Chapter 3
1949 Words
Wedding Plans
Celine's POV
"Can you please go closer, hold her waist and look into her eyes Sir? All of your poses are not giving the romantic feel that's needed." The photographer pleaded. Standing close to Derrick felt very weird but Nate was there, encouraging me with his smile as always.
"Celine, you're good right?" He asked, rubbing my shoulders.
"Yes I am", I smiled, I just need to touch up my makeup.
"Then go ahead. You really need to look exceptionally beautiful as always.", I smiled and nodded.
"Can you hurry up? I have a lot to do", Derrick spoke harshly and I became nervous.
"It's fine, I don't think my face needs any touching up", I responded quickly. I didn't want the pressure to make me ruin my makeup. I tried as much as possible to give my best smiles and best romantic poses and boom! The pictures came out looking so perfect. This excited Derrick and for the first time he gave me a seeming real smile.
"Thank you", he said.
"Thank you too" I responded, feeling awkward.
As we drove home, I overheard Derrick's and Nate's conversation, the excitement was palpable.
"Oh my Goodness. Man, these pictures are just perfect!" Nate said , his voice tone louder than the volume of the music in the car. I felt others outside could hear him even though the tinted glasses were windy.
"I know right, I just got 1k likes in 10 minutes. My phone is beeping with several congratulatory messages right now." Derrick replied.
"Really? Wow! We are almost there. After the wedding, it'll be so good. The media will be pleased and you'll be safe from the suspicion of many." Nate added.
"I will be free, man. I can't wait." Derrick said , tapping his feet as though nervous. I couldn't help but wonder what he meant by that but since I couldn't ask, I just sat in the car quietly.
"Celine darling, you did a good one and you are such a beautiful young lady" Nate said turning to me.
I just smiled in response. I couldn't wait for the wedding to be over so I'll be free from all these too.
"Can I go to see Steve after we get back?" I asked .
"What's wrong with you? Your pictures are already out there as the fiancée of a billionaire which means you might just be wanted. You need to be smarter so that you don't get into trouble. You get it?" Derrick spoke up, the excitement in his voice was gone.
"I'm sorry" , I responded as I shut my eyes to sleep.
*. *. *.
"Have you tried your wedding dress? Does it fit?" Nate asked me as we sat together in the living room upstairs.
"Oh yes. It fits and it's so beautiful."
"Wow. I see you are excited about your wedding ", he laughed.
"Of course, I am. The deal ends and I'm free to fly."
"You may not be exactly free"
"What do you mean?" I asked, wondering what Nate meant.
"When we get there, we'll cross it. For now, I enjoy seeing you excited. It gives me joy"
"Awww....Thank you so much , Nate for being such a friend."
"It's the least I can do for a friend. Now give me that beautiful smile." He said, patted my back and that made me blush. I noticed I liked Nate being around and I believed I could tell him anything.
"I think you need to go upstairs to your room now and rest. Tomorrow is your wedding" , he giggled.
"Yes, sure. Where is Derrick by the way? I'm surprised you came here without him and it's past work time."
"He asked me to come check on you while he sorts out some other things. He's under a lot of pressure right now."
"Pressure?" I asked .
Before Nate could answer, his phone rang, it was Derrick. I didn't hear what Derrick said on the other end of the phone, all I heard was Nate's short responses, "Oh wow", "Ok", "Yeah".
"Is something wrong?" I asked curiously.
"That's what I'm trying to confirm", Nate said. The smile on his face had vanished.
"There's a rumor flying around social media that Mr. Derrick is having a fake wedding. With all the tension online these past few weeks regarding his relationship life, this is a lot!" Nate continued.
"So what do we do?"I asked, almost panicking.
"Don't worry, we'll sort it out." He responded. “Hello?" He answered his ringing phone and walked away, leaving me in the sitting room wondering what else was going to play out.
Nate rushed in, " Celine, Derrick wants to meet with you and Steve at his other apartment. Come with me."
"Do I have to change into something else?"
"No my dear, he sounded quite urgent, moreover no one is going to see you , just us." He said , holding my hand to take me into his car.
We drove to the apartment and when we got in, Derrick was already there with Steve. Immediately I saw Steve, I ran to hug him tightly.
"How have you been?" , he asked softly.
"Fine", I whispered.
"We need to reconsider the contract agreement. Plans have changed and that's why I brought you two here, not to have some romantic sessions in our faces." Derrick spat in anger.
"Calm down Man, we got this." Nate said, smirking.
