While we were married

"No mum this can't be,I'm not getting married,I'm not saying I won't, but not as an arranged marriage." Annabelle said,defiantly at her mother who just informed her about the marriage proposal from the Stuart family. An elite family from London who are well known in the city for having big connections all over the country. From what she knows,her father had a good connection with the Stuart's and the marriage was as a result of a business deal. She thought she was finally free from her parent's control,they had always made choices for her all her life.

she also never liked the idea of an arranged marriage,she read how the men maltreat their wives in several novels and books. Her mother was quiet, watching her blab on how she wouldn't agree to the marriage.

Anna was cunning,smart and scheming. She always used her tears as a weapon.

Anabelle was the only child of Mr and Mrs Wilson. And her mother couldn't bare to see her cry or being sad. Anna was just nineteen and had just finished college. She had so many dreams and didn't want everything to end with getting married. Seeing her mother payed no attention to her, She faked tears and started sobbing. But didn't expect the response her mother gave when she suddenly spoke.

"Shut up Annabelle,this marriage is for your own good as well as the company's. We have no choice,that's the only way to save our company from bankruptcy, just thank your god's they brought this proposal earlier.

Besides you're getting married to one of the biggest families in the city It's the best match for a family of our status." Mrs Wilson explained briefly to her,ignoring the crocodile tears on her face.

Annabelle was shocked,her mother never spoke to her that way,is she really serious about pushing her into getting married?. Hell no,she won't agree.

"Mother I am not getting married." She said this time, with much determination.

Mrs Wilson smiled and stroked her hair gently.

"Don't worry Annabelle, you'll get used to it, please just be a good girl and let the adults handle this. I promise,this would be the best decision for you and our family." She said calmly.

Annabelle scoffs ."my own good? My own good you say? You're using me as a bait to achieve your own ulterior motives you both don't love me, you've never for once care about my choices or how I feel about the choices you both make for me." She blurted out and was quiet. Trying to catch her breath from the yelling. Then she continued.

"All you care about is your status and your company, you both don't have regards for my feelings." Immediately she finished talking,she felt a hard hit in her face.

Mrs Wilson gave Annabelle a slap across her face. She felt Anna talked to her in a disrespect manner and she had to put her in place.

"shut it young lady I won't allow you sit there and spill rubbish to me.

We're doing this for your own good.

Where do you think we get the money we use in caring for your needs, we've been giving you the best since the very day you were born.

How do you think we afford this luxurious lifestyle. And don't even try to do anything stupid like running away,

It will be of no use cause you'll be followed around by bodyguards from now on."

"What on earth do they want from me ?,"

Jason frowned after his personal assistant David just Informed him his parents had sent for him for the third time today. "How did they knew he was in the country?" He thought.

"Get the car ready." He said coldly and David left immediately to do it.

Jason walked into the mansion escorted by David and a bodyguard, the villa looked strange to him, it's been more than ten years since he left the city to study abroad.

In the living room, designed luxuriously and a beautiful silk curtains covering the windows. Jason could be seen sitting on the couch,while Mrs Stuart sits close to him.

He had an uncomfortable look on his face while she spoke to him.

"Jason,You arrived in the city since five days and you didn't call,we had to find out ourselves." Mrs Stuart scolded. Jason's grandma had told her a few days ago,that Jason was in the country .

"Since you had people watch me,I think it's natural for you to find out from them. Or what did you employ them for?" Jason retorted rudely to his mother.

When Jason was a kid,he never got the attention he needed from his parents. His father was abusive and hits him severally. His mother almost didn't care about his existence. After he almost attempt suicide,he was sent abroad to live with his grandma. Since then,he never considered them his family.

"You're getting married." His mother finally said after a brief silence.

Jason frowned,how dare they try to make decisions for him. He did his best obeying them by coming now they want to cross their limits? He thought.

"I'm not getting married." He replied briefly. Hearing the word marriage made him feel irritated immediately and he was eager to leave. Jason hated the thought of having his marriage arranged under any circumstances. His parents were bonded by an arrangement and he also didn't want that for himself.

a few days after, late In the morning. Mrs. Wilson walked into Annabelle's room to wake her up from her unending sleep. She assumed Annabelle pretends purposely to delay time because she had informed her the previous day of their visits to the Stuart's

Annabelle who was still in deep sleep woke up slowly, feeling the light taps on her body. She rubbed her eyes slowly as her vision was still blurry.

"Annabelle, it's already so late in the morning. didn't I inform you we have somewhere to go?"

"Isn't it too early? I'm still very sleepy" She mumbled.

"you can have all the sleep you want another day, but today, not Al all. we're going out right now. I won't waste more time persuading you." she warned.

"I'll send the maid to help you get dressed." She said and left the room.

In the gigantic bedroom, on a big king-size bed in the middle of the bedroom.

Jason stretched his hand towards the direction of the sound. He reached for the phone which has been ringing since and picked it up. "Hello" he managed to speak

"Hey, Jason," The caller said out loudly, his excitement could be.

