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Hypocrite
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2024-06-23 00:47:09"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 have unknown enemies? Could she be in more danger than she thought? "You have no proof. Then how can you say you are innocent? Do you think we would believe that? Do we look foolish to you?" Danna Sherrod asked, practically spitting fire. "I believe her." Skylar said, appearing at the door. Everyone turned to her. "You don't count." Her mother said angrily. "Of course you would support a thief." "Mom." Skylar said, although she did not look surprised. Just hurt. "Enough all of you." The president finally said. He turned to Racheal. "I will ask just once. Did you steal the cufflink?" "No. I did not." She said firmly. He looked at her with uncertainty. Then he took a sip of water. "You know, your country does not have the best reputation. Just take care." "Are you all not being too hard on Racheal?" Skylar said. "This is unfair." "I agree." Thalia said. Racheal grabbed a glass of water to calm her raging nerves. "Maybe she did not know the cufflink was valuable." Thalia continued. Then her eyes widened like she just got an idea. "Perhaps she has a medical condition. Are you a kleptomaniac" Thalia asked sympathetically and at the same time discreetly knocked the glass in Racheal's hand. Water poured all over the front of Thalia's dress. "Oh my world." Danna Sherrod gasped. "I was just trying to help. Why will you throw your water at me." Thalia asked. She looked surprised and hurt. Racheal could not understand all that was happening. She did not pour any water on her. Thalia was the one who knocked her glass. "It just keeps getting worse and worse." Danna Sherrod said standing up. "How dare you disrespect my guest like that?" She lifted her hands up to strike Racheal when they heard a voice boom. "Mother!" Everyone froze at the deep authoritative voice. It was Steffan. "Please do not lay your hands on my wife." He said walking in quickly. He was so tall he covered the room in a few strides. "Ever!" He warned. "Then tell YOUR WIFE." She said sarcastically. "To behave well. YOUR WIFE knows she is no better than a hostage here. I will not tolerate disrespect from someone like her." Racheal's eyes began to burn with tears. She had anticipated that life here would be bad. But she never knew it was going to be this bad. She felt Steffan's hand on her arm. She looked up at him. "It's okay." He whispered to her. The president gestured to the maids hanging around to serve eveyone. "I'm sorry my darling." Danna said as she soothed Thalia. "Clean your dress and come sit besides aunty." Thalia nodded and left. Steffan and Skylar took their seats. Skylar sat to the right of her father who was at the head of the table, and Danna Sherrod sat to his left. Racheal was sitting closely beside Skylar, so Steffan sat on her right side. They had just begun eating when Thalia returned. She sat beside Danna Sherrod, across the table from Steffan. She smiled sweetly at Steffan but he looked away. The family ate in silence. The room was tense and awkward. Finally, the president cleared his throat. "Are you ready for the press conference this morning?" He said looking at Steffan. "Yes. We are." Steffan said, briefly glancing at her. In truth she was not prepared but she nodded in agreement. It could not be that difficult. She would just follow Steffan's lead. Danna was looking at her. "Those journalists will ask difficult questions, especially about your life before you married my son. I only hope you do not embarrass us further on national television." She said. The table was silent. "I won't ma'am." Racheal responded. "What did you do between college and when you married my son." Racheal was embarrassed. This was one of the embarrassing facts about her life. It was not like she wanted to lazy about. She really wanted to work. But how could she explain that her stepmother had ensured she never worked a day in her life. How could she explain all the maltreatment she had to endure from her stepmother. Would that not encourage the Sherrods to treat her even worse than they currently do. "Nothing." She said finally. "Nothing?" Danna Sherrod asked, putting down her cutlery in surprise. "What did you study in college?" "Law." Everyone turned to her in shock and surprise. Was that fear and respect she saw in their eyes or was she imagining it. "I was to be a business lawyer." She clarified. Danna Sherrod burst out laughing. "Aunty. I am sure she is as intelligent as she is extremely beautiful." Thalia said "You are such a hypocrite." Skylar said glaring at Thalia across the table. Thalia gasped in shock. "Why would you say that?" Racheal heard Steffan growl silently. He suddenly pushed his chair back and stood up. "We will be leaving now." He said, reaching for Racheal's hand. Racheal was not done with her meal but happily stood up anyway. This was a horrible way to dine. She shivered when she thought of the fact that she would always share a meal with these people. "Are you ready?" He asked her. "Yes." They began walking away when she heard her mother-in-law say. "You really have no class. You want to go on national television looking like that?"Related chapters
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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
Last Updated : 2024-06-23The Bargain A pretty bird
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
Last Updated : 2024-06-23The Bargain Playing by the rules
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
Last Updated : 2024-06-23The Bargain Wrong route
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