"So why are you proposing now? Steve let go of me to join the conversation.
"6 months. I want to have her for 6 months" , Derrick said.
"6 months? No way. I guess you have to look for someone else." I added it quickly.
Steve turned to me and eyed me, "Please be quiet. What do you know about business? It's either we take this deal or we are over", he threatened. I could not imagine living a life without Steve so that terrified me.
"Yes Celine. It has to be 6 months. All those periods, the media's eyes will be away from us and we can make them believe the marriage is real" , Nate explained, looking into my eyes and I could see the comfort I was looking for in them.
"Wow! This is huge. This means more money. I need three times the initial amount" Steve smiled.
"I'm ready to pay", Derrick said, keeping a straight face .
My eyes went from Derrick to Steve to Nate and I felt like a commodity for a transaction. I was in now and it would not be easy to pull out at this time. I wished I didn't agree to all of this from the beginning. I took a deep breath and exhaled, looking forward to what was going to happen next.
"Here are the papers. This time, it's going to be a weekly payment until the deal is over. Celine, you sign here, Steve, you sign here and I'll sign here" , Derrick said pointing to the document.
"With all pleasure, Sir," Steve said grinning.
"I'm in", I added sorrowfully.
"The payment would not be paid to just your account this time. It will be split into two, one to Celine's and One to yours" , Nate explained. "I think it's better that way."
The smile on Steve's face reduced a little but he managed to keep them on .
"It's fine. It's all still mine at the end of the day", he laughed.
We all signed and the deal was closed.
"If you'll excuse me Ladies and Gentlemen, I have a wedding tomorrow", Derrick said, stood up and grabbed my hand.
"It's nice doing business with you , Steve" , he shook Steve with his other hand.
"Same here. I'll try to attend your wedding". He laughed, "Have fun Mrs. Derrick" , he said to me teasingly.
"Bye" I said in an extremely low tone.
*. *. *.
The wedding was a quick one. We got to court, signed our marriage certificate and had a big home party with some friends and family. Our pictures were all over the internet and it made Derrick really happy. We travelled to Dubai for two weeks to make everyone believe we were out on our honeymoon, took lots of pictures in beautiful places all for the public and after all of that, we were back to begin life as a fake couple. That was the most terrifying part ever and to think that we had to pull up the act for 6 months.
I was always indoors, except going out for dinner or other meetings just for the show or for pictures. Asides that, living in the house with Derrick was unbearable.
"We have been living in the same house for weeks and you have never entered into my room yet we claim to be married" Derrick asked on a bright Saturday morning.
"You forgot to add that we were pretending to be married." I corrected him.
"But that's not what the public see"
"Because they don't know the truth. So what are you trying to do? Make me come to your room to perform my wife duties?" I asked.
Derrick laughed. That would not be a bad idea but no I'm not interested.
"Why do you make it seem as though I suggested it?" I asked.
"But you just did". The way he looked at me, I knew he was beginning to get attracted to me but could not say so, so I tried to avoid him every way possible.
"I want you to sleep in my room tonight, Celine" He finally spoke up.
"Why? " I asked, "For the pictures or for your pleasure?"
"You are such a smart girl. How about we cuddle up and take a picture or maybe make a video. That will be so perfect " , he said in excitement.
"I'm sorry. I can't sleep in your room, not even cuddle you. No, I can't".
"You are going against the agreement. You read the contract and it was stated clearly that you must do whatever it is to make the public believe you are my wife!" His usual commanding self was out again.
"It was also stated that there should be no s****l relations except if the both parties agrees and feels comfortable to indulge. And I'm not comfortable with that" I also explained.
"It's not for s*x. It's for the public, the pictures we are taking and the contract you signed said you have to do that" , he stressed.
"Hmmm...." I took a deep, long breath and finally agreed. "Okay, I will, but nothing more is happening about from the fake poses for the pictures and videos "
"Yes ma'am", he smiled.
I got to my room, showered and got ready for the night with my 'husband'. He set the camera and we got what we wanted. We both didn't realize when we slept off after so many pictures and short videos.
I jumped up in the morning to check if Derrick did something to me the previous night and I realized that he kept to his word. He dropped a note beside me that read "I'm off to work, see you later". It made me smile a little but something else distracted me, a beep from my phone. I concluded it was Steve. He always sends messages when he wants to get money from me. I picked up my phone from the dressing mirror beside the bed and opened the text. I gasped the moment I read it
"Stay away from Derrick or he will kill you the same way he killed his real fiancée, Linda."
- Writer
