Marie stepped back, hit by surprise and confusion, she stared blankly at Aaron Sanchez, that same son of a filthy rich billionaire who she dated for two years and who broke up with her right before everyone.
"You" Marie spat, her chest heaving up and down as her heartbeat increased its pace.
"Yes, me," Aaron said, "It's nice to finally see you again, Mariagoretti"
Marie hated the name especially as it was coming from him, it brought back the painful memories of how he dumped her on her birthday without an explanation.
How the whole school mocked and made fun of her because they had always envied her for being the girlfriend of the richest and most handsome guy in school.
Wasn't it just enough predicament for one day, just today, her dad was rushed to the hospital, she found out that her best friend was screwing her fiancé, Mark called off the engagement and now this?
"It's Marie, okay? Just call me that" Marie snapped and looked around the exquisite building, "I-is this yours?"
Aaron nodded with a smile on his face but he evaded her question, he found it dumb. Wasn't it obvious I owned the company? He said.
"I saw in your report that you needed some loan, a hundred thousand dollars for your dad whatever, what is wrong with him?" He asked
Marie sniffed and crossed her arms tightly across her chest, "It's none of your business, on second thought, Idon't need your money anymore. I'll find something else to do"
Marie made to go by, he quickly reached for her hand and grabbed it but he didn't look down at her as he spoke.
"You can't raise a hundred thousand dollars in two days, Marie. Let me help you" He said slowly, temptingly.
Marie snatched her hand away from his grip and looked up at him, the hurtful memories came crashing back into her chest, the memories she thought she had successfully discarded.
She looked up at him, her eyes burning with hate, so much hate he had ever seen before, the memories that strode into her head made her eyes water but she couldn't let him see her that way.
There was no way she could let him see her as that timid and naive, girl who he had discarded years ago, she was different now —well, but still very much poor.
"Take your help to someone else" Marie snapped at him.
Aaron smirked and said nothing, he watched her give him the last hateful look and stormed away walking out of the company.
Marie got back into her scooter and drove back home, her heart felt heavy and weighing her down, her vision was blurry with tears throughout her ride and her head was lightheaded.
She got back home, took a shower, helped herself with the leftovers from the Cafe, and spent the remaining part of the night thinking about her father.
The next day, Marie was given another call from the company and she came rushing down to the hospital with her Scooter. She didn't even bother stopping by the cafe because she didn't know if she was ready to set her eyes on Ri again. That backstabbing bitch.
Marie burst into the hospital which seemed to make an entrance for her in the past few days, she rushed to the counter, her messy hair from her helmet bouncing around.
She went straight to the nurse in the receptionist, "I'm Marie Ambrose. I-I got a call, what happened to my father?"
Surprisingly the nurse seemed to smile, for the first time though, "Calm down, Miss Ambrose. The doctor is in the operating theater with your father, a gentleman footed the bills early this morning"
Marie stared blankly at the nurse who was still smiling, "What do you mean by the doctor is in the theater operating on my father and...and someone had already footed the bills, the hundred thousand dollars?"
The nurse nodded and then looked behind her, her smile widened in a blink and she seemed to blush.
"He's here, the gentleman. Look" The nurse whispered quickly.
Marie spun around and she almost fainted from her increased heartbeat as it jumped madly against the walls of her chest, Marie stared at no other person but Aaron Sanchez.
Two hefty bodyguards in suits and dark glasses stood behind him, unsmiling and serious.
What the hell was he doing here and how did he…?
"You again" Marie snapped, wiping her face quickly with the back of her hand, "Are you stalking me?"
Aaron smirked, "If that is a thank you, I will say don't mention"
"I didn't ask for your help, why are you playing the nice guy when we both know how ruthless and cold-hearted you are?" Marie told him.
"Oh? Well, I already paid for it, all of it including his ward payment and for the meals." Aaron said, putting his hand in his trousers pocket.
"I don't need your money, I will pay you back every penny you think you have spent. I will give it all back" Marie said, her voice rising.
Aaron crossed his arm across his chest, "Very well then, it's a total of two hundred and fifty thousand US dollars. I want you to pay me back in two days else you will do whatever I want"
Marie's eyes widened, "T-that is insane, I can't gather up that money in two days, Aaron. Please, don't be this cruel”.
"The world itself is cruel, princess" Aaron smirked and took a step closer to her, "I wasn't the one who insisted you pay back. Since you can't get me my money in two days, I want you to...be...my….wife"
Marie gasped and a lazy smile spread across her lips, "You must be out of your mind, Aaron. Did you decide to help me for your selfish desire?"
"Selfish...no, desire...yes," Aaron said," It's either you get married to me or I make your life miserable, I don't joke around with my profits. Two days, Mariagoretti and I would be back for you or my money"
Marie watched with her jaw tightening as he turned away from his guards and strode lazily out of the hospital, Marie's heart tightened with pain and hate.
