One.

Xara lay on her worn-out mattress, staring at the ceiling, waiting for the day of her cursed marriage. She had tried several times to change her parent's minds, but to no avail. She didn't want this kind of life for herself. She wanted to graduate, find a job, find true love and then settle down with the man of her dreams. She was a beauty to behold.

I guess that ain't happening anytime soon. She thought to herself.

Why hadn't she run off, just like her sister Mabel did? She just didn't have the guts to do so. She had always put her family before another thing, and this is what it had landed her into.

“Maybe it won't be that bad; at least I get to continue my education and mom and dad live a better life." She tried to convince herself. She heard a knock on her door as her best friend, Alianna entered.

“Bad time?" She asked her.

“Does it matter anymore?" She sighed as her friend sat beside her. Alianna came from a well-to-do family. She lived in Park Slope, one of the richest neighbourhoods in Brooklyn, NY, and Xara lived in Brownsville, the poorest neighbourhood in Brooklyn, yet they were best of friends.

“I'm sorry you have to go through all this, I wish I could help," Alianna said.

“ I guess it's my fate now, Ali. Thanks for everything you've ever done." Xara caressed her friend's hand.

"When is the dreaded wedding?" Alianna inquired.

“Two weeks from now." Her friend sadly smiled.

Xara had always been there for Alianna; she was rich and lonely, but when Xara came into her life, she brought happiness and peace, and now her best friend is subjected to an arranged marriage to a man she barely knows.

“Hey, let's go out for some fresh air," Alianna suggested. Xara reluctantly got up from her bed and walked to her closet to pick an outfit. She was still in her nightwear when Alianna came by.

She picked something cute yet casual and changed into it. She tied her hair into a bun and stepped out with Alianna behind her.

“And where are you girls off to?" She heard her mom’s voice behind them.

“Out," Xara told.

“No, you can't; your wedding is tomorrow."

“The wedding is what?!” She exclaimed angrily.

“The date has been moved forward, Kai is travelling on a business trip this weekend, so you my dear are getting married tomorrow." She sternly told her.

“ And of course you and dad didn’t think of letting me know because of what?!" She yelled earning a slap on her face by her mother.

“Don't you dare raise your voice at me; now get back to your room. You need to have a rest for your big day." She instructed.

“ You are the worst mother a child could ever have, and I hate you, so much.” she spat storming off to her room with Alianna behind her.

Xara sobbed into her best friend's arms. She thought she had a couple of days left to enjoy freedom but that wasn't the case anymore.

“Hey, it's going to be fine. We would talk every day, maybe meet up sometimes and we would see each other in school when it reopens." Her friend tried to console.

~

Xara, Alianna and other girls on her bridal train that she didn't know were in the hotel room having their make up done. She had the choice to pick whom her maid of honor would be and ofcourse she chose Alia. The rest were girls picked by her mom from only God knew where.

Her father walked her down the aisle as the bridal March song played. Kai stood in front waiting for her to get there so he could get on and over with this crappy marriage.

“Just skip to the I pronounce you husband and wife." Kai impatiently added as the priest did so. He didn't even kiss his wife when he was asked to do so. Kai stole some glances at his wife. She bore a little resemblance to her sister, Mabel. He loved her so much, but it seems she didn’t because she ended up running away with another man.

Kai was 6’8 , light skinned , handsome with a beautiful body. He had a sharp chiseled face with a scruffy beard. His green orbs shone beautifully in the sun. He was a handsome man with a terrible character at the age of 30.

The couple walked out as pictures were taken.

They headed out to a different location for the reception. As soon as they got there, Kai left her and went to talk with his friends.

“Hey, Mrs Maximilian." Alianna teased her friend walking close to her.

“Oh, my name still remains Xara." She nudged her.

“Mrs Maximillian, your husband requires your presence immediately in his office." The Secretary said.

“Okay, let's go then." She said as she followed the man with Alianna. A few minutes later, they had arrived at Kai's office. Her parents almost bumped into her with bags of cash as they happily went out. She entered the office alone as her friend waited for her.

“I just wanted to give you these." He said as he kept a scholarship form in front of her and a bag containing a new phone and laptop. She was stunned and grateful for his gesture.

