Fake Marriage, True Love

Chapter 8

Right after we got the documents we needed at the city court, Nikolai drove me back to the mansion, where I saw my father standing right at the entrance. Gulping, I did the sign of the cross and clasped my hands together.

“Jesus Christ, Buddha, Bhagavan, please, please, help me! Let my father’s anger evaporate upon seeing this beauty of mine. I will offer my most precious bags to you if I make it out alive,” I chanted as fast as I could until the car stopped right across the entrance.

Even though I was looking ahead, I could feel my father’s deadly glare piercing right through my soul.

“Just so you know, praying to Buddha and Bhagavan does not require the sign of the cross. You might just anger them instead,” Nikolai commented as he unbuckled his seatbelt. “Don’t worry, I have your back this time since you praised me last night.”

P-Praise- What the hell was he talking about? Of course, I know. He must be referring to the time w-we did the deed. I-I just cannot take that man! How could he casually bring up that matter? With my face burning, I fanned myself with my hands and took a few deep breaths before stepping out of the car since Nikolai opened it for me. I looked down on the ground with my lips pursed and wishing so hard that Nikolai would be able to calm father’s anger.

“You did not call me last night,” my father said.

“I-I’m sorry… I-It slipped out of m-my mind,” I replied. “It won’t happen again.”

“That’s what you said the last time you snuck out just to go to a party, but it happened again. What do you have to say for yourself?”

Before I could answer his question, Nikolai’s hand wrapped around my shoulder.

“It was my fault since I insisted that she leave her bag in my car,” he interjected. There was no hint of fear or doubt in his voice so I just hoped that he would be able to help me out. “You don’t have to worry that much, sir. As long as she is with me, she is safe.”

There was a moment of silence that followed and the tension grew heavier in each minute that passed by. M-Maybe letting them meet this early was a bad idea after all. S-Should I tell Nikolai to head back home? It seemed like he just ignited father’s anger even more.

“That matter aside, are you serious about marrying my daughter? You haven’t even dated her or known her for a week.”

“I am more than serious, sir. Besides, we still have a lot more time getting to know each other in the future. That’s why I came here to ask for your permission to marry her.”

“If you truly mean those words, then quit from being a police officer and work in the business industry.”

This time, I broke my silence and faced my father with disbelief plastered all over my face.

“Dad! You are being unreasonable right now! Him being a police officer has nothing to do with me–”

“Shut it, Calypso. Go to your room right now. I still have a lot of things to talk about with this man.”

Even before I could object, father turned his back on us which only showed that his words were final. I shifted my attention to Nikolai.

“Y-You’re not quitting your job. I will speak to him and– Ow, ow, ow!”

“This is between me and your father. There is no need for you to interfere.”

Nikolai tightened his pinch on both of my cheeks before stealing a quick kiss on my lips. I just stood there, speechless and frozen while holding my lips, where Nikolai’s warmth lingered. Watching his back as he followed my father, a smile was formed on my lips. I… I will be marrying a man like him. Butterflies started fluttering in my stomach, driving away the nervousness I was feeling just a few minutes ago. Smiling to myself, I rushed to my room and flopped on the bed. I rolled over side to side while screaming and covering my face with my pillow.

When I finally got tired, I lay on my back and stared at the high ceiling of my room. Where would we be staying? In his house? Oh, I cannot wait to see our future home!

Only then, something important dawned on me that I had to sit back up with wide eyes.

“Oh no, I… I am in trouble…” I gripped my hair. “I do not even know how to cook!”

C-Calm down, Calypso. You are a fast learner so it would be no problem to learn now. I just needed the guidance of our cook and everything will be alright, right?

Without wasting another time, I dashed towards the kitchen where the others were busy preparing some meals for lunch.

“Young miss, is there something you want?” the head chef asked. “Just tell me and I’ll cook it for you.”

I shook my head and replied, “When will you be done? I want you to teach me how to cook. Just the simple ones for now like… like that sunny side up, cooking noodles, or just frying sausages and bacon. That would do.”

The head chef stared at me as if I became even prettier than before. His eyes went wide and his jaw almost fell on the ground. The others also gave me a worried look. It was not like I would burn the mansion or anything.

“O-Okay… I’ll teach you how right after I am done with the main dish. Aren’t you going to eat?”

“No, not right now. My priority is to know how to cook or else… Or else my future husband would think I am too lazy to even cook him breakfast.”

