HIS LITTLE BRIDE (COMPLETE)

CHAPTER 15

Sean was seated in the chairman’s office; he was officially done with a project that he had been working on for quite some months now. Since the project had been successful the Chairman wanted to reward him.

He smiled at the man who had shown him a lot of love in his own way as a father, a man who had tried by all means to change so that he could accommodate him and his needs, a man who had shown great love and trust in his inexperienced wife who had done wonders ever since she got the position as the face of the company.

‘I called you here to say thank you for everything you did. You brought the tiger out of Andrew and I think it is time for him now to be the next C.E.O,’ his stepdad said and he nodded his head.

‘He has always been a hardworking man and I have always admired him. In a way he will never know, he was my role model. He made me to be competitive, I didn’t want to lose to him and I bet he too didn’t want to lose to me,’ Sean said as he sipped his glass of water.

‘I noticed that. I always thought that you will keep on fighting but now I can be at ease. I am glad that there will be peace in the family but we still need to talk about it and clear all unnecessary misunderstandings,’ his step dad said.

‘I will settle that with Andrew so don’t worry,’ he told his stepdad.

‘Are you sure you don’t want to be promoted? The position can be yours,’ he got himself tempted once more but Sean shook his head in denial.

‘I don’t want to be greedy. I have a family to take care of now and being in those unending wars, will not be healthy for me, Selena or the baby,’ he explained to him.

Sean found the old man smiling and nodding his head.

‘What you are saying makes sense. I gave my all to the company and spent less time with my family. They have never known what is like to be loved but I am glad that you are willing to do that. Money might be important but it is also important to be happy with the people that you love. Don’t regret it later when it is too late to remedy it,’ his step dad gave him some advice and he nodded in response.

‘I will bear that in mind,’ he said and looked at the watch. It was already near lunch and it was time for him to leave.

‘Do you have any lunch appointment?’ his step dad asked and he looked at the old man with a smile.

‘I am afraid I do. I have to take my leave now, I will see you another time,’ Sean said as he stood up.

‘It’s okay; run along before she gets sulky,’ his step dad said and he looked at him with shock. How did he know that he was meeting his wife?

‘I can tell by your eyes, anyone can see it. My son is madly in love with his wife. Thanks to you, our company is faring well,’ his step dad said and he found himself laughing.

‘I am glad to hear that. I will bring her up to say her greetings,’ Sean said but his dad shook his head.

‘Don’t bother, my wife is waiting for me at home too and I would rather go and have some lunch with her. You two have some fun and tell her to take it easy. She shouldn’t be going everywhere in her state,’ his step dad reminded him.

‘I will take note of that.’

Sean finally left the office and took the elevator down for the first floor. His wife had sent him a text telling him that she was about to arrive which meant that she will be arriving any second from now. It didn’t take long before the SUV arrived and the guards opened the door for her. He smiled as he watched her get out of the car, for someone who was huge thanks to the pregnancy it was a miracle that she was walking on her two feet but just in case, a wheelchair was always on standby.

She couldn’t run like she used to before, he had to walk to her faster and wrap his arm around her since he couldn’t hug her like he used to before. She was like a ball but he loved it. Knowing that she was in that state because she was carrying his bloodline gave him a sense of joy and pride.

‘Are you tired?’ he asked her as soon as they began to walk into the office building.

‘My back hurts but now that I see you I guess I will be okay in a while,’ she answered and he smiled. She was always like this, saying out loud words that weren’t supposed to be let out. She had become more straightforward ever since her pregnancy and he loved it in a way.

Sean took his wife to his office, where he watched happily as she served the lunch she had brought. His wife had become a good cook, her food was edible unlike the first time she started earning. He no longer minded eating her food. Ever since she took a semester off because she was nearing towards he due date, she had been lonely at home alone and so she tried a number of things and cooking was the only thing she became interested in.

He tried several dishes and put a smile on his face after tasting them. They were delicious and he could even think that she wasn’t the person who cooked the dishes.

