Chapter 6 Happiness behind a Lying Date

Chapter Six:

First thing in the morning, Abigail is immediately bombed with a barrage of questions from Layla. Where was she last night? Why did it take her so long to get home? Why did she wake up with red, swollen eyes? All questions received a vague, if not any, answer. Abigail just wanted to forget about the miserable night. For a split second, she was starting to grow affectionate for the man but he quickly reminded her that this was a fake marriage forced upon her, nothing more, nothing less. It's unfortunate how cruel and harsh the man has to be.

James had offered her a job at his company for her to get a "head start" but Abigail knew that her father was more than happy to have his daughter working with him. Upon arriving at work, almost every other co-worker congratulates her once again for her engagement, and yet, Benjamin was nowhere in sight even though she knew he'd be working today too. Abigail told herself she doesn't care one bit what he's up to or where he is but deep down, she couldn't deny that she did feel a bit of curiosity and disappointment.

"Abi." The sound of her name draws her attention away from her desktop screen and the other side of her desk. Her head lifts in surprise since she didn't even notice that someone had walked into her office until now.

"O- oh! Dad! Um... hi? How can I help you?" Abigail ends up stuttering as she tries to think of an appropriate greeting. The look on her father's face didn't ease her anxiety. She's seen that expression far too many times in her life. A look that showed the depths of his worry and concern.

"Pumpkin-poo. Are you alright? You've been distant and quiet today." The wrinkles that creased his forehead were just as deep as his frown. "I haven't seen you converse with Benjamin all day either. Did something happen between the two of you?"

Abigail looked down at her hands. Her father's words confirmed that Benjamin was at work today, and yet, she hasn't seen him at all, let alone even hear his voice or somebody call his name. Still, she forced a smile. "Everything is fine, Dad. It was just a late night last night. I'm a little sleepy is all. Besides, me and Benjamin are working on two completely separate things right now, we don't have time for our relationship when we're behind the desk. You know this, Dad, you raised me on this logic. Work comes first if you want a good life. The rest is perks."

James flinched as if he was regretting raising his daughter to be this way. He looks away briefly before glancing back at his daughter again. This time his eyes have an apologetic look in them. "Perks are your happiness, don't forget that. Furthermore..." Jame's green eyes narrow sharply. "I don't approve of your engagement with Mr. Anderson."

Abigail's eyes fly wide. She wasn't expecting her father to drop this on her. "What?? But... you seemed so happy about it last night!"

"Only in front of many faces. The truth of the matter is... well, I don't trust the man, Abi. He has always been rather shady with his affairs outside of business are always vague. Not much is in his background other than he comes from Mexico. I just..." James sighs while rubbing the back of his neck. "I just want you to stay safe, Abi. I love you."

Abigail gives her father a sweet smile. "I know, Daddy. I love you too. Don't worry about me. As I said, work comes first and Benjamin understands that. He's been very kind to me. I love him with all my heart and I hope you can accept that."

James was silent for a few seconds before returning the smile. "Alright, Abi. I trust you." He then walks over and gives her forehead a little peck from his lips. "Work hard, my Pumpkin-poo~"

"DAD!" Abigail blushes with an annoyed protest, the woman then shooing her father out of her office with a few waves of her hand. Her father gives a humorous smile before walking out of his daughter's office and as soon as he was gone, Abigail's smile immediately vanishes and she struggles to stop the tears that started to bead up on the corners of her eyes. She hated lying to her father, truly. Especially having to lie about how happy she is with Benjamin even though so far it's been like a waking nightmare. But in the end, she reminds herself that she's doing this all for her father's sake.

Just a little bit longer... I just need to hold on a little bit longer. Right...?

Abigail has no way of knowing when the marriage she has been forced into will finally be over. She still has no idea what she's getting into. All she knows is that Benjamin was in the type of trouble that'll rub off onto others if he's caught. Her father's reputation is what would be damaged the most as well.

The young woman heaves a loud sigh as she sets down her pen and runs her fingers through her auburn-colored hair. After a conversation with her father so sickening that it made her nauseous, she had to get out of her office and take a breather. As she walks down the hallway, she hears one word that stops her in her tracks.

"Benji..."

Abigail spins around to listen for where the familiar voice had come from and she follows it till eventually, she comes to an office that's titled "Mr. Anderson" and Abigail quietly moves over to the frosted glass window. Though she couldn't see the details, she could clearly make out that Benjamin was sitting behind his desk meanwhile Delilah was sitting at his desk right next to him. Once again, her stomach churns at the sight of seeing the two of them together, worsening her nausea.

"Delilah, we've already been through this." Benjamin sighs as he leans back in his chair and crosses his arms. Though Abigail couldn't see the expression on his face, she recognized that cold, annoyed voice anywhere.

"You can't be serious... her? Daddy's little princess?" Delilah gives a feminine laugh as if something had just tickled her. "Is this a joke your pulling on someone? Pulling on me, perhaps?"

"This isn't a joke. I am marrying Abigail Smith. Why is that so hard to understand?" Abigail could hear an edge in Benjamin's voice. The man was clearly starting to become frustrated with the attractive woman.

"Because I, of all people, know you the best. Surely you would've realized that by now." Benjamin's response is silence and Delilah scoots closer until she could easily sit on his lap if she wanted to. "If this isn't a prank for me, then you're lying to somebody else." Delilah's last words are whispered as she leans down toward his face.

Abigail's heart quickens. It was alarming to see how fast Delilah saw through their facade. What will Benjamin do now? Will he call off the wedding? Though her thoughts headed straight for the lie she was doing her hardest to make believable for him, she couldn't help but be more worried about the situation in front of her that was making her sick.

There was a silence that lasted for a couple of seconds but Abigail, it felt like hours. And when Benjamin spoke, he gave nothing away through his tone. "Like I said, Delilah, I'm marrying Abigail. Stop obsessing over my life and focus on yours."

"Ha!" Delilah sounded as if she was about to burst out laughing from a hilarious joke. "That's funny, coming from you." The blonde's words left Abigail confused this time.

Was their relationship more than just intimate...? Was it romantic? Benjamin and Delilah?

Through the frosted window, Abigail could see Delilah's form move closer and closer to Benjamin's until it was hard to tell the two apart. The brushed her hand down his cheek slowly as she leaned in close enough to the point her red lips could almost touch his skin.

"Benji... we've been together for years." Delilah slowly runs her fingers through his hair. "I mean, you got me this job, don't you remember? Even before that, we..."

"We were never in a relationship, Delilah. We were a fling. And flings eventually come to an end." Benjamin says bluntly, showing no weakness in his resistance to her charms.

"You know that's not true, Mr. Anderson." She murmurs right before Abigail hears the faint smack of lips against skin.

And that was it. Abigail couldn't take anymore. The young woman quickly walked away from Benjamin's office before she could see or hear what happens next. She didn't trust Benjamin, not after last night.

I don't care... I don't care! Everything about us isn't real. So why should I care what he does? Or who he does.

Despite the fact that she tells herself that over and over, she still can't get the nauseating feeling to go away. Lie or not, it still hurt knowing that something fake wasn't even something worth being loyal to.