My Contracted Cinderella

How It All Started. I was beaming with a smile when the Priest asked me "Bella Rush, do you take Jayson Hamilton to be your lawfully wedded husband?" "Yes, I do!" I said. "In sickness and in health, for richer and for poorer, till death do us part." I added, while facing Jay which nervousness was showing all over his face. Then the priest turned to Jay and said. "Jayson Hamilton, do you take Bella Rush to be your lawfully wedded wife?" I looked at Jay praying in my heart that he doesn't say no and the thought of him backing out and leaving me on the altar was rolling in my mind, only for him to say that he doesn't want the wedding anymore. Finally, I heard him say.... "Yes, I do!." Then I opened my eyes only to see him smiling and he winked at me, meaning I wanted to see your expression and I was like! "Phew! That was close." And then I winked back. The Priest now said "By the power vested in me. I now pronounce you husband and wife! you may now kiss the bride." The loud noise from the audience made me so ecstatic and I said to Jay "You may kiss the bride" And I licked my lips and whispered to his ear "I'm ready!" From the expression shown on his face, I could hear his heart racing and then I whispered to him again and said. "Don't be nervous.I'm here with you." And then he smiled and sighed a sigh of relief. The crowd, on the other hand, were just so excited to see us kiss, his friends were shouting. "Kiss! kiss!" and then he gave me just a Peck on my lips. When I opened my eyes, I didn't know what was coming over me, I just pulled him to myself and gave him a proper kiss, and then the crowd went wild. His friends were screaming. "Good one Bella! good one!" *FLASHBACK* It all started two and a half weeks earlier. "Joe! Joe! Joe!" said our landlord shouting so loudly that I could hear his voice from my dream and I immediately got up and rushed to wake my dad. "Dad! Dad! The landlord is shouting your name and also banging on the door. Bro!, get up guys, get up." I said while waking the rest of the family up. "Look guys. On my count of three, we will all shout in unison." I said this as we were taking our stands at the door. Then I counted. "One! two! three!..." and then we pushed the door open. "Hi!! Good morning!" we all shouted. Our landlord landed on the ground, we were all giggling mischievously as we watched him get up. He dusted his body as he got up in anger. we knew what was going to happen next. "Where is my rent!" said the grumpy landlord. "Sir we are going to pay," said Dad. "I want my money by the end of this week!" said the landlord. "Sir please can you give us another one month to pay?" said my dad with pleading eyes. "I would have given you a Grace of one month if you were not owing me a lot of money, but you owe me six months rent so I won't be able to give you a one month Grace." We pleaded and pleaded with but he still did not agree. Finally, after all our pleading, we hoped that he would say something pleasant to the ear, but he said the opposite. "And if I still don't have my rent by the end of this week I will be forced to throw you out! got it." said Mr grumpy landlord as he left angrily. I was pissed off after hearing what the landlord said. 'After all the please he got from us! he still wants to throw us out, he is so heartless! I said. angrily'. I dashed into the bathroom, had my bath, came out, and sat down facing my dressing mirror. 'Is it because we are owing him his six months' rent.' I said angrily combing my long black silky hair. I had my makeup done. It was just a little touch of brown powder and some foundation. Oh! not to forget. I rubbed some of my baby pink lipgloss. I never forget to put on my lipgloss because it makes my lips soft and sexy to woo my judges to like me and pick me. 'Gosh!' I mumbled. I almost forgot to put my lucky charm on. Where is it! I asked myself. Getting worried about my special pink hair ribbon which I always attach to my hair. It was given to me by my mother before she died. It was like a special connection I have with my mom. Anytime I put it on my hair, I always remember how my mom will always call me her Little Isabella. 'There you are phew! that was close, now you are going to help me win this audition.' I said. When I was done with my hair, I looked in the mirror and was looking at my sky blue eyes and long pointed nose. I smiled and said. 'You got this Bella, you got this!' I said this while smiling and my little dimples popped out. Currently I'm dressed in a black bum short and white and pink striped singlet in my skinny looking self and also, my favorite brown colored boots were already on my feet. Already wearing my jewelry, I grabbed my fancy black bag and dashed out of the house. I love dressing in multi colors. On reaching the audition center, I found myself shivering. I don't usually get nervous when going for auditions, but today was different. I was nervous because, whether good or bad. I had to go back home with something. Because dad was already very worried. My palms were slippery as a result of all the sweat that developed on them. While I was consciously waiting for my turn, I just kept on saying to myself. 'I got this. You got this Bella' while saying this to myself, I heard someone calling "Bella Rush! you're next." At one point, I thought I was hearing voices in my head. Only for me to open my eyes and realize that I was not daydreaming or hallucinating. I heard the voice again but this time around, in a more angry tone with a very loud voice. "Bella Rush! Are you deaf or what! come inside right now!" the person said. 