The cruel stepmother - 2

                           "The marriage"

“Yes” She smiled and answered

“I knew you would never say NO to me. I knew you wouldn’t let me down” My father exclaimed out of happiness! 

Caroline hugged my father all of a sudden and he was shocked. He hugged her back.

“When are we getting married then?” She whispered as she hugged him.

“Marriage… Look Caroline I have to discuss it with my kids and I’ll let you know as soon as possible” He moved back and spoke to her softly.

She knew he loved his kids a lot so she didn’t object. 

“Sure. I’ll be waiting eagerly.” She sat down on his chair on which nobody was allowed to sit.

“Will we be working today?” 

“What made you think that I’ll make you work when you’ll be looking so gorgeous” My father complimented her indirectly.

“So… Shall we go out and have coffee?” She spoke to my father in a flirtatious way.

“Anything for you.” He took Caroline out for coffee. 

My dad was a very loving husband. He loved my mother more than anything. My mother was his childhood lover. They feel in love in high school and she never left my dad in his lows and highs. She stood with him when no one else did and he had nothing. She struggled along with my dad for various jobs. They both worked together and gained a lot of success. They both were a power couple. But when my mother passed away my dad became depressed. He didn’t eat properly and didn’t talk to anyone except his kids. It was like my mom took a part of his heart away with her. He was looking for emotional support which Caroline pretended to give for the sake of his money. She was a gold digger and waned all the wealth of my father. 

******************

The next day a very unexpected thing happened. Our father gathered us together and had dinner with us after months. Zac, Anna and I were surprised by the fact that our father actually wanted to spend quality time with us.

“Is there something that you want to talk about dad?” Asked Zac.

“Why would you say so?”

“Because you never had dinner with us since mom left us.” Zac answered.

“Look at you young man. My boy has turned really smart.” My dad smiled at my brother.

“Well kids… I have mentioned Caroline in my business conversations many times and…”

“Oh, your secretary?” Anna Interrupted.

“Let him complete Anna.” I scolded Anna. 

“No, It’s fine. Well Caroline has been a very important part of my business for a very long time and she is aware of my nature very well. I am concerned for all of you and I know you guys need a mother.” He continued 

“I've decided to marry Caroline as soon as possible because she’s a loving woman and I’m sure she’ll take great care of my kids.”

“Do you mean she'll be our new mother?” Asked my 10-year-old brother.

“Yes darling.” My father replied.

“Look dad, I don’t have any objection but are you sure about your decision? I mean you’re wealthy and handsome at the same time…” I hesitated and tried to convey my message to my dad in simple words.

“What do you mean Lana? She Isn’t a gold digger.” My dad looked surprised at what I said.

“She's not calling her a gold digger but I think she’s right” Anna tried to cover up for me in a light tone. 

“I am your father and I’ll never take any decision that is bad for my kids. She is a lovely woman and she’s been working with me for years. And this much of time was enough for me to judge her personality. The wedding will be held this week and we’ll do it in a simple way.”

All 3 of us kept quiet and ate our dinner.

******************

The next day my dad went to his office and saw Caroline sitting at his chair and she was having her coffee in one and hand and her Iphone in the other while she faced the window.

My dad purposefully dropped a pen from the table so that he could grab the attention of Caroline.

“How many times have I said you to knock the door before entering this...” Caroline shouted as she turned around but stood from the seat all of a sudden and dropped her phone when she saw my father standing.

“Oh... I'm sorry I didn’t know it's you.” She tried to act calm while my father could easily notice that she was shivering. She kept her coffee aside and picked up her phone from the ground.

As she bent down my father noticed something unusual. She was wearing a short skirt and a white collared shirt with a fancy black blazer

“What's up with that dressing and who allowed you to sit at my place?” My father thought to himself.  

“No... I’ll sound rude and it might break the heart of the beautiful woman. I should

complement her.” 

“You look... different Caroline.” He didn’t have the courage to compliment her directly because he thought it might not suit his enraged personality.

“You mean not good?” She winked and spoke in a flirtatious way.

She stepped forward towards my father and kept her hands on his shoulders. Every time she came near my dad, her dangerous scent would make my dad go crazy for her.

KNOCK KNOCK

My dad moved away from Caroline and sat at his seat as he heard the knock which made Caroline shocked. She had a thought that she would use her beauty as a weapon for everything but sadly she didn’t know it would work every time. 

“Sit down and continue your work, we’ll talk about our personal matters later.” My father continued his work. 

****************** 

They both went to a coffee shop later onwards and discussed about the marriage. Caroline demanded for her personal mansion because she was aware of the amount of wealth my father had and she insisted my father that they’ll have a huge wedding and invite everybody.”

“I can agree on your first condition but I'm sorry that our wedding will be a simple gathering which will include some of our close friends.” 

“But...” My father interrupted as Caroline was talking.

“No But’s please.” He said and stood up from the seat. “Start your preparations and I'll make you my wife soon.”

My father's last sentence made Caroline smile even though she didn’t like the way she was interrupted.

“Soon.” She smiled. 

******************

The preparations for the wedding started and they had a fancy gathering in our mansion in the next week in which they took their promises and said there I-do’s.

Caroline seemed happy when my father handed the property papers of the new mansion to her but she seemed kind of bored

throughout the wedding ceremony which lasted about 3-4 hours.  

The guests went after the ceremony and then my father gave a short tour of the mansion to Caroline.