Not the Wife He Wants

CHAPTER 5: Rick

Rick's POV

Since yesterday's argument with Zia, I've started to think that perhaps my girlfriend has been very selfish all this time. Or maybe I'm just too curious about Angela, wanting to make her my temporary wife. If I think about it, I should be able to easily find another woman to marry. Especially since I have a lot of money and I'm handsome, I don't think it would be difficult. But Angela's rejection of me and Zia's lies about her have made me very curious, and I want to get to know Angela better. I don't even understand why, after hearing her story, I want to know more about this snot-nosed girl who annoyingly always calls me uncle.

"Deena, clear my schedule for this afternoon.” I said.

"There's an important meeting with a Client from Japan today, Boss." Deena replied, making me sigh. I had planned to visit Angela this afternoon because, according to my informant, she still seemed to be sick.

"Then reschedule it." I said, taking matters into my own hands. For some reason, the report from my subordinate that Angela was made to wash the car by Zia even though she was sick bothered me.

"But Boss, this—"

"Sshhh, use your smarts to persuade, Deena! There's something important I have to do." I cut her off, not wanting to be contradicted. Deena finally nodded obediently and immediately left my office.

After finishing my work, I immediately got up to leave. But just as I stood up from my chair, I saw Zia enter my office with a grim face. "Where are you going? What time is it now, and you're already leaving?" She asked curtly.

"I have business." I replied, still annoyed with her.

"What business?"

"Not all of my business is your concern, Zia, just like not all of your business is mine, right?" I said again, and I saw Zia sigh.

"Okay, it seems we need to discuss our relationship again, especially about what can and cannot be done." She said, then sat in the chair in front of me and gestured for me to sit as well.

"From the beginning, we agreed not to restrict each other, didn't we?" I reminded her that it was Zia who wanted a free relationship without restrictions, and I granted it.

"We will maintain this free relationship if you agree to cancel your intention to marry Angela and choose another girl I point out, but if you stubbornly want to marry Angela, then we need to talk about what can and cannot be done." Zia said, which for some reason made me even more annoyed.

"Fine, how about one of my restrictions is that you're not allowed to pose in sexy clothes?" I challenged her back, and she sighed in frustration.

"Rick, that's my job, how could I not do it?"

"The job you want can't be interfered with by anyone, including me, so why can't I choose what I want too, and you're not allowed to interfere?" I replied, somehow becoming increasingly annoying. In the past, I would fulfill any of Zia's wishes, no matter how unreasonable, but for some reason, when it comes to Angela, I insist on opposing her. That sharp-tongued girl has successfully made me curious.

"You like Angela, Rick!" Zia almost shouted, and it made me laugh cynically.

"No, from the beginning, I told you I don't like her. I just need her to convince my grandfather that I have a wife with a clear background and who appears to be a respectable woman. You're the one who's been getting worked up lately and accusing me and Angela of all sorts of things. When I'm actually struggling to persuade that snot-nosed girl to follow the plan we made." I explained, but it still didn't seem to calm Zia. For some reason, I found a deep fear in Zia's eyes and demeanor. A fear that I would fall in love with Angela. And this only made me more curious about that snot-nosed girl.

"Appears to be a respectable woman? Are you saying I don't look like a respectable woman?" She asked, annoyed.

"You look like a respectable woman, but unfortunately, you don't want to marry me, do you?" I replied, equally annoyed.

"It's not that I don't want to, Rick, I can't."

"To me, it's the same, Zia. You can't do it because you don't want to give up your job for me," I said finally. "Let's end this argument! I have things to do." I cut her off when I saw Zia was about to argue. Then I stood up and walked away.

"Rick, you're annoying!" Zia shouted, ringing in my ears, but I kept walking away. I saw Deena glancing at me briefly with a questioning look, but I ignored it and continued on my way. My head felt like it was going to explode if I continued the argument with Zia.

***

I drove my car towards Zia's house, which is also Angela's house, but before I got there, I saw her walking along the roadside, still wearing her pajamas and a knitted sweater. Her face was still pale, and she was carrying a large plastic bag in each hand. I then pulled over and approached her, grabbing the bags she was carrying, which turned out to be quite large.