'Oh my gosh! it's my turn.' I said to myself while moving to the audition room. At this moment, my heart skipped a beat and I was sweating all over. But I summon enough courage and I opened the door. It was cold in there, but I was still sweating and my heart was still panting as I had just done a race. There were three judges. Two men and a lady. The lady was seated in the middle of the two men. None of them noticed my nervousness. "Please don't waste our time, just start." she said this with her eyebrows up. She stared at me as if I was a novice in the movie industry. I wasn't! I didn't just know what came over me that day. The man sitting on the right-hand side calmly spoke to me and told me. "Calm down my dear, when you are ready, you can start, just breathe in and breathe out, do that for three seconds and then start." While he was saying this, I took in the first breath, and then I felt a calm breeze flowing down my body from my head down to my spine and then after taking the last two breaths, I felt an external breeze. It was then I realized that there was an air conditioner in the room. i started feeling cold. I immediately started my audition but all to no avail. "We are not able to pick you." The lady judges said to me. "You don't have the quality we need, Pls just go and never come back."And then I started begging by saying ... "Sir please!, ma please can I try again!" Said the pleading me who was already on the floor pleading with them, but they didn't agree, so I was forced out of the room. I just picked up my bag that I left outside the audition room and then I left. I went to get some clothes that I can sell at a higher price, and then after making some money, I went home. "Hi Dad! hi Jenny! ( my brother's wife )" I said while trying to put up a good-looking face so that my dad won't suspect that my audition didn't work out well. "Hey, Dad! how are you doing today." I asked, kissing him on his cheeks. "Well today was good, how about your day. did you still get the audition! " said my dad who was expecting me to say yes but I didn't want him to think about it so I had to change the topic and I said "Umm... dad! I sold all my clothes today." while stretching out my hand, giving my dad the money I made from selling clothes that I bought from a boutique. 'Ah! so after everything I did that woman still had the guts to tell me that I should go and never come back.' I said this on my bed while facing the ceiling fan. 'Well. it was my fault. I wasn't confident enough, so I f****d up' I said to myself. 'Also, I know... this is a minor setback, for a major comeback. I'll go for another audition tomorrow and I'll do my best to get a leading role..'I encouraged myself. 'Hmm... Good morning's said to be looking at my dressing mirror from afar while stretching my hands and rubbing my eyes. 'Bella!!... listen to me' I said, talking to myself. 'You have to get this audition no matter what. I need to help Dad' I said with confidence, determination, and hope that today is going to work out. Already done dressing and done with my hair and make-up too, I went to meet my dad and he gave me a good luck kiss on my forehead and said. I finally got to the station. the bus was already filled up. I had to stand and everyone was laughing at the way I was looking, one of them said. "She looks filthy...will she be able to pay the bus fee?" Just then, another one said. "I think she's a beggar looking for people to help her" I was looking at them angrily. I just wanted to go and meet them and slap both of them, the first passenger said to me directly again. "Don't worry I will pay your fees." that was when I was fed up with the insults and said to her while arching my eyebrows up. "Don't worry I can pay for myself." I said to the woman and left the bus when I got to my bus stop. I was standing in front of the audition building with the hope that I will be picked today. As I was entering the building I heard my Mom's voice playing in my head, as she says. "You can do this my little Isabella! I'm always with you, go for it, my baby" She usually used to call me her little Isabella before she passed on, so I gathered courage and boldness and walked to the audition room. 'Why! why me mom! where are you?' I said while leaving the building in tears because I was not picked again. Just when I thought all hope was lost, my phone rang. It came as a shock, I never expected it. After all the turndowns I got. That night, I was down because that was like the last hope for me. My dad was really worried about us. when I looked at his face, I felt like crying. I cried. On reaching home that day, I was really angry. When I got back, I didn't even greet anybody...I just ran to my room. I jumped on the bed and started crying. 'Another turn down' I said to myself. I cried and cried until I was tired then I started singing my best song. Mom. I miss you. I miss you so much..' I said this after I finished singing. I said this thinking that my mother can hear me. "Hey Bella!!..are you ok in there?" one of my elder brothers said while knocking on my door. I have three older brothers. The oldest one is married and he lives in the house with his wife and two sons. The other two are dropouts. So I guess I'm like the breadwinner of the family. 