Chapter 1

Din tapped his fingers on the table. "You must remain in this marriage until I am ready to release you."

Jessie smirked, perplexed.

"I understand you're short on cash, and I'm willing to compensate you for your efforts."

"For the money, you want me to pretend to be married to you? What else could you possibly want from me? Sex?"

"No. I swear I won't touch you until you give your permission."

"Oh my God!" Jessie screamed angrily.

"Please take a deep breath and relax. I can also assist you with your professional endeavors. I know you've been having trouble landing a big job since you passed up the opportunity to go to Paris. I'm also aware that you haven't been able to find work since you missed your chance and flew to Vegas during your breakup, so let's lend a hand to each other." Din made an offer.

"Did you run a background check on me?" Jessie inquired.

He demonstrated, "Just a teeny-tiny check-up." He was being truthful, which made Jessie sigh. She despised the fact that he was so forthright about it. No! She was not going to fall for it. He was about to entice her into another marital trap.

"No," Jessie stated emphatically. Clearly and boldly.

He inquired, "Are you sure? All you have to do is pretend to be a happy pair in front of my grandfather and I'll give you twice as much."

"No," she said as she stood up and carried her bag. "I'm looking for a divorce. Mr. Cooper, there are billions of girls out there who would be honored to do all of this with you and would also be willing to remain, but I'm out." She pushed herself out of the chair and proceeded toward the door. She fixed her gaze on him. "I'm going to court if you don't consent to the divorce." She said after opening the door and walking out.

***

(FLASHBACK)

"Here you go, Sweetie." Jessie Walker handed her fiance Mark his early morning cup of smoothies. Mark sipped the smoothie through the straw.

As he stared at the watch, he returned the cup to Jessie.

"Okay, so I made reservations tonight at the Marcellus restaurant at 8:30. I thought maybe we should__Do you know? Setting a date?"

"Alright, I will see you later." he headed towards the door and opened it.

"Hey hey hey. Love you." Her hand sat on his shoulder as she pouted her lips. Looking forward to being kissed.

"Love you too." Mark placed a kiss on her forehead instead and headed through the door to work.

Having returned to the kitchen table, Jessie sighed. Her attention was caught by the five-carat diamond ring on her finger. It brought a smile to her face. In just a few short months, she will marry the man of her dreams.

"Jessie!" Taylor's booming voice reached out to her from across the living room. With a sigh, Jessie opened her eyes and glanced at her friend who stood in front of the kitchen door. "The door wasn't locked."

Jessie stood up to hug her friend. "I was sure I locked it when Mark went out of the house. Or is the door broken?" she asked her friend as they both went to sit on the stool.

"This is a very beautiful day. I brought something for you." Taylor dipped her hand into her big bag which was shaped like a bucket. "All right. Here you go." She handed Jessie a bottle of champagne. Jessie inspected the bottle for a little while with her eyes. She hasn't seen that type of champagne before even though she was popular with them. Taylor noticed Jessie's confusion. "That is my new sample. It is apple-flavored." Taylor cleared.

Jesse gasped. "This is beautiful Taylor. I didn't know you would brand a sample like this." She reached out for two glasses and opened the champagne bottle.

"It was only branded for you. I wanted you to try it out and tell me what you think. Is the packaging nice? Will they like it?" Taylor asked.

Jessie gave a soft smile. "They will like it." She poured the champagne into both glasses and passed one to her friend. "To happily married life." she reached for her friend's glass.

"To succeed," Taylor said and they both clogged each other's glasses.

Jessie had a taste of the champagne and couldn't believe it would have such a great taste. All her life that she has known Taylor and tasted Taylor's drink... This was the first time she would say she enjoyed it and wanted more. "So tell me, did you decide to throw your dreams away for marriage?" Taylor asked when she dropped the glass on the table. She focused on her friend and waited for her to talk.

Jessie sucked her teeth and looked at her friend. "We decided to leave my dream and work towards everything. Together. We created a list of do's and don't. Mark and I agreed to do shows only on Friday nights when we are married and tonight, we are going to set a date for the wedding. I'm so excited babe. I have waited for this."

