RONALD'S POV
Dinner was set and I was waiting for Emily's arrival but she seems to be taking long. I decided to reach her on phone but it was going on voicemail. ‘I hope she gets here safely,' I said under my breath . I walked down to the mansion hallway where series of arts where hung.I dailed Emily's number again and it finally went through. “ Gringgg,” a phone rang in the distance ‘ That sounds like a phone ringing tone. I think she is here already' I made a mental note tracing the ringing tone to the other side of the hallway. “Emily, is that you?” A voice echoed in the hallway as I approached but there was no response from the other end . That sounds like Andrew. He must be here for the dinner.I was against inviting those who are not relatives to this dinner but my stepmom won't agree. ‘How does Andrew know Emily by the way?’ I said in my thoughts as I approached them. “Babe, you are here.” I said smiling , closing the distance between us, placing my hand on the small of her back “ I hope you had a stress free ride,” “Babe?” Andrew muttered audible enough to hear him. “ I enjoyed the ride,” Emily replied locking her eyes on mine. “I apologize for being late.” “ Apology accepted,” I replied surprised to see a sweet side of her. I glanced at Andrew who stood dumbstruck looking at us. “ Pardon me Drew. Meet my fiancee ,Emily,” I introduced with gestures “And Emily meet the Hoffman's family friend son,Andrew.” “ It's nice meeting you Andrew,” Emily said. “ Fiancee?” Andrew's face paled as the word rolled out of his mouth. “ It's nice meeting you too , Emily,” he muttered “ Let's get going to the dinning table ,the others must be waiting,” I said changing the topic. We took the elevator and got to the dinning room. Everyone sat around the huge table adorned with different delicacies . “ You got us waiting, Ronald,” Stepmom saccharine voice rang across the room. “I'm so sorry for the delay , Ma'am” I apologized . “Ma'am Claire!!” Andrew spouted , hugging her side . “ My dear. You made it, come join the table,” she said patting Andrew on the shoulder, showing him where to sit on the table “And who is this beautiful young lady?” Stepmom said staring and accecing Emily with her eyes. “ Good evening, Ma'am,” Emily greeted with a small smile on her lips. “ Huhh,let's eat first ,Ma.” I said changing the topic of discussion. The Hoffman's relatives sat round the large table according to the birth order talking. All the chairs where occupied except for Father's and two other chairs reserved for us. I nodded my head in respect to those who made eye contact with me on the table . I held Emily as we sat side by side on the table We said “grace” as we digged into the delicacies placed in front of us. We ate in silence for the next few minutes and after we were served the dessert while every person in the room where mingling and chatting with each other. “Attention, everyone.” I called icily. The room went quite as I seem to draw the people attention. “Thank you for honoring me and having dinner with me today.I called everyone here today to introduce my fiance to you, meet Emily Adair”. I said , sliding my large palm into Emily's hands. Displeasure was written allover most of their faces but I don't care what any of them feels. “ We plan on getting married in few weeks” I said breaking the news to them. “Congratulations Ronald ,I knew she was someone special when I saw her” Stepmom cooed, taking Emily by the hand, showing her around. “ Congratulations to you both,” said some of the family members . “Congratulations Man,” Colin said giving me a brotherly hug. “Thank you bro,” I replied smiling sheepishly. “ How could I have missed this? ‘“ I thought someone was like dating is a waste of time,” Colin said with sarcasm. “ Here you are ,not only having a girl but you are also getting married. I'm happy for you,Man” “ Thanks bro”I said shaking hands the him. “It's my pleasure,we will talk later,” Colin said,excusing me so as to give room for others to congratulate me. “Congratulations,” said a distant relative of the Hoffman “Thank you Mr Duch,I appreciate,” I replied. The gathering was dispersing and everyone seems to be exhausted. “ Ronald,will you be staying for the night. It's late and I don't want you to travel by night considering what happened last time.” Stepmom said, concerned written on her face. “ I have a lot to do at work tomorrow but on a second thought I and Emily will stay the night. Thank you Ma'am,” I let out a sigh , realizing that it didnt occur to me that it's quite late. “I will have the room prepared for you and Emily. I guess you must be looking for her, I left her in the garden earlier,” “ Okay Ma'am” I replied , going to the direction of the garden. “ Ronald dear,you chose an intelligent lady and she is beautiful too. You did well,” Stepmom said smiling while I nodded in affirmative. 'Too bad we would go our separate ways after we both get what we want.’ I said in my thoughts. “ Good night.” Stepmom said , retiring for the night. “ Good night.” ************* I made my way to the garden. I wonder what Emily is doing outside at this hour. I walked into the garden looking for Emily.I was tempted to call out her name but didn't want to disturb the peace of the whole house in the process. I walked down to the middle of the garden where beautiful flowers were in array , when I heard voices and one of the voice was that of Emily. “Get your hands off me,you jerk,” said Emily. ‘ who could she be having a heated discussion with by this time of the night.’ I muttered I moved loser to the scene so as to know what it was all about when I saw Andrew holding Emily's hand. 'Andrew? What's he still doing here?’ “ You are getting married to that asshole? was that the reason you broke up with me? You know you can't do this to me.You love me ,don't you?”. Andrew said, tightening his grip on Emily. “You are hurting me ” Emily said, struggling to loosen Andrew's grip on her. “ What's going on here?” I said walking into their midst . “And why are you holding my girl's hand? Do you wish to lose those filthy hands of yours?” I said with a cold, calculated tone.EMILY'S POVI stood admiring the arts hung on the wall along Hoffman's hallway when my phone rang and I also heard some one call out my name.“Emily,is that you?” He asked , raising his eyebrows.'Andrew? What's he doing here?” I muttered, clenching my fists.He is the last thing I want to see right now, seeing him makes my blood hot.“Babe , you are here.” Ronald said walking towards us.“ Babe?” Andrew muttered but audible enough for us to hear.Ronald introduced us and I was surprised that his family is related to the Hoffman's in a way. it's such a small world.We went to eat dinner with the rest of the family. All eyes where on me as I sat beside Ronald , making me nervous. Andrew kept staring at me from where he sat across the table making me more uncomfortable but I ignored him.Soon,we were all done with dinner and it was dessert time. Ronald stood up from his chair to break the news of our wedding to the family and we were congratulated.I excused myself from the gathering
RONALD POVThe family gathered in the mourning hall where all the guests were as we got notified that Father's lawyer had some information to relay to the family privately.The Hoffmans sat down in the private room quietly ready to hear what father's lawyer has to say. The lawyer cleared his throat “Mr Hoffman left a will detailing his assets, properties and share with a suspensive condition.His will is as follows: “I leave my mansion and cash to be donated to Home orphanage” The lawyer paused for a while adjust his glasses “I also will all the Empire business and affiliate and shares to a designated legatee.The designated legatee is Ronald Hoffman” My eyes widened when I heard my name mentioned.Shock written all over my face.“Why?”I said with a low tone at no one in particular, staring at Father's picture.The lawyer continued “The condition attached to this will is that Mr Ronald Hoffman can only have access to this inheritance if he gets married within one month, unable to c
EMILY'S POVI went straight to my boss's office who is also my boyfriend. I waited for him to hang up on the call when I entered his office.“Hey babe,” he said,moving close to me and about to kiss me on the lips when I avoided it.“What's wrong?”He asked with furrowed brows.“I am here to tender my resignation letter,”I said keeping a straight face, trying to suppress the emotions running through me .“Why?” He asked ,his eyes bewildered at my outburst .I shook off his hands from arms “I'm not only quitting this job , I'm quitting our relationship too”I said ignoring his question.“You can't be serious, quitting our relationship? you must be kidding” he said, running his fingers through his thick platinum hair.“I ain't kidding,you are nothing but a douchebag,you cheated on me with my sister, How could you?” I said with disdain raising my voice. “Ha,is that why you are quitting your job and our relationship? don't tell me you were jealous?It was a mistake. You know you are the one
RONALD'S POVI sat in front of my computer, typing away at the screen when my phone rang,without glancing at the phone screen I picked the call. “Hello,”I said hoarsely, my eyes still on my computer screen“Let's meet.We need to talk," A feminine voice said across the phone.I paused looking at the strange number that called then my mind drifted to the previous day.“Aghh, it slipped my mind,I almost forgot I had a deadline. I guess I can't get used to this," I sighed, realization dawned on me .I swiftly put on my suit that had been laying on the couch. I picked my phone to send a text to her “Let's meet at Daily Grind”Daily grind is a coffee shop that sells the best brewed coffee in the area,just a few blocks from my office. I quickly reserved a private room for the meeting.I checked my golden wristwatch at intervals waiting for Emily,after some time she arrived at Daily grind looking stressed.“I'm so sorry for being late,got into traffic,” she apologized, removing some strand
EMILY'S POVI was about entering my apartment when someone stopped me“Good day. I'm here to deliver a package to this address,”—. “I don’t remember purchasing anything.I think you are mistaken,” I cut in sharply .“ This was the address I was told to deliver to.You can confirm and sign on the receipt here,” said the delivery man . “ Thank you,”I reluctantly signed on the receipt and entered my cozy apartment.‘Who could have sent this?’ I muttered , unboxing the package.The box was sealed with a red ribbon. I loosen the ribbon and brought out the contents;a red gown , black heels,a black purse and a letter printed on a black card. The letter reads ‘ “wear these for today's date.Ronald,".I let out a deep sigh and landed my butt on the sofa, ‘Emily are you really ready for this?’ I said in my thoughts, staring into space.After a while I dragged my lazy body to the bathroom and soon I was done with my makeover,wearing the clothes Ronald sent to me. I glanced at the mirror one l