Chapter 1

Naella

I am sitting on the beach with my boyfriend Charles. We are having a great time together.

"My sweetheart, my heart, my lifelong love ..." Charles complimented me while leaving sweet kisses on my neck after each word. 

We are seated on a rock and I am leaning against him between his legs. I turn around then give him a long kiss.

"You make me happy Charles. I could never imagine my life without you." I say with affectionate eyes.

"Me too you make me happy my gazelle. I don't know why a girl so beautiful and rich like you can love a poor man like me. I always wonder what you found good in me. You make me happy every day. I promise you honey, as soon as I get my first salary, it will be for your bride price." He tells me as it seems to melt me.

"You're a good person and any girl will love you when she gets to know you, unless she is a stupid girl." I said smiling.

Charles captures my lips and we kiss passionately. His hands roam throughout my body, rising excitement rises in me. I stop him dead when his hand is at the entrance of my panties.

"No…" I stammered in a weak voice while trying to come to my senses.

"Come on baby ..." he said with a pleading look.

"Let yourself go just once. You'll see, you'll like it."He insisted.

"No Charles!" I retorted categorically. "We have already discussed about this topic several times. I want to wait until after the wedding before passing this milestone." I answered getting up while adjusting my clothes.  

Charles looks disappointed, but pulls himself together

"Don't blame me honey, you attract me so much." He apologizes looking sorry.

"I understand you, I'm crazy about you too. I want to do it, but I'm not ready yet. Can you please understand that ?!"

"Don't you trust me enough honey? We're getting married. I'm your man." Charles replied with a view to convincing me.

"I know my heart and I don't doubt it for a second. It's just that I don't feel ready to take that step yet. Don't insist please!"

"Okay my love." He managed to say.  

I can sense disappointment in his eyes and it pains me a lot. Having realized the gene that such a sensitive subject already created between us, I end up getting on my feet

"We have to go home or else dad will worry."

"You're right. Come on, I'll go with you."

Charles and I get into too much chatting. We got to know each other in our final year and love was born immediately between us. Charles comes from a poor family and therefore, I help him out from time to time for financial side like school fees or pocket money. It's been four years since we have a romantic relationship without my father knowing. We agree on all points except that of sex. Charles wants to take the first step, but I don't feel ready to take this step yet. I hope this point of contention will not separate us.

My father owns a successful import-export business. He's a pretty big man in this country and he employs a lot of young people in his business. I think it's time I let him know about my relationship with Charles and our intention to get married. He's probably going to find work for Charles. Dad and I are in a good relationship. He pampers me and refuses me nothing. I have only one older brother who studies in the United States. Our mother abandoned home after giving birth to me. Dad has not remarried since. He takes care of us very well and is very present in our life.

Charles accompanied me to the crossroads and leaves me to go home. Dad shouldn't see us together at the risk of turning it into a drama. That's why I need to tell him about our relationship as soon as possible so that I don't have to hide like fugitives all the time. As soon as I get home, I find my father sitting in the living room watching the news on TV.

"Good evening dad!" I said, getting near him.

"Good evening girl. Where do you go out at this time?" He asks me, turning down the volume on the TV.

"I was walking around." I replied, turning to go to my room.

"Come back here young lady!" He almost growled. 

I stopped in amazement and quickly tried to remember if I had done anything wrong the last few days.

"Come and sit here!" He summoned me, indicating to me a place near him.  

I hurry up then I come and take a seat next to him.

"I've noticed you've been getting more and more distracted these past few days. What's wrong?" You have the Bachelor degree to write this year in case you forgot it. "

"I know dad..."

"No, it doesn't sound like. You're out there all the time doing whatever, instead of focusing on your studies. Unless ..." he said, pausing and eyeing me weirdly. .

"Unless what daddy?" I asked curious about where he was going.

"Do you have a boy friend?" He asks me straight in the eyes.

"No ... yes ..." I answered panicked, not knowing if I should take the opportunity to talk to him about Charles or wait a little longer.

"Is that no or yes?

"Uh ..." I said in a dilemma. Then I looked at Dad, who was impatiently waiting for my answer. I thought I should take this occasion and tell him about my relationship with Charles once. After all, maybe such an opportunity will never come again. Better to grab it.

"I await your response young lady." My father thundered while pulling me out of my thoughts. I then decided to get into the water.

"You're right pa'a. I have a boyfriend and I was trying to introduce him to you. His name is Charles."

"Whose son is he? "My father asked without much anthousiasm, as I feared the question.

"You don't know his family daddy." I answered to my father who seems more intrigued by my answer.

"What do you mean? He's the son of a minister ... Director ... Company manager ..."

"No daddy." I said hesitantly.

"And whose son is he?Speak quickly so as not to wast my time!" My father ordered impatiently.

"From anyone you know. He's an orphan. His mother is raising him alone ..." At this sentence, I noticed how my father's face has changed and I don't like that expression. I began to speak quickly before he reacted.

"You'll see daddy, Charles is an intelligent boy, you will like him. If you want to tomorrow he ..."

"Stop nonsense! I don't want a beggar for my daughter! I haven't invested in you to go strutting around with unsavory people." He said firmly, cutting me off at the same time.

"Charles is not a beggar daddy!" I retorted annoyed by his words.

"Ah yes?!! Does he take care of you to the level of the princess that you are? Did you ever help him financially?" I lowered my head without saying a word.

"That's what I suspected. I don't want to hear from this Charles any more. And I don't want you to see him again!" Said my father in a tone that left no doubt.

"But daddy ..." I hailed, outraged.

"And as far as you are concerned, you will marry, but with a young man whom I will introduce to you shortly. I was waiting for the end of your exams to do so, but since you are old enough to manage the school and marriage at the same time, we're going to do that." My father concluded without sticking to my feelings.

I lost my words at what I heard. There's no way I'm getting married to anyone other than Charles.

Ethan

I got off the plane after a tiring flight. I was in Japan for two years of vocational training in business management. My father was so keen on it. I am the third in a family of four children. I had no chance of being the head of my father's business, but after much negotiation, my father and I came to an agreement that I would take over his businesses. The condition of spending two years of training in Japan was part of the long list of requirements he gave me. Even if I accepted everything he demanded of me, his condition to marry me remains the most difficult to satisfy. But I don't care at all anymore. I guess he's going to find me a submissive woman who will do anything to become Mrs. Ndjoun, especially the handsome guy that I am. Good for her, because I have no intention of giving up my Don Juan life to be a nice husband. I like beautiful women and I don't see myself stuck with one until the end of my life. Loyalty isn't really my thing. So this marriage will only aim to close my father's eyes. Besides, I have a girlfriend that I like. If one day the desire to get married takes me, it would be her that I would think of first.

As soon as I left the airport, I saw my little sister waiting for me in the waiting room. As soon as she saw me, she got up coming towards me with a broad smile

"So the monkey?" I said, walking towards her as well.

"The bastard, finally you're here? I almost turned around when I didn't see you."

We burst out laughing. Lara threw herself into my arms as she came up to me. Once in my arms, she told me

"I missed you my favorite cockroach!"

"You too microbe!"