Chapter 42: 42
Carmela sat in the opulent hotel room, the lavish feast before her ignored as she gazed out the window, lost in her thoughts. The festival outside was a cacophony of music, laughter, and fireworks, but none of it reached her. Her mind was consumed by the mysterious call she had received earlier that evening.
Professor Mallory, usually so composed and distant, had called her in a rare state of agitation.
"Carmela, please talk to Mr Dean" she had urged. "Help me plead so I won’t lose my job..."
Nix Dean..
The name rang in her ears, familiar yet unfamiliar. Was he just another businessman, or something far more significant? She watched him now, sitting across from her, his focus unwavering from the screen of the laptop before him. He seemed like a deity engrossed in the minutiae of his own creation, his fingers dancing over the keyboard with practiced precision.
The sound of plastic scraping against glass drew her attention. She looked down to see a sleek black card beside her plate. "Get yourself a dress for the wedding," his solemn voice instructed. She bit her lip as mischievous thoughts bubbled up.
"What if I use all your money for shopping?" she quipped, waiting to catch his attention
"It’s an unlimited card, Beloved.. And even if you do, I could sell four to five Lamborghinis to refill the account," he replied, his tone calm and measured but still he didn’t look away from the screen before him. Her jaw dropped, the word "Lamborghini" echoing in her mind.
"How... how many Lamborghinis do you have, if I may ask?" She set her cutlery down, her full attention on him now.
"Ten to fifteen.. I guess. Collecting them was an old habit of mine ," he answered absently, still engrossed in his work.
"Can I have one?" she blurted out, earning a questioning look from him. She tucked her hair behind her ear, scrambling for an excuse. "Erm... since I’m going to become Mrs. Dean, it wouldn’t look right if I continued using public transport. And even if I insist, you’ll have to convince me otherwise," she lied, hiding the true reason she needed the car.
As a scholarship student in a department filled with wealthy, spoiled brats, she was constantly the target of their ridicule. They once even forced her to drink a carton of spoiled milk just because they didn’t want to waste it, and she had complied to avoid even more trouble that day.
"I’ll think about it," Nix’s voice brought her back to the present. Without thinking, she jumped up and kissed his cheek.
"See you in the courthouse, Mr husband," she said, startling him a bit before grabbing the card he dropped on the table before heading towards the elevator.
This marriage was going to be a win-win situation, and she had plans installed to ensure that. f
Once in the elevator, she dialed Tom’s number. "Hey!" she greeted cheerfully when he answered, a smile naturally spreading across her face. "Let’s go shopping. I’ll buy you whatever you want."
There was a dense silence on the other end. "Did you rob someone?" he finally asked, his tone half-joking.
"Not someone, but a bank," she replied with a sly smile, looking at the credit card Nix had handed her. The future, uncertain and thrilling, stretched out before her, filled with possibilities.
...
I stood before the courthouse, watching it buzz with people streaming in and out, each absorbed in their own pressing matters. The unpleasant throbbing in my head intensified, making me shut my eyes swiftly for a brief moment as if my brain was being electrocuted. Goosebumps formed on my skin as the early morning breeze grazed my bare arms, and I clutched the chain of my bag tightly.
I had originally planned on wearing the suit trousers and jacket I bought from the mall, but Nix Dean had other plans. This morning, a makeup artist and hair stylist arrived at my doorstep,in courtesy of him.
Now, I wore a green cropped blazer and tailored skirt paired with white toe-bow pearl block heels. My hair, was styled into bouncy curls, and was partially held back with a white ribbon bow hairpin. I wondered why he made me go shopping if he already had plans for my attire. He even asked me to bring the new clothes along to court, as if he intended to return them.
"Ma’am, the young master is waiting for you inside," the butler said, taking the bags from my hands. With a deep breath, I walked into the courthouse, feeling both my head and heart throbbing as if warning me against proceeding.
As I pushed open the heavy doors, a swirl of emotions crossed my face. My eyes widened slightly, my eyebrows arched with a hint of apprehension. I took a deep breath, squaring my shoulders as I steeled myself for what was to come. My lips pressed into a thin line, and my hands fidgeted subtly with the chain of my bag. With a hesitant step, I crossed the threshold, my eyes scanning the unfamiliar surroundings. The sound of my heels clicking on the floor echoed through the hallway, punctuating the silence. Despite my efforts to appear composed, a faint tremble betrayed my nervousness, revealing the turmoil beneath my reserved exterior.
My eyes found Nix, who sat regally, exuding an air of quiet authority in a green handmade suit that perfectly complemented his confident demeanor. The vibrant color accentuated his piercing eyes, which seemed to gleam with an inner light. His movements were fluid and graceful, like a panther claiming its territory, as he settled into the chair.
The suit, tailored to perfection, showcased Nix’s chiseled physique. The fabric seemed to ripple with subtle tension, as if alive and responding to his every move. The delicate stitching and intricate details shimmered in the light, imbuing the overall ensemble with an aura of quiet sophistication. His steady gaze on me made me stiffen, but then he looked away, speaking in a foreign language to the man opposite me, who was clearly a lawyer. The man looked in my direction with a small smile before turning back to Nix.
"Young madam," the butler called, and I nodded, understanding the hint. I took my seat beside Nix as the lawyer placed two documents before me.
"With this, you’ll be officially married in the eyes of the law," he said, pointing to the marriage documents. "And this," he gestured to the documents beside them, "contains the terms and conditions of your one-year contract."
My eyes clouded with a mixture of fear and unease. My brow furrowed, and my lips pressed together as if holding back a secret. My posture stiffened, and my hands clenched into fists, revealing a subtle tremble. I could feel the color drain from my cheeks, leaving a faint pallor. My gaze became distant, as if transported back to a haunting memory. The throbbing ache I had been trying to suppress resurfaced like a persistent echo from my past. Without thinking, I picked up the pen and placed my signature on both documents.
"Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Dean."
As I rose from the chair, a jacket enveloped me like a gentle cocoon, its softness a stark contrast to the turmoil inside me. I turned to face Nix, my eyes locking onto his as he stepped closer. With a tender gesture, he reached out and pulled both sides of the jacket together, wrapping me snugly in its embrace. The fabric whispered sweet comfort as it enveloped me, its warmth seeping into my very being.
"Shall we?" Nix asked, his hands encircling mine, his fingers intertwining with mine in a gentle yet firm grasp. The gesture felt both reassuring and protective, like a shield against the world. With a compliant nod, I followed him out of the courthouse and into his car. I was still uncertain where this marriage would lead our relationship, but I hoped for the better.
"Are you sick?" he asked, and I quickly objected. "Then why do you look pale?" he questioned.
"I’m worried. A friend of mine is in the hospital, and I feel bad for not visiting," I lied, but he wrapped his hands around mine.
"I’ll drop you at the hospital and pick you up in an hour. Did you bring the clothes I asked for?"
"Yes, but what are you going to do with them?"
"We’re going on a trip, so you’ll need them," he said, resting his head on the headrest, his hand still entwined with mine as if he didn’t want to let go.
It was a relief that I was going to the hospital, as it was time to bring my plans to life. Marrying Nix was the first step; now it was time for phase two. As I looked out the window, the side of my lips formed into a smirk. A mute I am to the world by day, but a demon by night.