UNRAVELING MR BILLIONAIRE

Episode 4

Christina still holds the cheque.

She sits hesitantly at the edge of her bed, clenching hard at the cheque like it will disappear if she let go for a second. It’s not like the check is any use to her at the moment. She can only cash it in after a year. A whole year to pretend being a billionaire’s wife.

She wonders what can go wrong.

Why would he need someone to pretend? With his kind of wealth, she is sure there is a line of women waiting to call him theirs. Is something medically wrong with him? Or it’s just the fact that he doesn’t trust anyone enough to spend his life with them.

“You mustn’t feel special,” she thinks. “He probably does this all the time.”

It’s been a week already since she accepted his proposal. She still stays at the hotel and for the past 7 days, she has been busy from one schedule to the other.

Junior doesn’t explain why, but they have been going from one private studios to the other. There are several pictures taken of them together as a couple. The studios want to ask them questions, but Junior tells them that his team will get back to them.

He has been like this lately. His smile and charm are gone and his stern, business side thrives. They barely have any personal interaction since that night. Everything feels official.

Even when they are standing together, taking pictures, his smiles look corporate approved and his poses are rigid. Once the shoot is done, he returns to his original poses and stern look. This is nothing like the man she met that night.

She is not complaining though. She’s always known from the time he walked into the church that he is not going to be hers. Everything for him is calculated and she has to adapt too.

“This is a means to an end,” she tells herself. “It’s your surest way to freedom.”

When she is done reassuring herself, she stands up to prepare for the day.

“I am hosting a party for us,” he announced. They were having a dinner the other night after a long shoot that left them both hungry. It was the first time they had any meal together since the day they reached the arrangement.

“What party?” she asked.

“A coming out party,” he said. “We will announce our marriage to the world and then, all those pictures we took will roll out.”

“Wow! You’ve really thought everything out, huh?” he didn’t respond. They kept eating for a while.

“You should prepare yourself,” he said. “There will be a lot of people there. Do not let them intimidate you.”

She thinks about this advice a lot.

“Just what is she getting herself into?” she wonders.

The day goes by fast and when the night comes, she is glammed up as usual and Junior comes to pick her up. When the car stops by the red carpet, Junior opens the door for her and helps her out. Camera flashes.

There are questions and compliments thrown at them, but as usual, no comments. They walk into the hall and Christina can swear that is in heaven. The place is twice as large as the first Vintage Hall she walked in and thrice as glamorous.

It is filled to the brim with men in casual suits and the gorgeous women by their side. For the first time since left home, she suddenly feels very intimidated. These are accomplished women, in their fine offices and an array of staff.

She is nothing but a little girl from a small farm, with no family and no achievement. How can she ever truly face any of them?

“You ready to face the world?” Junior teases.

The people finally notice them. They all turn and give them a round of applause. Junior is surely enjoying this. He stands over them all proudly and wave saying, “please, please.”

Soon, the applause dies down and everyone goes back to talking.

“Can you show me the restroom, please?” Christina asks.

“Sure. Are you alright?”

“Yes. Just need to use the restroom. That’s all,” she lies.

“Alright. Down there,” he points to a direction. Without hesitation, she heads straight for the restroom. Inside, she stands by the mirror and tries to gather her breath. Her hands are shaking and she seems to be sweating a little bit.

“You need to get it together, Christina,” she tells herself. “They can’t hurt you. They are here to celebrate you.”

She pours some water on her face and makes sure she is calmer before she decides to head back to the main hall.

“Here,” a woman hands her a towel. She takes it gratefully and pets her face with it.

“Rough day, huh?” the woman says. Christina looks over her shoulder and sees the tall, beautiful woman with long black hair, and piercing eyes.

“Yeah,” she answers.

“You have nothing to worry about,” the woman says as she washes off her hand casually. “George Junior just likes to mess with people’s head, that’s all.”

“You know him?” Christina asks. The woman stops the running water and turns to her.

“He hasn’t mentioned me?” she asks.

“I’m sorry,” she answers. “He is not exactly the chatty type.” The woman nods. Then, she stretches her hand for a handshake.

“Hi,” she says. “I am Sophie Wright, Junior’s childhood friend,” Christina shakes her hand.

“I’m Christina Wilfred,” she wants to remove her hand from Sophie’s but suddenly Sophie’s grip becomes harder and her face becomes very serious.

“Okay, new girl, I have done my research on you,” Sophie says. “You are here for the money, and I don’t blame you. It’s a good hustle,” Christina doesn’t reply. She doesn’t know what to say.

“Just know this,” Sophie continues. “George Vintage Junior is mine. When he is done playing games with you, he is coming back to me. Remember that. If you try anything stupid, I will make sure that you and that wretched family you left behind live to regret it,”

Christina is horrified. She may have deserted her family, but she still loves them dearly. She wonders what a woman with Sophie’s power and capacity can do to her family and suddenly, a lump form in her throat.

“Do you understand?” Christina nods in agreement.

“Good girl,” Sophie smiles and releases her.

Christina returns to the party with so much to think about. But she will have to think later because there are so many people suddenly interested in her.

“Good Lord, you are dashing,”

“I didn’t know Junior is this good in the women department,”

“He takes after his father,”

The two people, a man and a woman, that has cornered her currently exchanges compliments and laughs.

“I see you’ve met my family already,” Junior walks in from behind them. She is suddenly glad to see a familiar face again.

“This is my Uncle Frank,” he announces. “And my step mother, Angelina,” Christina is shocked. The step mother doesn’t look much older than she is.

“Nonsense,” she says with her seductive blue eyes. “Just call me Angel. There is no formality between family,” she laughs again.

“Yes, Angel,” Christina says hesitantly.

“Hello, everyone,” they hear loud feedbacks from the mic. They all turn towards the stage and as soon as she sees the man on the stage, she feels like entering the ground.

There is a wave of shame that suddenly overtakes her and she wishes she can, even for one second, hide back in her little room on her family’s estate.

The man standing on the stage is The General, the man who escorted her into the Vintage Hall.