Why was all this happening to her? Why was she getting into things that always end up scattering her peace of mind?
Just then the doctor came out from the theater, he pulled away his gloves and face mask and drew in a deep breath.
"Miss Ambrose?" He called.
Marie spun around and her heart pounded against the walls of her chest. She searched his expression but couldn't read anything.
Was her father okay? Did he make it?
Marie wiped her face quickly, "Yes?"And then a smile spread across the doctor's face as if reading her thoughts, he said.It was successful, miss. “Your father would be fine now,” you will be allowed to see him in a minute.Marie's heart swelled with joy as she eased open the door to her father's ward after a meeting of impatient waiting. The beeping of the life machine and the smell of antiseptics filled her nose.She walked soundlessly to the bed where he lay tired and sat on the chair beside it, “She took his hand in hers and kissed it.”Richard's eyes fluttered open, and he smiled upon seeing his daughter," You are here?"Marie nodded. She looked up at him, and tears flooded her eyes—tears of joy and of something else she couldn't place. She was happy to see him healthy again and, most importantly, alive."Yes, Dad. How do you feel now?" She asked, smiling.Richard took a deep breath and managed a weak smile, "Alive.""I'm glad you are okay, Dad. You got me so worried," Marie tol
Marie stared blankly at him for a moment before getting in, she sat down heavily beside him and the scent of his expensive perfume drifted into her nostrils."What happened? You look pale?" He asked her. Marie sniffed and looked out of the tinted window, "What do you care?"Aaron took a deep breath, "I care so much about you, Mariagoretti, I do"Her head shot back at him, her eyes flashing with much pain and hurt and he could see the tears that played at the side of her eyes."You dumped me, Aaron. You trashed me like I was some used diaper you have no use for anymore" Marie said, her voice rising with each word."Look, Marie, I know that there is no explanation for what I did, what I did was selfish and I'm sorry but…"He stared at her and inhaled,"....I still love you...so much"Marie lowered her head, she was breathing heavily now as the memories came crawling right up her chest and made it hard to breathe, hard to think."I can't love you, Aaron. Look at you, you are rich and powe
The hospital room was tense as Aaron's bold words lingered in the air. Marie stood still, her eyes shifting between her father and Aaron. Normally quick to think, her mind was now a jumble of confusing thoughts. She couldn’t comprehend how she found herself in this situation. Aaron had burst into her life like a whirlwind, and now he seemed to control everything.With his charming demeanor, Aaron moved closer, touching her shoulder lightly to reinforce his hold on her. "It’s been a while now," he said smoothly, his voice calm and steady. "I’ve taken care of all the expenses, ensuring Marie doesn’t have to worry. She means everything to me... By the way, I'm Aaron Sanchez, the CEO of Edmount Corporation and the heir to the famous Sanchez Empirical."Her father looked lost for words "I... I don't know how to show my gratitude. Thank you, Aaron. I didn’t realize..." His voice trailed off, and his gratitude was evident.Aaron flashed a well-practiced smile that radiated charm. "You don’t
Marie’s heart felt heavy as she drove her father home. The weight of the situation pressed down on her, each mile feeling like an eternity. She wanted to scream, to tell her father everything—about Aaron’s manipulation, the lies, the pressure. But how could she? Her father had been through so much already, and now, to add to that, she had no idea how to explain what was happening to her."I'll make you something to eat, Dad," She said quickly as they got home.Just then, a loud knock echoed from the front. Her heart quickened and she moved closer to the door, with a deep sigh,she opened the door, hoping it wasn't who she thought it would be.Her eyes widened in surprise as she stared at the group of beautiful ladies standing before her, they were holding huge makeup bags while the two pretty brunettes at the back held the sides of a clothes trolley with wedding gowns hanging from its rack. Three sleek cars were parked outside with tinted windows.Aaron came out slowly from one of them
Marie sat on her bed, looking at the wardrobe across the room. And the wedding dress just hung there like a ghostly sign of everything that was out of her control. The cloth was soft and it was white and sheer in color, and with lace work barely visible in the dim light of the lamp. It was supposed to mean a new start, love, and commitment. To Marie, it was a chain, a thing that confined her to a life she had not yet desired and to a man she did not have affection for.The makeup artists had finally left her alone, giving her sufficient time to think all by herself. She was scrutinized in the mirror, and her cheeks shone, her eyes were wide and painted to perfection. At first, she almost failed to realize who the woman was. She did not see her reflection in the mirror; she saw someone else instead, a stranger who looked like her but was not; a clone conditioned and groomed for a fake life.The next day, she had to come forward to a congregation, proclaim things she never intended, wea
