The Mayor's Second Wife (Love Me Later)

"Your father came earlier this morning. He had the processes of your leave from school done. We have already handed the official letter to him, so you are required to pack up and vacate your locker, hand the locker key back, and return any borrowed books from the library, if you have some in your possession. Good luck."

Jennifer felt the world wobble at her feet, her head spinning. She wished the ground would open up and swallow her at that moment if that would mean avoiding the mess she had now come to embrace as her life.

She and her father...if that was what giving birth to her awarded him, well, she had no choice, but he never treated her like his own. Or part of his own. It wasn't because of anything she did, rather, he detested everything she was. A girl. A girl who would end up contributing nothing to his lineage or his bloodline. That's how he saw her. An empty vessel.

He preferred boys, and always showed the bias and favoritism towards her brother. He showered him with everything that the little money they had could allow him to and left nothing for her.

Now, he had come to snatch her school from her too. She wanted to think of positive things. Wanted to believe that there was something, some concrete reason that would be good enough, but as hard as she tried, she came up with absolutely nothing. No reason was just good enough for her to forfeit school when she had worked her way up to the graduating class.

She emptied her locker and got her bag, amidst a few murmurs from the students around. It wasn't like she was particularly famous or hard to pass, but the science teacher who has first come in, Mrs. Margaret had literally said it, before sending her to the principal's office to hear the details.

It had been like any other day, any other school day. Science was her favorite and she had been looking forward to it, but now, she couldn't help the small pang of resentment she felt for Mrs. Margaret. It was not her fault and she had nothing to do with her father's sudden decision, but she just couldn't help it.

"Jennifer?" Mrs. Margaret said, and she looked up.

"Yes, ma'am."

"You are still here? You didn't leave with your father?"

"What? My father?" Just the name spelt impending doom and her heart dropped to her stomach in fear.

"Yes. He came to process your leave and left just a while. Did you not know?"

It had been hard for Jennifer to process the information until she went to the principal's office and found out it was not some prank that was going to be laughed off. It was real.

She handed in the locker keys and returned the book she had borrowed from the library to read ahead of the finals she had in three months. Never in her life did she think she wouldn't even be sitting for it.

She turned and walked away, her heartbroken even more into smaller pieces, and no positive thing she spoke to her mind could keep them back together again.

She walked home briskly, now fueled more by the desire to know why her father had chosen to meddle in the academic life she had built for herself by working day and night, than by letting the deep sadness she felt put her down. She wasn't easy to take out, because she would cease to exist in the kind of environment she had been brought up in if she had let everything break her resolve.

The house, a small place she shared with her mother, father, and brother, was as silent as usual. She used to have an elder sister around too, but she had gone missing a year back. They had not given up on finding her, although her father acted like he never even had her. She was sure he would act the same way if something suddenly happened to her too.

She opened the door and stepped in, holding her school bag in her hand. Her father was sitting on the couch, watching some blurred documentary. The TV was small and old-fashioned, so that was the most it could do.

"Father," she said, coming closer to him.

He didn't flinch or take his eyes away from the TV, just kept his focus where it had been before she came in.

"Dad. I have something to ask you."

He turned to her, his face morphed into a sneer, and then turned away again.

"Why did you go to school today?" Jennifer asked, despite his attitude. The school was more important to her than anything he wanted to throw at her right now.

"I processed your leave. But I guess you are sharp-mouthed enough to face me when I know you are back here because you have already been informed."

Jennifer blinked hard, trying to fight back the tears that threatened to well up in her eyes. Hearing their voices, her mother, a middle-aged woman who carried more sadness and weariness than her likes walked in, her brows furrowed in confusion.

"Why are you back so early? Did something happen?"

"Dad asked for me to leave school. He processed my leave from school without informing me."

"And why should I inform you? What sense do you have to take part in the decision-making? You are only but a girl."

"Dad. I am the one who pays my tuition. You only ever catered for Paul. So why are you interfering now?"

This was when he stood up and backed the TV, his hands on his waist, his eyes boring into her. She lowered her head. Regardless of how much he did to her, he was still her father and she respected him.

"It is because I am still catering for Paul. You are leaving school to get married. Your bride price should be enough to settle the expenses for Paul's marriage. If you have some dignity in you, you would do that much for him."

"Marriage? I am getting married to settle Paul's marriage expenses? Dad!" Jennifer said, finding it hard to control the bitterness she felt. Of all things she had imagined could be the reason, this one just never crossed her mind

"Yes, you are." He said, his tone final. With that, he threw some documents at her feet, documents on which he had signed her future away to some man she didn't even know.

