CHAPTER2: SIGN IT
1609 Words
CHAPTER TWO: SIGN IT.
Few minutes have passed. Few minutes to make Sarah frantic and wonder where ‘daniel had gone’.
Daniel now Marielle stared at the mirror and smiled in satisfaction. It was her. Not Daniel, not her facade.
Marielle Paige.
Curvaceous figure, slender legs, silk black hair, hazel eyes, soft expression. So soft you would doubt it's lethality. Her breast were in the right proportion, not small, not big…just perfect.
Her fingers traced the hem of her fabric, a small smile tugged onto her face as she admired the maid’s uniform.
As Marielle, she was a mere maid. Weak, poor, sensitive and most of all…fragile.
But as Daniel, as a man, she was a journalist, doing everything to make the CEO of Zayne Tech hers. Everything to get the power that came with the title of Mrs Zayne. To slam her father's face to the mud he belonged.
All this she would do, even though it meant using people.
She touched her face and smiled, “father, you wouldn't recognize your daughter now, would you?” she asked in a whisper.
Then, someone banged on the door. Her brows furrowed,
“ Daniel, are you in there?” Sarah's voice came through, sounding worried.
Her lips twitched. She packed her bag, threw it into the small polythene bag she had carried along with her and turned off her phone. That way, Sarah won't suspect she had Daniel's bag.
She walked to the door and pulled it open.
“ sorry ma'am, I..this is the women's restroom…there ..is no man here” she said, tugging at her dress. she kept her expression as innocent as possible.
Sarah sneered out loudly, recognizing her, “ It's you” she said, pointing directly at her nose. “ The poor wench who won't leave Daniel alone, what are you doing here? Want to meet him?”
Marielle's eyes trembled. Nothing different from an actress playing a fragile woman. So believable.
“ No,no. I came to work part time here. I don't …I didn't see anyone” she lied.
Sarah's expression was cold, she peeked into the restroom, not believing her.
Sarah hadn't seen Daniel in the men’s restroom and probably came to find him in the women's restroom . Well, ‘Daniel’ has the habit of using the women's room.
Marielle stepped out, clutching her polythene bag close to her. But Sarah stood in the way, “ where is Daniel?” She asked again.
Marielle clenched her fists. b***h, I'm late to play my maid duties, she thought, frustrated.
“ Ma'am, if I don't leave now. I..will be fired. I didn't really meet Mr Daniel” she said, hands clasped together.
Sarah scoffed, grabbed her chin rashly..Marielle's throat burned.
This was it. As a maid, she was nothing less than the girl who was always bullied.
“ You think I would believe that? You desperate wench?” Sarah asked with a scorn. Since Marielle was also Daniel. Sarah believed that Marielle was after Daniel as she was almost everywhere Daniel went. That made the heiress abhor her because she viewed her as a rival.
Marielle lips twitched. The only desperate one here was her.
“ I.. didn't really see anyone” she said again, her jaws hurting from the pressure Sarah applied. Sarah hissed, her eyes flashing with frustration.
She poked up her nose like a peacock, put on a sassy expression then released Marielle’s jaws and pushed her away rashly. She then walked into the restroom.
Marielle fell to the floor, her knees hitting the cold floor. She hissed from the pain, her brows drawn together. She slowly glanced towards the guard that had been standing a few centimeters away.
She smiled, anger flickering onto her expression. The guard had watched, didn't approach, didn't try to help, all because Sarah was a rich heiress. Pathetic! They were all pathetic!
She forced her body up, turned to look at Sarah who was dutily searching the restroom. She sneered internally–now, who was the desperate one?
Out of the cafe, the night breeze brushed her skin. She shivered slightly then wrapped her hands around her body. There were no cabs. It was going to be a long walk.
Few hours to midnight, Marielle stood in front of an erect building, exhausted from the walk.
The mansion stood tall, surrounded by greenery watered by automatic faucets. Everything was clearly seen because of the lights that illuminated the entire mansion.
Such a soothing sight and relaxing ambience for someone as indifferent as Lucian Zayne.
She fixed her hair and walked in, memorizing her lies.
Why did you stay out late? Mom was sick
Why did you leave the house without permission? It was an emergency– perfect.
