BLIND:The Arranged Marriage

Forced Obligation

Noah is observant of the office since the morning he had came. His workers were shocked to see him as they thought they would be free from his tyranny for the rest of the week but unfortunately, he had been a workaholic. He went through the every section of the office as he was suspicious of any little things going on since he heard the news of the company fund accountant. He was furious and everyone could see it in his expression.

Lucas on the other hand wasn’t in the office. He was busy searching for the thief who ran off with his boss’s money. He had gone around where the man had lived, showing his picture around to the residents near the place he lived and asked if they had seen him of recent.

For the rest of the day, he couldn’t find the man but got a lead on him. He returned to the office past his closing hour. He saw Noah still sitting rigid inside his office. He had a cigar held between his finger, with his brows arched in a frown.

“You shouldn’t have waited for me to be back, it’s pretty late now” Lucas said and checked his wristwatch. He had thought the time will be around 10pm but it was just past 8pm.

“Where is that motherfucker” Noah said in a hoarse voice that settled Lucas.

“I found out where he would probably be, I will be off to there early tomorrow morning” Lucas said. Noah puffs out a smoke and then chug the cigar on his desk.Without saying a word, he gets up and then took his suit jacket. He wore it back on his shirt and then head out so he could go home. Lucas drove him home and afterwards left for his own home.

When Noah got in, he saw Valeria sitted in the living room. Her blinded eyes were directed towards the full wide television which was off. She had Daisy on her laps while her hands were petting the animal who had fallen asleep. He stares at her from the little distance separating them. Valeria was yet to be aware of Noah’s presence. Ava had told her to have dinner without Noah but she had insisted on waiting for him despite how hungry she was.

Noah took slow steps towards her. As he got closer, Valeria got a whiff of his musky scent.

“You are back” Valeria said with a smile. Noah wondered how she could detect him when he had been most quiet. He concluded it to be the normal trait of a visually impaired person.

“Why are you here” Noah asked while looking down at her from where she sat.

“I thought it was customary for a wife to wait for her husband” Valeria said innocently.

“Well, that is for people who are in love and we aren’t, you need not do that again” Noah said and was about to leave when he felt Valeria’s grip holding his hand. He looks back at her face and then at where their hands were connected.

“I’m sorry” Valeria mutters and let go of his hand immediately. Her intention was to ask him to help in getting her to the dinning room and she had been rash to make a move when she heard him retreating.

“I’m starving” Valeria said hesitantly. She figured if she didn’t tell him then, she will probably go to bed hungry.

Noah’s fist clenched when he heard what she said. He wondered how dump she is to have waited for him before she could have dinner. His newly wedded wife never ceased in annoying him even though they had just spent three days together. He calmed himself down before speaking.

“I will repeat it, we are not in love, we are just together because our parents wanted us to be, I’m not interested in being close to you nor do I think you will find my presence to your liking, you should stop this charade of yours” Noah said quietly. Valeria’s smile had immediately died down. Noah’s words were hurtful even though they were the truth. Their alliance was arranged and she had no reason to be a good wife to him.

Noah briskly walks away from her but then stopped when he was mid way up the stairs. He turned back and head back to Valeria’s front.

“Get up” he said hoarsely. Valeria got the dog off her thighs and then tried to stand up on her own. When Noah sees she was struggling, he instantly bends to her and carry her up in his arms. Valeria was shocked by the sudden contact, her body tensed up as a feeling she couldn’t put a name to arose in her. Noah on the other hand felt it too but ignored the feelings. He carried her up the stairs while the dog followed behind. He had completely forgotten he had ordered her things to be moved. He took her to his room and landed her leg gently on the floor so she could stand on her own. Just then, he remembered that her things had been moved and the fact that Valeria had told him she was hungry, he couldn’t possibly make her sleep without eating. He wondered where the maid he had hired personally for her was as he dislikes the thought of having to babysit his wife yet again. Then, he remembered the maids have only being paid for staying till 8pm at night because he hated others being in his home late at night.

He cursed underneath his breath as he swing her foots off the floor again. He carried her through the series of stairs to the kitchen while Daisy still followed behind them. If it had been only him, he would have had alcohol while he puffs a cigar but now that he’s burdened with his wife’s presence, he had no choice but to have a good meal with her. He knew the maids would have made dinner so he had Valeria sitted on a seat in the kitchen and quickly microwaved the meal that was already made. Never in his life has he ever made a meal for a woman. As he thought of it, even the woman in his past wasn’t so lucky to get him to make a meal but his wife made him to. He couldn’t stopped being amazed by his wife’s effrontery.