‘I cooked them. I started after I finished my bath,’ she said as if she heard read his mind.

‘You are becoming good at this my love, well done,’ Sean complimented his wife as he took another spoonful.

‘Thank you for saying that,’ she said as she picked a chicken wing which was her favorite now.

‘If you began in the morning, aren’t you tired?’ he asked her worried now that she might have overworked just to bring him lunch to work.

‘Don’t worry about that, I had help and I am feeling okay. The baby is still kicking and I feel no pain,’ she told him and Sean felt relived.

He had suggested that he cut work to look after her but she had refused and told him that she didn’t want her husband to be seated at home with her. She told him that she will be okay by herself and if anything was wrong she will call him first. So Sean listened to his wife to remain at work but he made sure that he spends time with her and return back home early. He knew how sulky she will be whenever she didn’t see him for long.

He finished the lunch she had brought, she didn’t eat much. He could tell that she had no appetite and he was going to fix that soon.

‘Let’s go out,’ he suggested and she looked at him with joy filled in her eyes.

‘Where are we going?’ she asked as she struggled to stand up. He helped her to stand up and ended up hugging.

‘Just have faith in your husband and I will take you to a place you will surely enjoy,’ he told her and she showed him one of her smiles.

‘I will trust you this time,’ she said.

Sean took his wife’s hand in his and led her out of the office. He didn’t mind the staring; to be honest he was used to it. It wasn’t the first time his pregnant wife visited him at the office, she always tell him that she was making her mark and he loved hearing that.

The tow of them got into the SUV and Richard drove off for the destination he had told him.

‘So you are not going to tell me where we are going?’ she asked him as she put her hand on top of his.

‘It’s a secret, remember!’

‘Fine, it better be nice,’ she said sulking.

He smiled seeing her acting all sulky. She reminded him that besides being woman now who was expecting her first child, she was also a teenager who has not yet turned nineteen. Her birthday was just around the corner and he wanted to throw her a huge party to celebrate this great day.

The car came to a halt and since the windows were tinted, Selena had no idea where they are. He was relieved when he saw the smile on her face the second she realized that they were there.

‘I love you so much!’ she said happily and gave him a peck on his cheek before making her way towards the shop.

He could sense that she was about to have a field day and he was glad about that. She wasn’t eating a lot and he just needed her to eat something she really enjoys and this was it.

When they entered the shop, they were welcomed warmly since they were regulars there. He stood next to his wife as she looked through the menu.

‘I will have that Hawaiian large pizza with some extra cheese toppings and a can of soda,’ she made her order before looking at him.

Sean knew what she was doing. He took out his card and gave it to the server who processed the bill. He led his wife to an empty table where they were going to wait for their food. She was happy, he could see it. She couldn’t attain it and he put his hand on top of hers. He looked around and saw that people were staring and taking pictures.

‘Are you comfortable?’ he asked her not liking the fact that people were doing all this.

She looked at him and gave him a cheerful smile.

‘I am used to this remember and besides it is free publicity. I get to grace the media once more without the company using a single penny,’ she said with confidence and he found himself laughing.

When did she become an adult? He was surprised that his wife was acting like this. It was a good thing and he could tell that she was special in her own way and as long as he keeps on influencing her then she will become a very powerful woman and a partner who will remain by his side forever.

‘I am touched and surprised by those words. Let’s make money then,’ he said and she smiled.

‘We better.’

Being able to be with his wife having a normal lunch just like any other people out there was the greatest blessing he could ever ask for. He was glad that he made that choice that night by asking her to marry him even though at that time it was for other reasons without love; just seeing her smile as she ate her first slice, filling her stomach with food made him happy. He was going to be by her side longer and see to it that she feed and be stronger for all of them.

                                                                             …

Selena took a deep breath as she finished shooting her commercial. She was promoting baby products made by one of the subsidiaries of the company. As the face of the company, she found it appropriate to just do it than to hire a model that wasn’t even pregnant and fake the whole thing. She always believed in authenticity and she was the real deal. If she had known though that this was going to take three days she would have refused but she would have also broken the contract and made things worse for the company and her husband.

