Betrayal and Anger

The next morning, Samira woke up with a sense of dread lingering over her. She had barely managed to rest after the confrontation with Chris the previous day. The sunlight streamed through the curtains, casting a harsh light on her disheveled room. She reluctantly got out of bed and made her way to the living room, hoping for a moment of peace. Instead, she found Chris seated on the squashy sofa, clearly waiting for her.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice sharp with irritation.

"We've got to talk," he said, his tone calm but firm. He stood up and reached for her hand, trying to steer her toward the door. She pulled away, glaring at him.

"I thought I made myself clear to you yesterday," she said, crossing her arms defiantly.

"You did, but I haven't made myself clear to you yet," he replied, his eyes narrowing. "And don't worry, I don't need permission to coerce you to go with me, because I can easily do just that." He reached out to touch her face, but she evaded him with a smirk.

"Let's go," he repeated, this time with more force, pulling her towards the door. She resisted for a moment before giving in, knowing she had little choice.

A while later, Samira found herself sitting in the same hotel she was staying at, glaring at Chris across the table. He looked composed, almost smug, as if he didn't have a worry in the world. The waiter brought menus, but she ignored hers, too focused on the confrontation at hand.

"Why are you doing this? You clearly don't love me," she told him, her voice trembling with frustration.

"You are right, I don't love you, but I find you desirable. And to top things up, you are a great cook. I've always wanted my wife to be a great cook," he said nonchalantly.

"Are you looking for a wife, Mr. Rays, or for a personal maid?" she snapped, feeling her anger rise. What did this egotistical man think of her?

His expression turned sour, and he gripped the glass of water tightly, fighting his inner self. "I'll never treat my woman as a maid," he said bitterly through gritted teeth.

Samira sensed there was more to his answer than he was letting on. Despite her anger, she always knew her limits and how to apologize when she was wrong. "I'm sorry," she whispered, prying his hands from the glass. His knuckles had turned white from the tension, and she could see he was holding himself back from lashing out at her. She held his big hands in hers, trying to comfort him. "I'm sorry, Ray," she repeated, her voice hoarse with emotion. "I didn't mean to—"

"Enough with the emotional card," his deep, masculine voice rang in her ears, cutting her off. He had caught her attention and was ready to cut to the chase. "Even with what you heard from your patron yesterday? I suggest you think again," he told her.

"Are you that heartless as to make them pay if I don't marry you?" she asked, and he nodded.

"I am a businessman, and I must get back what I invested in your orphanage, and that will be through you," he told her.

Samira wanted to tell him the whole truth then and there, but a man approaching their table distracted him. Excusing herself to use the restroom, she left the table and was about to ask a waitress for directions when she bumped into someone.

"Samira!" The man she recognized as Jeff, Delly's current boyfriend, stood in front of her, in flesh and blood.

"You remember me, right?" Samira asked, and he nodded.

"Of course I do. You and Delly have the same striking features," Jeff replied coolly, and she smiled.

"But what are you doing here, and why isn't Delly with you?" she asked, confusion clouding her mind.

"Delly? Why on earth would she be with me?" Jeff asked, his brows furrowing.

"But she told me that she would be staying with you at your mother's house just so your mother would get to accept her," Samira said, her voice tinged with desperation.

Jeff burst out in laughter, a bitter sound that echoed in the hallway. "Is that meant to be a joke?" he asked.

"It isn't. Delly told me some days back that she fell for you and that your mother wouldn't approve of her as your wife, so she was going to stay at your house for a while so she can get to know her better—"

"Now hold on a sec. I don't know what Delly has been telling you, but I can assure you that it's all a lie. I left Victoria City a week ago, and whatever thing I had going with Delly ended then. My mother, may her soul rest in peace, is dead. So, Samira, whatever your bosom friend told you about the both of us is a lie. I didn't intend to marry her just as she didn't intend to marry me," Jeff told her, and it was then Samira knew that Delly had lied to her.

Feeling a mix of betrayal and anger, Samira returned to the table where Chris was still engrossed in conversation with the man who had approached them. She took her seat, her mind racing with thoughts of Delly's deception and Chris's threats.

Chris noticed her troubled expression and dismissed the man, turning his full attention back to her. "What's wrong?" he asked, his tone slightly softer but still commanding.

"Nothing," she lied, not wanting to reveal her personal turmoil to him. "Let's just get this over with."

"You know, you can make this easy on yourself," Chris said, leaning back in his chair with an air of confidence. "Marry me, and everything will be taken care of. Your orphanage will be safe, and you won't have to worry about a thing."

Samira looked at him, her eyes filled with defiance. "I will never marry you, Chris. Not out of coercion, and certainly not for the reasons you think."

"Think carefully, Samira. You don't have much of a choice," he warned, his voice low and menacing.

"I'd rather fight you every step of the way than give in to your demands," she retorted, her resolve hardening.

Chris's eyes narrowed, and he leaned forward, his face inches from hers. "We'll see about that," he said, his voice dripping with menace.

The tension between them was palpable, and Samira knew she was in for a long, hard battle. But she was determined to stand her ground and not let Chris control her fate. As they sat there, locked in a silent standoff, things seemed uncertain and fraught with danger. But one thing was clear: Samira was not going to back down without a fight.