Man of his word

Its the last day of college and Emma is getting ready to paint the town red with her closest friend Mary. Its been rough the last one year but she somehow made it and even managed to keep her grades high up. EMMA POV I just want to let loose and just have fun tonight maybe even get kissed. Yeah you guessed it, am a 22 year old who has never been kissed. Not that I have not had opportunities, I have just not had the time or the courage to take that step forward, I always blush and run away the moment someone shows interest and avoid them after that. But today that will change, I am determined to get my first kiss, I do not care from who. My phone has been ringing for the last 10 minutes while I was taking a shower. I know its Mary and I do not want to catch her phone, because I know what she will say. Just as suspected, someone is pounding my door like they are the police. I tie my towel around me and open it, with water still dripping down my skin. "WHAT......YOU ARE NOT READY YET!!!!!" Mary screams as she pushes me aside as she rolls her eyes, I notice she is carrying a bag which she throws on my bed. "So what are you wearing tonight to honor the death of your virgin lips" chuckling as she says "virgin". Compared to me, Mary could start her own brothel, I just do not know how she can change men like they mean nothing. Mary is not only beautiful and a genius she is also adventurous, wild and rich, me on the other hand am a genius but an introvert and avoid attention from the male species because I do not want to start what I cannot handle. So why are we friends you ask? because I am the only person who does not care that she is a heiress and also for some reason her family loves me like their own to the extent they try to hook me up with their nephews whenever the chance arises. "By the way, did I mention that my cousin David is in town....." "Don't even start with that!!!" I glare at her "What....he is a really cool guy, just let me formally introduce you...pleeeeeeaaaaseee!" looking at me with pleading eyes I can not believe Emma has joined the band wagon of trying to match me up with her relatives, its just that I have met her cousin David before and he spooks me out. He never talks and just stares with a blank expression and looks like the word "happiness" is foreign in his dictionary. I shake my head as I head into my closet to try and see what comfortable outfit I can wear. Am thinking simple black jeans, white spaghetti top and a grey hoodie thrown on top. "NO NO NO, Who do you think will kiss you when you are dressed like that!!!!!" Mary reaches into the bag she threw on my bed and removes a blue bodycon dress and hands it me. "I cannot wear this, first and foremost my girls will spill out, second I have a big butt and third I don't want every man slapping me when I pass" just the thought of those drunkards makes me cringe.  After arguing back and forth, I finally concede to wear the dress as long as she agrees to let me wear a scarf to shield my girls, I must say it does not look that bad but am still conscious of my butt that I cannot cover. 20 minutes later we are at the club, looks like everyone is already here. I head to the bar to order a fruity drink and hopefully get some snacks like chicken wings. The college student body hired out the club, so we only have seniors from different faculties and also a few outsiders. Everyone is mingling and dancing to the beat, the DJ is killing it tonight. Mary suddenly grabs my wrist and drags me upstairs to a private room where the rest of our crew is seated. We all squeal when we see each other and everyone is surprised that I have wore such a daring dress tonight. To be honest, I am already starting to feel cold and cannot wait to start dancing to get some heat in my bones. Soon drinks are flowing and the screams are getting louder by the minute at some point we start playing spin the bottle. The bottle spins and points at me, am already tipsy and feeling brave so I quickly settle for "dare", there is no way am spilling any of my secrets when am drunk. "So kiss the first man who walks past our room and propose to him to marry you" everyone keeps quiet because they know I hate body contact with men and are waiting for me to change to "truth". My palms are already getting sweaty but I am determined to get over and done with this , I take one more swig of my vodka cocktail and open the door and they hold their breath. At that very moment, a tall man is standing in front of me, without any hesitation I grab his face and kiss him and surprisingly he kisses me back that makes my friends go wild. Tracy screams "propose propose" as she chuckles in excitement, I cannot believe am actually doing this, may be its the alcohol. Then I hear Mary's voice "maybe you should not do that" and a deep voice responds "and why not?" that voice is like music to my ears and I turn over to Mary "yeah and why not?" "You think am chicken!!!!!" I quickly remove my phone and open the camera app "You will regret this when you sober up" shouts Mary but now am beyond reason and the alcohol