The Daughter In the Corner

Keeping Him Busy

The marriage was held in front of the family gathered since Nathan’s faith did not allow for secret marriages. Since she couldn’t sign, they used her fingerprint as a proxy. There were at least two witnesses from each side present and Nathan’s company put out a press release alongside the Farley Group.

There weren’t any grand celebrations and the moment the ceremony was over, Nathan asked to be alone with his bride. Amelia kissed Jenny on the forehead before she left, and all the men filed out after her.

Soon the only sounds in the room were the whirring and beeping of the hospital equipment. Nathan sat on the wide bed and brushed the strands of matted hair from Jenny’s face.

“Finally, we are wed.”

Had anyone heard his low whisper, they would have shuddered.

***

When Dustin came home, he found Amanda and Amara sitting in the living room reading.

Amanda looked up. “Welcome home, darling. What happened? You just rushed out of the house...”

Dustin sat heavily in his chair and let out a long drawn-out breath.

“Jenny got into an accident this morning in her apartment. Thankfully, Nathan was around and got her to the hospital but she’s now in a medicated coma.”

Amanda’s eyes grew wide. “That’s terrible!”

“Well, there’s more. Nathan wanted to take care of her, so they were married this afternoon.”

“Is there still going to be a wedding later in the year then?”

“I don’t know.”

Dustin and Amanda were so engrossed in conversation that they didn’t notice Amara leave the room. She was surprised to hear that Jenny was admitted to the hospital and got married while comatose.

‘Does Nathan know what she did?’

Amara bit her lower lip and frowned. If she told him then it would ruin their marriage. Although she didn’t care for Jenny much, she didn’t want Jenny to suffer in a loveless marriage; this was a matter of morals.

But…

Jenny had always hurt her; it “seemed” unintentional, but the constant barrage of barbed words still hurt. She squeezed her eyes shut.

‘No, why bother to stoop to her level.’

Amara scoffed and mumbled, “I should probably thank her. She helped me realize Derrick is a shithead in pretty packaging.”

Surprisingly, she got over her first love rather quickly. Rather, her thoughts kept going back to the time she spent with Hunter.

“But starting a relationship with him is going to be so awkward with him being Derrick’s brother and all that.”

Amara groaned and ruffled her hair in frustration. She couldn’t wait for tomorrow so she could drown herself in work once more.

***

“Come again!? Married!?”

George Sinclair rubbed his ear and grimaced. “Don’t you read the news? It just made headlines. Nathan Al Saad married Jenny Farley this afternoon.”

Derrick flipped out his phone to check, wishing it was all a hoax, but it wasn’t.

“f*****g hell!” Derrick threw his cell across the room.

George pulled a long face and lit a cigar casually. “Something happened last night?” He glanced curiously at his son.

Derrick tousled his hair. “Not really. I wanted to make Jenny mine, but she resisted in the end. I might have… been too forceful.”

George spluttered and went into a coughing fit. Eyes watering, he smashed his cigar into the ash plate and pounded on his chest.

“Ack! Hmph! Forceful? What do you mean?” he squeaked.

“I held and kissed her against her will…”

George groaned. “Ugh, well, at least you didn’t r**e her. I don’t know what Dustin would do to me if you had gone too far.”

Derrick closed his eyes and rubbed a rough hand over his face. When his eyes were exposed again, they had a nasty glint to them.

‘So what if they are married? Nathan would never accept used goods. If I embellish the story a little… they would just as quickly divorce.”

He chuckled darkly as he planned his next move.

***

Come Monday Derrick found himself swamped at work. Things were falling apart left and right. Nathan had pulled out from all of their joint ventures not to mention that nearly half of their suppliers also canceled their contract unilaterally leaving the Sinclair Group in a lurch. They had enough capital to see them through this difficult period, but the main issue was that the delay in parts would cause significant delays in their current projects leaving a stain on their century-old golden reputation.

Derrick scratched the back of his head, worrying how he would explain this to Jenny. The Farley Group was expecting the first shipment of parts next week. If he couldn’t deliver, it would put a serious damper on any future collaboration. Besides, he didn’t want to look bad in front of her.

‘Wait a minute… why would Nathan act malicious all of a sudden?’ Derrick belatedly asked himself.

‘Could it be that Jenny told him what happened over the weekend?’

‘Impossible! She, of all people, wouldn’t want anyone to know of her shameful actions. Then why would Nathan attack me? The timing is too coincidental.’

‘If Jenny did tell Nathan and they still got married, then the chances of them getting divorced is slim to none.’

‘Nathan must have been led to believe that I forced myself on her.’

Derrick thought back to the heated moment on the balcony he shared with his golden goddess; those hazy eyes and wanton look as she leaned into his kisses.

‘No… she wanted me as much as I wanted her. I can’t let her go… not like this.”

Pulling out his cell phone he sent a text to his aunt from his mother’s side.

Derrick: Auntie, I have a favor to ask.

Aunt Elise: What is it, darling?

Derrick: Do you know if Uncle has any work relations with Nathan Al Saad?

Aunt Elise: I’m not sure but I can ask. Why do you want to know?

Derrick: Can you ask him to cause some issues, just enough to keep him busy for a week or two?

Aunt Elise: Okay, I will try.

Derrick: Thanks Auntie.

Placing his phone down, he gritted his teeth and got back to work. Once he stabilized the work situation, he would get to work on freeing his woman from the shackles of matrimony.

***

“Who was that?”

Elise smiled at her husband, Dorian, and shook her head. “Just my nephew, Derrick.”

Dorian scoffed. “That little playboy? What does he want this time?”

Elise sat next to her husband and brushed his muscular arms. “He was wondering if you could keep someone named Nathan Al Saad busy for a week or two.”

“Why would I do that brat any favors?”

Elise leaned in and pecked Dorian on the cheek. “Not for him, darling, for me.”

Dorian’s facial expressions immediately relaxed. Rubbing his wife’s thigh gently he murmured, “Fine. I’ll get on it right away.”

Elise smiled brightly and kissed Dorian once more. She had one of the most powerful mob bosses in the palm of her hands and she wielded his power recklessly.

They met a few years ago at a dinner party. She was minding her own business when he approached her as if mesmerized and it didn’t take long before they started going steady. At first, she was extremely flattered by his undying affection, but it wasn’t until a few months into the relationship that she found a picture in his drawer of his old girlfriend that looked exactly like her. She was furious to be someone’s replacement and immediately broke up with him, ignoring his calls and refusing his visits. One day he stalked her in a public place, and she was so angry she ran away from him but ended up slipping and falling down a short flight of stairs. When she woke up in the hospital, she found Dorian crying beside her. He swore that he would forever love her and only her.

Moved by his confession, she made him swear that he would dedicate his life to making her happy, and only then did she forgive him. Their marriage was in fact a slave contract, but Dorian didn’t care; he got what he wanted, and Elise gained everything and more.

Elise smiled and texted her favorite nephew.

Aunt Elise: Don’t worry. Dorian will take care of it.

She put her phone down and cuddled next to her husband purring like a cat that found her perfect napping spot in the sun.