Her Father tapped lightly on the door. “Marie? Are you ready, sweetheart?”Marie took a deep breath. She was dressed in her beautiful wedding dress and she looked in the mirror for the last time. She thought to herself, saying out loud ‘As ready as I’ll ever be.’ Looking at the door, she got up and swung it open to find her father on the other side looking pleased.“Wow, Marie,” he said, and this has never changed and he could only feel emotion in his throat. “You look… You look like a princess. Your mother should have been proud of you.”She just nodded agreeing, and tried to smile but the smile did not touch her eyes at all. “Thanks, Dad.”He stretched out for her hand and it was warm, tender, and strong. “Come on, sweetheart. Let’s go. It’s time.”So gripping hand in hand and taking a long hallway, the heart of Marie began to beat faster. The noise was heard from downstairs, people speaking, the murmur like bees buzzing, the expectation of the event of the day. The house was so qui
Their eyes locked and she looked away quickly, feeling tiny as if she had been dominated by him. Their features were stern and impassive, and Sinclair had a positively evil look in his eyes.Marie’s stomach twisted. She still did not know what his identity was, but the feeling that went through her when she met him was fearful.“Hello, father.” There was no love, no care. Apart from this, he was formal as if she made him uneasy.She looked at Aaron, wondering how he felt at this point, but he seemed not to hesitate—a vein beat in his temple and his stare was at the floor, away from his father. Marie could easily sense that this was not a joyful reunion even though the characters hadnot spoken a word.The man – Aaron’s father – smiled then, a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. What was more, he looked like a giant who was slowly advancing toward them, his movements as calculated as those of a programmed automaton.‘Congratulations,’ he told them both but looked at Marie when he sp
The wedding was over.The limousine was polished, black, and stretched like a classy Cadillac, much too grand for what was set to go down. The only sound that accompanied them was the dull roar of the engine beneath her; everything else was a deafening silence between her and Aaron. He sat beside her, icy in the dark, staring straight ahead out of the windshield, giving nothing away on his stone-like face.Marie struggled to pay attention to anything apart from the walls, which continued to shut themselves on her. Blinking city lights on the outside went past, casting shadows as if fingers stretching for her consciousness.Her heart thumped against her chest, causing her to hear only the booming sound. The hardness and coldness that the diamond symbolized hit her like heavy metal on the ring on her finger. Automatically, staring with absent-minded concentration at the object, she ran her fingers over the cold metal, yet her tempest did not subside.She looked sideways at Aaron only to
Unspoken words weighed down the room as they finally parted ways. Marie’s heart continued to race as she stood there, her chest heaving. They were both absorbed in the ensuing silence and did not move.And it was evident in that silence that their relationship had changed forever. Aaron shifted uneasily, quickly stepping back and pulling his hand away from her face. He cleared his throat while his gaze shifted abruptly away from her.“I... I'm sorry," He muttered, his words seeming to be forced out. He turned to face the door after running a hand through his hair. "I should not have—" Marie reached out before he could say anything more. Her fingers found his wrist in an unexpectedly firm grip."Wait," She said in a firm but slightly tremulous voice. "Why, Aaron?" She kept his hand in hers and turned him back to her, her thumb lightly stroking his skin." Why are you like this? Why do you always act so distant and cold? “She asked.He scowled, his facial lines becoming more pronounced
Marie's heart pounded in her chest. She dared not turn around and give him a look. In anticipation of his next move, her body stayed motionless. He was too close, and even though she wanted to keep her calm, she felt a wave of heat wash over her cheeks.She was caught in the intense tension of the moment and stood motionless, uncertain of what to do next. There seemed to be a crackle of electricity in the air between them.With her thoughts dispersed, Marie's mind raced. The intimacy and the sensation of his body against hers felt utterly different from anything they had experienced together in years, she had to admit.The easy, carefree affection they had once shared was gone. It felt heavy now, full of memories they both wanted to forget, unresolved feelings and unsaid emotions. And yet once more, they found themselves standing this close together, the silence bearing down on them. It seemed there was no longer any world outside of the office. It appeared that only the breath that
Aaron left for his meeting, leaving Marie alone in his office's silent emptiness as the minutes dragged on. The only noises in the room were the air conditioner's hum, the faint rustle of papers, and the sporadic click of the wall clock.Because he was no longer there, the atmosphere in the room felt sterile and businesslike. Aaron had left a mess, and Marie glanced around. The desk was strewn with files, some open and some forgotten.Several coffee cups rest on the desk's edges, half-drunk and cold, and the inbox is bursting with unread emails. Aaron had been too preoccupied to clean up after himself as usual, so he left everything to someone else.That someone, of course, was Marie. She sighed, rolled up her sleeves, and went to work. The task didn't bother her; it was a minor aspect of her work. She disposed of the empty cups, organized the papers, and filed them neatly.She kept thinking about their time together before he left. When she was standing next to him, the way his body
