I woke up the next morning tucked in. I looked to my side, that part of the bed was rough, meaning Ansel slept there. I stood up and went to do my business. When I was done, I opened one of the closets and saw all of my clothes, neatly folded. My office attires were ironed and were on hangers.
I ended up wearing a maroon shirt and blue boot-cut jeans. I matched it with brown boots. I tied my hair in a high ponytail. I wanted to head downstairs when my phone rang.
I went and checked the ID caller, it was May Rivers, my best friend. She had been with me since we were in elementary school. We went to the same high school and college.
She was like the sister I never had, she knew me in and out, even more than I knew myself. I answered after the second ring.
"How's the latest bride doing?", she chirped. "Did you guys go traditional and do the deed on the wedding night?", she asked.
"You know that can't happen.", I said.
She knew everything about me still being in love with Brayden, my...I couldn't even call him my ex because we never broke up, he just left.
"Now don't be negative. It could happen.", she said and I rolled my eyes, even though she couldn't see me. "You know you could fall in love with him.", she added.
She had this idea of me falling in love with Ansel since the time I told her I was marrying him and why. Since then she had been making me see the bright light of all this, though I couldn't be as enthusiastic as she was about this marriage and life after it.
"Anyways how are you.", she asked.
"I'm fine."
"And how's he treating you?", she asked.
"Fine, he's acting normal. He's the same patient him.", I said.
"And have you guys talked."
"Not really, plus what's there to talk about.", I said.
"You're a married couple there's a lot to talk about.", she said in a duh tone.
"Oh really. Do fill me up, oh wise one.", I said with a mythical tone.
"There's the fact about your accounts, joint or separate. There's the fact about your work, will you continue or will you stop since you have a frigging rich husband.", she said. She normally used the word frigging instead of the F word.
"There's the fact about consummating your marriage and bearing children. Baby, there are a lot of things to talk about.", she ended in a sassy tone.
"Yeah, I know. Anyways how are you, and April and Jamie?", I asked.
April was her younger sister. Her parents named two of them after months since their mum was named, July. Silly right? While Jamie was her boyfriend.
"They're fine. April's resuming school tomorrow. She's in her final year."
"Wow!", I said.
"Funny right, it feels like it was yesterday she was starting college.", May said.
April was studying mass communication, she wanted to be a journalist.
"Jamie and I are thinking of following you and Ansel's step.", she said and it took me a moment to realise what she meant.
"No way! You're planning on getting married.", I said.
"Don't think we're doing it 'cause you just did yours yesterday.", she deadpanned.
"Whatever, when is it?", I asked.
"We're thinking of mid-next year, like in May.", she said and I smiled.
"Seriously, May?", I asked.
"Yeah, plus it's romantic to wed in the month same as my name.", she giggled.
"Anyways, but can I ask to be the chief bride maid.", I said.
"Of course, and do you happen to know who's the best man.", I said.
"Lucky guess, Ansel.", I said.
"Yep.", she said popping the p.
Ansel and Jamie had been best friends ever since. Even before May and I knew. So May was ecstatic when she realised her best friend was getting married to her fiancé's best friend.
"Does he know?", I asked.
"You're the first person to know of our decision. We're gonna wait till Jamie's birthday to announce it to everyone.", she said.
"Oh my God really, I feel so loved.", I said.
"Well keep that love in your heart till the birthday. I mean don't tell anyone. I wasn't even supposed to tell you but..."
"You love me so much.", I completed her statement for her.
"Yeah, that. Now I have to go have my bath, bye."
"Bye.", I said and she hung up.
I kept the phone down and headed down for breakfast. I never took my phone whenever I was going to eat.
Normally it was because I didn't want any interruptions when eating. After all, I was always doing that with my dad. Now I've gotten used to it.
I went down and as I got down the stairs, I saw a young lady. She was wearing a blue dress with a white apron. The blue colour of her dress was the same as that of the cushion.
Her hair was in a low bun. She was dusting the chairs with a small black dusting broom. When she turned and saw me, she came towards me.
"Good morning ma'am. Would you like to be served your breakfast now?", she asked, she must be a maid.
"Yes thank you.", I said and followed her to the dining room.
I took a seat as she served the food. It was my favourite, spaghetti and meatballs with tea. Was this coincidental or on purpose? I knew Ansel knew this was my favourite dish, so I decided to ask.
"Did Ansel tell you to prepare this?", I asked.
"Yes ma'am, the young master gave the order.", she said.
"Young master? Does he tell you to call him that?", I asked.
"Oh no, ma'am. I'm used to it. He actually doesn't like it.", she said ending in a small voice.
"Out of curiosity, How long have you been working for him?", I asked.
"Since I finished high school.", she said and I dropped my fork.
"How many years was that?", I asked.
"Five years ago.", she said and my eyebrows knitted in confusion. She could have been done with college and probably have a better job.
"Why didn't you go to college?", I asked.
"My parents didn't have enough money.", she said.
"And how did you get to know Ansel?", I asked.
"I got to meet him when I was working at a coffee shop, he offered to fund my college, but I refused.", she said looking at her shoes.
"Why?", I asked.
"I..it made me feel like a charity case. So he agreed to pay me till I was able to fund my college.", she said.
"And it's five years, why haven't you gone back?", I asked.
"Well, I figured I had grown too old to go back and I'm using the money I get to help my sister in her college.", she said.
