“What did you just say?”
“You heard me” Clifford said, going through his file.
“Seriously! We are getting married and I have no idea about it!” Susie said.
She got out of her seat to stand in front of him.
“Is this your way of getting back at me? Do you intend to marry me and make me suffer till you get sick of me and get rid of me?” She asked.
Clifford was save from giving a reply when the air hostess return to inform them that the plane will take off and they are to be seated for it.
“Take your seat Susie, the plane is about to take off” Clifford said and when she stood still without moving an inch, he got out of his seat and pulled her to her seat, buckling the belt for her.
“When you left last night. I felt terrible, I was going to take you forcefully and that made me sick to the bones. It was then that I decided that if am going to have you then I must do it the legal way” he said.
“And you should be happy. Once I finally get sick of you, I will let you go like you want but until then, you are mine and what’s mine, I never let go” he added before going back to his own seat.
It wasn’t until they were up in the air that Susie spoke again.
“I know I did wrong by lying to you when you’ve been honest with me all the time but this isn’t you Clifford. This isn’t the kind, sweet Clifford I met, I want the old Clifford back” Susie said, tears glistening her eyes.
“Well he’s dead. The old Clifford is gone replace by the one you created, deal with it!” He snap and picking up his things, he went into the room built along with many other things in the plane.
*****
^^ AUSTRALIA ~ KNIGHT HOTEL TWO ^^
After learning about her brother trip, Nina went in search of Stanley and in hand was the hand written letter of Kate.
His secretary let her in without announcing her arrival and she knock briefly before going in.
“Guess what Stanley, I got Kate to write a letter explaining it all to Clifford. You asked me why I couldn’t tell Clifford myself but the truth is that Granny thr_@tened to hurt my sister, Tamara and that is why I kept shut”
“But have gotten Kate to write a letter. I figure that if he finds out the truth through Kate then granny won’t be able to blame me for it and my sister won’t be in trouble and… What’s wrong?” Nina stop talking when she saw the sullen look on his face.
“I just found out what Clifford’s trip is about” He said, getting out of his seat.
“And what is it about?”
“He’s getting married to Susie”
“What! Are you sure about it?” Nina asked.
” An hotel staff called wanting to double check the reservation made for the couple. I didn’t know what he was talking about, so he had to tell me the details which is how I know” Stanley said.
“Why is Clifford suddenly having a wedding, he didn’t even tell us anything and…”
“Are you sure you don’t know why he’s acting this way? It’s very obvious that he’s doing it to get back at Susie. He believes she lied to him, a lie which you and your grandmother force on her!” Stanley yelled at her.
“I told you that I was thr_@ten by my grandmother too. She would have hurt Tamara if I said the truth”
“Nonsense! You chose the cowardly way out, you and your grandmother did and now Susie has to bear the consequence!” Stanley said, filled with so much anger.
“What can we do? Isn’t there a way we can stop the wedding before…”
“There’s nothing we can do! The wedding starts by two and look at the time? Even if we book a flight to go after them, we will never make it!”
“Then I should give Clifford a call, he has to know that I…”
“And what would your call change? Nothing. Clifford, Susie and I are in this mess because of you! If you had never told her to carry on with the lies then I will be the one with Susie and Clifford will be guy we all knew” Stanley yelled at her.
“You claim you love me but you have only brought me pain. You don’t hurt the one you love, Nina. You don’t” he said turning his back on her.
“Stanley I…”
“Just leave! Go away, I don’t want to see you” he said and when he heard the sound of the door, he let out a sigh and said softly.
“The girl I love now belongs to someone else, she’s gone for good”
Nina on the other hand, hid in the rest room crying her eyes out.
She was trying to stop her tears when her phone began to ring.
“Hello, Tamara” Nina said.
“Are you crying? What’s wrong with you?” Tamara ask down the line.
“I need you Tamara, I need you so much” Nina voice wobble as she began to cry again.
*****
^^ LOS ANGELES ^^
“Oh my gosh! You look so pretty” Mary, who is the wedding planner said, as Susie walk out of the room dressed in her wedding gown and all dolled up for the wedding.
Turns out Clifford has gotten everything prepared for the wedding.
She found out through Mary that he already book the church and had hired her services to help prepare for their wedding.
A wedding which is made out of h@ťě and revenge, Susie thought as Mary handed her a bouquet.
“Is this really necessary, I won’t be throwing it to anyone after the wedding” Susie said.
“It is necessary. It is very essential for every bride, we better get moving or we will be late to church” Mary said as she and dress maker help with the train of the gown.