The mood changed the moment Aaron's office door closed behind them. Aaron seemed to have not missed a beat because of his quick and deliberate movements. His tone was authoritative as he pointed to the desk before him without pausing. "Come closer", he commanded in a firm tone. "Please take care of this."She saw his eyes skimming the document as he slid a file across the table in her direction, his thoughts already elsewhere.“That’s easy. Make the required adjustments and adhere to the guidelines provided here. "Not daring to question his tone, Marie approached him with deliberate steps. As she positioned herself next to him, she could feel the cool edge of his desk at her fingertips and the suddenly thick air between them.She pretended to be focused on the task as she looked down at the file, but she could feel Aaron's presence pressing down on her. He drew her in with his masculine scent, a mix of pricey cologne and something more profound—something that was definitely him.Inv
The ride to the company was uncomfortable. Neither of them spoke, maintaining a suffocating silence. The quiet hum of the car's engine seemed more audible than the silence that separated them.Marie gazed out the window and watched the passing landscape. She didn't want to dwell on the kiss, the rage or Aaron's heartless actions. She could practically feel the tension emanating from him, but it was better to concentrate on the city and the things she could not control. Aaron broke the ice when they eventually pulled up to the company. "Wait here," He said in a tone that made it impossible to argue with him as he got out of the car. Marie remained motionless as he strode to the opposite side of the car, opened her door, and extended his hand with a well-honed civility. She hesitated for a second before putting her hand in his. She reminded herself that this was all part of the performance. They made their way through the parking lot, hand in hand, toward the entrance of the company.
Marie tried to stop her mind from racing as she stood in front of the bathroom mirror, her hands hovering over the chilly porcelain sink. Her mental storm had not been much calmed by the shower. She was angry at Aaron but she felt empty inside as if her rage wasn't enough to make up for the emptiness he had created. She gathered herself and wiped a stray tear from the corner of her eye with a tired sigh. No more giving in.She couldn't afford to show him how much he meant to her. Not at this time. Before heading downstairs, she changed swiftly into a dress that was simple but elegant. The silence of the morning shrouded her in an eerie silence in the house.Aaron was reading the newspaper at the table in front of him, his breakfast still untouched when she got to the dining room. He didn't raise his head when she walked in. With his expression unreadable, he continued to stare at the paper.He seemed unconcerned that she had just walked into the dining room. Only the rustle of the ne
Marie opened her eyes slowly, squinting against the intense light that flooded the room. Her mind was cloudy, and her head felt heavy as she tried to remember what had happened.She was momentarily confused by her surroundings. It was not her room—not the plush sheets under her, not the strange smell in the air. She froze; she was in Aaron's room. Aaron had her lying in his bed. She also realised that her clothes were different from what she had previously worn.The sleeves of his loose, too-large clothing hung over her hands. She looked around, trying to make sense of the situation, and sat up quickly, her heart thumping in her chest.Aaron had his back to her, his attention elsewhere. She heard a cup clinking softly. The sound she recognised was the stirring of coffee. Aaron’s voice was flat when he said."You're awake." l wish I had lacked the worry that had been present the previous evening.The fact that she had just regained consciousness didn't seem to surprise him or concern h
Only when the day was over did everyone pack up and leave for home, and the office fell silent. Marie wiped her face.Marie stood before the bathroom mirror for a few more seconds, trying to collect herself. Trying to make sense of the emotions inside her, she shut herself in and allowed the tears to fall. Everything seemed to be crashing down on her: the lies, the anger... everything.She stood before the mirror, staring at his dull reflection. Her eyes were swollen and red, and her face was pale. She stood there for a long time and didn't know when the seconds turned into minutes. She felt empty and broken. She inhaled deeply before leaving the bathroom and moving slowly down the silent corridor. As her steps reverberated, the lights above flickered, creating long shadows.She needed to leave that area, away from everything that had transpired and away from him, but she wasn't even sure where she was going. She froze when she turned the corner and turned to face her office.The do
As silent tears streamed down her cheeks, Marie sat in the water closet in the women's restroom. Even in the restroom, she could still feel the oppressive weight of her feelings pressing against her chest even after locking the door. Her nostrils were filled with the sterile smell of soap and bleach, but nothing could make her internal heaviness go away. With trembling fingers, she took out her phone, which flashed seven of Aaron's missed calls. Seven.He was almost comical in his persistence, calling repeatedly as if he were unaware of the actual wall she was erecting between them every second. She gazed at her phone, the tiny blinking alert taunting her."Why are you still calling me? You don't give a shit about me." She thought angrily.The thought tore through her mind like a raging fire. After all, it's a stupid contract. She unlocked the screen and scrolled past his desperate messages, each one more desperate than the last, and her eyes began to well up with tears once more.