sure, don't let me keep you." She gave a discreet wink to Rella. For the first time that night Rella was actually grateful to Stefan for saving her from that uncomfortable conversation. "You are a very good actress I would give you that." Stefan commented as soon as they were out of the old couple's earshot. Rella could tell that was meant as an insult. "You could win an Oscar no kidding." She retorted. Glad to see that they were both on the same page so they could get the pretense out of the way, Stefan thought. He was glad to know that the masks were off and she didn't have that puppy love look in her eyes. There was no use pretending when she would still get his money either way. They made rounds to greet the guests and at last Stefan was able to get away from her to chat with his friends. "You were quite touchy feely with your bride back there," Dave Sullivan said. "Don't tell me you're suddenly on boared with this marriage?" Jake Sullivan quipped. Stefan scoffed. "Hell will surely freeze over first." "Never say never. Besides, she's not that bad." Christian chimed in. "If you don't count how many times she's appeared on the tabloids for her escapades." "Like you haven't been on that rag a million times already." Christian countered. Stefan rolled his eyes at his friend. "I hate to admit it but the old man was right," "About what?" Dave asked. "Did you notice Salvatore smiling at me throughout the night?" " And that's shocking because..." "The son of a bitch always looked at me with such disdain like I stole from him but now he's all smily like everything's peachy. If I'm gonna be stuck in this marriage thing for life then I better get something out of it. I have a feeling the investment is a done deal." Rella looked around at the vast space alive with lush array of vegetation. The mansion stood two storeys tall and immaculately white at the middle, too huge for one. "You live here all by yourself?" She asked bemused. "I got it recently." Stefan began to walk towards the mansion not caring whether she was behind him or not. Making a mental note to tour the grounds some other time, Rella quickly caught up to him as they both walked towards the huge double doors. "Welcome Mr Diamond." A middle aged man greeted as soon as the doors opened. "Thank you Henry." Stefan said with a smile then he turned to her and said, "do whatever you want but stay out of my way. I'll be in my study for the rest of the evening so do not bother me unless someone's dying." And then he walked away leaving her utterly speechless."Is he always so unbearable?"Rella turned to face the middle aged man named Henry but he didn't seem fazed by Stefan's attitude instead he smiled at her politely and said, "Hello Madam I am Henry the butler, I will be helping you with anything you need you just have to let me know what. For now let me help you settle in for the night." Rella smiled back at him grateful that someone was at least nice to her in her new home. "Nice to meet you Henry, I'm Rella and thank you so much." Stefan didn't even bother to show her to their bedroom. If they were going to be sharing a room the least he could do is be more accommodating but he was arrogant and condescending. "This way please." She followed the butler up the flight of stairs, her eyes roaming the spacious mansion in awe she couldn't savour the beauty of it because she needed to keep up with Henry. At the second floor just across the hall he opened brown oak door and ushered her in. Rella felt like she
"Look at you living the life of a queen." "Mom why are you here?" Rella didn't think she'd have to meet either of her parents so soon after the wedding but Evie Cortés couldn't take a hint and showed up at her doorstep two days after, much to Rella's displeasure. "You ought to thank me you know I came up with this brilliant plan." Her mom said with a sassy swirl of her hand feeling rather proud of herself for being responsible for her daughter's misery but making sure to drop her voice into a whisper so no one would hear her. They were sitting in the patio of Rella's new home where Henry the butler made sure they had snacks and the right wine to go with it. Rella inhaled deeply and exhaled trying to calm her temper. Evie Cortés, no matter how unbearable and insufferable was still her mother after all. "Did you find Cindy yet?" It was all she was eager to know. "Sadly no, it's like she fell off the face of the earth or something." "If yo
"Nothing is working out."Rella groaned in frustration sipping her wine. It was a bright afternoon and the sun was just the right amount of warm but nothing about Rella's mood was sunny. There were barely days left for the post wedding party and she was overwhelmed. There was the meal, it's hard to choose an appetizer and the main course, for dessert she decided on chocolate troufle. The guest list was incomplete as she had little to no clue on who to invite and Stefan had made it clear that he was having no part in it. "Relax I am here aren't I and I promise to help you." Van assured her. They were on the balcony overlooking the neatly trimmed garden. " I have done a little get together before so this shouldn't be hard." " No offense Van but a get-together in a little neighbourhood with friends is nothing compared to this. Guests from some of the most affluent families in the city will be attending and we can't just serve them barbecue and call it a day."