has already gone into my head. I ignore her and hand my phone over to Tracy and show her how to take a video. I get down on one knee of which I almost toppled over and say with a slur..."kind sir would you do me the honor and marry me?" and he nods his head and asks "when?" and I reply "two years from now come look for me" and with that I get up and kiss him again and step back. He smirks and turns around and leaves. We are going wild with excitement but Mary seems like she is in deep thought, I slide in next to her at the booth. "Hey what is up with you, why do you look like your allowance has been halved" I laugh as I bump her shoulder. "You have no idea who you kissed?" "I do not care and besides in 2 years he will have married someone else" "It was....." "Please Mary do not spoil the fun, I have finally been kissed and we need to be celebrating not moping around or what do you say LADIES" we all scream and Mary laughs and starts smiling again We got back to our hostel at 5am and all I can think of is removing this cursed dress from my body and taking a shower. In 3hours time we need to start packing our belongings to officially vacate the hostels and sign off one last time before graduation in 2 months time. My mother is already at my door at 9am and is making such a ruckus, with my hangover it sounds like someone is banging pans in my head. After 2hours of pushing me around am finally done, Mary who stays 2 doors from me already got her stuff packed by butler - lucky woman "Good afternoon Mrs.Bailey" "Good afternoon Mary, how is everything" "Quite ok for now Mrs.Bailey" "Will we see you at the luncheon?" "But of course, how would not miss an opportunity to eat your food" "Great, will your parents come too" "They definitely will, actually mum has been planning to call you so I guess this her chance to talk to you" "No problem dear, just confirm with them first ok?" "I will do that, see you next weekend" "See you Mary" Finally we leave the hostel building and haul everything in my mum's car, as the college buildings disappear from my view I cant help but feel a bit nostalgic. I will miss the comfort and security it gave me and now I have to face the harsh realities and face my fears, particularly my social fears.  The week flies fast and soon its the day for my family luncheon, I have been running up and down since 7am getting everything ready and running errands for my mum. My dad is quite laid back and is in the garden directing the tent people where to pitch the tents, mum is busy in the kitchen directing the caterer where to set up. The guests start arriving at 1pm and head towards the garden at the back to mingle and chat. After 20minutes the Winters arrive and instead of 3 people they are 5 people, I wonder who the other 2 elderly couple are. My mum is the perfect host and quickly ushers them in personally and sets them up at a separate smaller tent. Soon dad joins them and they look like they are in depend discussions, occasionally looking my way and smiling, I wonder what they are talking about. "Hi" "Oh Mary, don't scare me like" as I hold my chest "By the way, who are the other 2 oldies you came with?" "That's my uncle - my dad's elder brother and his wife, my mum did not tell me why they decided to tag along" "Hmmm ok, may be its about business" "Emma I have a favor to request of you, the family gathering is coming up on friday and I wanted you to accompany me" "Is your cousin going to be there" sneering at her She laughs "you know David really likes you I don't know why you behave like he will eat you up" "Just answer my question" rolling my eyes at her "No, he travelled to the US for some urgent merger, he wont be back for 3 weeks" "Dont you have some boy you can drag to the function?" "No, I do not want my family thinking he is my fiancé, please just come, I promise it will be worth it" "Okay, then I will come, on condition that there isn't any hidden agenda" "Great" Soon everyone heads to the tent with the buffet table to eat, I get a brief chance to talk to Mary's uncle and aunt, more like they cornered me at the salad table. They seem to be very interested in knowing my future plans especially my career plans, they are starting to spook me off, its like they are interviewing for a job I have no idea I applied for. No need to stress about it and besides old people are know for asking too many questions. Soon we say goodbye and the house is quite again and I can finally kick off these annoying wedges. I run a bath and soak myself in bath salts to help relief the tension in my body, its been a long day and am glad its over. We have been chatting with Mary the whole week, she already has an assignment in their branch in Netherlands and she will be leaving right after the get together on Friday. Her family business deals in many things, Mary majored in Actuarial science and so she is being inducted in the insurance sector of the business. Unlike her, I have to wait for my degree papers to be able to start searching for a job. Friday is finally here and apparently also my parents were invited, we are all bundled