Chapter two

NEVER… NEVER… NEVER…

Samara kept screaming in her head as she returned home after meeting with the Colonel. She had heard many awful things about the Colonel, but after today she was sure they forgot to mention that he was also a Mad Man. If not, then how on earth did he think of making such a proposal? Or the worst that he expected that she would accept?

“Why are you talking to yourself?”

Samara looked up to see who had spoken to her. She was totally lost in her thoughts that she didn’t realize she was not alone. A young handsome man stood before her, and she was caught aback for few seconds. He looked like a model, with thick dark brown hair and vivid eyes; Samara remembered thinking that a man with a face like his should be short, just to keep the scales balanced. Instead he was tall and had a casual masculine grace that could draw any feminine eye to him. His looks were wholly masculine.

“Why are you talking to me?” She asked after regaining her composure and giving him a good stare.

“Just wanted to be sure you’re okay”. The young man replied, staring intently at the young lady before him just as she had done to him.

“That’s none of your concern. We don’t know each other”. She said, hating how his stare was affecting her. The hairs on her skin all stood erect at his gaze.

“Don’t get upset beautiful, I was only showing concern”. He says sending a warm smile at her.

He had a gorgeous smile, it took a lot from her not to return the smile. “Thanks”. She finally said and turned to leave.

“I am Damien by the way”.

“I didn’t ask”. She replied not looking at him.

“Won’t you tell me your name?”

She turns around to cast him a glance. “No”. She answers, and this time she let out a little smile before turning again to leave.

“Why are you talking to yourself?”

Samara’s mother asked as soon as her daughter walked into the house.

Not that question again. Thinking aloud was one of her bad habits she couldn’t find a way to stop. Samara looked up at her mother, and saw the rest of her family seated quietly as they prepared to have dinner.

“Mama, you won’t believe what happened?” she replied instead.

“Tell us, what did the Colonel want?” Her mother asked impatiently. Her mind has been wandering since her daughter left the house to meet the Colonel. What could he possibly want from her?

“He asked me to marry him”. She replied shortly, and saw her parents and siblings exchange quick glances. “He must be really out of his mind to propose such a thing”. She quickly added.

“Is that what you told him?” Her father asked, perplexed.

“I rejected his proposal Papa”.

“What did he do? How did it take it?” Her mother stuttered with fear.

“Why are you all looking so scared? He can’t force me to marry him”. Samara says adamantly.

“So, you rejected his proposal and just walked away?” Her elder brother, Rafael asked to be quite sure he understood her.

“That’s exactly what I did”. She replied.

“Oh no, the Colonel is going to be here again with his men”. Callista, her younger sister exclaimed in fear.

Samara looked puzzled at her family members. “What else should I have done?”

“A man of his caliber would not take rejection slightly”. Her brother spoke again.

“Are you insinuating that I should have accepted his proposal?” Samara asks with a frown on her face.

“Why do you say it like it is such a bad thing?” Her elder sister, Debrah said.

“Why don’t you marry him instead, you are older than I am after all”. Samara snaps.

“Shut up Samara, don’t talk to your elder sister like that”. Her mother rebukes.

“I won’t marry a man who is the least attractive and over a decade older than I am”. She retorted adamantly and ran off to the bedroom.

There was one thing Samara so much wanted to experience in her life, and that’s LOVE. She has experienced all sort of things in her twenty-two years on earth, like poverty and other awful things life throws at someone. But the only thing she had only prayed for in the midst of all these was to experience Love. Growing up she has always told herself that she will one day meet her prince charming and knight in shining armor who would sweep her off her feet and make her know what true love is. She loved the idea of love, the romantic books she read helped her know more and dreamed for more.

She doesn’t know where or when she’ll meet her prince charming but she was sure going to keep herself for him until then. Colonel Frederick proposing to her was so laughable, that it annoyed her that her family didn’t see it the way she did. There was no way she was going to spend the rest of her life with such a man. He was definitely not her prince charming, his horrid look already spelt that out. Then the age gap was just the last straw. How again, she pondered, could he even think of proposing marriage to her? There was no love or attraction between them, at least none from her side. She might be young but definitely not stupid, and if there is anything she has learnt from reading romantic novels, the feelings have to be mutual for a marriage to work.

She has turned down many proposals from other men way more attractive and worthy than the Colonel. The Colonel was just wasting his time if he thought she will ever accept to be his wife.

“My parents can’t force me to marry him”. She said to herself. Marrying the Colonel will do nothing but ruin her lifelong dreams of true love and romance. “I won’t let them”. She added sternly.

A gentle knock on the door jolted Samara out of her thoughts, the door opened and in came her mother.

“Are you awake?” Her mother asked softly.

“Yes Mama”. Samara answered quietly from the bed where she laid.

Her mother sat beside and patted her hair softly. “I know you’re upset”.

“How can you guys even consider me being his wife?” She asked angrily.

“I know he is the last type of man you would want to settle with, but marrying him isn’t as bad as you make it sound”.

“What good can come out of it?” She asked.

“He’s very powerful and wealthy…” Her Mother says.

“Mama…”Samara interrupts as she sits up to look at her mother with shock written all over her face.

“He might not give you the lovey dovey feeling like the ones you read in your novels,..” Her mother continued, “but Samara, marrying him secures your future and our family’s future as well”.

“I can’t believe what you’re saying Mama”. Samara shakes her head in disbelief.

“I’m never going to force you to be with him. But I ask that you sleep on it, and while you are at it, remember our family’s condition and how things can turn around with your decision”. Her mother says and gets up abruptly. “Goodnight Samara”.