CHAPTER FIVE

In the span of a few days, they had been so wrapped up in a media frenzy over the news of their engagement that she hadn't slept for more than 4 hours in the past week.it was always makeup and hair for events,parties, interviews and the whole shebang of planning a wedding which his mother had completely taken over,fortunately. How could she live this life?

Even if it was for a short while she knew that all these would get too overwhelming for her and the only way she could think of to keep her grounded was the thought that her mother was going to be well again.News had gotten to her through Micheal that her surgery had gone well and that she was recovering well.Although she wouldn't be well enough to make the travel back for her wedding tomorrow.

Her new iphone 14 that Micheal had gotten her,vibrated as she came out of the shower of her hotel.It was an unknown number.

She slid the green button to answer. 

"Hello?"she asked curious.

There was silence at the other end of the phone. 

"Hello?who is this?"she repeated.

A Soft velvety voice spoke.

"Don't marry him.He's not to be trusted.He has a secret.Ask him,ask him where he was on the 13th of July?"the voice spoke frantically. 

She tried to understand what was going on but the call ended before she could ask.

"What the heck was that?"she thought out loud.confused.

She went back to get ready for the ballroom dance classes that micheal had set up for her to be able to dance at their reception.

All day,her mind kept wondering back to the mysterious woman that had called her.What if it wasn't a prank call,like she had convinced herself to believe.What if the woman was right?that he was keeping a secret .She had to know, at least to clear all her doubts.

Later that evening they sat across each other enjoying the nightlight that loomed over the city from his hotel room.He had promised her that they would fully move into his house once they were wedded.

"So,how was your day?"he asked as he popped a piece of steak into his mouth.They were two days away from their weddings and he had initiated this dinner in order for her to sign the contract.This was the right time for her to ask the questions that had plagued her for so long before signing the contract.

"Are you hiding anything from me?"she blurted out.

His hand paused midway to his mouth.

He looked up at her from his dinner.His eyes narrowed to slits.

"Why do you ask?"he responded.

She dropped her fork onto her plate and folded her hands under her chin.

"Because,if there's anything that would affect me after I become your wife,I would like to know"she retorted.

He cleared his throat,reaching for a glass of wine to wash down the piece of steak that had gotten stuck in his throat.

She waited for him to drink his fill.

After he was done,he dropped the glass onto the table and shoved the plate away from him.

"You don't have to worry.There's nothing "he said holding onto his self-control.

"Now why do I find that so hard to believe?"she replied.

A vein ticked at the side of his jaw.

He let out a chuckle.

"Do you know one thing about me...I hate being interrogated "he confessed. glaring straight at her now.

She felt the chill in her bones from just that one look but she had to stand her ground.

"That isn't the issue right now."she said as calmly as she could muster up.

"Then what exactly is the issue,Alina"he asked, dangerously drawing out her name.

"What are you hiding from me?"she asked again.

"I won't repeat myself twice"he responded.

"Just sign the papers"he said ,sliding the papers across the table till it landed in front of her.He knew that was where this conversation was heading to.She was having doubts and he wouldn't entertain those doubts.

She folded her arms across her chest in defiance. His lips hardened. He wasn't going to tolerate her going back on her word.so to persuade her,he got up,crossed over to where she sat and offered her the papers.

"Sign these papers"she said through his clenched teeth.he was trying to keep calm but it seemed that wasn't going to be the case.

"Sign the damn papers now!"she jumped at the sound of his booming voice. Scared,she picked up the pen and scrawled her signature onto the line at the edge of the paper.

He took a copy of the signed paper and left the other copy on the table.

"That is your copy of the agreement.Go through it"he ordered as he folded and tucked the piece of paper into his suit jacket.

Satisfied,he turned to walk away.

"Where were you on the 13th of july?"she shot up from her sit.

His head whipped around so fast she was afraid his neck would snap on impact.His eyes widened in confusion.

"Who told you that?"he whispered.

"How did you know that?"he asked again,this time his voice grew louder.she took a step back as he took one menacing step forward towards her ,his intent to kill.

He took three long strides towards her as she backed up against the railing. 

"Who told you that?tell me!"he shouted as he gripped her arms tightly,shaking her.

"I don't...I don't know.Let me go Micheal, you're hurting me!"she cried trying to wriggle her way out of his tightening grasp.she knew it would leave a bruise. 

"don't you ever! bring that up again.Understood?!"he shouted.

She nodded defeatly.Satisfied, he released her.Her knees buckled and she fell in a heap on the balcony floor crying into her hands while he loomed over her like a ghost. He wrestled with his emotions and his care for her and in the end his anger won.He walked out of the room leaving her shaken. Fear for her future imminent. 

As she walked down the aisle two days later,her thoughts tossed in a million other directions.but the one thing that took precedence in her mind was the clause in the contract that had bared her down these past few days leading up to the wedding.

The clause that read:

'once wedded,is to be my wife in every way.in bed and in life until a child is sired.'

What a funny game that life had to play on her.