up in dad's car and headed to the White's home that is approximately 20 minutes from our home. My parents are annoyingly chatty today and I look outside the window just to distract myself from their conversation, occasionally I answer their questions and then turn to look outside the window. Finally we arrive, the car is taken by the valet and we are directed to the garden, Mary's home is huge. Our home can actually fit in their garden and believe when I say our home is also not that small but is not as luxurious as the Whites compound. I have been here many times and there are areas even I myself I have not yet seen yet, for instance the garden we are in. I soon spot Mary coming down the stairs in a lovely skater dress that reaches her knees with embroidery on the edge of the dress. Soon it is time to serve the foods, Mary leaves me at the salad bar to go and answer her phone. "Excuse me miss, are you Miss Emma Bailey?" I turn to see a young man standing behind me "Who wants to know" I rudely ask "I have been sent by Master White to get you, he is waiting for you at the left wing verandah" "Who is this Master you speak of, if he wants to speak to me, tell him to come speak to me here" and I turn and continue serving my salad. Before I can even get to taste the food, I suddenly feel 2 burly hands on either side picking me and turning me around. "Sorry Miss Bailey, I was told to get you to him using any means possible, so you can decide whether these two men will carry you or you will walk on your own" "Fine" I yank my hands off and face the young man "show the way" and follow him After walking for 5 minutes, I can see a man standing in the verandah he looks like he is still handling some business on the phone. From his shoulders I can tell he goes to the gym and I just love the way the dress shirt and trousers are draping on him. He finally gets off the phone and turns, I still cannot recognize him but he looks eerily familiar. "Hello Emma, finally we meet" "And you are?" "Your husband" "HAA you are most bold of all of them" I will wring Mary's neck, is this why she asked me to come, just to hook me up with another cousin. "I can assure you, I will be the last" "Who said so? Who told you I am interested in you?" "You will be soon" "Ok....now this is getting weird, kindly excuse me" As I turn around to leave, the mysterious man grabs my arm and pulls me to his chest "Let go of me or I will scream" I shout at him angrily "Go ahead...lets see who will come" I try to wiggle out of his clasp but his grip seems to be getting tighter the more I struggle. He suddenly bends down and says "Keep rubbing yourself on me and I can assure you I will return the favor" I immediately stop because I can feel a bulge on my waist and I have noticed the 2 guards and the young man who brought me are all gone. My heart is beating so fast that I feel like am going to faint "So lets start again, Hi my name is David and you are?" "Please just let me go" I can feel the tears almost pouring out "NO" "What do you want from me?" "You" "What do you mean me?" "I want you to be my wife" "WHAT!!!!! Don't you have some heiress that you are betrothed to" He laughs loudly and looks so amused by my sentence. "I actually do and her name is Emma Bailey, the sooner you accept it the easier the transition will be." he lifts my face up and I hold my breathe as pecks my cheek. Then I suddenly remember something.. "But I cant" "Why" looking at me with amusement in my eyes "I already promised myself to another" He laughs loudly again, even wiping a tear off his eyes "And who might he be may I ask?" "I don't know him but he will come looking for me after 2 years" I lift my head confidently "Is that saw, what if it turns out to be me?" he raises his eyebrow with a glint of humor in his eyes "I know its not you" I confidently reply "Then in that case, get rid of him them, or I will" he says sternly "No I wont, he is the one I want" I reply defiantly "Then so be it, see you in two years kitten," he smiles smugly, lets go of me and steps back. I quickly take off without knowing which direction I need to take, after several attempts I finally find my way to the garden with the party. I try to look for my parents but I cannot see them anywhere. I quickly send them a text that I have gone home and head outside the compound. Luckily I bump into Mary but she looks like she is already drunk so she cannot drive me home, she tries to inquire why I look so fazed but I just wave my hand at her and head for the gate. I feel like am suffocating, I just need to leave this place. Whilst am at the gate, a cab stops to drop off a guest and I quickly jump and give directions. Suddenly my phone is buzzing, I look down and see 1 message from my parents asking if am ok, another message from a number I am not familiar with. Against my better judgment I open it and it reads:- "Where did you go kitten? Do not do any thing stupid before we our wedding, I will be watching you DW" How did I get myself in this mess, someone please give me a solution. I have to come up with a solution before two years are up