Love By Contract

"Find him and bring him here at once!!!". Roni thundered to the men in black standing around him, and they scurried away like little squirrels.

I too, flinched at the sound of his voice and raised my head up a little; and stole a glance at him and my blood ran cold suddenly; I couldn't recognize him anymore.

Roni, my father-in-law, just didn't look like the helpless handsome old man I saw a day ago; I had never seen this version of him.

I looked around, and wasn't obvious of the numerous pairs of eyes on me. Yes I could see the invisible question marks on their heads, but I too didn't have answers to what is happening.

"Oh my, was she so horrible that she had to be stood up on her wedding day?!".

It was a whisper, but it sounded as loud as a gong; to my ears.

I turned my head in the direction of that whisper. It turned out to be an old woman talking to her friend.

To be honest, I never dreamed of having to be dressed in the most beautiful wedding gown I have ever seen, only to be stood up by my groom. It was not part of my plans, but life has a way of overturning our plans.

"Mr Wilcox, if your son doesn't come any moment from now, I'm afraid; I will have to call off the wedding". The priest was obviously becoming impatient too.

Everybody was.

Roni walked up to the priest, smiling but the look on the priest's face was that of horror.

Something was wrong! I thought.

I peered closely, and looked down at Roni's trousers, and I spotted a gun hanging down. I froze.

Roni wouldn't threaten the priest with a gun. Would he?

I had seen this ruthless mafia be anything. But,, threatening the priest with a gun?

Roni shouldn't even try it!! It wouldn't be right.

But, what has been right since I came into this church?!

If the priest was threatened with a gun, what would be my case if I made a wrong move?!

He probably would blow my brains off!

I shuddered at that thought, remembering when I had agreed to get married to Roni's son.

I looked from left to right, maybe there was a secret door or something; any route of escape, and deep down, I prayed that Brendan doesn't show up.

Maybe I don't need to marry him too. Because he doesn't want to marry me too.

But, one look at Roni told me otherwise.

Roni is the one who called the shots here, and from our earlier conversations, I dare not go back on our agreement.

"Keisha?".

I turned, to find Roni staring at me with a soft expression on his face.

"Do you want to sit? Do you need anything to eat?", He asked me as he examined me.

"No; I am okay. Thank you".i replied politely.

I didn't want to sober up for him because I didn't know what he had up his sleeves for me.

Roni nodded and beckoned to one of his men to come closer to him. I stared at his suit as he whispered an instruction to the man.

Roni's suit was screaming affluence, and I remembered what the internet said about him when I checked him up.

RONI WILCOX: BILLIONAIRE.OWNER OF THE BIGGEST CONGLOMERATE IN THE COUNTRY. RUMOURED TO BE THE LEADER OF THE POWERFUL WILCOX MAFIA GANG.

It's been said that the Wilcox was a mafia family lineage, known to be the most powerful mafia gang. The government couldn't arrest them because they were part of the government too. Hence their prolonged existence.

My thought was suddenly interrupted when I heard commotions.

Roni's men walked in, holding a younger man in between their hands.

"Brendan". I heard Roni say, as he smiled, and clapped his hands like a little child.

I whipped my head around, and my jaw came crashing down to the floor.

Standing in front of me ,though been supported by two men each holding him in one arm, was the most handsome man I had ever seen.

God!!

Were people still allowed to be this good looking?!

He had a coal black hair and a pair of dark brown eyes, 6ft tall and leanly muscled.

Roni's son. And my proposed husband, Brendan.

He looked so handsome.

He must have gotten his looks from his father.

Suddenly, a strong smell of alcohol hit my nose. He reeked of a strong smell of Brandy or whiskey, I couldn't place my hands on which it was.

Wow, he also love his bottles! Now I was getting married into a family of guns and alcohols.

Brendan refused to stand. No matter how the men that was holding him tried, he fell to the floor and everyone gasped. We waited for him to stand but he didn't move a muscle.

"Mr Wilcox, we can't perform this ceremony if your son is not conscious". The priest said, and I saw the fear in his eyes.

"Just a moment". Roni said to the priest and walked up to where Brendan was seated.

"Brendan stand up!". He said in a little raised voice, and with a gritted teeth. But Brendan didn't move.

"Brendan?!!". This time, his voice was louder as he stooped to Brendan's level on the floor.

"I want to get married to Charlotte". Brendan growled.

Roni stood up calmly, and beckoned on the men to force him up. They stood Brendan up with each of his arms on their shoulders.

And then Roni's clenched fist moved so swiftly across Brendan's face.

"AARRRR". Brendan groaned in pains, as he fell to the floor again.

Everyone gasped again in shock.

I too was not an exception; I couldn't just believe it.

Roni had just punched his son in the face.