'Mom. I followed your footsteps by entering the movie industry...you made me believe that one day I'll be very very famous in the whole of this town..' I said with tears rolling down my cheeks. My mother was an aspiring actress. She worked hard to ensure that I was okay. I was only thirteen when I lost her due to a tragic accident that happened on my birthday. After I was done crying, I just went to my window and stared at the moon. I stayed there for a while. Just then, my phone rang. At that moment, when hope was lost, I just ignored the call. Then, the person called again. I just picked the phone up, and when I looked at the name, it was my director. Thinking that he was just calling me for the role of a passer-by or another audition, I hung up and trow the phone on my bed. While I continued to stare at the moon, He called again. I was getting angry because I hate it when someone is constantly calling my phone. The anger added to the frustration, and then I was forced to pick up the call. When I answered the call, I wanted to shout at him but before I could raise my voice, he shouted back. "Bella! why have you not been picking up my calls.." he shouted with a little bit of anger. "Please please I don't need all this now.. can you call back later." I said this while trying to remove the phone from my ear. Before I could complete my statement, he continued. "Bella! I don't care to know what you are going through, Right now I need you to get ready because......" as he was about to say what he called for. I cut him off by saying. "Yes I know...you found another audition for me.. for now, I'm not ready to go for an audition," I said with tears rolling down my cheeks. "No! I mean Yes! It's an audition but this one is a life-changing one. the person who organized this audition is none other than Jayson Hamilton..'The Jayson Hamilton' I mean...he organized it for only single ladies and I was the one in charge of spreading the information around" he said in a happy tone. At first, I thought he was joking. but then I thought about it and it made sense. But why would Jayson Hamilton be organizing an audition for only single ladies' I thought to myself. But I liked it. I've been wishing to see the so-called Jayson Hamilton that has been the name in every girl's mouth. "So you see.. there's still hope, don't give up on your dream.. you might even be the chosen one," The director said. On hearing this, a smile popped out on my face and my hope which was lost came back. And then I replied to him back by saying. "Thank you..you made my day. how wish you didn't tell me I would have just been here crying and thinking about my life." "Don't worry. I did this because you are my friend..and friends are always there for each other..so I'll text you the address and the time by the end of today. you just get ready and go give him your best." He said. "Okay thank you..but..can I ask you one last question.." "Yes go on" "I want to ask you if there is still room for one more person.." I asked. "Ohh yes..you can bring the person..you just send me her details and I'll register her." "Ohh ok..once again thank you. Bye!" 'Oh my Gosh. I'm so happy!!..' I said to myself after speaking with the director while lying down on my bed. Oh! not to forget. I gave my best friend a call and told her about the audition and she was also happy. And then we planned on wearing matching outfits. After which I slept like a baby. The morning finally came and when I was awake. I jumped out of my bed and I went straight to my dad's room and I gave him a very big hug. He was surprised to see me happy again. He just said to me, "My daughter. I'm glad to see you smile again..you don't need to explain..just go with my blessings and I wish you good luck." I felt a little bit emotional at that point but at the same time happy. It was 9 am I'm the morning and the scheduled time for the audition was 10 am. I quickly took my bath, got dressed in my already selected clothes which were Singlet with a white and black design on the front and a pink bum shot, tied my hair in ponytails, and wore my black and white snickers shoe. I quickly gave my friend a call and she told me she was ready. So we met at our usual meeting place. So..we went. "Guys.. let's go" ' On reaching there, we saw a lot of girls. There were so many that we were even running out of space to stand. The judges were inside a room. When the door to the room where the judges were seated was slightly opened, I saw his face and he was so so so so handsome and cute. I was waiting and waiting and waiting for my name to be called but it was not called I waited and waited till I was tired of waiting, just then I heard my name. On hearing my name, I was leaping for joy to the door. But when I got to the door, someone shut the door in my face and I was shocked thinking I was not the one called. Then I started hearing voices. It was as if they were having an argument and I heard someone saying all the girls are too local for them to use, suddenly the door opened and my ear was still glued to the door when it opened a man came out and I fell on him. When I looked up, I saw that it was "The Jayson Hamilton" . At that moment I was drooling on myself because of the beauty I saw. Then he snapped his fingers at me and I came back to my senses and then I was sweating all over. "Hey! get off me!, and why is your armpit so wet! eww!". And then I said "It's normal for everyone to sweat ". Then one of his friends now asked me Miss, are you auditioning or not. "I will audition... yes I will audition". And then I entered the room, and he went back to his seat. "Okay.. let's hear you out. you can start" He said this while putting a slice of pizza in his mouth. "Okay. Good morning to you all, my name is Becky Rush. I'm twenty-four years old and I live in....." So that was how I started and I went on until I was asked some questions. I answered them without fear. I was really brave. Just as I was answering the questions, I jokingly asked. "So. what role am I playing?" "Hmm. I like your acting skills so you'll be playing the role of my wife." He said while smiling. For a moment, I thought I was daydreaming, just then he snapped his fingers at me again, and then I realized that I was actually in real life. "Ahhhhhh!! I do! I do! I do" at that moment I didn't know what came over me, I just saw myself screaming. Then he was like. "Calm down. it's a contract for just three months, and know now that I will never fall in love with you! so you just have to sign these papers. you'll be paid immediately I get my money from my Grandmother. Got it?" he said as I took the pen from his hand. "Yes, I know" I said this while smiling as I dropped the pen.... Not knowing what's ahead of me.