Marrying my high school bully

Melissa

“Remind me why we are late again?” I asked my father with a cranky tone as soon as we arrived at the event center where the exhibition was being held.

“I’m sorry, princess. I thought I’d apologized before?” He said and I rolled my eyes.

I got out of the car, a little pissed that I had to be late to the exhibition because of my father’s car that strangely developed issues on the road.

The story would have been different if I had come directly from my apartment, but the big man gave me no breathing space as he became unnecessarily overprotective. “Let’s just go,” I said when he got down as well.

The lights, emanating from the cameras of most journalists, who had come to air the program flashed at me.

I knew that I looked the part, dressed in a mermaid black velvet dress with long sleeves that stopped at my wrists. My auburn hair was curled into bouncy waves and gathered to my side, but what I didn’t expect was being fawned over by men and women alike.

Funny enough, I hadn’t taken any modeling jobs recently because of other important engagements.

My father and I parted ways as I went in search of Mrs Gonzales whose presence was crucial for the success of my plans. The aim was for Leonardo to go down today, but if everything wasn’t in place, it would be a case of wasted effort.

Fortunately, she was waiting inside the arena. I glanced around and when I noticed that Leonardo wasn’t present yet, I followed her to the convenience room.

“Good afternoon, Mrs Gonzales. I hope you are ready for this?” I asked expectantly.

“I’ve never been more ready. The guests are being introduced and once we are asked to present our best designs, that’s when I’ll showcase the imitated version of Troy Golds.” She said and immediately, I gave her a high-five and we both giggled.

I allowed her to leave so that she could continue with her work, while I straightened the crease on my dress.

I couldn’t place why I was excessively going through my looks when I knew that my stylist had done a good job with my looks.

“Someone looks gorgeous today.” I heard behind me and footsteps followed, his body reflecting from the mirror.

His unexpected presence should have made me flinch but I felt at peace with him. “What are you doing in the ladies’, Dexter? You shouldn’t be caught here, you know.” I chuckled and we engaged in a brief hug.

“I sighted you and an older lady entering this place, so I waited for her to leave before coming in.” He explained and I nodded absentmindedly.

“I didn’t know that you’d make it today. How’s Lilly doing?”

“She’s fine. I left her with Madeline, but I’ll return home soon because I have a meeting with a friend and I can’t dodge it anymore.”

“That’s fine. I think we should leave right now before someone comes in and finds you here. We don’t want a scandal on our necks.”

My warning was a bit too late because Emilia barged in, her eyes widening as they flitted from Dexter to me. She scoffed and folded her arms, blocking the door.

“Your house isn’t enough anymore? You want to do it in a public place. What’s your problem for heaven’s sake?” She hollered as Dexter and I exchanged knowing glances.

If she wanted a show, she was going to get one.

In a fleeting second, I pulled Dexter’s face closer and he wrapped his arms around my waist for a passionate kiss. Damn, the platonic friendship he wanted and the scandal I was trying to avoid, I liked how that somebody’s heart was getting broken.

“Stop!” She yelled and Dexter’s tongue drove deeper into mine, his hot breath mixing with mine. How I loved the taste of him.

It wasn’t until we heard the door slam loudly that we broke off the kiss and started laughing. “That should silence her and make her mind business for good,” I stated amidst laughter.

“You’re right, but I can’t deny that I liked the kiss.” He licked his lips and I chuckled. “What made you do that, though? That was humiliating and I will be on the receiving end later on.” He whined.

If Dexter knew who Emilia was, he wouldn’t be saying such.

“We have to go now before my father starts searching for me.” I dragged him out, ignoring how his happy countenance fell at the mention of my father.

Something might have happened between the both of them and no one was ready to tell me anything.

The introduction of important guests was over by the time we came out of the convenient room, so we headed towards my father. I spun around when I noticed that he had stopped following me and I sighed.

“Are you scared of my father?”

“Nothing scares me, Melissa, I just don’t want to talk to him right now.” He admitted.

I couldn’t force a grown man to do what he wasn’t comfortable with, so I let him off the hook and headed to my father who was already scowling when I got to meet him.

“What were you doing with that man?” He fumed.

“Relax, Dad, he’s the father of my unborn child and you’ll have to respect him,” I said sternly.

He scoffed but said nothing else as we passed through each section, viewing different beautiful designs of wristwatches, necklaces and earrings that were placed inside the show glass. Now I understood what my mother loved about jewelry, it made one stand out and it gave anyone who wore it an elegant look.

My eyes spotted the section that belonged to us and Mrs Gonzales, who was explaining to the guests that came by our table, locked her gaze on me, and gave me a secret thumbs up.

There were other designs on the table but I knew that Troy’s signature best-selling wristwatch would soon be noticed, and I just couldn’t wait for the chaos that would follow.

“Did my mother ever tell you about her passion for jewelry?” I probed as that was one of the questions I’d been wanting to ask him since I heard his story.

“Yes, she told me the night we met at the club, and that was how I got to know that she had already started a jewelry business and I traced her to her company.”

“What would you have done for her if she was still alive?”

He inhaled deeply and I saw the reluctance and emptiness in his eyes. It was obvious that he still missed my mother.

“I’d have done the same thing I’m doing for you right now, which is offering my support. When you genuinely love someone, you’d like to see the person win no matter what. The person’s concerns become yours and you begin to place the person’s needs above your needs.”

“That’s really sweet of you, Dad, but don’t you want to remarry? I mean you’re still young and handsome and rich too.”

“I don’t see the need for that, Mel. I have you and my future grandchild. That is enough for me.” He replied honestly and I hugged him.

Even though I raised the question, I secretly wanted him to stay unmarried, but then I wouldn’t stand in his way if he ever found love again.

Our beautiful conversation was interrupted by the murmurs that went round. Gradually, people began to leave other sections for our table.

I didn’t join them as I watched their reactions to the realization that a mix-up had occurred. What they’d never know is that the mix-up was intentional.

An invisible drum rolled in my head as I waited for the judges and hosts to come and investigate the situation. Leonardo, who was deeply engrossed in a conversation with Emilia, got wind of the rowdiness and walked towards our section.

“What’s going on here?” Leonardo asked.

“You stole a popular jewelry company’s design.” One of the judges said and he cocked his head to the side in surprise.

He frowned, passing a surprised glance to Mrs Gonzales who shrugged. “How’s that even possible, Rosa? I thought all the designs you made were originally ours?”

Her expression turned pitiful as she went on her knees while I tried hard to hold back my laughter. “We didn’t have much time to make new designs, and even when I told you about it, you told me that I could go ahead and copy another person’s design which was exactly what I did. I just saw it online and I didn’t know who it belonged to. I’m sorry for not doing my research.”

Blood drained from Leonardo’s face as he glared hard at her. His lips remained parted as he palmed his forehead.

“Is this a part of the plan?” My father asked with a knowing look.

“Do you like it?”

He chuckled and acknowledged, “You’re just as brilliant as I am. Let’s see how this will unfold.”

“Don’t worry, Daddy, everything will go as I planned. He won’t escape this one, because he just committed a crime and his ignorance won’t count for anything.” I smiled confidently as Leonardo tried to plead his way out of it.

From the disappointed looks on the faces of the guests, I knew that he was done for.Please check at N/ôvel(D)rama.Org.

The anchor climbed onto the platform. “I’m sorry to announce that the exhibition is on hold because of the brief investigation that will be carried out now. If Hills Jewelry is found to have defaulted, they’ll be disqualified from this exhibition.”