She stepped into the mansion. The sitting room welcomed her, plush sofas, soft cushions, sparkling chandelier, gold-rimmed dinner table, the sweet scent of chocolate musk spray–expensive and satisfying.
Someone grabbed her in her arm and dragged her in. She hissed from the pain, almost tripping.
She glanced up to meet the gaze of the lead maid–Madi. A sweet name for an utterly unlikeable character.
“ Why did you stay out late?” She asked, her eyes fierce.
“ Mom was sick” she answered using her script properly. She had grown accustomed to people like Madi and knew exactly what they can do or say.
Madi sneered, “because you are pretty doesn't mean you are better. You are a maid!” she snapped.
Marielle clenched her fists. Lowered her eyes, feigning grief. It wasn't the first time she had heard such statement but everytime she heard it, something snapped inside of her. It was her humanity.
“ I'm sorry miss Madi, i…”
“ Miss Marielle” a calm, obedient voice slithered through, interrupting her. “ The boss summons you” he added. It was Callum, Lucian's personal assistant.
Madi sneered, “ I reported you. You would surely get fired” she dropped, flashed her a disdainful glare then walked away.
Marielle’s lips twitched. She doubted that was the case. She nodded towards Callum, hands clasped together, walking obediently towards the stairs.
Callum walked ahead and she followed. Her gaze fell on his back. He was too obedient, too loyal. It wasn't in her plans to use him but if he got in her way, she didn't guarantee she wouldn't dissect his soul and bare him to do her will.
In the dimly lit room, a man sat on the king sized bed, a document beside him. The air was heavy with dominance and the choking scent of cigarettes.
She scrunched her nose but it was too late. She choked..
“ Urgh..urgh” she coughed but he didn't bother to look towards her.
“ Sign it” he simply said, voice erupting from his chest, deep and profound. The dim light flashed on his face. His expression was cold, jaws defined, a stray hair fell to his eyes but he didn't bother to move them. Any woman, even a saint would be tempted ….
But–she didn't feel a thing. Not fear, not admiration, just the desire to break him, warm into his shells and achieve her goals..
She trembled..a facade well mastered..she glanced towards Callum and he gestured her towards the document on the bed.
She nodded, pupils trembling with unshed tears as she calmly grabbed the document.
It was a marriage contract! Her eyes widened–a feigned surprise. She dropped it to the floor, “ no, no…I'm not worthy” she breathed, receding backwards.
Lucian didn't move, didn't bother to glance at her. He only exhaled a thick smoke. It was like a cue to Callum as he stepped forward.
“ Miss Marielle. Your mother’s health is in jeopardy, your father’s business is on the verge of crisis and you don't possess the right amount of money to help. Sign the marriage contract and all of these would be handled” he said, handing her the contract once again.
Mother? Father? paid artists. Health ? Business crisis? Her doing.
Her lashes flickered, “ how ..how did you know?” She asked, her eyes darting between Callum and Lucian. Then, her eyes widened, “ you ..you researched me? Wh…why?” She added, lips trembling .
Callum looked towards Lucian who flicked the tip of cigarettes and extinguished the smoke, “ It's a marriage of convenience, after a year, it would be terminated” Callum answered.
Marielle's heart raced. A year? That was more than enough to achieve her goals. “But …why me?” she pressed
Callum's lips moved but Lucian finally spoke up.
“ Less troublesome” he said, gaze falling on her–intense. She adjusted a bit, tugging at her dress. He noticed and withdrew his gaze.
The board of directors had decided that he got married quickly, tomorrow at the earliest.
Marrying a maid wasn't a bad idea. Easy to dispose when she no longer served any purpose. But…not yet, this Marielle was way too interesting.
Marielle glanced at the contract in her hands, she clutched it tightly and sniffled in her tears, acting like she was being forced to make a very difficult decision. She took the pen and signed on the document, Different surname to avoid suspicion.
Marielle Jackson. And completed other crucial things. Game on!
She was done and calmly dropped the document beside him. He only passed it a glance, then suddenly his gaze was stuck on it..
“ You do write like a journalist, miss Jackson” he dropped, voice oddly calm.
For the first time in many years, her heart sank..
- Writer