She had learnt some cruel reality after being married to Sean. Whatever she does affected her husband and there were people who were just waiting for her to make a mistake so that they may make it difficult for Sean. Some people they were just so crazy and had nothing to do for them to be always scheming behind other’s backs.

‘Thank you for your hard work,’ the director said as he gave her a bottle of mineral water.

‘I should thank you for being lenient with me,’ she said as she took the bottle from him.

She was tired and she was glad that she was going to get some rest. Her husband wasn’t going to take her back home since he had left for a business trip. She was going to be alone and that was bothering her. She had to go home to ear or visit a restaurant and have her dinner served. The thought of eating alone was really haunting her.

‘Mrs. Sawyer, you have a visitor,’ the makeup artist said and she turned her head around and smiled as she saw who her visitor was.

‘What are you doing here?’ Selena asked her best friend Vivian whom she hasn’t seen in a week because they were both busy.

‘I missed you and I heard you alone so I came to keep you company,’ Vivian said as she approached her.

‘That is very sweet of you. Don’t you have exams?’ Selena asked as Vivian sat in one of the armchairs.

‘I have one next week but that doesn’t matter. I came to take you away from here. Besides my mother is waiting for you, she is preparing one delicious dinner and was hoping if you can attend,’ Vivian said and she felt tears stinging her eyes. Being invited to dinner to a prominent family was such an honor, despite the family being her best friend’s.

‘I would love to. It would have been hectic to eat alone,’ she said as she stood up.

Vivian was quick to help her stand up since she was heavy. It really shook her knowing that she was only carrying one child and not twins and yet her stomach was just so huge. She saw how other people look at her and make comments.

‘Thank you,’ she said as she stood on her feet.

‘We have a lot to talk about,’ Vivian said.

Selena was happy to see her friend at the place she was working, it felt good to be with her. Ever since Vivian started seeing Edward, she had been happy and she was less lonely than before. So even if she wasn’t there, she knew her friend was okay.

Selena followed her friend to her awaiting SUV that she had been using ever since she got pregnant. Sean didn’t want her in these small sedans at all.

‘I hope you didn’t bring your car,’ Selena said as they reached the car.

‘I did not, I didn’t want us to be in different cars so I had the driver drop me off here,’ she said as the two of them stood by the car.

‘That is good because I don’t want to be separated from you either.

It didn’t take long before the two were off the shooting set. They sat comfortably in the backseat talking and sharing things they weren’t able to through the phone. Selena couldn’t help herself but laugh at her friend’s jokes. She was really hilarious but funny. She was just touched that Vivian came out all the way just to be with her. She was really grateful that she met her that day. She found a friend who had stood by her all the time. When she was in distress Vivian was by her side, she fought for her, laughed with her and cried with her. She was truly a blessing in disguise.

On their way her baby started kicking and she started to giggle. Vivian immediately put her hand on her stomach and she listened attentively as her baby kicked.

‘This excites me more than anything. It makes me want to have a child of my own,’ Vivian said excitedly and Selena found herself laughing at her friend’s remark.

‘Don’t tell me you are planning on having one with Edward? You just started seeing each other a few months ago,’ Selena asked her friend.

‘Not really. It’s just that I am planning on getting married after I graduate but he might be thinking otherwise,’ Vivian said looking worried.

‘He is already at that age where he needs a family and waiting for three more years is just crazy. What will you do if he asks you to marry him?’ Selena asked her, wanting to probe further into the issue.

‘I don’t know about that, I guess we will see if he ever asks the question,’ Vivian answered and she pat her friend’s thigh.

She knew that her friend was so in love with her boyfriend and she will do anything to be with him. She also had a feeling that if Edward ever go down on one knee and proposes, she will surely agrees and marry him. She just loves him a lot and that was a good thing.