"Stand up Brendan!!!". But Brendan stood his ground. Then the men carried him up again and Roni made it rain punches on Brendan's face.

There was blood all over Brendan's white shirt, and he was smirking at his father with a blood stained teeth.

I was visibly shaken and had to hold my hands together to prevent it from shaking.

How worst can this get?! I wondered.

Suddenly I saw Brendan glare at me and my heart skipped a beat. He looked at me like a hungry animal would look at his meal.

"Who the fuck are you?!!!". He growled.

Just so you know, I had never seen or met my husband-to-be until today. So I was surprised at his question. Although I thought he would have done the math in his head.

I was obviously wearing the white gown, yet Brendan wanted me to go through the pain and the stress of explaining myself to him.

I opened my mouth to speak, but no word made it out of my mouth. I suddenly lost the ability to use my brain.

Maybe it wasn't my brain. It could be because of what my eyes were seeing.

The mere sight of Brendan, all blooded up, made me shudder, and I feared what would become of my life when I get married to this violent drunk.

Brendan stared at me from top to bottom, and didn't even care to hide the disgust in his eyes.

I wanted the ground to open and swallow me.

Luckily, Roni saw through my ordeal and came to my aide.

"She is your wife, Keisha. Now move over to the altar for the ceremony". Roni said in a low growl, and held Brendan up while the two men supported him to his feet.

I held my breath as they made their way to the altar.

Brendan had blood all over his face and no one offered to get him another clothes or something to clean up.

"Alright priest, you can start now". Roni said,

A huge smile on his face.

Just like that?!

Would I ever keep up with the change of mood in the Wilcox's family?

Roni said that he is not the one responsible for the blood all over the groom.

Ridiculous!

I snuck a look behind me, at the guest.

The horror written on everyone's face was as glaring, as dirt on a white shirt.

It's not everyday you get to see a blood-covered groom, right?!

Then it was time for the priest to commence, and Brendan tore out of the grip of the men holding him, and walked out of the altar.

His action attracted yet another gasp and the people covered their mouths in shock.

"Hey, I'm sorry to interrupt your happy ending father, but I will only get married to one woman. Her name is Charlotte, who definitely, is not that woman at the altar there! ". Brendan said, with a hysterical laughter. And he staggered around.

"Brendan??!!! ". Roni thundered, and yet again I flinched.

I would need to get used to Roni's voice, or it would start telling on my blood pressure!

Roni stormed out of the altar, and so did his men. They tried to keep Brendan hostage, but he began to fight them off.

Brendan didn't know when his father came from behind and punched him so hard. And he fell down, and became unconscious.

They tried to resuscitate him, but he wasn't making an effort to wake up.

Then chaos broke out in the church, and everybody began to run away.

I looked at the sight before me and sighed deeply. Carrying my gown in my hand, I looked for a nearby chair and sat down.

Today has been a bad day for me!

Obviously, I wouldn't be getting married today, but I would definitely be married to this handsome man who was more of a stranger and less of a husband to me.

Gradually my mind began to drift back. As in a depth of many sea. And I recall the events that led to the scene that was taking place now.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"Keisha!!". I heard my grandfather shout on the phone.

I was in the market, which was miles away from home,

"Yes grandpa, I can hear you". We were listening to each other perfectly well until a big truck horned. Immediately, I knew my grandfather startled at the other end of the phone.

My grandpa might have been the strongest man on earth, judging from the way he worked hard. But he hated one thing.

Noise. And commotions. It literally gave him a shock.

So when the truck horned, I cursed underneath my breath because I knew the effect of it on my grandfather.

"Keisha, just hurry up and come back, and I hope you have everything on the list!".

"Yes grandpa, you don't have to worry yourself too much. I will be home soon". I assured him.

Grandpa had always been a worrisome person.

Getting off the phone with my grandfather, I increased my pace and walked towards the bridge back home.

As I was about to cross the road to the other side of the bridge, I saw an old man. He had with him a bag and a piece of paper, and he was trying to cross the road; but the cars would not just let him.

I walked up to him.

"Sir, are you alright?". He nodded pitifully, with his gaze still on the road; looking for an opportunity to cross.

"Here sir, let me help you with the bag and let's cross over". I said, as I held his hand to cross the road.

He looked up at me and smiled.

Actually, he grinned. And he looked so handsome. And a bit agile for his looks

I never knew old people could also be this good-looking.

" Thank you so much, you are kind-hearted". He said to me. And smiled.

I smiled back at him, looked left and right, and we crossed.

When we crossed, I asked him what brought him there, and he gave me an address written in a piece of paper in his hand. He was looking for a particular street I didn't know about.

""I don't really know this area very well. Maybe you should ask someone else". I said to him. I felt disappointed that I couldn't help the old man with his destination.

