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52. Start to Finish.
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The Marriage Game: love in a lie. 53. Forever and Always.
AmaraIt was finally the time for the election results to be announced. The election ended an hour before.Everyone was tense, our little family gathered in the dim lit study that was crowded with campaign materials and posters.We’d done interviews, appeared in shows as a family. This time we weren’t reciting the words that my mother’s publicist had written down for us.Everything that was said, all the laughter that was shared, came from a place of warmth deep in our hearts. One of the show hosts had commented on how lifely we seemed, had called it an election miracle and we’d all laughed over it.My mum said we’d celebrate, whether she won Mayor or not. But I knew deep down that she wanted that seat, and without being biased I knew she was the right person for the job. I listened with all focus, at the edge of my seat as the announcement started. We all waited, a sword could’ve cut through the tension in the room with ease.And that hell broke loose when mum was declared the winner
The Marriage Game: love in a lie. 1. Damn social functions!
Amara.There was only one word that could give right definition to social functions and gatherings; BULLSHIT. Everything about it is false. People who wouldn’t hesitate to stab a knife into your back while smiling into your face with hopes to gain something from it always, always made sure to attend it.Today's gathering was a charity for Black-footed ferrets that nobody gave a shit about. I mean, I felt pity the animals were endangered and all but, I was certain none of the people in the room actually cared about the animals. They were all here for the scene, for business deals and for people like my parents, to force their children into the shackles of eternal misery called marriage.It was an endless pattern for the rich and socialite -a gut-wrenching pattern.From my position at a corner of the room, I swirled the remaining content of my glass as I ran my eyes through the crowd in search of nothing and everything at the same time and to give people a better fitting of their choic
The Marriage Game: love in a lie. 2. The deal.
Amara.If eyes were guns, the looks Mom and Dad were giving me would have been enough to send me six feet under, but I couldn't care less, they were not half as angry as I was but they didn't see me reacting in any strange way. Tightening my robe around my waist, I adjusted comfortably in my seat, they couldn't even wait for me to have a shower before summoning me.After the 'official statement' last night, all the guests turned out too stunned to continue with the charity event and ended up living half way through. Vincent threw a fit afterwards and Mom and Dad tried everything they could to calm him while promising to bring my back to my senses. Amidst everything, I had wanted to lay down with Ife and rant about my terrible mistake while she consoled me but no, she had to leave with her parents. Of every night they could have slept over."Do you know the gravity of what you have done, Amara?" Mom bit out. If I peered over the table, I bet I'd see Dad holding her from physically atta
The Marriage Game: love in a lie. 3. The deal 2.
James.Maybe my eyes were playing games with me but the Amara I was walking towards was totally different from the one I saw yesterday. Even more different than the pictures I had seen.Her green eyes which offset her spotless brown skin shined brighter as they widened with fear. I could tell, from the way her hair was all messed up and the fact that she was still in her nightwear that she had just rolled out of bed but damn, was she sexy? She was the perfect person to model for a face cream or all those types of shit that women were interested in. She was beautiful, gorgeous even, but that wasn't what I was here for. She wasn't. Well, not exactly."Look, Sir, before you kill me, can you give me a few minutes to apologize and save myself from death? I am too young to die." Her tiny voice croaked as her eyes followed me till I occupied a seat before her. Looking at her now, she appeared tiny and fragile and not the bold and wild Amara that fitted perfectly in my...woah, woah James.I
The Marriage Game: love in a lie. 4. A little white lie.
Amara."Hell to the fuck no!" I bit back a smile once I heard my cousin's voice as she burst the door to my room open. "don't give me that 'I fell in love with James McKenna' bullshit, I am not buying it." She plumped onto my bed with her legs crossed before her and captured my wrists, "now, give me the answers I need."I chuckled, slowly pulling my hands out of her grip. "Sweetheart, you know you have to ask the questions for me to give you answers.""Oh, really?" She asked with a raised brow and I nodded. "What the fuck is going on? You and James McKenna? Girl, I'd rather believe the pigs developed wings. Come on, tell me. What happened?""I fell in love with James McKenna." I said in a small voice, my smile brighter than the sun. She smacked my hand lightly, "bitch, you know that ain't true." She rolled her eyes when I raised my brows at her, "oh, come on, your Mom isn't here. Allow me, please." "Fair point." I said with a nod."Now answer my question." She advanced to the center
The Marriage Game: love in a lie. 5. The promise.
JAMES.The soft music that played in the background did nothing to lighten the weight in my chest, frowning at the other failed mission of the day, I tipped my glass back and drowned my drink in one go.“I know you didn’t call me to watch you play ‘get drunk in five seconds, did you?’ Cayden cast an unimpressed look at my empty glass before dragging his eyes up to me.“It may not be an act,” I said as I signaled to the bartender to refill my glass. She made to tip off Cayden’s glass but he placed a hand over it, with a nod, she went off to attend to other customers.“You never drink to that extent,” he chided and I raised a shoulder. “what do you think your employees will think when they see you drunk?” he took a quick glance through the club -the place I worked so hard for years to stand out among other clubs in the state and outside. “It will be bad for your reputation. You can not risk getting drunk in public, James.”I shot him a smile before bringing the glass to my lips and took
The Marriage Game: love in a lie. 6. The Engagement.
