Victoria’s Secret

Chapter 3

It was not a boring time for Victoria and much more to Cedrick. Being with the woman he likes is like winning a lottery for him. Everytime she talks, smiles and cracks up to laugh, she makes him love her more. Every smile puts a butterfly in her stomach. Every word she says feels like music to his ears. Every eye contact they do makes his heart flutter. She’s becoming more and more attractive.

But time flies so fast. It's 9pm. Cedrick wants to stay longer to know her better but Victoria needs to go home.

“I really need to go. I have something important to do tomorrow so I have to prepare for it,” she told him.

“That’s too bad but okay, I will let you go. I hope we can have time like this again in the future,” he answered back.

“I hope so too.”

He walked her out of the restaurant and into her car.

“Nice meeting you again.” Victoria finally said it. She kissed his kiss and went inside her car.

Cedrick froze in his place because of what she did. It took him a few seconds to regain his posture but Victoria’s car drove off. It was the best night for Cedrick.

Victoria went straight home after her meeting with Cedrick. Her father is so happy to see her.

“So, how’s the date with Cedrick?” he asked.

“It’s a quiet night Dad but i enjoyed it. He is a good guy I guess. A humble and a gentleman.” she answered.

“See? I told you!” The smile on her father’s face is remarkable. He never did that for a long time. It seems like she made something good this time that made him so happy. “Just continue to meet him, you don’t know you might like him too.”

She only smiles as a sign of agreement but for her, she doesn’t know. Maybe her dad is right or maybe he is only pushing her to him because of something. Whatever it is, it doesn’t matter as long as she can make her father love her and be happy.

Before she finally finished her day, a message from Cedrick popped from her phone.

“Thank you for today. I enjoyed it.”

She smiled while reading it.

“No problem. Good night, Cedrick.”

She replied.

••••••

It has been a busy week for Victoria. A lot of things are happening in the company. Some of the investors are pulling out because the business is not working well. It will be a few months and her father will go bankrupt, that’s what their company lawyer said. She doesn’t know what to do.

Despite the problem in the company, she still receives messages from Cedrick. He is very consistent. He always asks how she is and how their company is doing.

“Do you need any help?” he asked her one day while they were having coffee just near Victoria’s office.

“We are fine but thank you. I hope we can do something about it to save our company. If not then we go back to start. I know it’s hard, especially for Dad but we have no choice.”

“That’s what i am thinking. Can i tell you something?”

“What is it?”

“I know it’s stupid but maybe… I don’t know how to say it.” He paused. He tries to think how to tell what’s in his mind, not making her uncomfortable. “I know it’s not new to you that I like you right? So maybe, I can help you and your company. Marry me Victoria!” He sputtered.

Victoria was shocked by his remark. It sounds to her like he is buying her.

“Are you serious now?” She is a bit disappointed. “What am I to you? A property that you can purchase? No!” She stood up from her sit, grabbed her bag and walked away.

Cedrick got up fast too to follow her.

“Victoria, wait! It’s not what you think, okay. I like you and I want to help you,” he explained while he is walking up to her. She walks fast that he cannot keep up to her while he is walking and talking.

“You know you can help me even without marrying me! So, what’s that supposed to mean?” he angrily replied.

“Victoria, wait!” He walks faster to keep up on her so he can stop her. When finally catches her, he grabs her by the arm. “Can you listen to my explanation?” he softly asked her.

“What will you explain then?!”

“Come with me, please, so we can talk properly,”he requested. She didn’t hesitate. She followed him.

Cedrick brought her to a park nearby. They had a walk to clear her mind. While they are near a pond, Victoria speaks.

“Tell me,” she said.

He let out a deep sigh before he spoke. “I want it coming from me that is why. Your father and my father talked about this a few days ago. Marrying us together. I don’t want you to feel what you felt earlier so i decided to tell you myself. It’s not a bad idea..”

“Excuse me?” She interrupted.

“Listen to me first okay? Can you? So yeah! They want us to get married so we can save your company. That’s my father’s condition. For me, I love too because I like you. I don’t know about you? But You have to think about it first. I don’t want to rush you and I hope your Dad too. Just think about it okay?” He ended.

Victoria became silent. She doesn’t know how to react to this. She is disappointed with her father who tries to sell her out just for the company. He never thinks of her happiness as his daughter. She sighs.

“Let’s go home.” That’s the only thing she said to Cedrick. She felt betrayed.

When she’s home her Dad is nowhere to be seen. She asked her mother but she said she hadn't come home yet.

“Do you even know what he did?!” she angrily told her Mom. The woman is confused by what she is saying.

“Vicky, calm down and tell me what is it,”

“He tries to marry me off to Cedrick Porter! That’s why he wants me to meet him and know him because he is planning something!” she said angrily.

Her Mother became silent. This is not old news for her. She lowered her head to hide her guilt.

“Oh my God! Mom?! You know about this? Seriously??” She became more angry because it’s not only her Dad that betrays her but also her Mom. “I cannot believe this!”

“Oh well, believe it!” A voice from the door echoed. It’s her Dad coming home. The two of them grew silent. He is drunk. “This is for the company! Whether you like it or not, marry Cedrick Porter and that’s final!” he exclaimed.

Victoria frowned and she cannot contain her anger anymore.

“But Dad! It’s not..”

She doesn’t even finish what she wants to say but a vase flew down the floor that startled everyone.

“Enough!” He screamed at her.

“Victoria, don’t say anything anymore, please.” Her mother told her. She was anxious every time he was annoyed. She went to stop her husband. Victoria cannot do anything anymore but to shut up. It’s been done. Even if she refuses or rallies about it, she cannot do anything anymore. That’s the sad part of it. She walks to her room and there she lets out her exasperation. She can still hear her Dad screaming and shouting, and her Mom calming him down.

The next morning. Everything is silent around the house when she wakes up. She does her morning routines to go to work. She eats her breakfast and reads some papers. Suddenly, her Dad came and sat beside her on the table where she was having coffee. She doesn’t greet him nor look at him.

“Can we talk?” Her father asked.

“Okay, Dad,” she answers slowly and coldly.

“Look. I know you are upset about what I did. I only did it for you, for your sister, for the company and for the family. Cedrick is a good guy for you. I know that.”

“Dad, you know i love you but this is not fair,” she rallied.

“Then, what is fair? Us being looked down by people? The Sherman’s being bankrupt? How do you think I face the people outside? How do you think I can cope up with this, huh?”

“How about me, Dad? How about my happiness?” she coldly asked back.

“Cedrick will not hurt you. I know the guy. He likes you. You will learn to love him, I am sure with that. Do this for our family. Do this for me, Victoria.”

This is the first time that he talks to her in a calm, soft voice. Her Dad is right in some way. Cedrick is a good guy, she saw that on many occasions. But there is this part of her that is saying NO. Part of her that prevents her from the thought of getting married to Cedrick.