Hence, that whole afternoon was spent in cooking a simple dish for breakfast. I could see the chef was so close to giving up, but thankfully, he did not until I was able to make the perfect sunny side up egg, if I may say so myself.

“You can leave now,” I told him when I noticed that it was already 8 in the evening. “I can manage myself so shoo, shoo.”

When the chef left, I got the whole kitchen to myself, which was kind of rewarding. I continued frying some more eggs to make sure that I truly got it and not by sheer luck. Only then, I noticed my father standing by the kitchen door.

“You did not force him to quit, did you?” I asked after turning off the stove.

“I didn’t, but of course, I asked for something in exchange.”

“Dad! That’s unfair on his part.”

He narrowed his eyes on me, making me take a step back. If he starts his sermon, then I will escape through the back door.

“It is not unfair. It’s how things work, most especially that out of all the people here in the world, he had to choose you to become his wife. It may be a relief to see you willing to marry him, however, it does not change the fact that he is against our business.”

“But still… Controlling him is not something I want you to do to my future husband. He is his own person, dad, so please. Don’t force him to do your bidding or else, I will not get married to anyone at all.”

Father let out a heavy sigh as he walked towards my direction. His gaze softened as he held my shoulders and looked at me carefully before pulling me into a hug.

“Fine. As long as he stays out of our business, then I will not meddle with him. Just promise me that if he makes you unhappy, tell me.”

I nodded, hugging him back with a smile.

And with that, the wedding preparation came. There was nothing much to do, but to prepare a wedding banquet for our guests since the wedding proper would just be a civil one. I had to overlook and make sure that each food to be served for our wedding banquet suits the taste of our guests. There was just one thing though that needed to be addressed for things to be perfect.

Before anything else, I prepared some lunch for Nikolai before driving to his workplace. Upon arriving, I asked if he was there, but unfortunately, he left with some other police officers for a case.

“They will be back in an hour,” said the woman before pointing at the second floor of the building. “If you are willing to wait, you can wait for him in his office upstairs. Just make sure not to touch anything. Last room on your left.”

An hour was not that long so I headed to his office and waited. I expected the office to be like those ones in the movies where there were a lot of documents filling several shelves and even the top of the table, however, that was not the case in Nikolai’s office. There was only one shelf at the side and instead of documents, old books about law were displayed there. None of them caught my interest so I just sat on the single sofa and patiently waited.

Exactly an hour later, I could hear some muffled voices at the other side of the door so I stood from my seat. The moment the door was opened, Nikolai and Cresia came into sight, turning my mood sour in no time.

“You’re here, Miss Lionheart,” Cresia mused. I did not like the tone of her voice, but I just flashed her a small smile before shifting my gaze to Nikolai.

“Is that a packed lunch?” the woman asked, pointing at the two lunch boxes on the table. Cresia did not give me time to answer and just commented, “We just ate lunch though.”

“T-That is not a problem. That’s mine,” I lied even though in truth, a tug of pain pulled my heart.

I wanted to tell myself that it was inevitable since they work together, but it was hard to simply ignore it.

“Anyway, see you tonight, sir.”

After saying that, Cresia left with a grin. She definitely said that on purpose to get on my nerves and damn it! I wanted to pull on her hair until she goes bald!

“Why are you here?” Nikolai asked, snapping me out of my thoughts. “If it is about the wedding banquet you are preparing, then you can do whatever you want. I don’t mind.”

I ignored what he said and sat right across from him.

“I was just thinking… Since it is an important occasion, why don’t we invite your parents? For sure, they will gladly come.”

“There is no need for them to attend.”

He said those words without even a minute of thinking about it. The tone of his voice was also evident, but even then, the wedding would feel incomplete if I did not meet his family.

“What do you mean by that? You’re getting married so they have to attend–”

“Hey, little kid…”

I flinched at how cold his voice was as he stared at me with eyes seemingly filled with annoyance.

“Just to remind you, our marriage is nothing but for convenience. We will only tie the knot so neither of our families would pester us on this very same matter. My grandmother knowing that I already have a wife is more than enough so don’t go involving other people.” He then shifted his attention back on the documents he brought with him just now. “If there’s nothing else, then leave. I still have work to do.”

I couldn’t say anything back so my only option was to grab the lunch box I brought and leave the police station. I did not expect him to be that cold, but Nikolai’s right. This marriage was for convenience only. How could I forget that? And I guess… I should stop getting ahead of myself and getting all excited for nothing.