Married To A Stranger

CHAPTER ONE DIANA'S POV “Dad please…don't do this.” I begged him, my voice broke. “Sign the papers young lady, stop being sluggish.” He said pointing to the space for my signature. “Harold, give this a thought fo-” mom spoke up. “Don't you even.” Dad said, raising his hand to stop Mom from speaking. It all started the morning after Dad's last blackmail. “No, no no!” I heard Dad scream. “What's wrong?” I asked coming downstairs in a flash. I thought something bad had happened to him, or maybe he tried to kill himself. It had gone on like this for weeks when dad’s business had gone south after a series of blackmails. It had to be a curse, because he just kept falling no matter what. He would say “Dee” as he often called me, “trust this one, I believe in it, it is going to work.” Each time? The business failed. This was just one of his episodes. “Nothing, go back upstairs.” He replied. I slowly went up, still looking at him as he picked a phone call. “Oh, yes!” He exclaimed. This same man was crashing out a few moments ago. He was suddenly happy? I needed to know the source that made my devastated father happy. “Tell me dad.” I said repeatedly when he didn't answer me. “Get ready to be free!” He said almost like a happy shout. I stood there perplexed, as he left the house. “What's that Diana?” She asked, walking down the stairs slowly. She dared not to speak when dad was there, it became worse when he started falling for these different blackmails. “It's just dad, come let's go.” I said to her, Evening had come, I just lazied around sleeping, texting Lydia, baking and low key waiting for dad. I wouldn't be surprised if he came with another evidence of blackmail. “I'm home, if you care!” He shouted, his voice was thicker, he was happier. I ran downstairs to hear what it was. “Aha! I knew you'd come quick. This is for you.” He said handing me two papers. “I don't understand.” I said taking them from him. “Read you'll see.” He said. Mom came down the stairs and our eyes met. She mouthed “what's that” and I just shrugged. “Come here too woman, sit.” Dad called her. I opened the papers and began reading. I was speed reading just to see the part where it said “this job does not exist” so while dad groaned in pain I would have my own share of laughter. Growing up with maids and servants, dad was the strictest and mom? She was okay but even she flinched when he said something. Though financially we started falling back when dad's business had troubles seeing him fail was another kind of joy. No sign of non-existent jobs. Just a name that caught my attention “Fernandez” I gasped. Everyone who lived in New York knew this name meant trouble. “What do we have to do with Fernandez 's dad?” I asked him. My heart began to beat faster than usual. “Oh you're getting to the interesting part. Keep going.” He said with a cheeky smile. He only smiled when he got paid or had a new business partner, or had made huge transactions with his clients. I flipped the first page and the first thing my eye saw was “marriage.” “What?” I asked. “Ha ha, look at your face.” Dad started laughing. I read the lines again. It was really marriage and not another word there. I was getting married to Marcello Fernandez. I didn't understand. This had to be a prank Dad went out to print so he could have a good laugh. “Now sign there young lady.” He said. “Sign what?” Mom asked, walking towards us from the sofa she sat on. I showed her the paperwork, she gasped too, the same way I did when she had finished writing. “But she can't Harold. She doesn't want to.” She said in her softest voice, she didn't want to infuriate him. “I make the choices around here, now Diana sign here.” Dad said, his face turning red. I could see his anger had started increasing. “Harold.” Mom said again. “Look, do you want money? Huh? Do you like the fact that I don't have money? So you can run away with one of your friends' husbands? Not happening.” He said, shaking mom as he put his hand on her shoulder. I knew nothing I said or do would change his mind but I needed to try. “If you really want money Angelou, you'll open your eyes and see that she's our ticket.” he said. “Be quick, they will be here any minute.” He added. If it didn't feel real when I saw the papers now it did. We heard a knock on the door. “They're here, be quick.” He said with urgency. “Dad please…don't do this.” I begged him, my voice broke. “Sign the papers young lady, stop being sluggish.” He said pointing to the space for my signature. “Harold, give this a thought fo-” mom spoke up. “Don't you even.” Dad said, raising his hand to stop Mom from speaking. She looked at me, tears had rolled down her cheeks, I hated to see her cry. Soon, I started sniffing too. I loved my mother too much to see her suffer. I didn't want dad to oppress or shout at her again so I took the pen from him. I accepted my fate. I signed the papers and gave them to dad. “That's my girl!” He said, smiling widely. “It's going to be worth it.” He added. The only thing I could think of was what I had just done. The deal said I was going to be in a three-year marriage with Marcello. The second son of We didn't have to interact but I'd still have to stay with them. The knock came again and dad whistled and strolled to open the door. They were three men, two men, with dark shades and earpieces. The third one, the almighty Gabriel Fernandez. “She’s ready for you, she's been waiting.” Dad said. He looked me in the eye and said “filth.” I just stood there, I couldn't retaliate. This is my fate now, I had to face it. CHAPTER TWO MARCELLO’S POV “Damn it!” I cursed under my breath. I woke up to a throbbing head from last night and the w***e that came with