The Marriage Proposal

CHAPTER FIVE

CELIA'S POV

Saturdays are usually my free days, all I had to do were house chores and spend time with my siblings but today was one of those Saturdays I had to work for extra income.

I have registered under Exquisite Event Planners for over a year now, I got a call two days ago enlisting me as one of the ushers for a very big company's handover ceremony in Baton Rouge, the pay was beyond anything I had made from ushering, it was a Four-hour job and I would receive $60 per hour, I couldn't pass up on this chance given I lost my fourth job two days ago.

After leaving the man at the hotel suite, I didn't have enough money to take a cab since I was running late. I had to run to the bus station but unfortunately, the bus going to my town had left 5 minutes ago, I had to wait 15 minutes for another bus to arrive. When I got to work I was 45 minutes late hence the Store owner fired me.

I took my time getting ready for my gig and after about 30 minutes of going back and forth in my wardrobe, I settled for the usual black Jean trousers and multicolored Shirt, I pulled out my work canvas.

Looking at the canvas I made a mental note to get a new one before this week runs out because it was almost falling apart. I looked myself up in the shattered mirror I had in my room and the view was good to me

I left my room and headed downstairs, as I was about to pass through the sitting room, I heard my father burst into happy cheers

"Here comes the bride!" I stopped and looked at him confused, he was looking right at me and grinning from ear to ear

"Excuse you?" I started examining his expression to be sure he wasn't drunk this early morning.

"You are excused, my dear. You should quit these tacky jobs that bring little or no food to the table soon, our in-law Charlie won't fancy his wife doing demeaning jobs"

"What exactly are you talking about because I don't follow?"

"Charlie has asked for your hand in marriage and we have given it to him" he laughed again rubbing his hands together

I burst out laughing, I clapped my hands on my head and looked back at my father

"Wait, by Mr Charlie you mean Charlie Dolly?" My father nodded still grinning from ear to ear

"That old fool who is twice my age? You both must be jokers to think I would be one of his wives just so you can leech off him"

"Celia, consider the situation of the family, I already owe him so much money, this arrangement will help ease my debts, think about your siblings, they will get quality education, and your mother can get better treatment for her back. My dear daughter don't be selfish" my dimwit of a father sounded calmly much to my amusement.

"Did you just say Selfish? Dad me selfish? Selfish and I dropped out of High school and took up several jobs just to pay off mum's medical bills and my gambling debts at 15, when my mates were graduating and enrolling into colleges I was working 6 to 8 just to fend for people who should be fending for me. For 9 years now I have placed my life on hold, no relationships, no friends, nothing at all. . Look at me, I barely wear anything decent and you call me selfish?" I had flames in my eyes.

"My dear, please consider what your father is proposing, with Charlie in our lives we can live better, we all will never know to suffer, plus your father's debts with him and other people will be erased and we can live easily" my mother joined in which pissed me off

My mother of all people knew what I had been going through for the past 9years. Yet she stood on my father's side for this one

"From dad, I can understand but from you, I am seeing red right now. Anyways if you want to escape poverty so much why not go and marry him yourself, if you hadn't married this drunk I call a father my life wouldn't have turned out this unfortunate"

I snapped at my mom and walked out of the door without a second glance

How could my mother support this idea? I single-handedly took care of her when she was at the hospital after her surgery, I paid her bills when she had Jenna and stayed by her side when my father went MIA on us only to return when Jenna was three with loads of debts, Now she was in support of me marrying that man and being his Fifth wife

I got off at the bus station and took my mind off my family as I headed for the address given to me.

My jaw dropped immediately after I got to the estate gate, I signed in and walked into the estate, every single building was exquisite, classy, and rich. When I got to the particular house I was working at, Damn!! It was like paradise, it was a mansion that screamed Luxury. I sighted Mark as I approached the gate, I stopped in front of his stand.

"You are always on time that's why I like contracting you," he said smiling

Mark was our recruiter, he was in charge of assigning and supervising jobs, he was about 35 years old, he is black and so handsome, that one could say I had a tiny crush on him. I smiled sheepishly at him and looked down fidgeting with my finger

"Here's your uniform Celia, change quickly," Mark said

I took the uniform from him and went in search of a nearby restroom to change. Wasn't hard for me to find one, I put on my uniform only to notice it was too short. I wasn't so tall but I was above average this uniform seems to have been made for persons who were average or below average. I walked back to Mark feeling conscious and awkward. I saw three more girls standing with him, he was handing out uniforms to them.

"Sir, this looks too short for me mind if I get a longer one?" I told him

"Sorry, they are all the same sizes, if you have a pair of leggings or hosts you are allowed to throw it under the dress because you don't look comfortable in this," he said eyeing my legs, I nodded and left to throw on the host I had in my bag.

I and two other ladies were placed at the first Ten tables with a bottle of champagne in our hands, our job was to fill and refill the glasses of guests within our assigned tables.

In a few minutes, the music died down and someone took over the microphone, Mike gestured for us to start our jobs, and I was walking past a table I hadn't served when I heard a familiar voice beckon to me.