Their Marriage not Mine

CHAPTER2

“This is a joke, right mom”? Zara asked angrily. “This cannot be the man you want me to get married to”. Her pretty face suddenly turned red.

“Don’t embarrass me Zara”, her mother interrupted.

“He’s the perfect match for you”, she continued, this time turning to Chris Ford.

“I apologize on her behalf sir, she’s had a lot going on lately, but she will come around”.

You did not tell me she was this dramatic, Chris answered as he crossed his legs while sipping a glass of champagne.

“She’ll come around, now I must leave you two to get along”. Mrs Thomson said with a smile on her face while signaling Zara to go over to meet the billionaire.

Zara sat on the opposite side, her beautiful legs had now become stiff.

You are not what I was expecting, Zara said, breaking the awkward silence.

“Me neither”. Chris replied.

“I expected a well-mannered and cultured woman, but this clearly wasn’t the bargain”. He said.

Zara was boiling hot with anger but decided to act cool.

“How dare he say that to me”. She thought to herself.

“I …. I…… expected someone much younger. She stuttered.

Oh well, I have what younger men don’t. Money, power, influence, you name it. I’m also good in the other room, he said with a smirk on his face.

“It’s not about that sir”, she replied this time with a defeated demeanor.

Chris sat there sipping his champagne and sizing her with his eyes.

You have a perfect body though, just how I like it, he said, as if expecting a reply.

“ Sir, I am not interested in the agreement you had with my mother, I want to focus on building my career. She said, unsure of where the courage came from.

Fine, let’s just say I will give you the benefit of the doubt to make a decision before the week runs out and get back to me. I don’t want you to rush things because you seem uneasy around me. He said, sounding kind.

Thank you sir, I must take my leave now. She said, as she stood up to exit the lounge area.

“How did it go?” Mrs Johnson asked curiously.

I told him I was not interested, Zara replied, shrugging Mrs Johnson’s hand off her shoulder as they walked to the car.

“You did what ?” Mrs Thomson asked, struggling to fit herself into the car.

“You threw a life-changing opportunity in the trash can?”

Zara kept mute as they drove off.

“ I can’t look at you the same way again mom. Zara said, as she began sobbing.

Is he not old enough to be my father? I thought I could trust you, mom. I was clearly wrong. You’re selfish and inconsiderate. She said, her voice breaking.

“In all of this I am the victim”.

“You have to agree to this marriage, your future is at stake”. Mrs Johnson said, avoiding any emotion.

The rest of the drive home was filled with deafening silence.

Zara spent the next few days avoiding her mom.

Please let me in, Zara, her mother’s voice echoed, stop hurting yourself, Mrs Johnson continued.

Zara kept mute, ignoring her mother, but Mrs Johnson was persistent.

She finally gave in and opened the door. Mrs Johnson rushed to hug her and suddenly began sobbing.

“ I wish your father was alive to convince you. I just want the best for you, but you don’t seem to understand, Mrs Johnson said, her voice above a whisper.

“Mom, he’s old enough to be my father”. Zara interrupted.

But rich enough to give you the future you’ve always wanted, Mrs Thomson said softly.

“Fine mom, I’ll marry him”. Zara said, her face was impassive and showing no emotion.

“Thank goodness”, Mrs Johnson let out a deep sigh of relief.

“He awaits your final answer tomorrow, Zara, please don’t see this as a chore, see it as an opportunity to level up”. Mrs Johnson said,

Zara replied, clearly faking a smile.

She had planned to say a different thing when she met with the billionaire.

“Strangely, you kept me waiting for a reply for so long”. Chris’s voice resonated from the door as he walked into the lounge area.

“I didn’t mean to”, Zara replied.

“Of course you did”, he said with a smirk on his face.

“I…..I will marry you”, she said, her head facing the floor as her feet audibly tapped the ground.

Her heart was racing.

“What have I just done”, she thought to herself.

You sound unsure, Chris said, letting out loud laughter.

“I will marry you”, she repeated, this time staring into his eyes, unsure of where the boldness came from.

“Good, I would ensure that we’re married by the end of the week”, he said.

“That’s fast”, she replied.

“Is it”? He said, not budging.

Zara left the mansion buried in her thoughts, the weekend was just four days away.

She thought of running away or just going back to tell him that she had changed her mind, but her body was as stiff as a log of wood.

Her mother, on the other hand, was so happy about the news.

“You would make the most beautiful bride”, she teased.

“Yeah”, Zara smiled, desperate to end the conversation.

I’ll start making preparations," her mother said. We have to make your big day as beautiful as possible, she continued, her voice getting distant as she headed for the door.

Zara had made up her mind to embarrass her mother and the billionaire at the wedding and ran away afterward.

“I’m going to humiliate them so badly for making me look like a commodity”, she muttered to herself.

The day came, everyone was seated at the venue. It was a small beautiful garden with well-detailed decorations.

“Do you take Zara Johnson to be your lawfully wedded wife”? The priest asked.

“Yes I do”. Chris answered, assertively.

Now, do you take Chris Ford to be your lawfully wedded husband, he asked, turning to Zara.

She was silent

Miss Zara Johnson, do you take Chris Ford to be your lawfully wedded husband? He asked again, this time his voice got louder.

Zara was silent. At this point, the

The guests had started gossiping.

“No”. Zara suddenly said as if she was back from a trance.