Chapter 6 Meeting The Parents

Patrick told his daughter Victoria that James had agreed to marry her. They will meet each other at Home Affairs tomorrow morning at 9:30.

Victoria was beaming, she told her father that she knew that James would agree because she prayed for it.

Her father told her that he was praying the opposite prayer. Unfortunately, his prayer was not answered. Early in the morning, Victoria received James’ photo from Mr Johnson.

She woke up at 6 am, she washed up and chose a long black dress and three-inch-high heels. She had long black hair, she just brushed it, she applied light make-up. She looked in the mirror, she smiled at herself, she was stunning.

She went to the living room to look for her father, but her father was in the study room.

When she saw him, she hugged him and said, “Daddy, I’m leaving now, the traffic is heavy in the morning. I don’t want to be late, don’t be sad daddy, everything is going to be alright.”

Her dad didn’t sleep. He stayed in his study room the whole night, he was so worried about his daughter he was regretting his decision of trying to commit suicide. Unfortunately, there was no medicine for regrets.

He looked at his daughter with sorrow in his eyes and he kissed her on her forehead and said, “if James is cruel to you, please come back home anytime. I love you so much, this house will be empty without you. I miss you already.”

Victoria laughed at her dad and said, “Daddy, from here to the Johnson mansion is only one hour away, and I will see you at the company every day. Wish me good luck daddy.”

Victoria kissed her daddy and left. She didn’t want to be late, so she quickly drove her car. The traffic was heavy, but she arrived at Home Affairs at 9 am. She checked the photo again to avoid marrying a wrong person.

At 9:15 she saw James Johnson coming towards her. James was handsome. Victoria stared at him, but she guarded her heart, she knew that James was not hers, he belonged to someone else.

James approached her, he looked at Victoria. He was stunned. Victoria was very beautiful, he did not even greet her, his eyes were cold. He told her to follow her to register their marriage.

He was walking very fast, Victoria was running behind him. The procedure was quick. They finished within a few minutes. Then they received their marriage certificate.

“Please follow me to my apartment. Then tonight we will visit my parents,” said James annoyed. “Alright, I will follow you” said Victoria, with a smile.

After that, he went to his car and Victoria followed him in her car to James’s apartment. The apartment was situated in an upmarket area.

They both parked the cars in the underground garage, then they took the elevator to the fifteenth floor. He punched the code to open the door, then he changed his old code and punched the new code. He told her the new code.

His apartment was beautiful and spacious. Victoria was impressed. He showed her the guest room, then he left the apartment without a word.

Victoria didn’t bring her suitcase with her when she went to the apartment with James, she left it in the car.

After James left, Victoria went to the underground garage to fetch her suitcase. She hanged her clothes in the closet. She decided to take a tour of this apartment. There were three bedrooms.

She assumed that the one in the opposite side was the main bedroom, so she avoided that one. She went to the balcony; the view was beautiful. She went to the living room and dining room; the furniture was beautiful.

She was hungry, so she went to the kitchen and opened the fridge. It was fully packed. She was not sure if James was coming back, so she decided to make an omelet. While she was eating, she received a call from her father.

“Hello Victoria, how did it go? How is James?” asked her father. “Hello daddy, I have my marriage certificate. Then we went to his apartment. Today we are visiting his parents. James didn’t say much, he just left,” said Victoria.

Her dad was happy that everything went well, but he reminded her that should James be cruel to her, she must come back home, then he hang up.

After James left his apartment, he went to his close friend John Thomas. “What happened to you, who died?” asked John. James replied, “I got married today, I regret it.” John was shocked. “Did you marry Serene Logan?”

James shook his head and said, "My parents arranged a marriage for me. I was upset, Serene refused to take my calls and I agreed to marry Victoria Lewis and I regret it.

I was impulsive, and we were supposed to stay in this marriage for two years, then my father would allow me to marry Serene. I’m so sad.”

John was speechless, “When are you going to tell Serene?” John put his arm on James’s shoulder.

“I’m so angry right now, she forced me to do that. I will tell her when I’m no longer upset. I’m doomed John, what if she dumps me?” asked James with his hands in his face.

“Serene will never leave you; I hope this lady is better than Serene because I don’t think Serene deserves you, my friend, she always throws tantrums, she is too much,” said John. James looked at his friend coldly.

“Is your wife beautiful? Show me her photo,” said John. “She is not my wife John. Why would I carry her photo? She belongs to my parents,” said James.

“Two years is the long time anything can happen between the two of you, maybe she is your soul mate,” said John laughing. James looked at him coldly. “I belong to Serene. No one will take her place in my heart.”

They played cards and they listened to music; James’s anger subsided. Then he left John’s home and went to his apartment.

When he arrived at his apartment, Victoria was in the guest room sleeping. James knocked on her door, Victoria opened the door and said, “Do you need something, Mr Johnson?”

“I want to talk to you before we visit my parents. Please come to the living room,” said James coldly. Victoria wore her shoes and followed him. “I had a fight with my girlfriend yesterday, then I agreed to marry you out of anger.

I don’t love you and I will never love you. My heart belongs to Serene Logan, we love each other so much. Please don’t fight with Serene should you meet her, and I will tell her to respect you as well. Please know your place.

There will be nothing between us now and in the future. I promise not to touch you, my body belongs to Serene. This is just a temporary arrangement; we will live our separate lives.

I will attend all the important events with Serene since she is the woman I love. Please don’t disclose that you are my wife, and I will never do so. Do you have any questions?” asked James. Victoria shook her head.

“We will be leaving after an hour. Please go back to your room and change your clothes,” said James. Victoria went back to her room; she took a quick shower and wore a long red dress and baby heels.

She applied light make-up and nude lipstick. She was scared of meeting James’s mother; her father told her that Mrs Johnson was against the arranged marriage between James and her.

She went to the mirror to check if everything was alright, then she left her room. After forty-five minutes, James was in the living room waiting for her. He was wearing a black suit with a red tie; he was very handsome.

When James saw Victoria, he was stunned but he hid his emotions quickly. Serene was beautiful but Victoria’s beauty was outstanding, it was like a breath of fresh air.

When you looked at her it was impossible to take your eyes away. “Let’s go,” said James. They took the elevator to the underground garage.