Marrying my high school bully

Lorraine

I bobbed my head backward to contain my laughter, which I succeeded in doing. “You aren’t serious, are you?”

There was hardly any hint of playfulness on his face so I took it that he was serious, but the last thing I’d do is to go on a date with him.

“It seems this is a bad idea so I’ll just return to my office, but I won’t have you loitering around during work hours.” He said sternly.

“I wasn’t loitering.” I said in my defense, contemplating on telling him about my encounter with Emilia. It concerned the both of us, so I went ahead. “Emilia suspects something.”

His eyes widened as he massaged his temples quickly and dropped his hand. “What exactly does she suspect?”

“She thinks we are in a relationship.”

He said nothing else then walked away, his shoulders drooped, probably in disappointment.

The day went by in a haze while I earnestly waited for dismissal time. It finally came so I greeted my colleagues goodbye and raced towards the gate.

I’d passed through the revolving door after bidding the greeter good bye when I caught a sight that got my blood boiling. Dexter opened the car door for a woman to slide in while looking around surreptitiously.

My eyes burned painfully as I sighed, angry that almost everything he did affected me. He climbed into the car as well then drove off.

I couldn’t explain the excruciating pain that filled my heart that moment, but it was so heavy and heady that I wanted to smash someone’s head, or at least see some break into pieces.

Not returning home would be a big proof of how sad I was, so against every bad odds that convinced me not to go home, I still trudged ahead. Frustrated and angry.

The kind of warmth I wanted to experience each time I got back never came, instead I was reminded of my loneliness that had become a constant presence in my life. Happiness wasn’t meant for me as every event of my life gave me the pointer.

I pushed the door open, slightly relieved that I’d have some level of peace and quiet to myself but Dexter had something else in store for me.

The same woman he left with was seated right on the sofa, scrolling through her phone with a bitchy expression. Her well toned thighs were crossed over, giving her an I-don’t-give-a-fuck vibe.

“Hello,” I said with a light but firm tone.

She slowly lifted her gaze from her phone like she hadn’t heard me come in, and arched her brows at me as if I was an intruder. “Who are you?” She intoned rudely.

I had an instant dislike for her. How could someone be so saucy at the first meeting? I’d opened my mouth to give her a proper reply that will make her have some rethink about her manners when Dexter stepped in, casually dressed in a pair of baggy shorts which exposed his muscular legs and a white vest.

My eyes quickly conducted a brief scrutiny on the broadness of his chest, his well carved biceps and his ripped muscular arms.

I cleared my throat, “You’re back, Mr Hemmingway. How was your day?”

“It was….”

The unknown visitor cut him short. “Who’s she, Dex? I thought you didn’t like having people in your homes, Mr privacy.” She teased him with a beautiful smile. I imagined she gave only people she genuinely loved.

Dexter glanced at me, his eyes dropping silent pleas. “Ummm.. She’s my…”

I dragged in a short breath “I’m his live in maid.” I cut in nervously and hurriedly, ignoring the look of disbelief and disappointment he passed to me.

Did he think I was joking when I said that I didn’t want anyone to know that we were married?

“Oh, I thought as much. You look like one with that worn out dress you have on. It’s really old fashioned, isn’t it?” She asked Dexter.

His disbelief turned into a frown. I didn’t even know who it was directed at but the way he scowled at the lady showed that it was just for me.© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

“Lorraine, this is my younger sister, Victoria. She’s been out of the country for years and now she’s back so I hope you both get along.” It wasn’t just a mere statement to keep the conversation going, he was really hopeful that we would become closer.

She scoffed immediately, interrupting Dexter the second time. “There’s no way on earth I’m getting along with a maid.” She blurted then got to her feet, hooking her arm with Dexter’s. “Dex, I told you that I might be staying in the hotel for a short while before looking for an apartment, but yours is really dope and I want to stay.” She requested with a pout.

Oh no. I hope he wasn’t going to allow her to stay without my consent. She was the true definition of a bitch and I was so sure I couldn’t stand her for a second.

He ruffled his hair roughly, pinning his gaze on me. “I’ll think about it, Tori.” He replied flatly while she kept batting her lashes at him. “It’s not a promise.” He added.

“Well, I’ll bug you until you have no choice but to yield to my request.”

A real pest.

Realising that they weren’t the only one in the room, she averted her gaze from her brother to me. “Miss maid, can you get me a glass of water? I’m really thirsty right now.” She said with a grim smirk that I really felt like smacking off her lips.

I’m not your maid, dummy. That, I wanted to say but it would only complicate matters so I chose another reply instead. “Do you want it warm or cold?”

“Cold, of course.” She stated with a dismissive tone. “Don’t be so dumb.” She said after I left.

After getting a bottle of water from the fridge, I turned it into a glass tumbler and set it on a tray. I was so engrossed in my thoughts that I didn’t feel that someone else was present in the room.

“You’re really keen on downgrading yourself, aren’t you?” I could sense the pain from his voice, but what could he have me do?

My life would be plunged into a downward trajectory if anyone knew that we were married-contractually. It would have been easier for me if we both loved each other, but love was the last thing that could happen between the both of us.

“Why didn’t you tell me that she was around? You could have sent a text or something, yet you decided to give me the best surprise of the year.” I fired at him. He opened his mouth to defend himself, but to me, the conversation was over. “Excuse me, please.”

The plastic tray holding the glass cup that was held firmly in my hands slipped off and dropped to the ground, shattering into splinters as I stared at the second uninvited visitor we had.

What on God’s green earth was Emilia doing here?