me, lay on my bed, drooling. “Hey, get up.” I said tapping her. I had paid her before we started anything, she was meant to leave before I got up. “Good morning.” She said, half awake. “Get up and leave.” I said, my tone increasing even when my head hurt. She scurried away after putting on her clothes. I checked if my wallet was still intact because I didn't trust any of these ladies. Once they found out who I was, they tried to rob me. A major reason I never took them to my main house, only this penthouse. It had been two years since Dad forced me to sign that deal with the Agreste’s. He liked to be in control and I allowed him to manipulate me into signing that deal. I never saw the girl I was married to on paper, I didn't really care, one more year and the stupid deal would be over. I got off the bed, took my bath and went to the office. “You thief!” I heard dad’s voice shout from a distance. “No dad, he's a liar, a fraud and every despicable thing in one.” Camilo, my brother said. If there was anything that made my day brighter was catching a fraud who tried to steal from me, from dad? Even better. I walked slowly to the office where dad was in, it was his tertiary office, he only used it when he didn't want people or clients to go into his main office. “Who's our lucky scape goat?” I whispered silently under my breath. I opened the door and the first person my eye fell on was Harold Agreste. “Great.” I whispered again. “Ahh, welcome brother.” Camilo spoke first as soon as I entered fully. “What's happening?” I asked. Camilo showed me some paperwork, while dad and Harold kept going on at it. The moment I read up till the third line, I knew it was fake. It had typos, it felt fabricated, fake names and dates and I knew that signature. It was a signature four clients had used when I found out they were all scammers. I burst out laughing and soon everywhere was quiet, they looked at me with confusion on their faces. “Care to tell us the reason for the laughter?” Harold said, looking like he would pounce on me. “Who brought this?” I asked, looking up. “I did.” A man who stood near Dad who I hadn't noticed spoke up. “And you are?” “Lucas Meyer.” He said confidently. “This? It's fake, now get out.” I said throwing the papers on his body. Dad looked at me, pleased and then turned back to face Harold. “Explain this.” Dad said, showing him some transactions. “How did you go from $4000 to $400,000 in two weeks? And then they continued increasing? In the last two years, the amount of money I've lost is what you've made.” He added. “Bullshit.” Harold said, swinging his hands into the air. “No, not bullshit. Real s**t, you've been stealing and now you brought a lawyer who didn't even graduate. Admit it!” Camilo interrupted Harold before he could say another thing. “Explain everything.” Camilo added as Harold opened his mouth. “I see you boys think you can go around putting words in my mouth and expect me to say what you want to hear that “I'm a liar and I was overwhelmed that was why I stole.” But that's not happening.” Harold said. “And you? You have no respect for elders, I would strangle you now if I hear one more word from you, calling me a thief.” He added, using his hands to describe him strangling Camilo. “You might want to reduce your voice for this.” I said bringing out a pocket sized recorder I always carried with me whenever I worked with clients. They all kept quiet, dad was already on his chair, head bent on the papers. I brought out the recorder and played the exact part where Harold spoke a few seconds ago. “I'm a liar and I was overwhelmed. That was why I stole.” “Do you guys hear that? Or I'm the only one.” I asked, feeling like Sherlock Holmes. “You boys would see.” Harold said and snapped his fingers before walking out angrily and Lucas followed him. We all sat down waiting for him to come back. All these shouting made me thirsty. Like she read my mind, a waitress walked in with drinks. She looked beautiful, thoughts of her on my bed played in my mind, then she started with her clumsiness and it irked me. Her hands shook as she carried the tray of drinks. Camilo cared way too much for these minor issues so he spoke. “Are you sure you're okay? “ He asked, touching her shoulder, but she flinched at his touch and he took a step back. She nodded quickly, her eyes were fixed on the drinks. Who knew if she was obsessed with me too? She left hurriedly like she wanted to pee, and just Harold entered the office looking irritated. Maybe he also found her clumsiness amusing. Dad got up, I knew he was angry by what he had been reading all these while. “My men are coming for you, don't you try to act like a smart thief.” Dad said. “I'm taking him with me, he'll be tired in my basement till he confesses.” I said. “You're with assets that don't belong to you, what do you expect? Freedom? Never!” Dad shouted. Harold banged dad’s table hard, making the drinks shake. I wanted to grab one and splash him on his face, till he said he wasn't lying. Or even better, the splashing could come from my mouth. I grabbed one of the drinks with the intention to spit it out on him, but it was oddly good. Like something was different about it. I gulped down everything once. “You must be foolish to think we wouldn't notice fraud, Harold.” I said as soon as I dropped my glass. Camilo spoke up, holding Harold by the collar strangely. I could only see his mouth move but I didn't hear what he said. It felt like everything shifted. I leaned against the wall to catch my breath, my heart beat was twice as fast as usual. “Are you okay?” Camilo asked, coming closer. I unbuttoned the first three buttons on my shirt, everywhere was suddenly hot. I looked at my hands and they were