"Who is this?" he asked Calmly. He had picked up the call without checking the phone.

"I just found out you've returned to the county after so many years."

"Camil ?" he said, Jason was a popular person, but he had a few friends. and only his friends could speak to him casually. And camil Brown was one of them. Despite how many years they've been apart. They didn't lose contact with each other.

"yes, I arrived a few days ago."

"It's been ten years, I wonder what you look like now," Camil said, mockingly and Jason smiled.

"Oh! I forgot, the country's magazines are filled with ur pictures with the Actress, Rita Parker." He said again.

"Well, what do you want?" Jason asked, trying to change the subject.

"Nothing, I'll be going clubbing tonight, I think it's the best location for a reunion, what do you think?"

"text me the address," Jason said briefly and ended the call. He still laid on the bed for a while before standing up and going to the bathroom.

"Hello" A calm feminine voice spoke on the phone.

"Good morning Annabelle" the second caller replied. It was Anna's best friend, Jessica.

"Uhmmm, sorry to disturb you this early, are you at home or work?" Annabelle asked

"yes, you know I'm always at home, I stopped the part-time job already," Jessica said.

"really? why?"

"I'll give you an explanation when you come, I can't answer over the phone," Jess said.

Annabelle opened a big box from inside her wardrobe.

"I never thought I would have a reason to do this again" she picks up a blonde wig and a fa e-ups from the box. Annabelle used to cosplay and draw comics back in middle school. She wanted to

a few minutes after. Anna held up a mirror and stared at hersélf.

"Wow, I almost couldn't recognize myself!

Now I have to make an escape plan"

Anna learn makeup artistry during her college days, she always promised to assist Jessica with her makeup, when Jessica fulfils her dreams of becoming a famous actress.

Anna drew a blurry diagram of the mansion,

"There are three guards outside my door, if I could get through them, the rest wouldn't be a problem". She calculated. She was very determined to leave the mansion without being caught.

Katherine, her maid walked inside with her breakfast.

"ma'am, your makeup looks beautiful," She said and smiled.

"thank you"Anna replied.

Anna thought for a while, she brightened her face with a smile.

"Katherine, I need your help. please" she spoke out.

"Young miss, you don't have to plead, I'll do anything for you" Katherine replied innocently.

" I need your dress." She said and breathed deeply.

"My dress? Miss, I don't understand, you have many expensive clothes what do you need mine for?"

"yes, I do. but they aren't going to help me I. this situation" She spoke hurriedly.

it was a good thing Anna wore a blonde wig, Katherine also had blonde hair, so she could easily disguise herself.

She held Katherine both hands and rubbed it slowly, "please just help me, I promise you won't be in trouble."

"Ok! I'll help u" Katherine finally said.

"Katherine, I need you to lay down and cover yourself with the duvet and act like me."

Anna lowered her head as she passed by the guards, holding the tray. she walked through the hallway leading to the kitchen, avoiding eye contact with the other maids.

Walking as fast as she could, mistakenly bumped into someone. She turned to look as her eyes almost met with Mrs. Wilson's and she bowed her head immediately. "That was a close one." She thought as her heart beats fastly.

She cleared her throat.

"Good morning mu." She paused immediately and corrected herself. "Ma'am."She said, trying to sound like Katherine, and walked away hurriedly but Mrs. Wilson called her back. Recognizing her as Annabelle's maid. Katherine.

" Katherine, have u served Anna her breakfast? Since she refused to come down to eat"

"Yes ma'am, I just left her room, she's in the bathroom," Anna said and lowered her gaze. It was a rule for the maiden's eyes not to meet with the bosses. Annabelle assumed she was lucky as that rule just saved her. She watched her mother as she left her room and she also went to the hallway leading to the backdoor. There was hardly a bodyguard in that area.

Anna followed the backdoor leading to the garden, opening a small exit for dogs. She couldn't risk following the main entrance. Annabelle crawled and passed through it.

"Finally, at last." She screamed out happily. It was like an adventure for her to escape the mansion. She might not have the chance to do what she wants In the future.

"Annabelle you're still sleeping? I told you to get " removes Duvet "Katherine?! What sort of madness is this? Where is Annabelle? Guards! Guards!!"

guards came running into the room hurriedly, hearing Mrs. Wilson scream.

"Madam it wasn't my intention to let the young miss leave the mansion. She asked me to lend her my clothes and stay here for a while." Katherine explained briefly, after receiving slaps and curses from Mrs. Wilson.

"And you helped her, you swine." She cursed.

"Guards, apprehend her, torture her till she tells me where my daughter went."

"Ma'am, please forgive me." Katherine pleaded as she was being dragged away.

Mrs. Smith dropped the purple thread she was knitting to attend the door, "Annabelle, come inside." She said immediately after seeing Anna.

"Goodmorning ma'am" Annabelle greeted politely.

Annabelle left Mrs. Smith to go see Jessica upstairs, Mrs. Smith kept staring at her, it was unlike Annabelle to dress up in that manner, she assumed it was a cosplay between her and Jessica, but she ignored it.