"Get in the car, I'll give you a ride." I said as I walked ahead of her, carrying the two plastic bags and putting them in the back.

"No need, uncle, I'll get scolded later." She weakly refused. Her face was so pale, yet she was still sent to buy such heavy baking ingredients? Does Angela's family have no compassion?

"Just get in quickly, I'll drop you off at the side of the house so no one will notice. It's still far if you walk. What if you faint? You look really pale." I persuaded. Angela seemed to think for a moment but then nodded in agreement and got into the passenger seat. I could hear her sigh of relief when the door closed, and I started driving. She closed her eyes and massaged her forehead. She looked really sick because she was indeed still unwell.

"Have you eaten?" I asked, and she shook her head. "Why haven't you eaten?"

"Because of you, uncle, I didn't have time to eat." She sighed tiredly.

"How is it my fault?"

"Zia got angry, thinking I flirted with you all night and didn't come home, so today I was tortured by Uncle, Aunt, and Zia." She complained angrily.

"I already got permission from your father, and he said it was okay. Besides, I also explained that you were sick, right?"

"Everything I do, even if there's proof of the truth, is still wrong in their eyes, Uncle, so I beg you, don't add to my problems with that damn marriage because I'm already suffering." She said, making me silent for a moment. I turned to her, who still had her eyes closed. Her eyelashes fluttered when she opened her eyes, and it was quite amusing.

"We're here," I said. Angela then nodded, opened the door, and got out. I helped her take out the two heavy bags.

"Thanks, uncle." She said as she walked away. Then I sighed, watching her back slowly disappear behind the wall. Realizing that sometimes the world can be very unfair to someone. On one side, there's a princess like Zia who is treated like a queen, and on the other side, there's someone like Angela who can't even protest the injustice she receives.

As I was about to get back into the car, I saw Stephen's car entering the house gate. A brilliant idea to let Angela rest peacefully popped into my head.

I drove my car into Angela's house gate, and just then, Stephen got out of the car. "Oh, Rick, are you here to see Angela?" He asked kindly. A different expression compared to when dealing with his daughter, Angela.

It can be said that Stephen doesn't know that I'm Zia's boyfriend, considering I've never come to this house. We only met outside, as well as with Zia's parents. The previous marriage discussion was the first time I entered this house. Because before, I only dropped Zia off at the front. I used that as leverage to persuade him to let me marry Angela. It wasn't as difficult as I imagined because Stephen seemed to want Zia to leave his house soon.

"I actually want to take Angela out of town to accompany me to attend an important meeting." I said, starting my plan.

"Sure, Rick, coincidentally Angela's college is on break." Stephen replied with a laugh. As if he had just allowed his daughter, who is still a girl, to go with a man. As if Angela meant nothing to him. For some reason, my heart ached while imagining being in Angela's position.

I saw Angela standing at the door, her eyes red, then she turned and went back inside the house as soon as our eyes met. She would surely cry in there because she felt she didn't have a father's protection. Now I understand the meaning of her words that she didn't want to live anymore if one more problem befell her. Because her life was already very pressured, both physically and mentally.

"Let's go, Uncle." She said as she came out of the room. She had changed clothes and was carrying a bag. This time, there was truly no protest as usual. It seems Sean was right, that Angela never disobeys her father even though she is disliked by that man.

"I'm taking Angela, Stephen." I said politely, and Stephen nodded with a smile. It was quite fortunate that neither Zia nor her parents were home, so there was no need for any drama.

"Where are we going, Uncle? How long?" The girl asked as my car started moving.

"To Bali, accompany me to meet a client, consider it practice for becoming my wife later." I replied, which made her sigh tiredly but not offer the usual protest. Maybe she was already exhausted and indeed still didn't look well from her pale and weak appearance.

"Can I sleep for a whole day before accompanying you, Uncle? I might faint if I don't rest." She pleaded.

"We'll see." I lied. Of course, I didn't want her to know that I was taking her away so she could rest. This little brat might misunderstand. After all, this is just simple sympathy because I happen to need this girl to complete my plan, it couldn't possibly be love, right? Don't be ridiculous! How could I possibly like a little brat who's not sexy at all?

***