Marriage gone wrong

Chapter 2

Signing The Deal

Celine's POV

"Good day everyone. Here's some quick information. This organization can no longer pay the number of workers employed, therefore, most of the non-management staff will be laid off. Kindly bare with us if you are a part".

I couldn't take these words from my mind as I laid on my bed, thinking of what to do next to bring money home. Steve barely makes enough to cover our expenses for a month, the cleaning job I took brought very little but it's better than nothing at all.

As my thoughts went on, I didn't realize when I slept off. The next thing I heard was my phone ringing. It was Steve calling. He hardly calls me during work hours, my heart skipped wondering what had happened.

"Hello, Steve, What happened?" I took a deep breath, expecting bad news.

"Where are you?" He asked.

"I'm home, what's up?" I inquired, still wondering what the issue was.

"You're home? That's strange. Anyway, I'm coming to you now". He continued.

"What? Tell me what...." Steve didn't let me finish my sentence before he dropped the call. That made me more anxious and curious to know what was happening.

"Was today just signed as a bad day?", I thought as I sat up, expecting Steve to return home. I couldn't sleep anymore.

Some minutes later, I heard Steve call, "Celine!!"and I jumped up from the bed to meet him at the door as he rushed in.

"You're scaring me, Steve. Talk to me" I said as i held him peering through his eyes.

"Take yur hands off me and sit. Why all the drama? You better put yourself together and not ruin things for me." Steve spoke angrily.

"I just lost my job, I thought something bad had happened to you as well, that's why I was worried" , I explained.

"Take your ill luck far away from me." Steve always talks me down but I can't explain why I love him regardless. As they say love is blind.

"I'm sorry" , I said pitifully.

"Shush.... Not a word about that. I have something more important to tell you. We are going to be millionaires." He said happily.

"Millionaires? How?" I asked.

"I told you to trust me, Celine. I'm going to get the money for us to get married and now I've found a way." He was too excited to explain himself.

I kept staring at him, wondering what he meant.

"My boss wants a fiancee or should I say someone to play the role of his fiancee and get married to him for a few weeks then the marriage will be annulled and he will reward her handsomely and I told him I had someone for him " He continued.

"You do?"

"You numbskull, of course I do. Look around you, who do you think can play the role effectively?" He smirked.

"Steve, No, No. I can't, I'm not. How could you even suggest that? Get married to some stranger and live in the same house with him? Ain't you even jealous over me anymore?" I stood up , about to walk away. Steve pulled me back to my seat forcefully.

"It's not a choice my dear. You have to, except you don't want me anymore, you don't want us to get married and you do not love me. This man will pay us huge amounts that can change our lives forever", he said, getting to my emotions.

"No my love, don't say that. You know I love you. I love you Steve"

"Then do this for me, for us. You'll return to me after the whole deal is over", he said, putting his hands on my face and moving a strand of hair from my face. This led to a passionate kiss and I didn't realize when I agreed.

"Ok love, I'll do it for us." I said and he gave me a peck on my cheek and stood up.

"I'll call Mr. Derrick now so he can tell us where to meet him and sign the contract. It's just going to be for a few weeks, you'll be fine". He said finally and hugged me tightly.

* * *

Mr. Derrick's apartment was a magnificent building, with beautiful scenery and smells like a sweet sunflower even though most of the furniture is black or coffee brown.

"You must be Celine" , Mr. Derrick spoke with his masculine voice, looking at me from head to toe and back. I felt very uncomfortable and I didn't know how to act around him. I just kept looking at Steve at intervals and he encouraged me to keep smiling.

"Yes, I am"

"Good, read through and sign here." He said, handing the document over to me. Mr. Derrick's face was not friendly at all. The thought that this was the man I was going to be with for weeks made my heart beat really fast. I was no longer sure I could continue with this. There was a gentleman beside Mr Derrick though who kept whispering to his ears, his smiles kept encouraging me.

"Please, be fast with that. You're taking so much time . If you do not know how to read, ask Steve to help you out. I have very limited time."

"I'm sorry, Sir", I said humbly and my hands began to shake as I signed the documents.

"Hope she packed her things?", Derrick asked Steve. Before Steve could respond, he interrupted, "What am I even saying? I won't let that trash into my house", he continued.