James.I fixed my eyes on the glass of water before me and recited in my mind the new goals I've set for myself; engagement, engagement party, eliminate the evidence and a big break up. That was the way I wanted things to go with Amara and her manipulative parents.Three days passed by at the speed of light and now, I found myself seated in a restaurant waiting to fit a ring around her finger. My knees bounced up and down under the table and though I wasn't nervous about anything, I wouldn't deny that Amara was getting on my nerves with her lateness. We agreed to meet by eight-thirty pm, it was eight-forty-five now, and I was yet to see her.All I wanted to do was give her the damn ring and get on with my life. Gripping the cup, I tried to drown the whole content in one go but only ended up taking a sip. Damn, I was that impatient.A small sigh escaped my lips as I reached into my coat pocket and took out the ring Cayden had gotten for me the previous day; a rose gold ring with a slim
The Marriage Game: love in a lie. 7. Men Trouble.
Amara.Ife popped a chip in her mouth and munched loudly. I looked over the top of the book in my hand and at where she was seated and leaning against her desk and found her looking at me, her head in her palm. When I looked away, she sighed loudly and continued her loud munching.“Anything you want to get off your chest?” I dabbed my pointer finger and thumb with a little saliva and flipped the page I was done reading over without looking up at her.“A diamond ring, huh?” I heard the rustling of the chip bag as she moved it to the side.“Yup.” I added an extra pop to the ‘p’ and looked up at her. “Just the way I like it.” Truth be told, I loved rings, diamonds especially, but there was nothing exciting having someone else’ ring on my finger. Technically, it was mine but it totally wasn’t.“So, when are you moving in with him?My eyes widened at the question. Moving in with James? I hadn’t even thought about it after he mentioned it because I was worrying about the absurdity of havin
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The Marriage Game: love in a lie. 53. Forever and Always.
AmaraIt was finally the time for the election results to be announced. The election ended an hour before.Everyone was tense, our little family gathered in the dim lit study that was crowded with campaign materials and posters.We’d done interviews, appeared in shows as a family. This time we weren’t reciting the words that my mother’s publicist had written down for us.Everything that was said, all the laughter that was shared, came from a place of warmth deep in our hearts. One of the show hosts had commented on how lifely we seemed, had called it an election miracle and we’d all laughed over it.My mum said we’d celebrate, whether she won Mayor or not. But I knew deep down that she wanted that seat, and without being biased I knew she was the right person for the job. I listened with all focus, at the edge of my seat as the announcement started. We all waited, a sword could’ve cut through the tension in the room with ease.And that hell broke loose when mum was declared the winner
The Marriage Game: love in a lie. 52. Start to Finish.
AmaraI was pretty sure anyone within a mile from me could hear how hard my heart was beating against my chest. It’s been forever since I had James near me. The feel of his lips warm against my cold skin sent my senses into a frenzy.Even as I waved him goodbye and watched him pull out of the curb, I could still feel him on me. I stood there longer than I should have, rooted to the spot, because I couldn’t quieten down my own heart or get my feet to move.I heard the door open before Ife’s shrill voice followed. “What are you doing outside in the cold? I didn’t think you were going to come back.”That snapped me out of my reverie and I followed her inside. “Why did you think that?” I hung up my coat and sat down on the couch. I wasn’t quite ready to call it a night.“I thought you’d be too busy making up in his sheets.”The image flashed through my head. I put my palms over my eyes. “Ife!”“I saw the way you were looking at him Amara, like you want to tear his shirt off and mask him
The Marriage Game: love in a lie. 51. A New Dawn.
JamesWe had our dinner in complete silence, each of us consumed by their own thoughts. I wish Amara would just tell me what was going through her mind so I would know how to fix the problem between us.I drank all of my wine, and so did she. I could tell she was warming up to me from the way her gaze lingered too long on me, or how her eyes drifted to my lips when she thought I wasn’t looking.“Thank you for having dinner with me,” I told her when we were done.“I only agreed because of my mother, I don’t want to ruin the new relationship I have with her.”I wanted to call her bluff. Amara wasn’t the type to do something just because others asked. I’ll let her get away with the excuse because it brought her closer to me.“You can drop me off at Ife’s house, I haven’t cleaned my apartment yet so I’ll be staying there longer than planned.”I helped her with her coat. “The night is still young, and there’s somewhere I’ve been dying to take you to.”Her eyes narrowed at me. “You’re not t
The Marriage Game: love in a lie. 50. Hope
James“Alright.”For a complete ten seconds I stood there without registering her response. I’d been so sure she was going to turn down my suggestion that I found it hard to believe that I was hearing right. “You’re going to give me a chance to talk things over?”“I just said yes James, don’t make me change my mind.”It’s a good thing I’d kept the reservation I made in anticipation for tonight. Cayden and Henry had tried to talk me out of it, that she’d clearly rejected me many times and I needed to give up.But I’d held onto the hope that I had. That she would remember the good times we had and give me a chance. Looks like luck was on my side. I wish I could flip my middle finger in their faces.“I made a reservation at a restaurant, just the two of us. If that’s okay with you.” I needed to play my cards right so I don’t upset her and have her banging the door in my face again. “I’m already having dinner with my family, we can just talk in your car. I think—”“Oh, Amara.” My mother
The Marriage Game: love in a lie. 49. The Revelation.