"How old are you?", I asked.
"Twenty-three."
"And what of your parents?", I asked.
"They're late, my sister's living with my aunt.", she said.
"Oh. I'm sorry about that. What's your name?"
"Cecilia Jonah.", she said.
I smiled, "Then I can call you CJ.", I said and she looked up at me in shock.
"Isn't that too informal?", she asked.
"No, it's not. It isn't informal to be friends with your boss's wife.", I said. "Hey, we could be friends okay? Plus, I'm not your boss.", I said.
"But you're my boss's wife. You're also my boss.", she said.
"Well, I don't want to be your boss. I want to be your friend.", I said still smiling, she looked so innocent.
"O..okay."
"What's your sister's name?", I asked.
"Carly."
"What's she studying?"
"Journalism.", she said.
"Hey, my best friend's sister's studying that. See, I can have two friends who have sisters that are studying the same thing.", I said.
"I see you're both getting along.", I heard I turned to see Ansel in a green shirt with khaki shorts. His hair was still dripping slightly, he must have just gotten out of the shower.
Something about him annoyed me. I was now married to him, just so he could take over my dad's company and help restore it. I remembered Cecilia's words, was I just a charity case to him?
"I'll have my food now Cecilia.", he said and sat down with a sigh.
"You haven't started eating, it's your favourite.", he said and I realised I hadn't.
"You know you shouldn't have.", I said.
"No, it's nothing I..."
"Really you shouldn't have.", I said looking at him with a cold look in my eyes.
"Well I felt like.", he said and I scoffed.
"You felt like.", I said rudely.
"I'm sorry but is something wrong."
"Yeah, you don't have to do anything to please me 'cause it won't.", I said but he didn't say anything after.
"And why can't I do....."
"You should remember this is not a marriage of convenience and I'm only married to you for my family, that's all."
"I know that, and as I said I felt....", I cut him off with a hiss as I stood up.
"Where are you going?", he asked.
"I'm not hungry anymore.", I lied. I was still hungry but I just didn't want to eat, not with him there.
I was now in the living room, licking a chocolate ice cream I had found in the fridge, but it still wasn't quenching my hunger.
Don't get me wrong, I love ice cream like an idiot, but I hadn't eaten anything properly since my cake from yesterday's ceremony in the afternoon.
After my short argument with Ansel, I had gone upstairs to get my phone and I came back to the living room and now I was watching the latest Telenovela, The Other Side of The Wall. I was a sucker for those.
In an instant, I remembered those days when I would wait for Dad to come back from the office and Caleb would stay up watching Telenovelas with me so that when I fall asleep on the couch he would take me to my room. I smiled at the memory.
We had both drifted apart when he started working at the company. And when the company had fallen under he had to move away when he got another job that was very far from our house.
The door opened and Ansel came in with some people. Three men, CJ and a woman who seemed elderly. They all stood behind him and I stood up.
"W..what's going on?", I asked.
"These are the people working in the household.", he started.
"This is Mekhi Sanchez, he's the chauffeur and he'll take you anywhere you want him to.", he said pointing at the black American
"I know what a chauffeur does.", I said but he continued.
"This is Cory Donovan, he's the gardener.", he said pointing at the man whose red hair was turning white.
"This is Oscar Sawyer, he's the gatekeeper.", he said referring to the last man.
"This lovely lady here is Mrs. Leon, the housekeeper. I can also refer to her as my nanny.", he said.
"Old men don't have nannies Ansel, don't embarrass me.", the woman said with a laugh as he gave her a small pout. He must have known her for a long time.
"And you've already met Cecilia here. She's the house cook.", he said and then turned to them. "You all have been taking care of me and this big house, but now there are two. So, this is my wife, Riley.", he said and I gave them all a small smile.
He looked at me and I guessed it was my cue to say something so I did.
"Um, it's nice to be with you all and I'm looking forward to a good time with you all.", I said in a formal tone.
"Riley.", the woman said, but it sounded like Rila. She stepped forward and held my hand. "You are the lovely woman who has captured my boy's fragile heart and I'm sure he has captured yours.", she said and I glanced at him.
Of course, he hadn't told them, and they all viewed me as an angel, I'm sure.
"We will treat you well and no need to be so formal with us, we are his family and now you're both married, we're your family too.", she said holding my hand.
Then she turned to Ansel, "She's beautiful, where did you find her.", she said and his cheeks coloured as he rubbed the back of his neck.
"You were watching something before we came so we'll head back to our posts now. If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask us anything.", she said and I nodded. "And call me Nicola, Ansel introduced me too formally though I always tell him not to.", she said.
They left shortly after that and I was left alone with Ansel.
"She's nice.", I said.
"Yeah, I..."
"Why didn't you tell her the reason for our marriage.", I asked with the same cold tone.
"Well, I didn't want to. Plus I know that would break her heart..."
"She's nice, you shouldn't be lying to her."
"I'm not lying, I'm just not telling her the truth.", he said.
"And what would you tell her when she starts asking for a child from both of us.", I said.
"She won't pressure us like that.", he said.
"Ansel, you're like a son to her, she might not tell you, but she would want a child from us. You better tell her what she needs to know.", I said and walked out before he could say anything else.
I didn't like the fact that she didn't know why we were married. He was lying to her just as Theresa had been lying to my dad and that pissed me off.
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The Sparkling Authoress
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