A marriage of convenience

The gloved hand pressed firmly, but not harshly, against my mouth. "Shh," the voice hissed, a voice I almost didn't recognize. It was low and urgent. "I'm not here to hurt you."

“Keith?? I thought and shrugged the thought off”. It couldn't be him, Not at all.

The grip loosened slightly, allowing me to breathe. He removed his mask and it was him, Keith. "What the heck are you doing here?" I managed to mumble against the palm.

"I need your help," he whispered, removing the hand from my mouth but keeping one finger pressed to his lips, signaling for silence. He was dressed in all black, blending with the shadows of the room. "Your father and the merger with my company, it's not what it seems."

My heart raced. "What do you mean?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

"There's no time to explain. You must decide now. Your life is in danger," he said, glancing towards the window where a faint red dot, like a laser pointer, danced.

"Are you saying someone's trying to kill me?" I gasped.

I heard a knock on the door almost immediately. It should either be Mum or Dad, what are they doing here? Did the noise wake them?

“For now, you have to hide yourself. I said to him and hurriedly locked him in the toilet. Then I went ahead and opened the door. It was Mum.

“Mum, what are you doing here?” I asked, trying to keep my composure.

“I heard a loud scream and wanted to check if you're okay. Are you okay sweetheart?” She asked and checked my body to see if I wasn't hurt.

“Of course mum, " I replied with my voice shaking. The noise must have been from the house next door. You have nothing to worry about.

“But, the noise came from this —

“I'm fine Mum, " I said and pushed her gently out of my room. If she stayed there, she'd see through my lies. I'd let you know if anything is the matter. You can go to bed mum. With that, I locked back the door and opened up Keith so he wouldn't die of suffocation.

“Now explain, what do you mean by the merger isn't what I seem it is? My eyes shot lasers at him.

"I'm afraid but I have no choice but to tell you this. Your father is involved in an international smuggling ring with my father.

“What? I screamed out in shock and he pressed down again on my lips to keep me silent.

“Be quiet Cora, " he said and pulled out a small, encrypted USB drive. "This contains the conversation your father and mine had a few days before you arrived back in town. Your father is knowingly involved in something dangerous."

I shook my head, disbelief clouding my thoughts. "This is insane. Why should I trust you?"

"Because I am the only person that can protect you, Cora. And there's only one way to do that. The marriage planned between our fathers has to happen. You do not have a choice. I can only protect you if you're close to me.

I felt my world spin. My father, involved in smuggling? It couldn't be. "But why would Papa —" I started, but he cut me off.

"Tell me, what do you want to do? You need to decide fast. Don't forget your head is aimed at”. He said, urgency lacing his words.

“You mean, I'd die if I refuse to take part in the game your father is playing? I muttered, trying to get my act together.

“I'm afraid so” He said and just looked at me. You are yet to make a decision Cora. Your decision will decide my next course of action.

“What do I get from all of this?” I asked.

“You'd be the wife of a famous billionaire and you'd lead an empire alongside me. That way, you can bring down Elliot. He responded and paced around the room in haste. You only have a minute to decide.

I couldn't think straight. Mysterious events had been unfolding since I landed back and I haven't had time to breathe. Can Keith really protect me? Who wants me dead? I heard Keith say you have 10 seconds left and I was fidgeted. This is crazy, all of it.

“I'll do it, " I stood up abruptly and told him. He brought out a recorder from his pockets and said quietly Inside, Eliminate them.

“Eliminate?? I spoke out loud and within seconds, the faint red dot was gone.

“It's done, you're safe for now. He said and walked towards the wooden window in my room. He opened it and looked back at me.

I just stood and froze. I couldn't say anything. “Eliminate? Did he mean to kill?

“I'll see you in two weeks Cora, " he said with a playful smile, wanting to jump out.

“Wait, I haven't asked you. I called out to him before he fled. How come you're so interested in me? How did you know all of this? About my father and yours?

He smiled with the edge of his lips before he answered me. “Sometimes, it's better to be left in the dark. With that, he jumped.

I walked fast to check if he landed safe on the ground but he was no were to be found.

The next two weeks ran fast. I had to pretend I was a happy bride and smiled all through the weeks. Mum tried to talk me out of it and asked numerous times why I suddenly wanted the marriage.

The day finally came and alas, I was going to be Mrs Crawford. The guests were sitting outside waiting for the bride to walk in with her father. I opened the bottle of water in front of me as I sat in the dressing room and drank out of it. I was nervous and no one should know.

I heard small voices in the entrance of the dressing room and they faded.

“Mum, I called out. Is it time for me to go?

“Oh, Cora, you look so pretty in the white dress. It suits your skin. I turned back and was faced with Keith's father. He played with a smile on his lips and gesticulated at how stunning I looked.

“I should have come to see you before today, I'm sorry but worry not, we are family now. He said and laughed out loud.

I squeezed the edge of my dress tightly. It was the devil himself that lured my father into being mad. With a smile, I bowed my head in front of him and greeted.

As he turned his back to leave, I asked him a question and he stopped. “Did you really send them to kill me?