MARRIED TO THE BROKE BILLIONAIRE

The church was too quiet. Father was holding his bible and looking at me. "Do you, Sarah, take Michael as your husband?" I opened my mouth. No sound came out. Where was Michael? He was supposed to be standing here by 10am. It was 11:09am. My mother stood up from first row. "Where is my in-law?" Everybody started whispering. Then the back door opened. Loud. Jessica walked in. My own younger sister. Wearing white gown. Not bridesmaid dress. Real wedding gown. And she was holding Michael's hand. I felt my head spin. Michael took the microphone from the MC. He did not even look at me properly. "Sorry everybody. Sorry Sarah. I cannot marry Sarah again. Jessica is pregnant for me. Two months. I have to do the right thing. I am marrying Jessica today." What? Jessica rubbed her small belly. She looked at me and said, "Sorry sis. Love just happens. You will find your own." My mother shouted, "Jessica! What nonsense is this!" Some people brought out phone and started recording me. I could not cry inside. I just carried my big wedding gown and ran. I ran out of that church. My heels fell on the floor. I did not pick it. I ran outside barefoot. Outside, I sat on the dirty ground. My white gown now brown. My make-up pouring with sweat and tears. People passing were looking at me. A loud truck stopped near me. GBOOM GBOOM. Old truck. A man came down. Blue work uniform. His hands were black with engine oil. His face fine but tired. Small scar near his eye. He looked at me, then looked at church where noise was coming from. "You okay?" he asked. I looked up. My eyes were red. "Are you married?" I asked him. He frowned. "No." "Marry me. For one month. I will pay you ten thousand naira. Just help me today. Please." He laughed small. "Madam you dey whine me? You wear wedding gown dey ask me to marry you for road?" "I am serious. My fiance just left me inside for my sister. He said my sister is pregnant. Everybody is laughing at me inside. I need to go back with a husband. Just 30 days. We will divorce after." He kept quiet. He was looking at my tears. "What is your name?" he said. "Sarah. Sarah Okoro." "I'm Cole." He brought his hand. Rough hand. Strong hand. "Okay Sarah. I go marry you. But two conditions. One, you no go ask me about my work. Two, you go pay me after this month. Not now." I nodded fast. "Yes. Yes I swear." "Oya stand up. No dey sit for ground." He pulled me up. His hand was warm. He opened the truck door for me. The truck seat was torn but clean. "You go enter church like this? Your gown dirty," he said. "I don't care. Let's go." We walked back to the church. Hand in hand. When we entered, everywhere quiet again. Michael shouted, "Sarah! Who be this? Who is this mechanic you carry come?" Jessica laughed loud. "Sarah you don hire poor man? You no get shame?" My mother wanted to faint. Cole held my waist. He was taller than Michael. He looked at Michael straight. "I be her husband," he said. His voice was not loud but everybody heard. "And you be the biggest fool I don ever see in my life. Thank you for leaving her. Na you lose." My mouth opened. This poor welder just insulted my ex in front of 200 people. Michael wanted to come near but Cole stepped forward. Just one step. Michael stepped back. Father John looked at us. "Sarah, who is this young man?" Cole answered before me. "Her husband. We go do court wedding next week. For now, family meeting don finish. Come, my wife." My wife. He said my wife. He carried me outside. Princess carry. Like in movies. Everybody was shouting, recording. Outside, he put me inside truck. He entered and drove off. Inside truck, I was shaking. "Thank you," I said small voice. "No thank me yet. We never reach house. Where you dey stay?" "My apartment is small. One room in Warri." "We go go my place. My place bigger small," he said. I looked at his truck. Old truck. I thought he was very poor. I felt small pity for him. I said, "Don't worry, I will still pay you. Even if your place small." He smiled but did not answer. He was just driving. After 40 minutes, we entered one big estate. Gate man opened gate and saluted him. "Good afternoon sir!" Sir? Why gate man dey call welder sir? He drove to one house. Not house. MANSION. He packed. I looked at mansion, then looked at him. "Cole, who house be this?" He brought out key. Big key. "My house." What? A poor welder living in mansion? I was confused. He opened door. Inside fine pass heaven. Everything shining. Gold chair. Big TV like cinema. I stood at door. My dirty wedding gown dripping. "Cole... you... you be welder?" He removed his blue uniform. Under it, he wore black expensive shirt. He looked like a different person. Like billionaire for magazine. "Sarah," he said. "I be welder. But I no be poor man. My family get welding company. Ten factory for Lagos, Warri, Abuja. This truck na my hobby. I like to drive old things." My leg shook. I just married a billionaire for 10k? He came near me. "You wanted a fake husband for 30 days. But I no dey do fake. If you be my wife, you be my wife for real." He touched my dirty gown. "First, make we remove this gown. I go buy you new one." My heart beat fast. What have I entered? ahaha