To the Man I've Been Praying For

The Encounter

“Miss Margaret, do you have something in mind?” The bridal shop planner asked. Margaret stays quite blankly at the brochure.

It was a week ago when she decided to marry Felix Martin. Both of them agreed to a simple and intimate wedding ceremony. Felix Martin hired one of the most prominent wedding planners in town to assist with the entire wedding activities. Margaret decided not to interfere with the preparations since her final examination was just around the corner. Felix Martin didn’t want Margaret to be distracted by her studies. He decided on almost all of the details, from the wedding style to honeymoon, keeping Margaret and his in-laws in touch.

“Honey, are you all right?” Felix Martin asked Margaret, who looked pale.

Honey? She thought. Yeah, we should act like real couples when someone is around.

“Oh, sorry,” she responded. “I want my wedding dress to be simple and comfortable,” she added. Her mind is still occupied by that girl named Wendi.

“Please make it simple yet elegant,” Felix Martin requested.

“Yes, Mr. Montagu. We’ll make sure to make one conferring to Miss Margaret’s preference,” the wedding planner assured.

Felix Martin drives her to the university since Margaret still has her afternoon class. He feels bothered by what Margaret is acting out.

“Honey, anything that bothers you?” Felix Martin seemed worried.

“It is just the two of us. You don’t need to act, Mr. Montagu,” she sounded so irritated.

“I am not acting up, Margaret. I am just concerned,” he responded. If she can’t be in love with him, at least they can be friends, he thought.

“That’s not going to work for me,” she objected.

“Whatever it is that bothers you, I hope you’ll figure it out soon,” he countered. “I’ll pick you up later,” he added.

“No thanks, I already have plans,” she retorted, leaving him inside the car.

Margaret waved her hand to a boy standing near the gateway. He remembers who it is.

Kenneth. Kenneth Bamford. He thought.

From a distance, Felix Martin sees him handing a cup of drinks to Margaret.

“Whoa, without hesitation he drinks it,” Felix Martin mumbled, his face disgusted.

He grabbed his phone and made a call to Harry, his secretary.

“Harry, please do a background check on someone,” he said, talking to his secretary.

“Yes president,” Harry said from the other line.

“I’ll send you the details,” he responded. “Make it as quick as possible,” he added and left.

“Margo, you look tired. Are you okay?” Kenneth muttered.

“I’m okay,” she smiled. “Let’s hurry up or we’ll be late,” she changed the topic.

Margaret portrays a perfect girl's image. She is a sweet, beautiful, rich, and intelligent heir. She often set us as a shining example in their university. She was even more admired by women when they heard about his engagement with Felix Martin Montagu.

“Margaret, congratulations!” her fellow classmates cheered.

“I really envy you,” Camilla Smith said out loud. And it makes one of her classmates, Olivia Williams, cantankerous.

“I thought you didn’t have a boyfriend, Margaret,” Olivia Williams said. She aroused everyone’s curiosity. Ever since-, Olivia has treated her as an enemy without knowing the reason why. Usually, she doesn’t respond to such a conversation but today she did.

“Do I need your permission before announcing my engagement?” Margaret asked sarcastically.

“But I heard that it was just some kind of business, is it true?” Olivia countered back, not wanting to be defeated.

“I think your imagination gets wilder,” Margaret blurted. “Good for you the exam is just around the corner, use it well,” Margaret said, turning her back.

Their discussion was interrupted when the bell rang.

Due to her busy schedule, Margaret needed to pull an all-nighter to cope with her missed lessons. She went to the bookstore and bought some references needed for studying.

“Hello miss, I’m looking for an ‘Introduction to Humanity’ book,” Margaret inquired the salesperson. It was her first time visiting a bookstore alone.

“For a moment, ma’am,” the sales representative replied. She looks for the book mentioned.

While waiting, Margaret’s attention was caught by a pocketbook on the shelves near the counter. Things you should know before getting married

“Ma’am sorry for waiting, here is the book that you are looking for,” the sales representative said.” That would be 15.45 JEP Ma’am,” she added.

“O-okay,” Margaret stammered. She gave him her card.

“W-wait,” she interrupted. “Please include that book,” she said, pointing at the pocketbook entitled Things you should know before getting married.

“Yes ma’am,” the sales representative responded.

This experience was new to her. She was raised up having someone to help her with things like that, but she has decided to stand on her own feet right now. She was about to go home but didn’t know how. She heard an advertisement about how to book a cab yet no one could accommodate her since it was a rushed hour.

Should I call mom? She thought. No, they’ll insist on giving me a driver.

“I should just call Kenneth,” she supposed.

His phone rings but no one answers. She redialed but still, no one answered.

“Oh my, what should I do? “ She’s been calling cabs but all of them are occupied. She has been standing for half an hour now.

Not from afar, Felix Martin, who is looking at her. He has been following her from her school. He decided not to approach her but the situation needed to. Margaret looked tense standing outside the bookstore. He parked his car and walked down the alley.

“Oh, Margaret, you’re here,” Felix Martin said, a coincidence. “I will grab a cup of coffee, want to join you?” he asked.

“Y-yeah sure,” she stuttered. She feels comforted seeing him by accident.

“I want iced coffee,” she said.

“Two orders of iced coffee please,” Felix Martin said at the counter. Margaret is sitting near the window.

“Do you still have business here,” he asked. “I am on my way home. I’ll drop you by and I won’t take no for an answer” he added.

