A Week Before

Two:Faith

CHAPTER SONG: Ballade -- Luke Faulkner(Youtube music)

FAITH.

I can swear my heart is currently beating a hundred and twenty times per minute. Whose heart would not do so when the only barrier between someone as ruthless as Tony Rusell is just the door I am about to knock.

Sucking in my breathe, I finally muster the courage to raise my hand to knock but change my mind and just decide to walk in since his secretary must have told him I will be in his office after causing so much ruckus at the reception just to be here.

“To what do I owe your first public appearance in three years?” He asks as he turns in his chair to have all his attention on me.

I swallow almost invisibly and smile as I proceed further towards the chair in front of him.

“To marriage, Mister Rusell.” I answer as I place my bag on the clean floor while I sit.

“That is very confident of you, I must compliment but I will consider it a joke.” His voice comes out rough, probably from sleepless nights?

“It is not a joke. I need a new Husband and I want you to be the one.” I answer and he narrows his eyes at me as he leans back in his seat.

“I am only giving you the benefit of being a woman. You should get out of this office now and on your way out apologize to every single staff you walk by because you have made them lose their jobs.” He responds and revert his attention to the screen of his laptop while his hand works with the pen on the paper beside it.

“I know you like to be in control but if you do not marry me, you will lose all the control you have. I am pregnant and I need you to take responsibility even though you are not the father as well as marry me tomorrow please.” I continue.

He drops the pen. Raises his head to stare into my soul before shutting his laptop.

“I was at your extremely private wedding three years ago. Tell me why I should take another man’s wife as mine and in less than twenty-four hours. I was never anyone close to you neither are you close to me. I was at your wedding because I am one of your husband’s major investors. Politely once more, leave now or you will be hauled out of this office forcefully in less than two minutes and every single staff you walked by as well as those who will haul you out will lose their jobs. I am sure being the woman you are, you will rather be hurt than hurt others. Is that not what your campaigns were all about?” He says, his eyes cold and unchanging.

It is a do or die affair.

“The two minutes it will take your security team to get here, let me use it to convince you. I almost forgot I was conversing with an absolute business man. Maybe by the time they open the door to get me out you will be the one stopping them.” I respond as he hits the button that will alert his security team.

“You have less than a hundred and twenty seconds now.” He replies as he continues signing on the documents in front of him.

“I fled from the house to be here today. Pedro has had me on lockdown for the three years and I love him so much I took it all and served him as well as his mother and sister. I have battled with having a baby for years and the best choice that might change everything for me is getting back at my husband who is cheating on me with his sister’s best friend who is also his secretary. I know we are not even friends or business partners, neither am I someone you ever imagined you will settle down with even if it is for less than a week but you will have more advantage than I if we get married. I will be out of your life by this time next week. It is not like you care about marriage in any way. You will not be obligated to mark me—” The rest of my words are cut off by the security team who burst in, in less than sixty seconds.

He says no word to them but at least his eyes and hand stops them from touching me by dismissing them.

“You need to get back at your cheating husband and somehow of all the men in this city, I am the best fit?” He asks and releases a bitter laugh.

“No. I am trying to help you while helping myself and giving myself another chance to live. If I act faster than them and not continue in my naïve ways, maybe I will make it past a week. I know you have no reason to accept my proposal but,” I get off the chair step back and go down on my knees, “Please marry me, Tony Rusell.” I add.

“Get up.” He says calmly without remorse.

“Please marry me, Tony.” I repeat.

“Get up, Faith.” He answers this time as he leaves his seat to help me up.

“Will you marry me tomorrow and publicly, Tony?” I ask.

“In what ways would that benefit me and not put me at the center of business bully?” He asks as he lets go of me.

“You are about to invest in Royals, I will advise you do not and this is not because I am a spiteful wife—I mean ex-wife of the owner but because your company will lose all its intended forty percent investment which will lead to the massive downfall of this company you have been running for years and I bet you do not want that.” I answer as I move to stand next to the seat I occupied earlier while he returns to his seat.

“How did you--- that is something no one has heard. It is something I intend doing but have not even discussed with your husband.” He seems more surprised.

“Will you marry me tomorrow?” I ask again.

After all, I have no right to bare shame since I already died next week.