"No! I don't know where that came from." Racheal said immediately in horror.
The guests began to whisper, and soon it became a full hall of murmuring and irritated hiss. Everyone was giving her dirty looks. "What is the meaning of this?" Steffan said, walking towards her. Racheal turned to look up at him. His eyes held a look of confusion. "I don't know where that cufflink came from, I did not take it." "Then how did it get in your purse?" Racheal heard a beautiful feminine voice say from the other side of the table. She turned to look. It was Thalia, she was looking at Racheal with sympathy. "I am not a thief." Racheal said, defending herself. Thalia looked horrified. "I would never label you. I just asked a question." She said sweetly, looking like she may soon burst into tears. Steffan's mother Danna Sherrod shifted towards Thalia and rubbed her shoulders, consoling her. The woman had gone over several times during the dinner to check on Thalia and have small chats with her. "Racheal could not have stolen it. She was beside me the whole night." Skylar spoke up in a clear voice. She reached out and held Racheal's hand in solidarity. "Not all night. She left for the bathroom a while ago, I saw her." A woman Racheal had never seen said. "She has not been near the vice president all night. Except he followed her to the LADIES bathroom. I cannot see how she managed to take his cufflink." Skylar fired back angrily. "I beg your pardon!" The man who the fuss was about, the vice president, finally spoke up. "Enough." Spencer Sherrod finally said, slamming his hand on the table. Then he smiled tightly. "Our bride is so beautiful even your cufflink could not resist the attraction, Roberts." He said to the vice president. "It followed her and snuck into her purse." The hall was silent for two seconds. And then everyone burst into loud laughter. Racheal felt her face burn with embarrassment. Her father-in-law was trying to de-escalate the situation. But he believed the accusations. Although he was laughing now with the vice president Robert Sanders, he looked like he was keeping his anger in check. He believed she was the thief. Everyone went back to being merry and partying. She saw the president whisper to a security guard. The guard soon walked towards her and stopped. "The president commands us to escort you to your quarters." "I will lead her there myself." Steffan said. He had not left her side the whole time. Skylar quickly hugged her goodbye. "I will see you in the morning." Racheal nodded, took her purse and left, walking behind Steffan who led the way out of the hall. Some people gave her a curious look but others gave her plain dirty looks. She heard a sharp whisper, ALL THAT BEAUTY BUT STILL A COMMON THIEF She was almost at the door. Steffan heard it too because he stopped and looked towards the direction the whisper came from. The women standing there quickly hurried away. It would have been difficult to know who made the statement. Steffan finally continued out the door and she followed him. Some guards followed at their heels. They walked down several large halls and took an elevator up. Steffan ordered the guards to take another. After the elevator closed behind him, he turned to Racheal. He stared at her quietly, like he was taking everything about her in. Racheal looked down at her shoes. She was uncomfortable under this bold and careful examination. She finally mustered up courage and looked at him. "Did you do it?" Steffan asked. "No." "Good." He said "You believe me?" She asked wide eyed. He was silent for a while. "Skylar believes you, and I believe Skylar." He said, sinking his hands into his pockets. Racheal said nothing. Why was she hoping he would believe her? Why did she want to suddenly be in his good books? Impress him? He was a stranger. A stranger she was forced to marry. He was looking at her, and she felt he could see her mind and read her thoughts. He looked like he was about to say something but then the elevator chimed. They were on the last floor. The doors slid open and she spied the same set of security guards already waiting for them. How were they so fast? Steffan again led the way down the hall, she took her place paces behind him and the security guards did the same beside her. They walked down a wide hall, lavishly decorated with polished floors. Steffan stopped before a heavy oak door. He turned the lock and stepped aside for her to go in first. "This will be your quarters till there are any changes to the arrangement." He said coming in after her. "Arrangement?." Racheal turned to him. "I mean this marriage, your living here and all that." Steffan said. Racheal looked away. The living room was large and looked comfortable. She walked in and checked out the bedrooms, kitchen, balcony, then quickly walked back out again. It looked like she had merely changed prisons. She wondered how often the Sherrods would let her step out, if at all they did. Steffan walked close to her and took her hand in his. She stared up into his blue eyes. Why was her heart beating faster and her arms hot? He was staring back at her, towering over her. She wanted to break the gaze but she could not. She looked from his eyes, to his nose and the curve of his lips. She quickly got a hold of herself and immediately returned her gaze to his eyes. Had they darkened? The blue of his eyes had taken on a darker shade. He suddenly let go of her hand and took a step back. Racheal exhaled deeply. Damn! She had been holding her breath the whole time. "I got you something." He said, bringing a box out of his pocket. "You did?" She could not help feeling excited despite her confused nervousness. Her heart raced faster as he opened the jewelry box. Racheal gasped. Sitting in the box was a diamond fancy multi shaped sing-line bracelet.The bracelet sparkled against the light shining down from the ceiling. "It's beautiful." Racheal said in genuine awe. She could not remember the last time anyone had given her something this beautiful. Or any gifts at all."I'm glad you like it." He said. "Hold out your wrist."She did, stretching out her right hand. He placed the bracelet on her wrist and clasped it. It felt cold.She turned it this way and that in the light, admiring the delicate beauty of it."It suits you." He said. Racheal looked up at him. He was looking at her in the same strange way he had since they got in the elevator. And somehow the look made her heart race and skin hot.It was a different look from the one he had given her before the elevator. That kind, patient look that made her want to impress him.This look made her want to… She did not know what this look made her want to do!"It's a wedding gift." He finally said. "In our culture, a man is supposed to give his bride something valuable on their wed
