Her Only Choice

Chapter Five- Marriage in Prison

Chloe stood up from her seat in the bar and went towards the toilet. She looked at her reflection in the mirror. Her mascara was slightly smudged. She tore a tissue and wet it, dabbing it under her eye. She felt her heart beat fast and held her hand on her chest trying to calm herself.

She dusted her dress and tried to straighten herself before heading out of the toilet. Not wanting to think about what had just happened and her shitty life, she decided to head to the dance floor and just enjoy the night.

Swaying her hips to the Beyonce song blasting on the speakers, she felt herself begin to relax. Soon she felt hands around her waist. She turned her body around to look at the strangers. He was tall, overtowering her small figure. A small smile played on his well-defined face. She moved closer to him, grinding her body against his.

She felt his hands trail down her back before grabbing her butt. She removed his hands from her back and continued to dance.

“Keep your hands to yourself” she whispered in his ear, a small chuckle slipping past her lips.

“Not my fault, you're very hot” she heard him reply. The alcohols were starting to kick in.

She felt the need to sit down. She stepped away from his hold and started to head to the bar when she felt a large hand grab hers, dragging her back. She looked up to see the man she was dancing with staring down at her with a smirk.

“Where are you going?” his voice sounded raspy.

“I need to sit, I'm getting tired,” she said as she tried to withdraw her hands away from his but he refused to bulge.

“The night is still young, Princess. Have some fun”, he drew her closer, smashing his lips against hers. She tried to let herself off him, but he grabbed her waist, pressing her body to his.

He continued to kiss her forcefully, trailing kisses against her jawline and down her neck as she felt his hand knead her ass, aggressively. She could taste and smell the alcohol strongly on his breath. He was heavily drunk.

She began to feel the fear creeping in, goosebumps forming on her skin. She continued to push hoping he'd lose his grip on her. Just as she was about to give up, she felt him get off her.

She opened her eyes to see him now lying on the floor.

He held his stomach as he groaned in pain while someone kept kicking him. She couldn't deny the satisfaction she felt when she saw the blood that he spat out but couldn't continue to watch the gruesome scene.

“Please stop!” She shouted to get the man who had been hitting him attention.

He looked up at her as he cleaned his hands with the handkerchief he took out of his pocket.

She frowned when she realized it was the same guy that she watched kiss his girlfriend while he stared at her. She began to wonder why he had beaten up the guy and what business he had with her.

The man took her hands and dragged her away from the scene.

After they were out of the club, she dragged her hands out of his.

“Why did you do that?” She asked, curiosity dancing around her eyes

“Do what?” He asked pretending not to know what she was talking about.

“Why did you beat up that guy? You almost killed him!”

“You were in trouble, weren't you?” He asked

“Yes, I was but you don't even know–”

“Then just be grateful and stop being bratty about it”

“I'm grateful! But you don't even know me, so why would you do that?” she asked quizzically.

“I don't have to know you to help you. Did your mama not tell you to always help anyone in trouble” he said, his infamous smirk planted on his face again.

“Don't you f*****g bring my mother into this! Look I don't know who you are, and I'm grateful for helping me in there but please stay away from me and just stay with your girlfriend who must be searching the whole place for you” she fired back.

“Are you jealous?” He let out a sound that sounded like a chuckle. It was the most beautiful sound she had heard in a long time. She liked the way his eyes squeezed as he laughed and wanted to say something funny just to hear him laugh again.

“Why wo-would you think that?” She mentally slapped herself, hating the way she sounded.

“I don't know…maybe it's the way you've been eye f*****g me all night?” He asked rhetorically

“I wasn't. Just leave me alone, and stop appearing wherever I am. You're not my type!” She began to walk away.

“Your marriage with me happening in the next three days says something else, doesn't it?”

She froze before turning back to look at him, shock written all over her features.

“What are you talking about?”

“I'm Chad Smith, your husband-to-be”

Now she knew why Winston Smith had looked slightly familiar. He was Chad's father, the guy she had met on the plane back home.

She couldn't marry this guy.

“You were kissing that girl” her voice came out soft, unintentionally.

“We aren't married yet” he looked at her like a predator would look at its prey.

“I can't marry you. You don't look like someone that would want to be tied to a woman, either”

“You have no choice, do you? And yes, I don't want to be tied to a woman, especially not to a woman like you” Chad said scratching his beard.

“What do you mean ‘to a woman like me'? Who do you think you are?”

“Look at you. You're obviously some spoilt brat who gets everything she asks without having to lift a finger. If I were to choose a woman for myself, you'd be nothing like her. You're nothing compared to the type of woman I want, not in strength, physique, or character” he marched towards her, but Chloe remained in her position not willing to let him intimidate her.

“You know nothing about me” Chloe defended, surprised her voice didn't break.

“I think I know enough but lucky for you, I don't have a choice either in this. I have to get married to you. But don't expect me to be a doting husband to you because we'll only be married on paper. Our marriage will be more like a prison, don't get too comfortable”