AmaraIt was finally here; the day of my grand reveal. I was well within my rights to be nervous, everybody else would.I’d been worried that people would not show up for the exhibition, why would they for an artist they didn’t even know what she looked like. But boy, was I wrong? The gallery was fully packed save for the small makeshift stage that was situated at the far corner where my name was put up in a banner.Ife was with me, but the more she tried to calm my nerves, the more nervous I grew.My family was not here yet and it made me worried. What if mum changed her mind about supporting me and saw the exhibition as a waste of her time?It was unfair doubting her like this. But, when you’ve been burned many times in the past, it becomes hard not to grow weary that it could happen all over again.“What if she didn’t get the invite?” I asked Ife.“Who?”“My mum, they’re not here yet. Do you think she bailed?”“You need to have more faith in the people around you, Amara. I’m sure
The Marriage Game: love in a lie. 48. Ready!
AmaraSpending time with my family helped me get out of the mental dump I’d found myself in. It was nice to sit down in complete laughter, enjoying the laughter and the food the cook had put her magic touch in. I slept over and went back the next morning to Ife’s place, only to find her sitting through a couple letters.“Have a secret admirer?” I teased, hanging up my jacket.“As if. These are for you?”I looked over her shoulder at the pink flowered envelopes she was holding. “I can’t think of a single person on this damn planet that’ll be sending me letters.”“Well, I can. They’re from James, maybe it’s time you give him a listening ear. I’m beginning to feel bad for him.”“You can do whatever you want with the letters.” I walked straight to the door and shut it after me. I sat on the floor, head hung between my knees. Why was he making it so difficult to move on from him? It wasn’t that I couldn’t forgive him, I just wouldn’t be able to trust him again. Going back to him would be
The Marriage Game: love in a lie. 47. Better life.
AmaraIt’s been days and I still haven’t had the courage to leave Ife’s house for fear that I’d run into James. My defenses were beginning to wear down all the efforts he was putting to win me back. I was afraid that I’d finally give in to him.James Mckenna had the power to easily break my heart the second time, and I wasn’t going to let that happen. Which was why I was totally avoiding him. I made sure not to read any of the messages or emails he sent me. I just blocked him immediately and put my phone in Ife’s drawer where I’ll not be tempted to go through them. But, I was done wallowing in self pity, it was time to get up and move on with my life.Everything didn’t start and end with James. Although it hurt to admit that in my heart—it did.I stood up from the bed, showered and joined Ife where she was making breakfast in the kitchen.“Nice to see you up and about,” she said with a smile when I walked in.“I can’t be the sad heartbroken girl forever.”She raised a brow at me. “Wha
The Marriage Game: love in a lie. 46. Reinforcements.
JamesI have never, through all my years of existence, considered myself an emotional man. I moved through everything with the philosophy that I could get whatever it is that I wanted by putting in the hardwork and doing my possible best in every situation.That was how I grew my company from nothing to a multi-million dollar company, opened many branches in the US, and was featured in Forbes. It had worked until now.I wanted to have Amara but all my efforts were going down the drain. I’d decided to give her some space to think everything through and come back to me, but that wasn’t the case and it drove me over the edge.The more she rejected me, the more my desire for her grew. It was hard to imagine a life without her, so I had to keep trying.My alarm went off and I knew it was time for the meeting with the branch managers, but I couldn’t get myself to move from where I sat.All that was on my mind was how to win Amara back, and have her stay at my side. It had hurt when she pus
The Marriage Game: love in a lie. 45. It hurts!
AmaraI’ve been in the same spot on Ife’s bed since I made her room my hideout. The window blinds are drawn and the lights out. It’s all dark and depressing inside her room.I managed to turn Ife’s vibrant room to a messy little cave that I don’t ever want to leave. In here, I don’t have to worry about running into James again, or having to face my mother and talk about what she had done.Thank God I’d gotten my hair braided before this, it would’ve been a tangled mess on my hair right now.The music player on her bookshelf kept playing the heartbreak playlist I’d found on spotify. There was something about being sad and listening to sad songs that was very comforting. It made me feel seen and understood in this madness. I never want to get up from here. I was going to lie down here, cry my balls out and hope that someday I’ll become one with the bed. Hopefully, Ife would be very kind and not throw me out of her room.My phone buzzed on the bedside table and I picked it up. It was my
