Yesterday's Pain

Chapter 2

After half an hour drive we finally arrived at the highest condominium here in our country. I thought he is living in a regular condo unit but I was wrong because he pressed the penthouse button in the elevator. I should expect this thing because Andrew is one of the richest bachelors in the business world. He is known to be ruthless in the business industry according to some but for me, he is not. Andrew is gentle when I interviewed him five years ago. He looks so humble and he never got angry at me even though I am clumsy during that interview. My Andrew is perfect in every aspect five years ago and he still is up until now.

The elevator ride is taking so long so I busied myself by looking at my own reflection and all of a sudden Andrew stared at my reflection also so I smiled at him but he just nods at me and put his two hands in his pockets.

After a while, the door of the elevator opened so I get out and waited for Andrew to come out. He lead the way so I followed him and when he stopped at the penthouse's door he pressed the safety lock and the door opened. I thought we will be welcomed by his servants but there is no one. His penthouse looks so beautiful but it's empty. He turn around and looked at me encouraging me to go in so I did.

I tried to take off my shoes but he told me that there is no need to do that. I roam my eyes around his sala and the furniture in it screams wealth.

"You can sit on the sofa, I will just get something." He then dismissed himself and entered his room. I have no idea what he will get but I waited patiently and he finally comes out while holding thick documents.

"Prenuptial agreement." He said while raising the papers in the air. When he got near me he put it on the table.

"You have until tomorrow afternoon to sign it, you can just give it to me when you are done." I browsed the paper's front page and it is all about finances and assets but I have no interest in those anyways so I took the pen and signed everything.

"You didn't bother to read it?" He smirks while questioning my sudden action. I don't feel the need to read it anyway since I have no interest in getting something from him, I am fine whatever condition was written on it.

"I have no interest in your assets and finances," I confessed and I know in his head he is judging me because I am dumb. He is probably regretting it right now because he discovered that the woman he had chosen is not a good decision-maker. He is probably thinking that I will be a useless wife but I will make sure that I will be beneficial to him.

"Do what suits you then." He answered trying to end the conversation.

"I have five empty rooms and three guest rooms, you can sleep wherever you want. I have food on my ref if you get hungry." He said as if those will satisfy my needs but he forgot that I did not bring any clothes with me. I don't care if he will think I am shameless for requesting clothes to wear. I have to take a bath, I feel so sticky.

"I am sorry for saying this, but I didn't bring any clothes with me." He looked at me from head to toe and I have no idea why he is doing that.

"You can wear my clothes." Wearing Andrew's clothes is also one of my dreams. I have seen those scenes in the movies wherein the woman will wear her boyfriend's clothes after making love and I found those very romantic so I ought to myself that one day I will experience those with Andrew, but I have no idea that mine will be embarrassing.

"How about my underwear?" I whispered and Andrew probably didn't hear me so he came closer and leaned his body towards mine. He smells so manly with the hint of mint and it is so addicting.

"Your what?" Asking me to repeat what I have just said so I gathered my courage and said it much louder so he can hear me.

"My underwear Andrew." I saw him holding his laugh and I want to be eaten by the ground right now just to escape.

"You can sleep naked Lauren." He said those while holding my waist and I felt my cheeks heat up. He is teasing me and I love it but the happiness that I have felt vanished when he let go of my waist.

"You are still a kid." After saying those he walked out and then came back with a white shirt in his hand. I grabbed it immediately and run to the nearest room, thank God it is not locked.

I leaned my back on the door and hold my chest trying to control my breath and tears. He is probably joking when he said that I am still a kid but it hurts because I know it is somehow true. I am still a kid if I will be compared to those women he sleeps with.

My tears were about to fall but they recoiled when I heard my phone ring. Adam my childhood best friend is calling me. I breathed deeply to calm myself.

When I answered the call Adam's worried voice welcomed me and based on his tone he has probably had an idea of what just had happened.

"Lauren where are you?" He asked slowly probably trying to calm himself down. I am a little sister to Adam so he is probably disappointed by my reckless decision. I know he is mad at me for doing this stupid thing, but what can I do? I love Andrew so much and I am willing to do the stupidest thing just to be with him.