"Dad," Jennifer said, utter disappointment making its way into her voice. She picked the document, and the name was familiar. Mr. William.

Mr. William was a man who was at least 40 years of age. Even though, a little lonely, he was polite during the few times he ever talked to anyone. He had lost his wife due to an unfortunate incident year back and lived alone.

Jennifer had taken up a part-time job at a famous restaurant in the locality during the summer break, to replenish her savings and make a way for tuition and other necessities by the time they resume. That was the one encounter she had with William that stood prominently in her mind.

She had been cleaning a table and taking off the used plates when he walked in. Naturally, she went to greet him and asked him what he would like, while directing him to an empty table.

She would never forget the way he stared at her like he was lost. Like he could not take his eyes off her. She grew self-conscious with every second he spent taking in the details of her small oval face, red plump lips that were shaped like a little rosebud and always stood out even without her applying anything on it, and her fair smooth skin that spoke nothing of the hardships she had gone through. Her long dark hair was put up in a rough bun, with a few strands unintentionally falling to frame the sides of her face.

There and then, he decided she was beautiful. The kind of beauty he wanted to have. Without shame or reserve, he let his eyes wander down the rest of her body, and only lifted it back to her face when she cleared her throat uncomfortably.

"What would you like, sir?"

He smiled, wondering if she would give him herself if he asked politely. He shook the thought out of his mind, however, and pointed at the huge banner that had their menu printed on it.

"That." He said, pointing at the breakfast set.

She nodded and walked away to process his order, all the while feeling his eyes bore into her from behind.

He left the restaurant after eating, but he couldn't take his mind off her. She was one gorgeous woman and was just old enough. He had seen her before and knew vaguely of her father, but he had never been blessed with a close-up vision of her as he was today.

Two weeks later, as if the heavens were favoring him, he heard the news of her father's poverty and desperate need for money, and he knew just the thing. He, himself had, after his wife's death gotten a breakthrough through some construction business he did, thus placing him above her father, and well in the position to use the money to get what he wanted, which was in this case, Jennifer.

"I know you are wondering why I came," William said to Benjamin, Jennifer's father as he kept the cup of coffee, he had taken a sip. Benjamin had offered it to him when he ushered him in.

"Well, yes. Is there something I can help you with?"

William gave a knowing smile. "I just came here because I was wondering why you live under such poor conditions when you have a gem within your possession. Don't you wish to break the chain?"

Benjamin had no idea what he was talking about, but he knew he was hinting at something that would give him money and he leaned closer. "What gem do you mean?"

"Your daughter. Jennifer." William answered. He had found out her name from asking around, and to he thought it was the perfect name for her. It was a name for a woman with irresistible beauty like hers.

"Jennifer? What about her?" Benjamin didn't see how Jennifer could help him break the chain of poverty that he had been afflicted with, and by now, he was convinced William was not making any sense.

"I met her at her restaurant workplace some time ago, and I must say, she is one captivating woman. Captivating enough to keep my heart with her even though I never saw her after that." William stated, then leaned towards Benjamin. "I am willing to pay a sum of fifty thousand dollars if you would give her hand to me in marriage."

Benjamin's eyes widened in shock at the amount. "Fifty?" He asked, putting his palm out, indicating five.

William nodded. He liked the reaction he was getting.

"But...she is in school now...I.."

William nodded, then brought out a small brown envelope, then pushed it to Benjamin. Benjamin picked it up and opened it, to meet wads of cash sitting pretty. He couldn't help the drool that left his lips, and he almost made a fool of himself.

He swallowed hard, clutching the envelope in his hands like he was being chased for it.

"I want her now. I am not willing to wait." William said, his tone decisive. He knew what he wanted, and he knew how to get it.

Benjamin nodded. "Yes. Yes, I will...I will try my very best."

"I want you to give me a promise, and a signed document. Once the marriage happens, I will pay the remaining." William said, causing Benjamin to quickly nod.

"I promise to marry her to you, immediately. It does not matter what she is doing or who she has in mind, it is you that will get married to her. That is a promise."

William had left the house in good spirits, having gotten the object of his infatuation now wrapped around his finger.

Benjamin, on the other hand, knew he would do everything he could to get Jennifer to marry the man, as long as it ensured him the money. To do that, he knew she would have to leave school, and it wasn't going to be up to her to do that.

"Mr. William?" Jennifer asked, looking at her father.

"Yes. He is going to be your husband very soon."

"Father. Dad, you can't do this to me. I pay my tuition; I have my life ahead of me. I want to do everything I can to live my life well and stay out of your lane, dad. Just don't force me to do what I don't want to." Jennifer said, clasping her hands together.