"It's alright. You have already done more than enough. I will just sit here and wait for the bus".

"Okay then, I'll have to be on my way now; my grandfather is waiting for me at home". I said,. And waved goodbye at him, and he did the same to me.

When I had gone a little bit far, I turned and found the old man still staring at me. I became curious.

I found that kind of odd. But, seeing it was only an old man, I brushed the thought aside.

I have been living with my grandfather ever since I was sixteen.

My parents, Mr and Mrs Cole had died in a ghastly motor accident, which left my life devastated and hopeless.

I had thought my life had been haunted. But, my grandfather had come to my consolation and had given me hope to live once again.

After my parents funeral, I moved in to live with my grandfather in the village.

Life in the village hadn't been easy for me, after living a luxurious life in the city when my parents were still alive.

My father was a rich man, and so we had everything we needed. I was happy, and comfortable.

But, after their funeral, and I moved in with grandpa, my father's company and all the business ventures began to crumble beneath us and out of our reach.

My father's partner suddenly decided that the company and all the business ventures was now his.

I never for one day expected such from Uncle Marcus, whom I had always looked up at as a very good family friend and business partner to my father.

In fact, he was like my father's brother then, which was why I called him uncle.

He would come to the house, and we would all joke together and my mother would make dinner and everybody would eat happily together.

But, when my father died, and my mother too. Uncle Marcus became a total stranger to me, and took away the company he and my father started from the scratch and made it entirely his.

His act made me truly understand the full meaning of betrayal.

And it hurt me badly.

Although we embarked on a countless court case journey to reclaim my father's share of the company, but Uncle Marcus eventually won the case, and the court granted him the full ownership of the company.

And that was how I lost my parents, and the company as well.

As if that was not enough, I got a call from the bank, stating that the house and the cars my parents owned had been on mortgage. And that I need to pay the bank.

My father business is already gone, where in the world would I get the money to pay the bank?

I tried to talk to the bank but it all fell on deaf ears, and the bank turned my plea down on the ground of bridge of contract.

And Uncle Marcus did not listen to me as well.

Finally, when the due date for the payment came, the bank moved in and escorted me out of the house.

And took over everything.

Tears could not just finish from my eyes. And I cried my heart out, wishing I had gone along with my parents on that fateful day, and had also died with them instead of being left behind to suffer all these loss in a stretch.

And that was how I ended up coming to live with grandpa.

Sweating out all the time whenever I had to get anything done.

But, I was content with the love grandpa shows to me, and that helped me alot to get my way around so many things.

My grandpa owned a beautiful horticultural garden, and I managed it with him.

I was also able to cut flower arrangements and bouquets, and sell to florists.

I also sell potted plants, succulents and herbs at the local market. And with the money my grandfather and I were getting, we were able to solve our daily expenses and pay my school fees.

Slowly my life began to get better, and I felt like life was finally beginning to wipe away my tears.

Then I met Jake.

Jake Miller was that kind of boy in school which every girl wants to hang out with.

Good looking, intelligent and cool headed.

Jake could hardly hurt a fly.

He is every girl's dream boyfriend.

Surprisingly, and to the disappointment of every other girl in my school, Jake Miller began to hand out closely with me.

Trust my college girls!

That sure didn't go down well with them, and alot of them couldn't even hide it.

They would call me names, and make a public mockery of my poor family background.

Some even confronted Jake and scolded him for choosing a gardener's daughter over them.

They all developed instant hatred for me, but I didn't let their hurting words affect me in anyway.

Eventually, Jake asked me to be his girlfriend, and I said yes.

That was how our relationship began.

Jake would stop at nothing to make sure I lacked nothing in school.

We were always together, joking and spending quality memorable time together always. And most people would look at us, and say that we were the best match for each other.

Although Jake isn't from a very wealthy family, but his family were comfortable enough to afford him a monthly allowance, and Jake would spend all on me.

Being aware of my late parents, and the condition of my grandfather and I; and how I tried to make sure I see myself through school and also take care of my grandfather.

Jake would always encourage me aND advices me in anyway he can, in my flowery business.

"You can as well create a subscription based flower delivery service, and host events like weddings, photo shoots and garden parties". Jake would say to me.

That is the kind of support and encouragement Jake gives to me, and that always makes me feel so endeared to him.

I was thinking about Jake and his genuine love towards me, and decided that I was going to give him a call as soon as I finished unpacking my grocery shopping bag, when I stepped into my grandfather's terran.

And I saw my grandfather, on his knees; begging, beside a big porch car that is parked in front of my grandfather's house.

There were some men in black suit, each holding a gun, surrounding him.

"Grandpa?!! ". I screamed, and let the food grocery bag in my hand fall down, and all the items in the bag, scattered and littered the whole terran.