CHAPTER FOUR
1451 Words
VICTOR'S POV
“You've got to be kidding me,” Jessica said, shrugging off my arms from her shoulders. The sunlight seeping in through the sitting room's floor-to-ceiling windows cast dynamic shadows on her angry face.
“I can't believe you want to run for governor with another woman by your side, Victor."
She shook her head as though she couldn't believe what was happening. I closed the gap between us, but she moved farther away until she was stood close to the door.
““It's not like that Jessica, and you know it. Jack says that it is better for my campaign.”
“Why? It's not like we have anything to hide about our relationship,” she challenged, her voice rising a notch higher.
“We've been together for a long time, Victor. I'm the oldest person you know. We've been through so much together. We've had each other's back for the longest time.”
“I know, Jessica. It wasn’t my idea. I didn’t want to go with it, but Jack insisted. He threatened to quit if I didn't agree to his suggestion.”
“You can get another campaign manager,” she suggested bitterly.
“Yes, I can but not one quite like Jack. He can do whatever it takes to win. And he's very clever. Plus, you were the one who recommended him in the first place.”
“What is his reason for wanting someone other than me?”
“Well, he worries about how the public perceives you because of all the scandals and rumors surrounding you. He wants to create a relationship like what Alan Collins has. The fake relationship will only be for a short period of time after which we can be together.”
I moved towards her again and this time, she remained still as though she finally understood. I grasped a swathe of her blonde hair and rubbed them between my palms.
“And, it's not like we would stop seeing each other. We'll only have to be very careful about it. I love you, Jessica and nothing can ever change that.”
***
The horizon was a brilliant blend of sky blue and shimmering gold. A beautiful view I enjoyed as I lay by my house pool, sipping wine and soaking in the cool air. I watched in amazement as rock doves rode the wind, flapping and fluttering in the sky. It was my off day from the hospital and I just wanted to relax, to take in the beauty of doing nothing. I was most of the time always busy.
From the distance, I saw my housekeeper, Elaine hurriedly walking towards me, a white apron tightly cinched around her waist. I placed the glass of wine by my side and ran my fingers on my bare chest. I only had shorts on.
“You have a visitor, Mr. Dale,” Elaine said almost as soon as she stopped before me.
I couldn't remember inviting anyone over. Not even Jessica.
“Did the person tell you who they are?”
“It's a lady,” she said. “She told me she was sent by Jack. She has some luggage with her.”
I sat up, piecing two and two together. It had been one week since Jack told me he’d arranged someone to be in a fake relationship with me. I’d totally forgotten that the lady was coming over today. I sighed.
“Yes, I've been expecting her. Take her to the bedroom closest to the stairs. I’ll see her shortly.”
Elaine nodded and walked away. Heaving a sigh of frustration, I shot to my feet. I was in no mood to see or talk to anyone. I just wanted to get some rest. I had a lot on my mind from running the hospital and supervising the companies owned by my dead father.
I grabbed my wine glass and drank what was left of it. Sometimes, I considered changing my mind about running for governor. But whenever I remembered how I had to grow up, all I'd suffered and endured, I knew I had to utilize my opportunity to become as great as I could be. In addition to Jessica’s presence in my life, striving to be great was the only thing that gave me peace. Reluctantly, I headed into the house.
***
Rummaging through my tshirts in the walk-in closet of my room, I wondered what the lady Jack had arranged would be like. I was mostly interested in her personal hygiene. It was already bad enough that I had to kiss in public a woman other than Jessica.
Slowly, I headed for the room Elaine had taken her to. I knocked slightly and noticed the door was open. I pushed it open and walked in. She was about 5 foot 5 or 6 and her back was turned to me. She was bringing out clothes from her box. I cleared my throat, causing her to turn.
As our eyes met, something twisted in my belly. It felt irritating that I would have to kiss someone as unattractive as her. She had dark spots on her face, her eyes a honey pair. Her clothing looked shabby—shabby enough for me to know that she was either poor or had a careless sense of style. She seemed familiar. I wondered why.
“Hi,” she said, looking very nervous.
“What's the name?” I said, trying to focus on the bigger picture—me winning the upcoming governorship election.
I would only have to pretend with her for a while.
“Emily Blayke,” she said, her voice shaky.
The name sounded familiar. I thought very carefully about where I'd heard the name, thoroughly combed through my mind for it. And finally, it struck me.
“It's you, isn't it?” I probed, my irritation growing. “You're the reckless nurse I fired from Dale Valley Hospital.”
“I thought you already knew that,” she said, looking surprised.
It really was her. I sighed.
“I wondered what Jack was thinking when he hired someone as incompetent as you. There's no way, I'm doing this fake marriage stuff with someone as stupid as you. You may want to start stuffing your things back into your box,” I said curtly and stormed out of the room.
I pulled out my cell phone. Furious, I dialed Jack’s number and placed the phone against my ear.
“Hi Jack. I just met the lady you hired for the arranged relationship. I believe you didn't carry out proper research before you chose her.”
“I did, Victor.”
“Then, you should know I fired her from the hospital a few weeks back. She's incompetent. I don't see how I can work with someone like her.”
“I know you fired her, Victor. Remember your car that got smashed by a drunk driver?”
“Yes, I remember.”
“Good. The driver was her father.”
“Well, I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.”
“I don't disagree with you. That's why I wanted someone that we have something on and not just someone we can pay off. This way, she would never break the contract she already signed and she will do as she is told. She has no choice or her father will bear the consequences. I went as far as telling her that the driver is dead which is a lie. I wanted her to believe that her father could go to prison for not just drunk driving but manslaughter.”
I sighed, not knowing what else to say. Jack had a point.
“What would people think when they find out that I fired her from Dale Valley Hospital? It would poke a hole in the lovestory.”
“I've taken care of that already.”
I didn't doubt Jack. He always had things covered. Like me, he was always able to figure a way out of any situation. And it was why I liked him.
“Does she really have to live here with me? I don't think I'd be able to stand her.”
“You better get used to it. Living with her will help us to monitor her every move. You can also have s*x with her if you feel like it. The terms of the contract includes that you can have s*x with her if you desire and she signed it already.”
I cringed at the thought of ever having s*x with a woman as unattractive as her. It made me sick to my stomach.
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