I handed the papers to him, and he gave the duplicate to Steve.

"Steve, you can go home now", he said, handing Steve a $100 for transportation.

"Transportation?", I thought. That was a lot.

"Thank you so much Sir", Steve was almost jumping out of his skin.

"Celine, let's go" , he said, turning to me with a fake smile.

"G-Go?" I stammered.

"Oh yes my darling, I won't be staying here with you. This is just one of my houses. We need to move into an apartment more like a couple-like. You get the point?" Derrick said, turning to me.

"Of course she does", Steve responded quickly and eyed me. I nodded slowly in agreement.

As I walked out with Derrick and his friend, I felt like a slave that was sold out but I reminded myself that I was doing it for Steve and I. When Derrick pays us off finally, I'll be free and happily married to the love of my life, Steve . So I was ready to endure the pain until then.

Going to Derrick's apartment wasn't as exciting as I thought it would be. After the first day, Derrick sent most of the helps in the house on vacation. He explained he didn't want them to realize the truth, so I had to work my ass off everyday in his big apartment.

"Can I at least go over to Steve's place to spend the night sometimes?" I asked Derrick on a beautiful Friday morning because I missed Steve badly after just being in the house for three days.

"How dare you say that?" He angrily responded. "Are you lacking anything here in this house?"

"No but..."

"But what?" He cut me short." I'm sure none of your generation has ever seen such a great life and I give you the opportunity to enjoy one, at least a taste of it and you want to go back to penury, lack and darkness. I can see you do not deserve anything good. What does Steve have to offer? You are just a love-sick fool!"

This broke my heart into a thousand pieces. This meant I could only sneak to see Steve and try not to get caught.

I was done with the morning chores and I decided to sit close to the pool just to have sometime to reflect on my miserable life.

"Hi" , I heard a voice from behind me. I turned to see Derrick's friend with his usual warm smiles and welcoming aura.

"Hi", I stood up quickly, wiping the tear drop from my left eye. "Derrick is out" , I added immediately.

"Oh really? He rarely goes out on Fridays. We usually hang out and that's why I'm here.", he responded.

"Well, I don't know, I think you should call him." I added.

"Sure, I will. By the way, my name is Nate. I figured we haven't exactly been introduced to each other "

"Oh great, Nate, I believe you already know my name is Celine. I will be shocked if you don't."

"Celine? Is that your name? I thought it was Marie." He laughed.

"That's not true, you are joking right?" I said, looking at him with my side eye.

"Of course I know your name" , Nate laughed louder this time.

"You almost got me, I almost believed you. You are such a joker." I laughed as well.

I noticed Nate was playful and friendly and I felt really comfortable with him.

"So Celine, are you fine?" He asked seriously.

"Yes, I am." , giving a fake smile.

"You can talk to me if anything is wrong, I'm always here for you." He said and patted my back. I felt I could trust him and I nodded in response. Just at the same moment, Derrick drove in.

"Celine! Dress up we need to go out now and take a few pictures", he said in a hurry as he rushed in .

I still sat, with a glass of wine in my hand, wondering why he was in such a hurry. He came closer and grabbed the wine from me.

"Young lady, I'm talking to you"

"I'm trying to process what you just said. It was quite fast.", I responded.

"Maybe this will make you process faster" , he said, pouring the wine on my face. I shut my eyes so it would not get in and my mouth was open in shock. Immediately, Nate handed me his face towel to clean up and helped me get up.

"I'm so sorry, Celine. But you need to get ready now as he has said", Nate encouraged.

I went into my room, crying as I was getting ready. I felt helpless and alone so I decided to call Steve.

"Hey! Baby girl" , he said from the other end of the phone.

"Steve ... I'm done, I can't do this", I said crying bitterly.

"What do you mean by you can't? You have to." He commanded.

"Mr. Derrick is too mean . I can't spend another second with him."

"Whatever the case is, you have to remain there until the deal is over", Steve said and dropped the call. I stood for a moment, staring at the phone and wondering what I had gotten myself into.

"Celine!" I heard Derrick shouting from outside and banging on my door. I quickly wore the dress he got me and went to get the door.