Through the drive to church, Susie said nothing and though Mary tried to make her talk, she didn’t succeed much.
Clifford was waiting for her down the aisle and apart from the priest and some few orchestra, there was no one else.
When the wedding march began, Susie walk towards him.
He took hold of her hand and they both knelt as the priest began to speak.
*He doesn’t love me, he h@ťěs me and this is his way of getting back at me for the lies *
This thought kept going through Susie head as she said her vow and slid the ring into his finger.
“I pronounce you man and wife, you may kiss your bride” The priest said bonding them together for good.
Susie thought he was going to ignore the last part of the ceremony but to her surprise, he pulled her into his arms and kiss her.
“Just because we didn’t marry for love doesn’t mean we won’t do other things. We will live as a normal couple and sleep together like they do and there will be a wedding night for us, get yourself ready” He whispered down at her, a smile on his face.
Anyone who saw them might think he was saying something sweet to her but only she knew what he said and that made a tear slid down her cheek.
*****
^^ CHINA~ SHANGHAI ^^
A sleek looking Chinese guy walk into a suite, holding a folder.
“This is what you asked for, boss” he said handing the file to Tamara.
Tamara set down her glass to take out the folder which had pictures of Clifford and Susie leaving the church at los Angeles.
“They got married some hours ago” the Chinese guy said.
“Tsk! I thought that when that old hag Crystal Knight told me that I should get lost and that she would find a better wife for her grandson, she would pick someone better than me but seeing this girl, I can’t help but laugh” Tamara said cynically, tossing the pictures aside to sip her wine.
“What more did you find out Chen” Tamara asked and Chen spilled the whole info to her.
“So you are saying that this girl has a thing for Stanley and then the love letter she wrote went to Clifford and he thought her to be in love with him and he just found out the truth recently?” Tamara asked, amuse by the whole thing.
“So this marriage could be a form of revenge” Tamara added.
“I think so, boss” Chen said.
“Turns out the nerdy Clifford do have hot blood running through him” Tamara said softly.
“What’s your next step, boss?”
“What do you think? We are going back to Australia, it’s time I pay my family a visit and also get back at those who made me leave in the first place” Tamara said.
*****
^^ LOS ANGELES ~ PALMS HOTEL ^^
Susie stood in the bathroom, sheathe in just a bathrobe.
All she had to do was to leave the room but the thought of going out there to Clifford makes her feel strange.
Not the bad feeling but the good one. Each time she thinks about their upcoming wedding night, she gets breathless and nervous and feel strange things in her stomach.
“Aren’t you coming out?” Clifford asked impatiently from the door way.
“Just a minute” Susie said and after taking a deep breath, she left the bathroom.
She stood shyly by the door starring at Clifford who had only his trouser on.
When did he get out of his coat and shirt? She thought starring lustfully at his chest.
She willed herself to look away but she couldn’t.
“Do you want me to come for you?” He asked and gave her no chance to reply.
Walking the few paces that separated them, he pulled her into his arms and captured her lips in his.
She immediately melt into his arms, returning his kiss with fervent passion.
She felt him untying her robe and slowly, he push it off her body baring her to his gaze.
“You are everything have always imagine” he said, feathering kisses down her cheek while cupping her @zz in his hands.
He got her down on the bed and discarded his trouser leaving him bare to her gaze too.
Susie swallowed hard as she saw his manhood, wondering how it would feel once he’s inside her.
He didn’t let her wonder for long, he kissed and sucked every bit of her body while she shyly return the favour.
He slowly entered her and at first she felt an immense pain but then it left to be replace by an immense urge only Clifford can fill.
Their Mõ@ɲs filled the room as she urge him to go faster and deeper and just like she wanted, he complied.
Plunging hard into her while satisfying his urge and her urge.
When they were both sated, he pulled her into his arms, giving her a kiss on the forehead before dozing off.
Susie woke up very early at dawn, she stay still starring at her husband face.
Tears slid down her cheek as she watch the man she love. She knows now that she’s in love with him but he doesn’t love her.
Hatred is the only thing left in his heart for her.
As gently as she could, she got out of his arms and taking a note, she began writing in it.
Hours later, Clifford woke up to find the space beside him empty.
At first, he thought Susie was in the bedroom but there was no sign of her.
He was about placing a call when he saw a note on his desk.
He quickly picked it up and went through it’s content.
“Susie is gone” Clifford said still clutching the letter in his hand….
➳ TBC ➳💙🤍🧡