It didn't matter to her if she had to beg or plead with him or whatever it took for her to get him to understand.

Her father gave her only a scoff as an answer as he let go of the remote. It fell with a clattering sound, and he turned and walked out of the living room.

Jennifer was livid with anger and heavily disappointed by how easy it was for her father to gamble on her future just to secure her brother's marriage.

"Jenny..." Her mother started to say, walking closer to her. "I am sorry, but... You have to accept it."

"Accept it? Mum, this is my life we are talking about! How can I leave school and everything just so I can become some item that can be pawned to raise money for Paul's marriage? If he can't afford it, then he shouldn't get married!"

"You can't change anything." Her mother said, averting her eyes. "And in a situation where you are faced with something you can't change, the only thing you can do is to accept it. Accept it gallantly."

Jennifer laughed humorlessly, nodding. "Mum. If you say stuff like this, how am I supposed to feel? I already feel so helpless and alone, so if you too won't take my side...how do I go on? How do I stop feeling this helplessness I feel right now, how?" Jennifer dropped her bag there and walked to her room, sealing the door.

Her feet could not take her to the bed and she sank to the floor, tears rolling freely from her eyes. She had thought things like this only happened somewhere else. No matter how many times her father tried to show her that he held no value for her at all, she still respected and believed in him. But he had taken it too far this time.

She stood up, wiping her tears, as an idea popped into her mind. She had been the one earning money for herself, working part-time jobs to raise tuition, so it would be easy for her to work her way through a living if she ran away from home to avoid her fate.

She picked herself up, and walked to the small bed she used to share with Naomi, her now missing sister. She would leave all of this behind, as long as it meant escaping this marriage. That was all she wanted. One day, she would come back, but for now, this was the best she could think of.

She waited patiently till everyone was asleep, and then picked up a small bag. She tiptoed lightly across the room and opened her door, then letting her eyes adjust to the darkness, she examined the room. It was too dark, though, and she believed no one would be there.

She tiptoed to the middle of the living room when the light suddenly came on, and her brother Paul was standing there, a smile on his face.

"I knew you would try something like this. You want to run away from home to stop me from getting married?"

Jennifer bit down on her lip as she calculated the distance between where she stood to the door, and the distance between where he stood and where she stood. If she lounged for the door right now, would he be able to catch her?

Without a warning, however, he turned towards their father's room and started yelling. "Dad! Dad, come on out!"

Benjamin opened the door, his eyes squinted from sleep. "What is it?"

Her mother too came from the room, and she scanned everyone. It didn't take too long for everyone to realize what was happening.

"Dad. I caught her trying to run away so that she would avoid the plans you have for her. She wants to stop me from getting married, and that is why she is doing this!" Paul complained, all the while pointing an accusing finger at Jennifer.

Her head was lowered, as she chomped down on her lip. She could have run for it before her father came out, why did she even allow herself to get caught like this?

Benjamin walked closer to her. His eyes had lost the sleep he had been woken up from, and in its place was anger. Raw, insatiable anger.

"Is that true?" He bellowed.

She looked up, but before she could say anything, Paul interjected.

"Why would I lie, dad? Can't you see? She even has her bag with her."

A deafening slap landed on Jennifer's cheek and she was sent reeling to the ground, a small cut on the corner of her lips.

"Get up here. I said, get up!"

She stood, her eyes filling with tears. Benjamin brought his hand up to hit her again when his wife suddenly came between them and took the slap on the face instead. She didn't let it phase her, as she opened her hands wide, protecting Jennifer.

"Please stop. She is only a child. You need to give her time to adjust to everything you have planned for her. It is so much to take in."

Jennifer was now crying as her mother shielded her. Everything in her life was going wrong.

Benjamin caught his wife by the hair, sending jokes of pain right to her head and causing her to yelp. "You want to defend this wench, right? You have been the one encouraging her stubbornness, haven't you?"

He slapped her till she stopped feeling the pain in her cheeks, and when he let go of her hair, she fell to the floor. He was ready to kick her when Jennifer knelt and held his leg back, her hands shaking.

"I will do whatever you say. Just let her go."

"Did you think you have a choice?" He yelled, kicking her away so she lay on the ground. He squatted and pulled her up by her hair, and dragged her across the room, to her room where he pushed her in.

She hit her forehead on the edge of the single table in the room, but it didn't quite matter to him.

"You are going to stay here till the wedding. And if you try to do anything, I assure you, your mother will be the one to pay for it!" He spat and closed the door behind him. He heard the click of the key, and his footsteps as he walked away.