Entangled in love

Chapter Two

Roseline’s POV

“Here is it sir.” I said, handing over his car keys to him.

“Thank you and make sure that you’re balancing those things and when I ask for the transaction history, you should be able to submit it without any faults.

“Okay sir. I will surely do that.” I responded.

“Well, I trust you dear.” He said, smiling.

I managed to keep a smiling face all along that he was with me, so that he won’t suspect anything.

I was afraid of spilling to him about what Leo and Daniella did to me but at the same time, I couldn’t handle the heat and it broke me down and instilled fear in me.

As soon as he left the office, I continued to cry all by myself which left me extremely tired and weak to work. When it was time to submit, I didn’t meet up the target and my boss was surprised.

It was the first time I was having lapses, but as a considerate boss, he overlooked it after explaining to him that I was not feeling too well and he replied by telling me to take the rest of the day off so I can get in a proper rest.

“I’m so sorry for not meeting up with your expectation sir, and I promise that I would make it up and work extra hours tomorrow.” I said to Mr James - My boss.

“No. It’s fine and I can see that you need to take some time off and rest, so just do that.” Mr. James told me politely.

“Thank you so much sir.” I replied smiling partly.

***

I boarded a public bus that was heading to my house, I didn’t realize that tears were trickling down my face uncontrollably until someone called my attention to it.

“Young lady, what’s the issue? Why are you crying?” An old woman asked me.

I couldn’t hear because I was in deep thoughts, thinking about the words that had pierced me like an arrow and has wounded me thereby making my heart to bleed and burn like fire.

“Hello!” The woman tapped my shoulder

“Erm….Hi…Hello ma.” I stammered, cleaning my face and trying to adjust.

“What’s wrong with you? You have been crying and lost in thoughts” She asked.

“I was just… erm…” I stuttered, trying to gather my thoughts.

“Don’t beat up yourself so hard dear, whatever is going on will definitely have a solution.” She said.

“Thank you so much.” I responded calmly.

Immediately the bus stopped and the driver pressed his hand on the horn to notify us that we have gotten to the next stop where we would alight. I thanked the old woman once again as I walked out of the bus and alighted.

I walked through the bustling streets of Oklahoma, some little children playing as the birds in the sky kept chirping.

After a while of walking and sightseeing, trying to clear my head, I finally got home only to meet the greatest shock of my life.

“Mum? What’s happening?” I asked, as I saw an SUV and escorts parked in front of our little apartment.

“Don’t you have any courtesy to greet?” A tall man interrupted, he appeared to be a bouncer, most likely to the owner of the SUV.

And I was scared immediately and quickly greeted each of them individually.

“Roseline, they are here for their money and we don’t have any means to pay them.” My mum said to me in tears.

“But I thought we were paying for your debts already.” I told her.

“I know all your salary is dedicated to paying off our debts but then it is not enough for all our debtors.” Mum announced.

“What do you mean? How many people are you owing exactly?” I asked out of curiosity, my voice coming off sharply.

“A lot. If we start counting, we can count the numbers of people in a whole village.” Dad finally spoke up.

“Do you think I’m here to listen to your chitchats! Bring my money now!!” A man I didn’t notice earlier, dressed in luxury clothings shouted at my parents.

“Mr. Smith. Please I have a suggestion.” My mum said, holding a certain look that makes me wonder what her suggestion might be.

“Speak up! I don’t have the luxury of time to waste here.” Mr. Smith said in a very harsh tone.

“Why don’t you take our daughter?” Mum suggested in a very low tone.

I have never looked up so fast in my entire life, hoping to convince myself I didn’t hear her clearly.

“I mean, let her marry your son Douglas. I know he needs a wife in other to become the president of your company. So please take my daughter and don’t pay any bride price or any money to us. So our debts can be paid in that manner.” Mum continued, making sure to avoid all sorts of contact with me.

“Mum! How could you say that?!” I finally shouted, as tears rushed out of my eyes.

“Dear, we don’t have the money and this is the only way for us.” Dad said, agreeing to what my mum said. Making it obvious it was a preplanned agreement between them.

“That’s a nice deal. But I want to make it legal and we would need the signatures of the two parents and your daughter.” Mr. Smith told my parents.

The man brought out some paper and my parents signed immediately. I was reluctant to sign but fear gripped me with the way the bouncers were staring at me and I signed the document that tied me down to a certain Douglas Smith I had never met nor heard of in my entire life.

“That’s not all. She would follow me to my estate for other things as my son’s wife.” He said.

“Please take her.” My father shouted, almost out of happiness.

“Dad! Mum! Are you selling me off? Despite using my hard earned money to pay off your debts and this is what I get in return?” I asked, as I cried.

“Sorry. But you just have to save us.” Mum replied me.

I was not ready to follow the man but his bouncers carried me and threw me into the back seat of the SUV, the car was locked immediately.

It was an incident I never saw coming and I never knew that was the beginning not until something much worse happened to me.