"I know. I am happy for you too but do you think that that date is beneficial for you? Becoming a full-time wife? And working on only Fridays? What if you have a big gig that will bring loads of money in? Think about that? What would you do then? I would advise that you cross out the old list and create a new one for your benefit too. You can't trust men and put your dreams in their hands. He would only have full power over you when you do that."

Jessie heaved a sigh as she placed the glass of wine in her mouth. She sighed again when she dropped it on the table. "If it wasn't for Mark, I don't think I would be surviving today. I don't think my family will be where they are today. My mama, Bev, Mark sponsored her tuition fees. The least I can do right now is to obey him and do what he wants. You know I didn't get to finish school because my parents couldn't afford it. Mark believed I would do the right thing and he also loves me." she flashes her diamond ring to her friend's face. "Look at that. I am the luckiest girl alive. I can't believe someone would love a girl like me."

"I understand girls but if he loves and believes in you then, he has to help you to reach for your sky. He shouldn't be restricting you like that and putting the pressure of becoming a good wife and mother for him and your future kids. Look, Jessie," she placed her hand on her friend's shoulder. "I don't want you to regret anything. I don't want you to wake up one day and cry that you didn't achieve anything you have worked so hard for. You have always tried to be that perfect girl for Mark for as long as I can remember. You never even cry in front of him or feel sad. You have to put yourself first and do not be afraid to lose a man. Alright? Talk to him tonight and see how it goes. If he decides you pursue your dreams and help you with them, then he is the man for you but if he is ignorant about it and wants you to be a stay-at-home mom and wife, then please dear, run! Because he will ruin you." she sighed. "You know I love you and I want the best for you." Jessie nodded as her friend spoke. She felt scared on the inside. All her years of dating Mark, she has always been perfect for him. Always wearing those classy sexy dresses so he won't look out. Always satisfying his needs and wants and always trying to make his friends and family members like her. She was becoming someone she was not.

Maybe her friend was right. She would have to talk to Mark about it. She would have to tell him how she felt and how uncomfortable it would be if she breathed the same air with him for years in the same house without achieving her dreams. She would be terrified and damaged and she might not be able to cope with the rules anymore.

Jessie doesn't want that. She has always looked at Mark as the man she would always love not because of the way he had helped shape her life but because of the way he had been true to her since the day they met. He was a good man and had been. Jessie would never doubt him because he had shown that he could be trusted and true and if he claims he loved her then he has to help with her dreams of becoming a famous musician.

"Hey." Taylor tapped Jessie a little. "What are you thinking about?" she asked. Jessie's eyes were wider than before. It was as if she had been woken from a terrible dream.

"What?"

"I have been calling you for a few now but it seemed like your mind was gone somewhere else."

"I am fine Tay. I was just thinking about what you said earlier. You are right. I have worked so much for this dream and if he loves me, he would change the list and support my dreams too. I will talk to him tonight about everything and how uncomfortable I am with this whole housewife thing."

Taylor nodded as she finished her drink. "I am proud of the woman you are becoming and I know Mark would also know that you are a gem. More pretty than the carat diamond on your finger." Jessie giggled as she watched her friend speak those beautiful words right out of her mouth. Taylor had always been supportive of her. Right from childhood and now. She had always been there to comfort her and help in any way she could.

She wasn't able to finish college either. She had the chance to but she pursued her dreams. Even though her parents had banned her from going after tequila and parties, Taylor wouldn't listen. She wanted her name up there. She wanted to be known for the talent she has. For the good things, she could do with her hands and without her family's help. She was a woman of her own. She wouldn't let anyone take that away from her and that was what Jessie respected the most about her.

Although her parents were rich, Taylor felt she would fail herself if she were to go back to her home to look into the eyes of the people who didn't believe in her. The same people who had always seen her as a disappointment and a woman who would never achieve anything without the help of her family.

Jessie had always told her to go back home. Not because she was accepting what Taylor's parents said but because she felt forgiveness would take anyone to a great place but Taylor was stubborn and had always been that way.