Lucy bursts into laughter.

Jessica stared at her with a Stern look. it was obvious she mocked Anna's camouflage to leave the mansion.

"I'm sorry" she apologized amidst laughter.

"An Arranged marriage? common it's no big deal," Jessica said after Lucy stopped laughing, Anna had explained the reason she left home in that so-called custume.

"It's a very big deal, how can I marry someone I don't know, besides I'm in love with someone else."

"Ken? comment girl, you're smarter than this, Ken would be married now, it's been almost three years since he traveled out, do you think he still has you in mind?" Lucy said briefly.

"I don't know, I still believe there's an explanation behind his delay," Annabelle replied, trying to stay calm, she tried to hold back her tears.

"I think Lucy is right Anna, open your heart to someone else"

Lucy excused herself to make a phone call.

"Do you think Ken has abandoned me?" Anna asked, this time she lets the tears flow freely.

Jessica hugs her closely.

"Don't tell me you're crying over Ken? it's not worth it girl, you just have to keep living."

"I don't get it, you're supposed to sympathize with your friend, not scold her."

"I don't have a heart remember?." Lucy said mockingly.

The three girls laughed.

"Don't worry Anna, you'll both end up falling In love" Jessica said.

"it's not a kinda fairytale story or a movie" Anna retorted immediately.

"Let's go clubbing tonight, it'll help you get ur mind off all these," Lucy suggested.

"Common Lucy, she still has to go home tonight"

"We won't spend much time, I just want you girls to meet someone."

"Oh Lucy, I should have known you had ulterior motives," Annabelle said.

Annabelle stared at the gown awkwardly.

"Jessy, isn't this too short?" she asked.

"Wow, that's perfect!" Lucy exclaimed. I'm very sure all guys would be lusting over you at the club.

"Anna isn't going to the club to get a man, she's going there to have fun"Jessy retorted staring at Lucy with disgust. "Anna you look perfect in that, you know I don't wear long dresses, I'm pretty sure that's the only dress of mine which is ur size"

"I'll manage though, this is the longest I could find" packs her silky long black hair in a ponytail style. I'm ready.

Lucy picked up her ringing phone.

"The taxi is here, hurry girls," she Informed.

"Wait, let me give my looks the finishing touch." Jessica pleaded.

Phone rings,

"it's Mum, Katherine is busted,, I'll fix everything when I get back" Switches off the phone and grabs her handbag. "Let's go girls"

After a brief silence, Jeremy spoke.

"Come to think of it, it'll be nice to get this Playboy married, what do you think?" Jeremy said.

"Will you stop joking? be serious for a while" Jason gulped his drink angrily.

"No offense was just kidding."

"Hello Mrs. Stuart, I'm so sorry. My daughter and I would not be able to make it to the meeting tonight" Mrs. Wilson spoke calmly on the phone

"Oh it's no problem Mrs. Wilson, My son is also not available, you know how kids behave"

Mrs. Wilson sighs and asked, "Can we reschedule it for another day?"

"We'll talk about it tomorrow at lunch, just give me a convenient time for you"

"Ok Mrs. Wilson I'll check my schedule and get back to you"

"Hello Jeremy, we are outside the club" Lucy spoke on the phone

"great! Tell the bouncer to lead you to the VIP room". Lucy and Jeremy were best of friends since childhood, Jeremy invited Lucy to the club, and they both planned on bringing their friends to meet each other.

"many people danced, in the crowded club, the colored lights paced around switching colors with loud music, the girls entered the VIP room, it was very quiet as if nobody's in"

Lucy hugged Jeremy as soon as she entered.

"Have your sit pretty ladies" Camil ushered the girls to sit down.

after they've settled down

"Lucy, are you not going to introduce your friends to us?" camil asked.

"Sorry, was about to do that. Meet my best friends Jessica Smith and Annabelle Wilson."

"Nice to meet you," Annabelle said with a smile exposing her nice dentition and her dimples.

"It's nice to finally get to meet you, Lucy told me a lot about you girls"

"oh hope it's good things though?" Jessica retorted.

"Surely, except you're doing something bad. Ehh!?" camil mocked

the three ladies laughed out loudly.

"You're funny," Jessica said, blushing.

"Meet my friends, Camil Brown and Jason Stuart" Jeremy introduced.

"Nice to meet you, pretty ladies," camil held Anna's hands and gives her a light kiss.

"he picked Jessica on her cheek", it was obvious he was interested in Jessica.

"Hi," Jason said with a cold voice and no expression shown on his face, he continuously flipped his phone with his finger.

the atmosphere became awkward,

Camil and Jessica moved to another seat and talked privately.

"So... Jessica, what do you do?" He asked.

"I'm an aspiring actress I act in short video clips, you can watch them on my YouTube channel, hoping to get a job as an actress in the white Fox entertainment industry."

the waiter served their orders.

Annabelle gulped a full cup of vodka.

Jessica and Lucy stared at her, she wasn't a good drinker.