Married To A Stranger

MARCELLO‘sPOV

CHAPTER FOUR

MARCELLO'S POV

Typical dad. Spoiling everything. I just had one of the best s*x ever with a woman I didn't even know was my wife. She gave me meds when I complained about my head, instead of asking for money and leaving me there.

I tried to remember what had happened before I woke up here, in my hotel, but her face kept popping up in my memory.

“Harold.” I whispered. It had to be him, those drinks. Immediately he left, the girl came in acting all wobbly. It had to be.

I looked up, all the flashlights gone. Just dad, standing there with his cane, looking at me. I didn't know what that expression was, but it wasn't pleasant.

“I see, you've slept with her.” He started.

This was not a way to start a conversation. I had to go home. I didn't remember much but all I knew was that I was going to end Harold, even if the deal was off.

“Did you say the deal was off?” I asked Dad after processing my thoughts.

“Yes, are you beginning to feel mushy? Because you had one night with her?” Dad asked.

Truth was, I had. Originally, I hated even the thought of being married to someone, even as a contract for dad’s business. I blame Camilo. Whatever he did, he never allowed dad get into his head like he did mine. When he was given the contract, he pushed it to me.

If I had seen her since the beginning of the contract, I probably would have treated her like one of my whores, but she was different. She was like me, tangled up in family expectations. I needed to get her back before something happened to her. But I looked at dad, while I was in my thoughts, he expected an answer.

“Have we become mute here?” He asked.

“Sorry dad, no. I'm not mushy, I'm a man. Men aren't mushy.” I said.

I lied, when I thought I could stand up to him, I couldn't.

“She's just another girl, there are plenty of them at your feet. Besides the contract is off, and Harold would hear from us.” He said.

If it were before I would be happy. But I didn't see a reason to be. Or maybe she was just another girl.

“Yes dad.” I said, picking up my clothes from the floor. I had to go home and rest for the day.

I got home, Maya was there.

“Hey cous.” She said, coming to hug me as soon as I walked in.

“Heard what happened. How is she?” She asked.

“I don't know.” I said, hiding the pain mixed with anger in my voice.

“Besides the fact that she's just another girl, I have work to do.” I said.

“Hold on, who let you in?” I asked her, as realization hit me.

She shaked my keys in front of me. “Forgot you gave your best cousin this?” She said with a mischievous smile on her face.

In high school, Maya helped me with a lot of things before she moved for her fashion designing. We argued about it a lot because while she was a good designer, she was also a tech whiz. If you wanted her to hack your life, she literally would.

“Get out of here.” I said laughing. I couldn't believe she kept my keys since two years ago when I gave them to her.

“Okay bye.” She said pretending to leave.

“Come here.” I said to her and we both started laughing.

“So tell me. Do you really think she just another girl? Because I could really see the tingle in your eyes.” She said as soon as we got upstairs.

“Yeah.” I started. I wanted to tell her but it was complicated and strange, I never really felt anything after one night stands per say. Except that last night, she was my wife.

“Okay then, I'll be in the other room.” She said walking away.

“Wait.” I called her back.

“I knew you had something to say.” She said, smiling that mischievous smile again.

I started explaining everything. Harold’s shaky business, how he was in debted to us, how dad saw this as an opportunity because he never really like Harold. The contract, Harold's theft and, the night with Diana and how I was attracted to her even when I hated her father.

“Wow.” She said.

“Come on now Maya, we both know you can do better this.” I said. I felt relieved after talking with her, like I had just taken a fresh bath on a Friday evening after a long week.

“I always knew there was something going on.” She said.

“Maya!” I said. She had a way of infuriating me with her midway sentences.

“It's just hard bearing all that M. I'm really sorry. But forget your dad, what do you want?” She asked looking at me.

I wanted her comfort, I got it. But now, I was confused, I spent all my life doing what dad wanted me to do. All my likes and dislikes were fueled by him. He owned my life.

“I don't know Maya.” I said softly.

Maya had a way of bringing out your soft side. I thought of Diana for a second. The thought of Harold telling her to sign, angered me. How could such an awful person birth someone so amazing?

“That's what you're going to do. Find out what you want, and then implement it. It all in here and here.” She said using one hand to point to her temple and poking the other to where my heart was.

The next two days were fast. I spent them, redirecting all the money Harold stole back to my account. All I did was work, work, work. I worked from home. I had slowly pushed her at the back of my mind.

“Heyy.” Maya said from my door.

“Camilo 's here.” She squealed.

These two were something else around each other and honestly I didn't care. Camilo walked in, flirting with Maya with his eyes. She came back immediately to my mind. Diana.

“I hear you've been love sick.” He said, looking at me and then at Maya.

“Maya!” I shouted.

“ I didn't tell him anything.” She said shrugging.

“How much have you stripped now?” He asked changing the topic and looking at my computer screen.

“Poor girl had to live with her father's mistake. Thought I might check up on you. See you later.” He said walking out.

He was always like that, he never wanted to prolong the conversation and maybe that was how he did it with dad.

“Are you going to look for her or just stare at that screen?” Maya asked laying down on my bed.

“I am not looking for anything, I don't know what you're talking about.” I said looking away.