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“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
Last Updated : 2024-06-25The Bargain An episode
“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
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Racheal blushed. “Skylar.” She said wide eyed at the young woman's audacity. “Is it so strange to imagine? You both are married and he has been falling over himself for you.” Skylar said.Racheal made a face. Really? Falling over himself?It was true that he was exceptionally kind and attentive to her needs. But she would not allow herself to think anything special of it, because she had heard those words from him earlier today.She smiled at Skylar. “Yes. Your brother is so kind.”Skylar was looking at her with surprise. “You don't know? Steffan likes you.”Racheal shifted uncomfortably on the bed. “He doesn't.”“What?”Racheal went ahead to tell her about the conversation she had overheard and then had to eavesdrop on earlier that day.Skylar was stunned and sat silently for a while. “That's strange, Because he has always…” She was saying when Steffan walked into the bedroom.Whatever happened to knocking?“Your maids said you were both in here.” Steffan said.“Oh.” Racheal relax
Last Updated : 2024-06-26The Bargain Glam team
Racheal spent a few minutes trying to regain composure. Then she called for her maids. “Come, please help me get ready for a party.” She said to both young women. “Mr Steffan has sent a glam team to help you.” Luna said. “What?”“Should we turn them away?” Leah asked. Luna looked at her like she was stupid. Racheal sighed, she thought the notion was stupid too.She could not turn away the glam team the PRESIDENT’S SON had sent. She did not have such power. Even if she did, would she want to do that? Reject Steffan's sweet gesture?She walked to her vanity mirror and took a seat opposite it. “Let them in.” She instructed, looking at her maids through the mirror. The team of three professionals came in.They worked in her bedroom since she had no beauty room. One fitted the dress and styled it, and the other two worked on her hair and makeup. The last time she was fussed over like this was on her wedding day. And even then, that team were not as good as this team of two men and a
Last Updated : 2024-06-27
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The Bargain Epilogue
“Mind Skylar’s head.” Steffan said, watching her get out of the car. Racheal cradled six month-old Skylar’s head in her arms and got out of the car. Steffan turned and walked ahead towards the courthouse. She knew he did not like this, neither did her mother, but she wanted to lead a new life from now on.She would only allow any dispute to be settled by the court no matter how long it took, instead of the torture, killing and all they had done up to the point that she had Sterling.“Maman," Sterling said, peeking his head around his father’s shoulders.“Yes, baby.”“Maman.” He said again, and she smiled at him. Steffan adjusted him in his arms as they walked into the building.It was an informal courtroom, and the biggest case in Xen. This case was what had disgraced Roslyn and made her lose the elections. Journalists waited outside for the final hearing.She and Steffan sat side by side after the judge took her seat, and the accused began to be escorted in by the cops. Roslyl
The Bargain I can live with that
Racheal followed Steffan into his house quietly. His housekeeper greeted her warmly. She nodded at the woman. She was surprised to see Chef Bennett come out.“Dinner in five minutes, sir.” Then he paused. “Mrs Sherrod.” He bowed.“Make a place for two,” Steffan said. Those were the first words he had said, since she told him she missed him.“Sure, Sir.” Chef Bennett responded.“You kept him?” Racheal asked, as Steffan led the way upstairs. “You liked him.” He said simply.She said nothing more. He surprisingly led the way to his bedroom on the second floor. It was a dark masculine room, wide, dark and intimidating.She stood in the middle, unsure of how to act, or what to do next.He dropped his bag on the bed, and glanced at her.“I am sorry I hurt you.” She said. He paused, midway into sitting on the bed, then started to take his tie off.“That’s rare. Women never apologize.”She made a face at him. But continued anyway. “I was conflicted. I wanted to be with you, but I was
The Bargain Pregnancy test result
Racheal sat on the toilet bowl, staring at the pregnancy test kit. It clearly read positive. In denial, she took others. They read the same thing.She hurried back to her room and pulled on a dress. It would be stupid to make the same mistake twice. She sat nervously in the backseat as her chauffeur took her to the hospital.She waited nervously as her blood got drawn, and patiently waited for the doctor.She could not smile back as the doctor said.“Congratulations Mrs Sherrod. Would you like to see your baby?”She climbed the table, and stared at the ceiling as the doctor smeared a cold gel on her flat belly.“You are about seven weeks pregnant.” The doctor said excitedly. “Look at your baby.” She held her breath and turned.She could hear the heartbeat of the fetus as the doctor pointed out where the baby was in the sac. It was so tiny, she burst into tears.The doctor helped her up and soothed her, telling her it was OK to cry, that days like these were an emotional day for
The Bargain Please let me go
