My mind went down the old memory lane...
Grrrr!!, I grunted as I grabbed Gladys's hand and scrambled towards the door as I coughed real hard, I pushed the door open and as I ran towards only- God-knows-where, There was just a voice ringing in my head, keeping my sanity, keeping me from falling apart, It kept saying just one thing - I had to survive, I couldn't afford to die, not after everything,at least not when I didn't understand anything about that strange man and how I even got there,No!!, I tried to yell, I could feel myself mouthing it but there was no sound just the furious snorts and occasional curses that sounded like hums from Gladys, my legs began to convulse and my whole body followed suit, I was wondering what warranted this hate from someone who was not even much of a close associate, I kept wondering what Leah told her for her to hate me or even try to kill me, just what did I do to deserve this?!,Damn this evil world!! I did not have the luxury to start thinking back to remember when I did something to hurt anyone of them when the large dark door fell straight to the ground, I turned to see that same familiar silhouette with Gladys's door pitifully lying on the floor...yes and again I blacked out immediately the figure approached me but this time it ran towards me with rushed steps...
I woke up to meet the same familiar yet unfamiliar plafond ... again but this time I was in a better condition and stable state of being even when It was after another near death experience, this place felt like home, maybe it was as a result of my current dilemma or because I didn't have anywhere to go , I couldn't go back to Leah and Max, I mean not after they almost killed me nor could I go to a co-workers place, I was not that close to them, atleast not to the point of habitating with them and I couldn't afford to trust anyone else, right now I'd rather trust a total stranger than people I've known all my life, I looked at the tall figure looking out the window, his broad shoulders,lean waist, long muscular legs and blonde hair.
"Have you had your fill ?" He said as he turned to look at me, It was then I noticed his amber eyes, I didn't have the luxury to wonder how he saw me or if he had eyes at the back of his head because I got startled with the way he abruptly walked towards me with long strides, "aren't you just amusing?" He said and I don't know why I felt a wave of cold down my spine and.... goosebumps??! Or was it the weather? but we're in summer, I don't know how to explain this negative feeling but I knew this man was someone I couldn't never ever afford to offend, his aura was just too..... overwhelming?, I knew I was supposed to start yelling at him for being such a pervert and keeping a woman hostage or act like a scaredy cat that I wasn't or pretend to be wary of him but I didn't or maybe I couldn't,anyways I decided to go with the flow,he didn't seem dangerous,in that way I mean. So I asked, "In what way I'm I amusing,Sir?","Well that was late and you're amusing in every way and also just call me Andrew, we're getting married after all." My mind instantly went blank for a split second, I just began to remember it all, This man.., Xavier and the burly guy, that's when it occurred to me that we actually had a conversation, I and this oppressive man, The man reached out for the table just next to the bed and I felt my heart jumping so hard I was scared It was going to jump out of my chest,we were so close...., just inches apart and my heart beat,it was so loud, I could hear it and began to move back for fear that he'll hear it too, it's going to be more awkward then but immediately I stretched my legs so as to move back, an icy hand pinned my wrist to the bed and stared briefly before dropping a file on my laps, I unconsciously breathed a sigh of relief and he actually noticed it,he chuckled and that was when I noticed the deep dimple on his left cheek, It was so cute!! and I felt another attack on my poor heart, At that moment, I decided that no matter business I'm going to have with this gorgeous man,now, in the future or anywhere else, I was going to be wary of him because I could get a heart attack at this rate, "little blonde,why are you so flustered?",he asked as he gazed directly into my eyes!! and I felt a nagging feeling that the level of amusement in those eyes could lead to another.... and yes it did, the same breathtaking dimple popped out of nowhere again and I was swept off my feet once more and 'little blonde'???, In what way was little and why the hell was this stupid name giving me these tingling sensations?,There and then, I concluded that this man was one of the most dangerous weapon in the world, I had to be careful around him, "A penny for your thoughts?", he invaded my thoughts,yet again, That was when I noticed the intimate position we were in and my instincts kicked in immediately as I pushed his chest roughly, It felt like he frowned for a split second so I looked carefully at his face but he was now expressionless as he pointed at the brown file on my laps, I immediately recognized it as the one he had given me earlier before I went to Gladys' house, I hesitated when I remembered the content of the file but I opened it anyway and there was the same marriage contract but I noticed it was two copies now with my name and a name I believed to be his boldly written on them and two spots which had 'bride and groom's signature' on them respectively,he pulled the papers out completely from the file and reached for a pen which I didn't notice was inside the file and shoved it into my palm,"read the marriage agreement and sign, we're going to get our certificate tomorrow, I'm going to make adjustments to things that are reasonable", he said emphasizing the last word,It just felt like he was speaking gibberish at that moment, how am I supposed to get married to a stranger?? and why was he talking about MARRIAGE!! as if he was telling someone about the weather. His eyebrows furrowed once more and adjusted himself to face me directly, "I understand how you feel right now but trust me you don't need to be scared of me, I can't say much right now but rest assured, I won't hurt you and this marriage will be more to your benefit than mine, please read the contract", That was the first time I heard him say that much since I met him, I think that compelled me into reading the contract, I lowered my head to have a better view of the tiny words and what I saw shocked me to the core,
*