“So why do you keep searching for her handles to see if she posted?” She asked walking up to where I sat.

“You like her, go for her.” She said softly before patting my shoulder and living the room.

That was all I wanted to hear. Someone to tell me how I felt. It was strange, but still. I faced the computer again, but I couldn't do anything again.

“Diana, I'm coming for you.”

But fate, wore a different wristwatch.

CHAPTER FIVE

DIANA'S POV

“Ahhh!” I woke up, panting. My clothes were soaked with sweat. I tried to steady my breath, as I slowed myself down.

Since I ran, I had these nightmares if Gabriel Fernandez strangling me, saying I was going to pay for taking advantage of his son. This was the fifth time.

“Breathe, Diana, breathe.”

My chest felt tight.

Soon, my breath had calmed down. It had been three weeks since I ran. I was never going to forgive my father, everytime when I tried to forget what happened, Marcello’s voice rang in my ear.

“Diana”

What if I had stayed? Would things have been different? It was just a one night thing, he probably wanted more of what I had given him. These people never valued anybody, why would they start with me?

I had been squatting with a friend from highschool, she had travelled for business and insisted I stayed when I told her, I got jacked.

“Grr grr”

My phone rang, it was Lydia. She had been the only person I talked to ever since the incident.

“Hey girl.” She said.

“Hey”

“How are you holding up?” She asked.

“I'm good, why are you calling now, it's three in the morning.”

“Yes, duh. I called to hear from my best friend but it seems you're good so, bye boo.” She said ending the call.

She was always like that, I knew she cared but from a distant.

I wondered how nom was, but I pushed it back if my mind. Since the dream had woken me up, I decided to read news to know what was going on because I hadn't left this house in three weeks.

The first thing in the feed was dad’s face. A picture of him and some papers he probably stole from them.

I kept on reading and a lot of people had mean things to say. Honestly, if I were them I'd have said worse. My mind went back to the day all of these began.

“Dad please…don't do this.” I had begged him.

“Sign the papers young lady, stop being sluggish.”

“I make the choices around here, now Diana sign!”

“Stop.” I whispered.

“Sign the papers young lady, stop being sluggish.”

“Stop.” I whispered again.

“Sign the-”

“Stop!” I screamed out. Those voice were stuck in my head, now they haunted me. I just lay there crying slowly. Dad had caused everything to happen. And for what?

“Harold Agreste going back to where he truly belongs; the grass.” One read.

“I feel for his daughter, but what if they're all the same.” Another read.

I closed my eyes and tried to sleep back, nothing came. I just lay there, all those comments about dad. I knew he deserved them but…

I stopped myself before I began feeling bad for him again.

I needed to move. Move away from here. Away from dad, from Marcello, from everyone. Asides Lydia. She had my heart.

I searched for places in New Jersey to go to and I found just the place for me, I needed a fresh start. Somewhere where they didn't know me as Harold's daughter. Not too far, not too close.

It wasn't big, but I was ready to live there. I called the agency and we talked about the house. I knew the Fernandez’s had stripped dad of his money but at least some of my money was still intact.

I rented the apartment, and was meant to move in, in a week's time. I closed my eyes trying to imagine what life would be like.

The week ended quicker than I imagined, it was Monday and the day for me to move out of here and move in to my new place.

I called Lydia to tell her about my whereabouts.

“Hey girl, I leave today.” I said.

“To where?” She asked.

“Just around.” I said.

Even if she was my best friend I didn't tell her everything about my life. Dad had said not to trust people especially friends. I pushed him to the back of my mind. Lydia had been there for me, when he hadn't, that statement wasn't for her. She would go out of her way to protect me, I knew her and I loved her.

“Keep me posted, okay?” She said.

“Yes love, thank you.” I answered her.

I arrived at New Jersey in the evening. The place was small, but it was okay. I arranged the house in my style. I inhaled the air. It was different and everywhere was quiet. This was what I needed. I bought dyes. I was doing a makeover for myself.

I changed my hair color to light brown, I put on some make up, wore contact lenses, and practiced talking to customers. I had applied as a waitress in a small diner in the area before I moved here and they accepted me.

Morning came quickly and I dressed up and got ready for work. I served my first customer for the day. They were a couple, and gosh were they rude.

“Are you stupid?” The wife asked.

“I'm sorry ma'am.” I said softly.

“No you're not. I'll tell you what you are. Incompetent!” Her husband yelled before leaving.

That was just the first customer. Maybe the others would be different. But no. They were all the same. Rude, rude, rude!

This was not the fresh start I had imagined.

“Don't worry, customers; they come by it honestly.” A girl said to me from the counter.

“I guess.” I said and shrugged.

“Maya.” She said stretching out her hand for a handshake.

I thought of telling her a fake name, but since I wanted a clean slate, she could be useful and helpful.

“Diana.” I said taking her hand and she smiled at me.

“Love the hair colour.” She said.

“Thank you” I blushed so hard like I had a crush in middle school.

The next customers weren't so bad, although I almost spilled coffee on one lady, I tried for my first day.

I could tell life was going to be good, especially now with Maya working with me.

But we weren't the ones writing our story.