‘Just go with the flow if that time comes. I want you to follow your heart and do what makes you happy. I didn’t know I will be this happy when I first agreed to marry my husband but I only knew that it was the right thing and I did it. So I really hope that you as my friend will be happy the way I am now or more than that because you deserve it,’ she told Vivian honestly and Vivian laid her head on her shoulder.

It was very difficult for her at first but with time she realized that love was just like a cough, there was no way she will be able to hide it so she just coughed and now she was cured. Being with her husband was the greatest gift ever given to her. She was really grateful to her parents for giving birth to her and loving her the way they did.  Because of all that she had the ability to love others now and share it with others. Just happy as she was, she wanted others to be too.

                                                                      …

Vivian smiled as she watched her family eating happily together as one with her best friend Selena. She was a very unique girl and she was glad that she got to meet her. She gave this certain vibe which was just extraordinary and makes the people surrounding her to just love her. Even her picky parents seemed to enjoy her company very well. It was a rare sight to see her mother laughing and enjoying life as she was doing talking to Selena at the moment. She was truly a blessing.

Her mother had carefully prepared dinner to accommodate Selena who hasn’t been eating well lately. She was the expert since she gave birth to the two of them. Vivian seeing her friend eating that food and enjoying it was just so great. She didn’t want anything to happen to her or the baby. She had prepared so many names just for the baby; after all she was going to be the child’s aunty. That title made her ecstatic.

Dinner finally came to an end and the maids took the plates while they brought some desserts. Since Selena couldn’t have coffee like the rest of them, she had ice-cream brought to her. For someone who was pregnant she just has these abnormal cravings.

‘You seem to be enjoying yourself,’ Vivian said as she sipped on her coffee.

‘How can I not? I haven’t eaten this much in a while.’

‘You shouldn’t take your health lightly. I would be sad if anything were to happen to you,’ Vivian said sounding worried at her friend.

‘I will take care of myself and thank you for inviting me tonight. You are such a darling,’ Selena said with a smile. She really looked pretty whenever she smiles. It was rare to see her mad for a long time, she just ended up smiling even when she was hurting.

‘That’s what friends are for,’ Vivian said and returned her smile.

After their dessert and more talks, it was time to send Selena back home. Even though she was alone, she doubted if her husband was comfortable having her sleep away from home. She knew just how much Sean loves Selena and how protective he was of her and their love just inspires her all the time. Their kind of love gave her the courage to be where she was now, happy with Edward. The man she loved since she was young and the man who was making her happy and smile each and single day. She was glad that she confessed to him and told him how she felt otherwise he would have never known and she will be pinning for someone who had no knowledge of the issue at all.

She waved her friend goodbye as she got into her car. It was going to be difficult to see her soon but she will always call and talk to her. Seeing how busy she had been these past few days because of the commercial that was suppose to hit the screen in a couple of days, she will probably be resting at home while she waits for her husband to return back.

Watching the SUV leave, she thought to herself what it will be like if Edward really proposes and if she starts a family with him. Will it be like her friend’s or unique? To be honest she was just scared that what she has with Edward will change once they got married. She was really scared of that huge commitment. She had seen a lot of marriages failing and she didn’t want to be part of it.

‘Don’t stress yourself my child. I bet that he just loves you the same way as you do,’ her mother said as she stood by her side which took her by surprise.

‘Mom, what are you talking about?’ she asked her, still in shock.

‘You know what I am talking about. I know that he was stubborn at first but I can tell that he really do love you. So just like the way you went for it back then you should do the same this same,’ her mother advised her.

‘You know I love you right?’

‘I know darling. So tell me, do you want to marry him?’ her mother asked and she smiled at her, blushing.

‘I wouldn’t mind. Should I ask him?’ she asked her mother and this time she looked at her and she could tell that was a disapproving look.

‘That is something I will not encourage. Let him do the proposing this time, if I hear you do that I will cut off your limbs,’ her mother said and she burst out laughing.

‘I will keep that in mind mom and I will not do it, I promise,’ she told her and she meant it.

‘Good then. Let’s go inside, the drama is about to start,’ her mother said pulling her inside. It was going to be a long ride, she could feel it.