"You know something." "It is not my place to talk about it." "You never should've insinuated more in the first place."Rella insisted and he caved. Christian sighed." You're a bully you know that? "Rella simply smiled. "To cut the long story short, Stefan's grandfather forced him to get married to a woman of his choosing. It was either marry you or forfeit the inheritance his parents left him." "That's awful. Couldn't he have just said no? " " Couldn't you have just said no? " Fair point Rella thought. All this time she thought Stefan had been the one to blackmail her parents turns out it was his grandfather. But that was no excuse for him to treat her so cruelly considering how she also has no choice. "Why did you agree to the marriage though? Stefan was counting on the fact that since you were sort of frivolous and fiercely independent that you would refuse to marry him but like every other woman he's met you couldn't refuse his
They finally said goodbye to the last guest at midnight. Rella wouldn't let Chloe leave until she swore to never tell anyone her secret and she was certain the noise they heard outside the door was just the wind because there was no one there when she went to check.Stefan on the other hand was eager to get away from her. "Why don't you help us clean it would be fun?" Christian said to his friend. "That's what servants are for, it's what they are paid to do."If looks could kill… After he said that, Stefan put his hands in his pocket as he made his way up the stairs. Rella found herself watching him go, there was something about the way he carries himself that was fascinating. "I don't think he realises he only has one help." Christian interrupted her thoughts. "I don't think he realises anything that goes on around him." Rella said.Poor Lacy the maid there was so much to clean up and it would be too much for one person to handle Rella was going to hel
Vanessa Wilkins also known as 'Van' stood in front of the cheval-glass in her tiny bedroom, a blank expression on her face reflecting her state of mind at the moment. She didn't want to think, she was done thinking and any related action might just make her head throb. Right now the lump in her throat felt like it was choking the life out of her so she took a deep breath through her nostrils and exhaled through her mouth.She had minimal make-up on, just the occasional talcum powder and lip gloss― she didn't want to entice him any further and appear to be trying too hard for him― which she wasn't. Yes she liked him, but prostituting herself to him she didn't like.She was wearing a short black rubber-dress that clung to her body like a second skin with half the bodice made of lace. Her hair fell on one shoulder and she looked like she was attending a funeral–perhaps she's mourning her innocence that would soon be snatched before the night was over.Van let out a defeated puff of breat
When Van woke up the next morning, she was alone. Tears of disappointment burned her eyes but she blinked them back. What did she expect, that he'd stay and cuddle with her? Of course he'd gotten what he wanted, he'd made it pretty obvious since the very beginning that he wanted sex with her. When she refused the first time, he offered to pay for her father's heart transplant and just like that, he had her eating from the palm of his hand. There was a manila envelope on the night stand and a note was propped against it, she reached out and grabbed it. Your payment, just like I promised. You weren't that bad. J. This time, a tear did slip. He was treating her like she was a common slut, even rating her performance. She sniffed, angrily wiping her eyes and the morphed her expression to be cold and hard; she was doing this for her father. The familiar buzz sounded from her cell phone and she frantically dug into her purse for it. ''Karl, is something wrong?'' she a
Rella stretched languidly on the king sized bed turning her face away from the sun streaming through the window. The thought of having to face her reality one more day made her want to bury herself but there's nothing she could do about it except be brave and face each day with courage. It's not everyday that one gets stuck with a husband who can't stand your guts. Her phone vibrated on the the night stand, she picked it up to see her mom's number flash on the screen. Rella rolled her eyes before she received the call. "You wouldn't guess what's happened." "Good morning to you too mom." That was it straight to the point no 'Rella good morning or how are you' as much as her mother's nonchalance pains her heart Rella is beginning to learn to shake it off. The woman cares about no one but herself. "What have you got in your bingo card today?" "Don't be rude. Your party last night was such a success it has become the talk of town. I went to have