purple, what was wrong with me. As Camilo tried to touch me,I raised my hand in protest and he went back. I left the office completely, to catch my breath. Dad followed me while Camilo and Harold stayed in the office. “What's this stunt Marcello?” He asked. I just knelt down trying to catch my breath. I looked at him, my eyes were red now. He came closer. “What's wrong?” “Gosh, dad stop trying to boss me around like you always do.” I said and walked down to go home. The pain in my head was increasing. “Are you okay sir? A lady who was probably the staff member asked to come close to me but another lady came first and put my hands on her shoulder. I would kill Harold. CHAPTER THREE DIANA'S POV “Ugh!” I sighed under my breath. Could today get any worse? I had come to the hotel today, I just wanted to up my game. I didn't know how, but I wanted to. “Dad!” I called out when I saw him, but he just walked past me like I was some stranger, calling out to another person . Finally! It was already the second year of the contract just another year and I would be free of Dad's bondage. Dad had started doing pretty well. Much better than it was before. “Can I get a room, please? Yes just one night.” I said to the receptionist. After collecting my key card, I was sitting down when another staff walked up to me. “You must be a guest, come with me sit here.” She said. “Uhm no I'm here for -” Before I could complete what I was saying, she just left me here, confused. I looked at the wall there was a post: “NO STANDING” I just sat there, with my key card. Maybe I would go to the room now. “Argh!” I heard someone groan. I turn my head around and see a man coughing and holding his chest. “Argh!” He groaned again. I sat there I didn't know what to do, I was confused. “Breathe Diana, breathe.” I whispered to myself. “Sir are you okay?” One of the staffs asked. If anything, this was my ticket out of here. I rushed up to him before any of the staffs could reach him. “Okay, love breathe.” I said. People were staring, whispering from ear to ear thinking I wanted to do something bad to him. “Oh baby, drinking again?” I said, putting up an act. “Common let's get you cleaned up.” I said, putting his hands on my shoulder and taking him to the elevator. “Where are you taking him ma'am? Two security men asked blocking the elevator. “Do you know this man?” They added. “Gosh can a woman take her lover somewhere in this hotel? I'm taking him to our room if that's what you want to hear.” I said. They looked at each other and shrugged before letting me pass. I swiped my card and the door opened. I tried to lay him on the bed, but his suit got stuck in my earring. After struggling, I finally lay him down. “Come here.” He said softly, he must've really drank a lot whoever he was. I dropped the key card and wanted to leave. “Clang!” I looked back, his leg had knocked a lamp that stood on the table. “Come here baby.” He said. “I've been waiting for you.” He adds sitting upright. “No, no lay back.” I said taking off my shoes and climbing the bed to lay him down. “Finally. Yay.” He says, putting his hands my waist and pulling me close. He kissed me. I didn't respond firstly, but he was way too good for a drunk. I came back to my senses and pulled away. I didn't want to be known as the girl who took advantage of a drunk man in a hotel. Dad’s life was better, my life was too, I didn't want to throw that all away. But it wouldn't hurt right? I whispered to myself all kinds of affirmations, telling myself this was a one time thing and there was nothing to be afraid of. He looked at me intently. He smiled. “You're so beautiful.” He said. What if he wasn't really drunk? We continued kissing and then things got heated, our clothes were all over the floor. He began caressing my face, cupping my cheeks, whispering how beautiful I was. It was one long night before he slept. I couldn't sleep, I kept thinking about how he made me feel, he was really dominant but not rough. When I winced he'd pull out, or look at me, nodding his head saying it was okay. Even the room felt alive. It was so good. I closed my eyes slowly, and soon I drifted off to sleep. “Beep. Beep. Beep.” I blinked my eyes open and the sun hit my face. I thought it was a dream, but it wasn't. The beeping sound was coming from his phone. I looked at him, he looked half awake. I layed back on the bed, replaying the memorable night. “My head!” He groaned, sitting up. I gave him some tablets I had. “This should help.” I said. After taking them he looked at me “You. You're different.” He said. My heart skipped a beat. What did he mean by that? I was different? The beeping on his phone became louder and the looked at it. His eyes widened. “What's wrong?” I asked. “My f**k ass dad.” He said. Before I could ask anything again, the door burst open. A bunch of staffs were there and then my eye landed in one person. Gabriel Fernandez. “Are you Marcello?” I whispered looking at him. “Here we go.” He said rolling his eyes. Tears welled up in my eye. Gabriel Fernandez was here, soon followed by flashlights. “As you can see, Harold Agreste tried to drug my son. He thought he was smart, but he's a fraudster and a thief. I want the world to know that. Whatever deal we have, is off!” Gabriel said, turning in my direction. “What did Dad do?” I whispered under my breath. As I said those words, Marcello looked at me. Shock was written all over his face. “You're Diana. Diana Agreste.” I wanted the ground to just open up and swallow me. As I tried to get out of bed, he held my hand and said “don't leave, please.” I yanked his hands, picked my clothes and ran out, not looking back. “Diana.” I heard him call out. But I was gone never to return again .