Chapter 4
740 Words
Three weeks after I met Jack, we started dating. He treated me like a queen and my whole world revolved around him. Isabella didn't want anything to do with me so she moved in with her boyfriend. She never talked to me again.
Jack was a year ahead of me so he graduated while I was in my final year. He got a job and a place of his own, and he asked me to marry him before I was even done with school.
I said yes, of course. We were head over heels in love with each other. Everything was perfect, and many people envied us.
Jack's birthday was a month after my graduation. That day, I woke super excited. I planned to drop by his office unannounced and take him out for lunch at our favourite restaurant. Jack hated celebrating birthdays but I wanted to make that particular day super special.
I took a long shower and carefully touched up my face. I wanted to impress my man. I wore the tiny black dress I had purchased specially for this day. The fabric was quite tight around my curves but I didn't care. All that mattered was that Jack would go wild when he saw me in it. I tugged on my knee high boots, but then I changed my mind and wore high heeled sandals instead. My golden jewellery and a black wrist watch complemented my whole look. I looked at myself in the mirror and smiled. I looked like a f*****g barbie.
I called my regular cab guy who arrived almost immediately. The gateman stared at me, almost drooling. I smiled knowingly as I made my way to the waiting car. Bob, the cab driver, raised both eyebrows as I sat gracefully in the passenger's seat.
"You look different, Julie."
"Different?"
"Beautiful. You don't always bother to dress up. What's changed?" He asked, smiling. During the short time I had known him we had become friends.
"I'm going to see Jack at the office," I replied cheerfully, not giving anything away.
"Jack is such a lucky guy." His tone was full of amazement.
"I'm the lucky one. Jack is wonderful "
I fingered my diamond engagement ring as we sped through the city. I smiled as I recalled the night we got engaged. Jack had lied to me that we were going to see his sick friend who stayed in the suburbs. We drove to the posh neighbourhood and approached one of the houses which seemed to have been recently built. It was beautiful, and for a moment there I envied Jack's friend, who was apparently the owner.There was no one to receive us so we walked through the front door into a beautiful living room with modern furnishings and extravagant electronics.
I walked around admiring the view while waiting for Jack's friend to show up. I turned around and my breath caught in my throat. Jack was on one knee, holding a velvet box with a glittering diamond ring inside.
"What are you doing?" I gasped, taking a small, backward step.
"My beautiful Jules," Jack's eyes sought and held mine. "I've loved you since the moment I set my eyes on you. I love you more than anything in this world...more than anyone. I want to grow old with you in this home that I bought for us. Please make me the happiest man alive by agreeing to become my wife."
Tears were spilling over my cheeks. I couldn't speak, so I just nodded and he slipped the beautiful ring on my finger. A moment later, I was in his arms and he was kissing the hell out of me. I melted into him and for the first time, we made love. I was naive and inexperienced and he was so gentle with me. I loved him even more after that day.
I dreamily alighted outside his office, clutching the bouquet of flowers and the box that held his birthday gift. I waved cheerily at Bob as I stepped into the building. I took the lift to the fourth floor where his office was located. I stepped into the small reception where the secretary sat, talking and laughing into her phone.
Then she turned around and faced me and I suddenly felt dizzy and confused. I dropped the flowers and the box to the floor and stared at the secretary in horror.
It was Isabella.
- Writer