“Since you insisted, thanks,” she accepted Felix Martin's offer.

She doesn’t want to admit that she’s troubled going home.

“I’ll just go to the powder room for a while,” she said. She feels the need to go after knowing she’ll be able to go home now.

“Sure, I’ll wait here,” he answered.

Felix Martin noticed the paper bag that she had left. He looks at it.

Maybe a reference book for school, he thought. Yes, it is, but I was surprised by what the other book was.

“Things you should know before getting married,” he silently read. He knew how stunned she was by the wedding and he'd do everything to make her life as normal and happy as she could be. He hurriedly put it back when he noticed that Margaret was coming.

“Ready?” he asked Margaret.

“Yeah,” she replied shortly.

“Isn’t it your finals are coming?” he asked, curious to know her schedule.

“Yeah. I need to muddle through my missed lessons,” she answered. She’s talking about the classes she missed after finding out about the wedding.

“I didn’t mean it,” she apologized; she said it without thinking that he might get offended.

“Don’t worry. It’s okay,” Felix Martin replied. “I know that you’ve been going through difficulties lately and I truly understand that,” he unleashed.

There was no response from her. Silence arose after that until they reached Margaret’s place.

“Do you want to get in?” Margaret invited him inside the house. She doesn’t want to be rude, not for now.

“I’d love to but you need to study all night and I don’t want to disturb you,” Felix Martin refused the offer.

“All right then, goodnight,” Margaret said. “Take care,” she added.

Felix Martin smiled back.

He looked more handsome wearing a smile on his face, she thought.

As expected, she aced her exam. Margaret was a dean’s lister at the university. She can still remember her mom would cook her favorite dish after a week of long exams and receiving something precious from her dad. But she decided not to tell them.

“How about we go out for a drink,” Nathan initiated the all-night jamming.

“Count us in,” Rachel and Hannah said.

“Of course, I’ll be coming,” said Dominic.

They’ve been doing this after every day, yet she can’t join them because of her schoolhouse routine. She decided to come along.

“I-I want to,” she said courageously.

Her statement makes everyone look at her. It is unusual for her to have such a night out.

“Whoa! Our top classmate is going out with us,” Riley exclaimed.

“It’s on me,” Kenneth joined.

All of them yelled and headed out to ‘The Hidden Room’, a secret place at the heart of the city. The place is quite dark and loud. Lights are dancing with the tune being played. She can see lots of people who are chilling out on the dance floor. All of the tables were occupied and so Kenneth booked a VVIP room upstairs.

“Let’s party,” they all shouted.

After drinking a glass of hard drink, Rachel and Hannah went to the dance floor. Their spot was good for viewing so she could have a glimpse of them from afar.

Nathan, Dominic, and Kenneth stayed with him.

“Have a glass Margaret,” Nathan said, handing him a glass of whiskey.

“No, I’ll just have a cocktail,” she refused.

“Cocktails are for middle schoolers, Margaret,” Dominic chuckled.

“Let her be guys,” Kenneth saved her.

“N-no, I’ll drink it. I am not little anymore,” she insisted.

I needed to grow up, she thought.

On the other hand, a man in black watches over Margaret. He was sent by Felix Martin to make sure that Margaret was safe all the time. And one of his jobs was to keep Mr. Montagu in touch all the time.

He was about to inform Mr. Montagu when he suddenly called him.

“How was Margaret?” Felix Martin asked. He thought about asking Margaret out for dinner, knowing that it was the last day of her exam.

“Sir, Miss Margaret is on a night out with her friends,” he reported.

“What?” Felix Martin gets flustered. “Where are you? Tell me the address.” he hurriedly rode into his car. “Keep an eye on her,” he ordered.

“Yes sir,” her bodyguard responded.

Felix Martin gets furious. He remembers Margaret’s action the last time she just had two glasses of wine. He drove his car the fastest way that he could but he got stuck in the heavy traffic. There is a fuss among motorists. He did his best to pass by, yet he was caught by the policeman.

“Sir, you are violating -,” the traffic enforcer was interrupted by Mr. Montagu.

“I’m sorry I didn’t mean to violate any rules sir,” he apologized. “I am in a hurry and I’ll accept the consequences of my action tomorrow, please.” He promised. Felix Martin handed his business card to them. It was his first time getting involved with such problems. He drove away from the car knowing that another violation would be violated.

The Hidden Room

He hurriedly entered the bar. He has been to this place many times before. He went to the second floor where VVIP stays. And he was not mistaken.

“Sir,” Margaret’s bodyguard approached him but Felix Martin barged into the room.

Margaret was sitting in the chaise longue with Kenneth at his side. She leaned her head on his shoulder. Nathan and Dominic were taken aback when they noticed who it was. They probably know that he’s powerful enough to destroy their future.

“Sorry to disturb you but I’ll pick up my fiancée,” Felix Martin said to them.

“Margaret is our company, so better ask her,” Kenneth reacted.

Felix Martin did not mind him. He carefully held Margaret’s hand, which was sound fully asleep, but Kenneth grabbed her back. Kenneth punched Felix Martin in the face. It was hard enough to create a lesion on his lower lip.

He doesn’t want to waste his time in a squabble. What matters most is to keep Margaret away from this place.

She doesn’t belong here, he thought.

He carefully laid Margaret on the shotgun and drove to his place.