Chapter 4
1414 Words
Chapter 4
April Telford
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Good.
Because I want you to marry me.
I stared at Theo who pulled over, ordering a takeaway, like he hadn't just said something that would turn my life upside down.
He announced that he wanted to marry me.
I mean, what happened to, hello?
Remember me?
You used to hate me once?
Instead of all that, He had asked me whether I trusted him and almost spoke out like it was an order to marry him.
That was the thing about Theodore Brown
He was trouble.
Pain
Toxic.
And mainly, complicated
“Here, your favorite
Pumpkin spice latte”
He lifted the cup from the cover as he got back into the car, his left arm stretched towards my seat as he looked back, taking a reverse
Oh, he smelled nice…
But it didn't matter.
I was not going to be one of his toy, and I know he as many.
His reputation speaks for himself.
And unlike I had seen him last time…
I mean, this close, he had gotten a few more muscles.
His biceps were double the size.
And it was fully inked…
The left side of his arm, carried too many inks.
And I glanced to his right.
He just had a wrist tattoo there.
Nothing else.
But I could see the outline of a few more inks on his chests, as his thin t-shirt didn't try to cover any of his modesty.
Or the fact that he looked so good…
However, I didn't want to look at him.
Or let him try to twist my mind.
“It is not my favorite”
I took the cup, holding it quietly
Hesitating to accept the fact that he remembered…
“I guess preferences change over the years?”
He arched a brow, as he grabbed his burger.
Parking the car in the corner…away from the others.
“It was never my favorite”
I mutter, taking a sip
Like, I hate the drink and have been forced to drink it.
I act, but he can see through my body.
He has that power
Maybe over all the girls.
“Oh come on.
You used to cry over that drink if Abel forgot to get one”
He smirked… Noticing my act.
Showing the dimple on his right side
A strand of his black hair fell down his eyes.
And I looked away
“You have got it all wrong, Theodore”
I stressed his name, on purpose.
His brows rose, out of confusion
At my sudden change in tone which was firm and tensed
“And no.
I don't want to marry you.
I can't.
What, I'm just nineteen.
My college has just started”
I scoffed, and took a mouth full of my favorite pumpkin spice latte.
It tasted like heaven.
God bless him for remembering it.
“I'm aware of that apple. I know you are only nineteen”
He stressed the word, nineteen.
Taking my age.
Which ignited me because he always made fun of me being a child.
“Do you think I didn't think through this?
If you want to know one thing about me, know that marriage isn't for me.
I'm not a man who would marry ever in his life, But I'm here, for it.
Why?
Because it's necessary.
And your college will be fine.
No one will know that we are married.
Technically speaking, it will be just on papers.
So, you can grant me the power of attorney.
Being your husband, will make it easier for me to run the company.
Alright?
I'm sure you are aware of the legalities here.
If you are not, feel free to hit Abel's secretary, who will explain to you better”
He eyes met mine, as he spoke.
Angered, like he wanted me to nod at everything he said…
And when he was done, he flexed his jaw clenching his teeth as he took a bite of his burger
Still having his dark gray eyes on me..
Not once trying to look away.
And I felt suffocated because he was so close that my body felt dysfunctional.
“I don't know, Theo… Theodore”
I shrugged.
I was nervous and confused.
Mainly lost.
And he shook his head, I saw the way he clenched his teeth, again.
“I have a boyfriend” I blurted out
Well, it was half of the truth.
But Ian would be happy if I called him My boyfriend.
“Apple, I'm not interested in you that way”
Every word that spilled out of his mouth felt like a slap against my face.
And something inside me felt crushed
In that way, spoke volume
I felt betrayed somehow, and I wanted to rub the salt back, on the wounds.
“Well me too.
But what I meant is, my boyfriend wouldn't be happy if I'm someone else's wife.
Even if it's just on the papers.”
I stressed out, as I gulped the drink.
I didn't want to cry.
I didn't
Yet I was failing to control the emotions in me.
“Fine.
Don't tell him.
Problem solved.
Introduce me as your brother's friend.
Who will be living with you, to take care of business.
See, it's simple.
I have it planned”
He shrugged, continuing to eat his burger…
Like this was just another normal conversation you have while eating inside your f*****g car.
“What do you mean by, you will be living with me?”
My eyes narrowed, jaw dropped as I questioned him.
“Means, I'll be moving into the guest room of your house.
It's on the ground floor.
And your room is on the first.
So don't worry, I'll never come in your way.
You will not even know I'm there.
I work most of the days.
Nights included.
And if I'm free?
I'll definitely not be staying home”
He gave me a soft smile…
More like a mischievous smirk.
Off course he wouldn't be home.
He will be at a club.
With a new blonde.
He had preference, when it came to girls.
Blonde and red hair.
While me?
Brunette
Not his type.
“It will be like a roommate situation, Apple.
Like in the past. We have lived under the same roof and have gotten away without killing each other.
So, we will be fine”
His voice lowers!
And I swallow hard as he mentions the past…
But I don't think about it
“Fine.
Nonetheless, if I'm not comfortable having you around, you will have to move out.
I mean, who cares if we stay in the same house?
Right?”
I asked him
Picking up my own rules, already nodding to his marriage idea
And he doesn't try to argue, this time
He nodded in return, assured
And I sighed
He could have said, something, But he agreed…
Just like that.
Unlike Theo, who would never compromise
“The wedding will be in three days.
You can disclose it to anyone you want.
But from my end?
No one will know.
And again, it will mean nothing.
Nothing between us as to be changed”
He mentioned, as he wiped his lips…
His voice low, as he started the car.
"Well, it's a fake marriage.
Not like any of this is real.
So, I don't think I'll tell anyone”
I muttered, taking the last sip of my drink, as I stared at him.
He looked different,
More controlling.
“Well, it's not.
Legally, our wedding will be validated.
And we will have to get divorced when Abel recovers.
So, it will be more like a marriage of convenience”
He didn't look at me as he resonated.
Divorce?
“Well, I understand.
Should I change my legal name?”
I asked.
Unsure why
But I did
April Telford Brown…
I spoke the words in my mind
“Not necessarily.
These days, many women don't change their names.
So, you don't have to”
He answered my blunt question, and we fell back to silence again…
But still, it took me a second
To realize that
I was going to marry my brother's best friend.
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-K
- Writer
