My Arranged Marriage

The Honeymoon Part I

It feels great when what one thinks actually happens.  Two days since we arrived on the island and Damian was still stuck in his study with his laptop and phone.  I on the other hand, had the privilege to tour the beautiful island. 

On the north was an amazing sandy beach with a myriad of clear blue water and the sunny sky.  The south of the island however, there was this gorgeous cliff with huge waves crashing onto them.  This island was amazing.  I was only able to tour the north and south in the two days.

 “You are free to do whatever you want to.  There is only us and the house staff on the island, so you should be safe from paparazzi as well” Damian had said before disappearing into the study.  Well at least that put my mind to rest. I was able to enjoy this holiday.

“Breakfast!” I heard the familiar voice call.  Ever since we came, I had not seen him at all.  When I turned, it was to find the business magnate Damian gone, and a very tired looking one instead.  However, unlike the usual business suit, this one was dressed in faded blue jeans and a white shirt. He looked almost…approachable.

I scrutinized him from the kitchen counter.  He looked tired with his hair tousled and those circles under his eyes.  I almost felt a tinge of guilt of enjoying when he was working so hard.

“Stop staring and get me some breakfast” he said with a yawn.  However, he was not being cold or manipulating…this time he was just plain mean arrogant.  But I could not find it in me to refuse when he looked so tired.

I walked to the coffee pot to pour him some coffee first. 

“You look happy” he said, making me freeze in my actions. When did he notice?  I was not stupid enough to think he was secretly in love with me and noticing how I was feeling since we got married.

I took the cup to him.  “And you noticed?” I asked, turning to the counter again to make some pancakes.  Did he even like pancakes?

“I have an acute ability to sense people” he said, sipping on the coffee.  I chuckled. “I doubt that if you believed my mother about the wedding”

“I had a hunch she was lying” he stated matter of fact.

“And she’s a good actress.” I had to give him that.  My father never knew how she treated me because she always pretended to love me infront of him.  She was that good.

“She is selfish” he stated again and although he was right, she was still my mother.

“People usually are” I said as I brought the pancakes to him and grabbed myself a cup of coffee and sat opposite him.

“You love her nonetheless” he stated again, looking at me from the rim of the cup.  I shrugged.  I learnt long ago you can never change how people are.

“The island is amazing” I said, looking out the window at the beautiful trees outside.

He looked proud about it.  “I bought it because it was the perfect reclusive island; private and beautiful.” He said looking at those trees then back at me.

“It’s the first time I came here for a holiday though” he said and I gazed at him.

“Let me guess, work kept you from coming” I said between mouthfuls.

He nodded and asked if I enjoyed my time here.  I was replying him when the thought occurred to me that he was being weirdly nice.  Something was wrong.

“Why are you being nice?” I asked out of the blue and he looked stunned for a moment.

“Because I am in a good mood” he said in that arrogant way again.  I definitely would have emptied that coffee pot on his head had he not looked this tired.

“If looks could kill” he said, smiling….really smiling.  And that was when I saw it…that was when I saw what everyone sees in Damian McMillian – the man was gorgeous when he smiled.

“I admit I hated the idea of being tied down to someone I didn’t even know.  But now that it has happened, it isn’t so bad” he said and it was difficult to understand from his tone what he meant by that.

“Though I must admit, I never thought the daughter of Dove McGregor would be like this” he said.

There it goes again.  Plain! That was what he meant.  My mother was one hell of a beauty and people expected her daughter to be the same.  Well tough luck, I didn’t have any of my mother’s features. 

“Like plain and common?” I asked with heavy sarcasm.  “I know it’s quite unbelievable” I retorted.  If he was being nice only to insult me…

He put his hand up and smiled again.  Damn that smile.  “Relax, I was about to say refreshingly different” he said and finished his breakfast.  But the business magnate was back.

“Why haven’t you been using my card?” he asked as he got up and started cleaning the table.  There was just something about watching a millionaire do these menial tasks.

“I am not a charity case.  It’s your money, not mine” I said, transfixed by him doing the dishes.

“And you haven’t even done those things I mentioned on the lists” he said, his back to me…his very broad back.

“You expected me to go to an etiquette school, finishing school!” I nearly exploded.  “I am not going to change who I am!”

He took in a deep breath and turned to me.  “Listen, I compromised with this wedding and I expect you to do so as well.  I need you to be able to play the part of the McMillian bride.”

That got me angry.  I was not some doll to be made over to act like he wanted.  “I understand you want a perfect wife, why don’t you have those sexy blondes at your office act like your wife?” and I stormed out, not really sure where I was going, but I did know that I needed to get out of the villa.  The combination of his tired and handsome face with those unbelievable cruel and arrogant words was too much to handle.

I walked off into the woods, walking west of the island.  Might as well explore a bit.  To hell with that rich controlling husband of mine.  He was too controlling, too arrogant.  And why the hell was he so tall?  Why the hell did his arm muscles move as he did the dishes…Why did he have to look so handsome when he smiled?  This was all his fault…everything was his fault.

I finally saw the big morning sun from the towering trees and ran to look what was on the other side of the island.  Still murmuring how he was at fault.  I started a light jog, but as I walked further west, the sun got blindening and I felt my leg twist, then the sharp pain on my back…followed by the day darkening dangerously.