“And, have this money for a change of wardrobe, and to keep for yourself. Your bank cards would be ready next week, that's all you can leave now." He rudely added.

“Thank you for this kind gesture, I really appreciate it." She smiled and left the office.

Kai was shocked, he thought she was some loud-mouthed money-loving bitch but she was different.

Whatever she's still a peasant. He thought to himself.

“An early wedding gift huh?" Alianna teased happily for her friend.

“Yeah, I'm just grateful for these and I hope things get much better, I really do," Xara told her friend.

Alianna and Xara spent the whole time together as Kai moved around with his friends, talking about businesses, life and women in general.

“Ma'am, it's time for you to go home." His Secretary added.

“ Just a minute, " She smiled at him

.

“Alianna, it's my cue to leave, we would meet on campus and I will call you once I get home." She hugged her friend and left with her husband's Secretary.

I hope she fits in, I really do. Alianna shook her head as she walked to her car and drove off.

The car parked in front of a beautiful mansion in Park slope, Alianna's neighbourhood.

At least I could come out to visit Alianna when I am bored. She happily thought to herself as she followed the elder man into the house. It was beautiful, the most beautiful thing she had ever seen.

The maids, servants and drivers stood in the hallway waiting to welcome her.

“ Welcome Ma'am, these are the servants of the Maximilian household and they are ready to serve you anytime, any day and any moment." Caleb, the secretary introduced.

“Thanks, Caleb, and thank you all for welcoming me. I wish to have a good time here with you guys." She said.

“Thanks, Ma'am." The chief servant responded.

“Please call me Xara and can anyone direct me to my room?" She asked worn out.

“Sure, this way." Amanda, the chief servant said as she followed suit.

“Welcome to your new home." Amanda smiled at the young wife as she entered her room. The room had purple and white walls. The queen-sized bed was situated at the corner of the room. It had a large walk-in closet that contained a lot of new clothes, shoes and lingerie. It was as if she was brought to a palace.

“I would be in the kitchen, is there anything you want me to do for you?" She asked drawing her out of her self induced trance.

“Can I please have something to eat? I barely ate anything at the reception. No one wanted to be around the peasant and loner wife except my best friend. " She let out a dry laugh.

“What would you like to have?" Amanda asked again.

“Anything that I can eat, please." She smiled as Amanda walked out of her room.

She took of the beautiful wedding gown and hang at the back of her walk-in-closet. She tied her silver blonde hair up in a messy bun and wrapped a towel around her body walking into the bathroom to wash down.

At 25, Xara was 5’10 , quite tall but very short when she stood by her husband. She had oily olive skin and the most beautiful set of brown eyes. She wasn’t lanky, but had beautiful curves to compliment her height. What she loved mot about herself was her deep dimples. Her dimples were so deep that even if she didn’t smile they were beautiful

A couple of minutes passed and she came out of the bathroom in her towel. She walked into her closet and picked a black spaghetti-strapped top and lose bum shorts revealing her long sexy legs and curves.

She took the laptop out of her bag as well as the new Iphone and began to set up her account. She immediately registered for N*****x on her laptop then began to watch movies while waiting for her account to be set up and her food to be brought.

Amanda came in and placed a plate of shrimp fried rice, steak and a glass of red wine on her table for her.

“ Can I get the password to the wi-fi please?” she politely asked as the elder woman scribbled it o a piece of paper beside her.

“Thank you, Amanda, that would be all for now," Xara said to the woman.

“Enjoy your meal Madam," Amanda replied.

“ Please call me Xara, Madam makes me feel old Amanda,” she said.

“ Okay Ms Xara,”

“Is my husband home?" Xara asked out of the blue.

“No, not yet I guess he would soon be back,"Amanda said as she walked out of the room.

Kai arrived home late as usual. “ Is Xara in her room?" He asked Amanda.

“Yes Sir." She answered as he walked up to her room and knocked on the door.

Xara rubbed the sleep off her eyes and walked to the door to see who it was.

"You can come in." She said to her husband Kai who couldn’t take his eyes of her beautiful body frame

“Naah, I just came to see if you're fine, and I can er, see you are. So good night." He turned on his heels and walked to his room, leaving her in uttermost shock.