The president is dead did not cover the horror of how Spencer Sherrod had died. He stared at his father’s coffin the next morning as the priest talked on and on. He had wanted to kill this man. He had wanted to kill him with his own hand, so why was he reacting this way to the man’s death?His mind kept going back to how Spencer had looked in the video he had seen. He was headed for a meeting, surrounded by his guards, edgy and nervous, and alone.The old woman had come from the crowd, begging an audience. He had hesitated, but asked them to let her through. The woman had hugged him, even as his guards had yelled that it was against protocol.One had even reached out to pull her away. Then flames. He shook his head as he remembered the explosion sound. They had quickly found out the woman was the journalist’s aged mother. The journalist Spencer had killed at Racheal’s office.He felt someone squeeze his arm. He looked down at the little woman. She was the only good thing in
The Bargain Stay away from my daughter
“We should start moving. I don’t want Limuel’s men to find us here," he said as he stocked the fire. She dropped a plate of Ramen in front of him. He smiled up at her, and she smiled back.He did not mind if he lost all his wealth, and became doomed to this kind of life, as long as he had her. She was all he wanted now, all he had ever wanted really from the day he met her.“It will be a few hours still before we can start moving.” She responded. He nodded and picked up his meal. She walked closer and sat beside him. He turned to her, caressed her cheek, and kissed her lightly. She returned his kiss, enthusiastically, the way he remembered, the way he liked.He loved how much she loved his touch. They were soon grappling at each other, their meal forgotten. He squeezed her warm soft body as she moaned his name and dug into his back. He savored the warmness of her, the fullness of her curve, the lusty way she matched his thrusts, squeezing tight around him.He did not want to
The Bargain Do you still love me?
Racheal sat shocked, staring at Steffan’s face, just barely able to see it in the near darkness. But she could see clearly enough the honesty in there. His blue eyes were clear and honest, open and pleading.“You should have said that when I wanted to hear it.” She said, shaking her head, starting to move away. But he held her.“I should have. I was a fool not to have.”“I even told you once that I loved you. You said nothing.”“I am sorry.”“Stop apologising. It won’t fix anything," she said, trying to pull away. She did not have to hear this, she did not want to hear this. It would make leaving him that much more difficult. It was easier walking away from a man who hurt her, and had never admitted to loving her even once. But now…“Racheal.” He said, taking her face between his hands. “I love you. I have always loved you. My heart stops at the thought of losing you. The day Isaac told me you were dying, the day you sent that divorce document, my heart completely stopped beatin
The Bargain He ruined my life
“I thought you changed. Apparently, you did not," Steffan said finally, looking away. “You are still as stubborn and careless as ever.”His words stung her.“Careless? You sound like I got some warning that a certain Limuel was after me and ignored it.”“I tried to warn you. I sent a dozen messages, tried to make an appointment,” he blew up.She shrank back. Well. There was no way she would have known. She had his number blocked, so there was no way she could have seen his messages. She still did not know how he had gotten her new contact number by the way. She could not think of any of her staff who could have given him her personal number.She knew he was in contact with Isaac, but could Isaac have given him the number?“After all that has happened to you, I don’t know how you can still put yourself in danger like this.”“One could say I was in danger, hiding with you in a storm like this. At least Maman would think so.” She said quietly, lowering herself to the floor. That got
The Bargain Locked in
“What are you doing?” Racheal asked as she watched Steffan walk towards one of the many couches in the room. He said nothing.He placed a bright flashlight she suspected he must have found wherever he found the axe on the floor, lighting the whole room up. He raised the axe, and began to hack at the couch.She stared at him in shock, at first not understanding what he was doing. Then she turned back, and shut the heavy bolt on the door. He had to make fire somehow, or they would freeze to death before the storm was over. Between the both of them, they could probably buy a million couches for this family.She walked further into the living room, past him, checking the whole place out. The only place that was open to them was the hallway, the open kitchen in the living room, and a tiny bathroom at the end of the hallway. All the other rooms were firmly locked. She was not very eager to ruin their locks like she did the front door.She walked towards the kitchen, and turned on th
The Bargain Can you run?
“What? Why?” Racheal screamed in confusion as she watched Limuel’s guards pull a limp Steffan up.Then they began to pull him to pull him away, his tall frame causing his foot to drag behind him.“I had a suspicion he might come here.” Limuel said, pulling out a big cigar.“What did we do to you?” She asked, looking from Limuel to Steffan, who was being dragged away.“I have no problems with the Sherrods. Just you.”“What?” She asked just as she saw Limuel’s toddler run out of the house. The guards tried to stop the child who was not warmly dressed for the weather. The toddler screamed. He just wanted his father.Lukas Limuel turned at the commotion. “Let him through," he said, standing up. The child broke through the barrier of guards, and ran into his father’s arms.“I don’t have the time to explain anything. I hear your mother has suddenly returned from the dead. I believe she will pay a decent price in exchange for you as compensation for what your family did to us.” Lukas sa
