A Week Before

Three:Tony

TONY.

No woman ever dared to speak to me before I spoke. No one ever walked right into my office with no attempt to beat about the bush before getting to the point. I hate people with guts. Not her gut though. She probably summoned all the courage she would ever use in her lifetime to be seated in front of me asking me to marry her even though she is still married to Pedro.

“To be married tomorrow, you have to be present at the altar or at the very least in front of many guests. You are not planning an online wedding, are you?” I ask her and I watch how her tongue pokes at her right cheek as her eyes stare at my pen.

“It will be a full-on marriage. I will be present at the altar.” Her small voice makes it louder than when she initially walked in.

“You are just going to walk out of your home like a single lady and Pedro is just going to sit and watch?” I ask as a small smile plays at my lips.

“You will help me escape tonight. I do not know how yet but I know you can do it. When I get home, I will probably be locked up in my room after getting one of the beatings of a lifetime. If you can get me a small phone, it will make things easier for us. Help me this once, Tony. I will pay you back in ways beyond money can pay.” She tells me.

One more thing no one does but she again is call me by my name.

Tony. Tony. Tony!

“The wedding will not be the only shock. I also want the headlines to spread a rumor that Pedro is cheating on his wife with his secretary. It is not a rumor but that will buy us time for the wedding to take place.” She continues.

“You want me to claim your pregnancy is mine? In other words, you want a narrative that I have been sleeping with a married woman. That way people will dump the true news. If it gets out that he has been cheating on you, but then it also gets out that you are carrying my child; it would only mean you two were cheats. You cheated on each other and deserve each other and I am assuming that is not the narrative you will want to pass to the public especially after making your first public appearance in three years.”

She lets out an exasperated sigh as she buries her face in her palms.

“I cannot sit back and wait to die.” She whispers.

“I never said we will not be getting married tomorrow. We will. I will teach you what to do.” I tell her.

I never do things without a proper plan. I never imagined marriage would be the one thing I would do without proper plan if at all I would ever remember to find the one for me.

“Issue him a divorce letter.” I tell her and she raises her head.

“That would take some time. I do not have a lawyer.” Her voice drops.

“The divorce letter does not have to be real. Judging from the way you have spoken about him he will most probably just shred the paper without having a proper look and that is all I need.”

“A shredded paper?” She asks.

“When you walked into a tech company, what did you think? We produce even micro cameras that get the work done. We are yet to launch this one but since you have decided to pay me back in ways beyond money, maybe you could start off by marketing our new product while helping yourself get rid of your husband?” I bargain as I flip the pen in my hand while watching her eyes narrow.

“You mean I will use the new product you are about to launch to get Pedro on record for assault and in that process, I will also be promoting your product because people will want to know the device that could stay hidden that much and yet capture everything?” She asks.

Very smart.

“Yes.” I answer.

“I cannot wear smart-glasses and my contacts cannot be taken out he will notice.” She responds and I try to imagine what her eyes could possibly look like without her black contacts.

I would rather not. In less than seven days, she will be out of my life like she was never there.

“It is neither a glasses nor a pair of contacts. It just needs to be attached to the pendant of the jewellery you are already wearing. You said he is going to hit you and I can also say certainly that he will tear the divorce papers and that is just enough proof to show the type of man he is to the world. As much as I am willing to help you, I am a man who considers his company to be everything as well as his name. I will not be claiming his child as mine. I will get you out of that house tonight. I will send out invites right from this moment and have the media ready to release the news early the morning as well as spread the rumor of your husband cheating. If that is fine by you, we can proceed. If not, we do not have a deal and you walk right out of my office this minute. You may find the right man for your exact need. A man who is not me.” I tell her as I stand.

Leaving her to think, I proceed to Evelyn’s desk.

“Boss.” She stands immediately she notices me.

“Call my designer and call Marcus.” I tell her and return to my office to find her in the exact position I left her.

“It is fine by me. It is even better if we do not mention at all that I am pregnant. I am trusting you. Please don’t fail me.” She replies.

“Meet with my secretary. Her name is Evelyn, she will direct you to the staff who will help you install the camera in your pendant.” I tell her.

“Thank you, Tony. You have no idea what you have just done for me.” She says as she stands.

No. she has no idea what she has done for me.

“Tony—” Marcus trails off as he walks in to find Faith.

“Hi.” She greets Marcus and with one swift glance at me, she leaves my office.

“Is that who I thought she—” He trails off as I confirm with a nod.

“Faith?” I ask.

“How did you find her?” He sounds so thrilled.

“She came to me and we are getting married tomorrow. At least I get to rest from your constant request for me to get married.” I tell him casually as I return to working on my system and he laughs.

His laughter gets louder by minutes and when he notices I am not catching his joke, he stops; “Wait! You are not joking?” He asks.

“I am not a comedian.” I respond.

“What—how did she get you to agree to something like that?” He sounds rather happy than shocked.

“How about you get everything that would make the wedding happen tomorrow? My suit, the media organizations, a priest, a venue—start from now, release a memo that I would be getting married tomorrow but keep the bride’s name anonymous. Leave the public guessing.” I tell him.

“Woah. Woah! I am impressed. This is not some sort of contract marriage or is it?” He asks.

“No contracts. No love either. We are doing what we need to do. Pedro is a psychopath.” I answer.

“Have you not wondered why she chose you of all people?” He questions.

“I do not care. She needs a husband and I need some enlargement in my company. She is good business and I am in for good business. With the mess Pedro caused in her heart, I doubt she would ever fall in love again and I am not a man of love which makes us even and compatible.” I respond as my phone rings.

Raising the phone, I turn it such that the caller’s ID is revealed to Marcus.

“Pedro.” I say as I press the phone to my ear.