"It's fine, Aunty. We did not take any offence at all." Thalia said, smiling kindly and patting Racheal on the shoulders. "No. She embarrassed us." Danna Sherrod said angrily. "Soon the whole country will learn that the country's First Son is married a common thief.""I did not steal ma'am." Racheal said politely. "Then how did it get in your purse of all places?" Danna Sherrod barked."I don't know." Racheal said honestly. She was beginning to feel trapped. Last night she wondered if someone could steal without their own knowledge. Like Skylar had observed yesterday. She had not even gone near the vice president the whole time. So how could she have stolen his cufflink?And what would she need a cufflink for, especially one that had the family initials on it. She could not sell it to anyone. It had to be someone trying to frame her. She suspected Thalia. As far as she knew, only she had enough motive to frame her, except she had other enemies. She broke into a sweat. Did she ha
The couple turned back to look at her."What is wrong with her look?" The president asked."She looks…" Danna Sherrod struggled for a word. "Inelegant, plain GAUDY." She shrieked. "She looks stunning to me." Skylar cut in. "More elegant than SOME PEOPLE with their extravagant makeup." She did not look at Thalia but everyone knew who she was talking about. Thalia had on layers of red lipstick, bright, bright highlighter and her cleavage was bare and bouncy.Steffan looked at Racheal who was close to tears now. She did not know why her mother-in-law hated her so much. She had not even made any effort to get to know her first. "Do you like your dress?" Steffan asked."Yes.""Good. Let's go." He turned to walk away with her."But I can change my outfit if your mother prefers." She said trying to keep up with his long legs."No." He said strongly. The force behind the one word silenced her.She quietly let him lead her, hand in hand to the convoy waiting outside. The security guards we
Racheal drank from a cup of tea. Thankfully it was sweet, the way she liked her tea. She might as well enjoy it, lunch was still far away. But as she finally finished her tea, she looked up to see the assistant return with a tray.He set it before them and Racheal gasped in shock. The tray contained toast and jam, a cup of cappuccino, yoghurt, nicely chopped fruits, scrambled eggs, two cupcakes and water."Here? The press conference will start in a few minutes." She could not help blurting out. "I will not watch you starve." He said. "I had them postpone the event for another hour. Eat!" He peeled open a finger of banana for her. "No unauthorized person will come here. This is a private waiting area."Racheal wanted to die of embarrassment. He must think her a glutton. And he said something about starving. If only he knew she had mastered the art. Her stepmother had starved her non-stop after all."Why are you smiling?" He asked Racheal shook her head. "Thank you." She replied i
After that it was commotion. The crowd went wild trying to defend Racheal. Some attempted to grab at the old woman after the guards handed her over to the cops who pulled her through the crowd.Racheal was partially blind from the sting of the chicken blood in her eye. Her dress was completely ruined and her hair and face felt sticky. Steffan guided her into the car, and she could feel his anger even without seeing him. They drove hard and fast back home. She heard Steffan rummaging through the fridge in the car. Then he leaned in close and she felt something cold on her face. “Don’t move.” He commanded and Racheal stayed still. She felt him gently wiping her eyelids and her brows. “I cannot do much.” She heard him say in frustration. She said nothing. With the brief wipe he did, she was able to open her eyes a few inches. But soon, the mess from her hair began streaming down her face again. She quickly shut her eyes close. As soon as their cars pulled in through the presid
Racheal went with the intelligence officer, while wondering why her father called so soon.It was not like he cared about her, or even missed her. Perhaps he was trying to put on an appearance for her in-laws, because she could not imagine him calling just to check up on her and ask how well she was settling in.She scoffed. “This way please.” The intelligence officer said, showing her around a bend. And then they were standing in front of a heavy glass door.Racheal gently pushed the door open and found herself standing in a huge hall with people seated at cubicles working on computers and whispering into their headphones. “Come ma'am.” The intelligence officer said and began walking ahead, down the hall. She finally stopped in front of a chair facing three men in suits who were staring intently at her.“Please take a seat.” One of the men said. Racheal sat down, all the while wondering if she was really going to sit and have a phone conversation in front of these people. The i
“What has come over you?” Racheal heard the first lady ask in a puzzled voice. “We are your family.”“And she is my wife. I have a responsibility to her.” Steffan's deep voice boomed and Racheal could not help shiver.But she smiled a little. She had barely known this man for a few days but he was so protective of her.“A wife we chose for you.” His mother shouted, slamming something that sounded like a table. “Oh, wait. Are you beginning to fall for the girl?”Racheal held her breath. “Oh, Don't be ridiculous. What makes you think that is ever possible?” Steffan responded quickly. Too quickly. Racheal felt her throat contract and her chest beginning to beat faster. She turned away from the door.“I simply want you to…” Steffan continued but she tuned out his voice, and began running back towards the main hallway. She had heard enough. She should not have listened. Maybe it was better to, because why was she feeling hurt if she had not begun to harbour hope in her heart. Hope th
“Please.” Racheal pleaded with the woman who was gloating at her with disgust. She dreaded whatever would happen at the meeting with the Coterie. Even if she was only interviewed, she understood how quickly she could get in trouble by saying one wrong word.Danna Sherrod simply sneered at her. Suddenly, Racheal began to struggle with breathing. This had only happened a few times in her life. Her eyes blurred and she knocked a chair over as she fell to her knees.She was having a panic attack. The worst she had ever had. The noise her lungs made as she struggled to drag air through it and breathe, was ugly even to her own ears. Her eyes watered and she began to panic even more instead of trying to remain calm.She was scared she would soon pass out and this woman would do nothing to save her. “Ma'am, please.” She said making great efforts to push the two words out of her throat. She reached out to hold the woman's leg for support but Danna Sherrod stepped back quickly, causing R