"Please Lauren, answer me, I will pick you up." He is almost begging when he said that and the tears that I have been holding for too long suddenly fall. I covered my mouth to stop myself from sobbing because I don't want him to get worried. Aside from that, Andrew might hear me and he might think that I am regretting my decision. I don't want him to find another woman to marry, it should be me, no one else.

"I look for you in every bar of this f*****g town but you are nowhere to be found, and when I came into your house, I asked your father if your home and he said you run away with that man Andrew. Lauren enlighten me please, what happened? Why are you with him?" He narrated everything as if he is trying to find an answer to this situation.

I breathed in and out to stop myself from crying and I answered Adam's question. "I am marrying Andrew, Adam." Adam laughed sarcastically. He was mocking my confession.

"You didn't know him at all Lauren, stop acting like a f*****g obsessed woman, and come back here." The madness that he is been stopping burst out. Adam used to be calm when he is talking to me. It was my first time hearing him shouting and getting mad at me.

"I love him," I answered thinking that those three words are enough for them to understand why I am doing this. With the hope that my love for Andrew is enough to justify my unreasonable action.

"What about us Lauren? You are choosing him over us? Over your own father?" This time I let Adam hear my cry not to gain some pity but to ease the pain that I am feeling. I thought being with Andrew will be a perfect fairytale but I guess I am wrong.

"Why can't you just support me?" I sound so selfish in asking that. I know life won't give me everything that I wanted but can just life let this one slide. Just this one.

"We will not support your insane acts, Lauren." After that, he dropped the call. I leaned on the room's door to support my body because my knees felt so weak and everything feels so heavy. I, then sit on the ground and hug both of my knees while crying my heart out.

After a while, I heard Andrew knocking on the door of the room where I am staying.

"Just go home if you will cry all night, I don't want to marry a miserable woman." He said coldly so I immediately stood up and wipe my tears. I look myself in the mirror and fixed my messy hair. When I look a bit presentable I opened the door and faced Andrew bravely.

"I will marry you, I will forget about them." I flashed a sweet smile for him to believe me. I pretended to be happy, that I have no regrets so he won't change his mind about marrying me. I have no idea why he is rushing to marry someone but whatever his reason I am more than willing to be his wife.

Time passed by so quickly. After the crazy proposal, I am now walking down the aisle while looking at the eyes of the man I have been dreaming to be mine for almost five years. I have imagined this scenario a thousand times so I am afraid that maybe right now everything is just an illusion but when Andrew held my hand the moment I got near him I have proved that everything is real.

The priest started the wedding ceremony but I couldn't understand anything because I am busy looking at Andrew. He looks unreal. Isn't it a sin to be that handsome? With that perfectly sculpted face, alluring eyes, defined nose, and masculine body he can pull any woman he likes. Women that are much better than me.

I felt Andrew tap my hand and the priest is looking at me as if he is waiting for me to answer a question. I looked at Andrew asking for help because everyone is waiting for my answer but I didn't even hear any questions.

Andrew looked at the priest apologetically.

"I am sorry father but can you just please repeat the question." The priest nodded obliging to Andrew's request.

"Do you Lauren Smith take Andrew Callan Gray to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, in sickness and health, to love, honor and obey, in good times and woe, for richer or poorer, keeping yourself solely unto him for as long as you both live?" I have been practicing answering this question for almost five years and finally, I can now say it loud in front of God and in front of Andrew.

"I do," I said while looking at Andrew's eyes.

"By the authority vested upon me I now pronounce you husband and wife and what God hath joined together, let no man nor woman put asunder. You may now kiss the bride." When the priest announced Andrew raised the veil and hold my cheeks to kiss me. It just took a second but everything feels so magical because that is my first kiss and I gave it to Andrew with God as our witness.

The guest stand up and clap their hand then the media's camera flashed when they took some photos and I know later my face will be flashed on news. Everyone will know that I married Andrew Callan Gray. I am no longer the ordinary girl named Lauren Smith because starting from this day I am now Lauren Gray the wife of the famous businessman Andrew Callan Gray.