Married?
1259 Words
Married life had begun for Erica, immediately she set foot into the designated residence. It was going to be her home for the next three years.
The staff welcomed her with flawless courtesy. They were neither biased or sympathetic with her.
It was when she saw the room that was prepared for her, she understood what she had really gotten into. The room looked like it was prepared for a long awaited guest, instead of a partner.
Erica knew, she had to adapt quickly.
“Where is your Master?” She asked the chef when breakfast was made for her the next morning.
“Oh, he left for work already. I made sure he had breakfast before leaving.” The chef replied.
Erica forced a smile. “Thank you so much for that.”
She checked her phone and saw that the time was just 6:30am.
‘Why did he have to leave the house so early?’ she wondered.
But as days went by, she understood that was his way of avoiding her. Because of that, she put her guard up as well.
Whenever she heard footsteps, she had to wait until the corridors were quiet again before stepping out of wherever she was.
It was close to prison for her, but she had no choice but to endure.
‘Everything will be over after three years.’ She kept consoling herself with that thought.
***
Meanwhile, Kharis treated the marriage like an administrative status update.
He had his assistant add a new line to his profile on all socials: Married.
Nothing else changed for him.
He still worked late into the nights, returned home whenever he wanted to.
Everything was pretty much the same.
His friends tried to tease him about domestic life.
“How is your freedom, now that you are married?”
“I will say, normal.” He responded.
“Does your wife not dictate when you get back home or keep tabs on your movement?”
“She does not.” He said dryly.
“Man! You are so lucky.” His friends assumed.
Kharis was not sure how to feel about that, but it did not matter because it was not important to him.
***
Erica did all she could to make her stay a bit memorable, although that did not involve anything with her husband. She had not seen him since they got married, apart from one night when she mistakenly bumped into him in the library.
According to the schedule the assistant gave to her, he was not supposed to be home at that time. She decided to read a few books in the library. Erica got to the library, opened the door but bumped into Kharis who was standing close to the door.
She tripped and fell forward, but his hands steadied her body preventing her from falling. Immediately she looked at his face and recognized him, she quickly got away from his hold while apologizing.
“I am sorry, I did n…o.t kn..ow you were ho..me.” Erica stuttered.
“Oh, it is fine. Something came up and my schedule was readjusted.” Kharis said, still trying to get a good look at her.
“I will come back for what I need.” Erica said, making her way to the door.
“You can stay, if you want.” Kharis said calmly.
He could not help but admit, he was finally curious about her.
“Alright.”
Erica felt uncomfortable under his gaze, so she quickly got the book she wanted and excused herself.
“Goodnight.” She said, before leaving.
“Have a goodnight.” Kharis said, still looking at her.
She slammed the door behind her, took a deep breath and ran all the way to her room.
When she got there, her mind began gushing over how manly her husband looked. Almost immediately after that thought got to her mind, she waved it off. There was nothing binding them, other than the contract. She'll be stupid to fall for him.
The man she left behind, was still deep in thought.
‘Was that the wife he married? He had heard so much about her, from eavesdropping when his staff gossiped. She was beautiful, although he did not get a good look at her face.’
“Was she scared of me or something?” He wondered out loud.
He was still pondering on it, when he got a work related call. In that instant, every thought about Erica vanished from his mind. It was safe to say he was in his beast work mode, and no one was more important to him than that bid he had to win.
***
The next morning, he was already at work when he picked up his phone to check on something, but an ad popped up on his phone.
HOW TO KEEP A HAPPY WIFE, EVEN AS A BUSY CEO.
Somehow before he could think, his fingers clicked on it. There were so many things on the list, but he decided to start with the very first one.
Giving her flowers.
He called his assistant to his office.
“I want you to deliver flowers to Erica …m..y wife.” He stuttered a bit on the last part. “Use the company's card, get the best looking and sweet scented rose flowers from a flower shop.”
He looked at his watch.
“She will be home now. Get it to her as soon as you can.”
“Okay Sir.”
As his assistant turned to leave, he called him back.
“Add a little note to the flowers, to make it heartfelt. You can go now.”
The assistant tried to keep a straight face. “Yes Sir.”
Immediately he got outside the office, he smiled like it was the best day ever.
It seemed his boss was beginning to like his wife after all.
***
Erica was surprised when she got flowers and a handwritten note from her husband, although his assistant was the one who delivered it.
“Thank you, I mean thank him.” She said, “I guess I should thank the both of you. I really appreciate this.”
The assistant took a picture of her smiling at the flowers, when she wasn't looking and quickly forwarded it to Kharis.
“It is nothing big, Madam. I'll get back to work now.” He said.
“Thank you.” Erica repeated again.
‘Wow! Madam is so polite.’ He thought as he walked away.
Immediately he was out of sight and she had gotten to her room, the smile on Erica's face vanished.
She knew he did not love her, this was all just for formality. There was no way, she'll allow herself to be fooled.
Opening her drawer, she circled out another day from the small calendar that was in there.
Her days were numbered after all.
Her eyes smiled genuinely at the thought.
***
His phone chimed, as a notification popped in. It was from his assistant.
Kharis thought it was work related, so he opened it immediately. What hit his eyes, got him locked for a minute.
It was a cute picture of his supposed wife, smiling with the flowers he asked to be given to her.
The picture warmed his heart a little. Who knew flowers could make her smile like that?
Should he give her chocolates next, maybe a money bouquet, or something more expensive?
What do men give to their wives, to make them smile more?
- Writer
