I continued to grip my hands which were already sweating from nerves. We had just entered the hotel lobby and my father was talking to the security there. He asked if we could look at the CCTV footage from last night to find the culprit who had drugged me.
I didn't know what to do to stop my father while Nicole kept inciting my father to look at the CCTV and catch the culprit.
Not long after, security came back and told us that we could see the CCTV footage but only with him present. We then went to the surveillance room area. Two officers were monitoring the monitor.
The security guard who escorted us explained what happened. They were trying to find the CCTV footage of when the incident happened.
I didn't dare say anything when a recording showed me being carried by a man. The man who had slept with me last night. But how shocked I was when my father didn't feel angry at all. It was Nicole who turned angry.
"Dad?" I asked with concern.
"So you were with Ethan last night?" my father said, which surprised me even more.
"Ethan?!" I exclaimed in disbelief. I looked back at the face of the man on the recording, which turned out to be Ethan, my future husband! So I slept with Ethan last night? But how could I?
"Did you take the initiative to meet him before the day of your meeting with him?" my father asked again and I could only remain silent without knowing what to answer. I was still in shock from knowing that I had slept with Ethan. The man who was set up by me. The man I didn't want to marry.
Did Ethan already know it was me, that's why he did it with me? I bit my lower lip with an uneasy feeling. I looked at my father who had a happy expression, in contrast to Nicole.
Nicole, who was initially so enthusiastic about seeing the CCTV footage, now looked so angry. Actually, what was she planning?
"Dad, I...."
"I'll call Ethan to come to the house today. We'll discuss your wedding. The wedding schedule will be accelerated!"
I couldn't reply to my father's words. I just stayed silent with my head bowed. Then I saw Nicole walking out angrily.
I quietly followed Nicole from behind. I wondered if she was the mastermind behind everything that happened to me last night. Did she order that man to drug me? If I have proof, I'll give it to you right away. Showing how sneaky and evil Nicole has been.
I hid behind a wall and saw Nicole talking to someone on a hotel balcony. Looking very angry. I even heard her cursing at the person she was calling. I tried to get closer and I heard that she had someone drug me and then rape me.
What a wicked woman! How could Nicole go this far with me? I never even did anything bad to her.
When Nicole finished speaking and turned back around. We locked eyes. I stood defiantly in front of Nicole. But Nicole was completely unfazed.
"So you did it? Ordered someone to drug me and rape me?!" I snapped in a loud voice. I was so angry that I didn't care anymore if anyone heard, including Dad.
"Do you have proof that I did it?!" retorted Nicole. "If you have proof, then show it to me. Show it to Daddy," Nicole said with a defiant look.
That was true. I didn't have any solid proof that Nicole had done anything. I just heard her talking on the phone with someone. Stupidly, I didn't record it at all. So, how can I prove Nicole's cunning?
Damn it.
I clenched my hands together in anger. "Look Nicole, just this once, I will let you go. But if you ever cheat on me again, it doesn't matter where I look for evidence of your crimes. I will find it and show it to Daddy," I threatened.
Nicole was silent. "Try it if you can," she challenged. I chuckled in annoyance as Nicole brushed past me, deliberately elbowing my shoulder hard.
"Damn," I swore as I glanced sharply at Nicole who walked away.
After checking the CCTV footage, we returned home. Dad had told me that soon Ethan would be coming to the house with his parents to discuss our marriage. I couldn't argue.
I just said yes when he asked me to do my makeup and look nice when Ethan and his family came to the house. I was sure this was going to be the worst dinner I'd ever had.
I wasn't even sure I could look Ethan in the face after what happened to us last night. Did he realize it was me, or did he not know the woman he slept with was me?
I grabbed my hair in frustration as I thought about it all in my room. I didn't even have the energy to apply makeup. My face was currently pale and hideous. I could still smell the alcohol as I spoke.
"I hope there's a miracle where I don't have to marry Ethan," I whispered curled up on the bed.
Toward evening, the maid knocked on my bedroom door and told me to come down immediately. He said Ethan and his family had arrived and Dad had asked me to show up immediately.
I let out a long sigh as I descended the stairs with an uneasy feeling. I saw Ethan standing behind me, talking to my father. I really couldn't see his face.
As dinner progressed, my mom and dad kept talking about how it would be nice to speed up our wedding. And everyone seemed to agree, except me.
I stared at Ethan's face, the look on his face completely unreadable. Even when my dad asked him if he agreed to marry me. And he answered with a big smile.
"Of course. Who wouldn't want to marry a beautiful and graceful woman like Layla," Ethan said. At that moment, I wanted to spit out my food.
Was he acting? Or did he mean it? I had no idea.
At the far end of the table, I saw Nicole with an annoyed look on her face. She kept glancing at me, looking unhappy with tonight's meeting.
"We decided that your marriage will be expedited. You will get married next month. I'll have someone organize all the preparations for you. You just need to choose your wedding rings and dresses," my father said.
"Dad, that's too soon. We also need to get to know each other before we get married, don't we?" I protested, but I immediately fell silent when my father gave me a sharp glance. I really couldn't do anything. My life was like a bird in a cage.
After dinner that day, all the days I'd gone through seemed so heavy. When my father kept urging me to take care of choosing the wedding ring and the dress I would wear later. Meanwhile, every time I sent a message to Ethan, he always argued that he was busy and couldn't accompany me. In the end, he only sent me a few sample photos of wedding rings, asking me to choose one of them. I even went to the boutique to try on my wedding dress without him.Like a fool. Forcing myself to smile when I was so hurt inside. Just like me, I'm sure Ethan didn't like the idea of this wedding either.One month passed quickly. I was in the hotel room alone. Our wedding was being held in a five-star luxury hotel. Inviting every important colleague from each side of the bride and groom.I wanted so badly to escape from this one-sided marriage. I couldn't imagine living with a man I didn't love at all. How would our married life be, how would he treat me? Would I be happy married to him?All these questio
Layla’s PovI threw the bouquet of flowers into the air, watching the young girls catch it. How could they want this thing called marriage? Right now, I was probably the most miserable person in the world. Notwithstanding, I maintained the plastered smile on my face and curtseyed ever so often as big shots from various 5-star companies came to congratulate us. I glanced up at Ethan. His firm jaw and well carved out features looked as stunning as they did in the pictures. His arms were linked through mine, as we got into the limousine, portraying the image of a loving husband. If he was planning on fooling those people, then I had to give it to him, he made a fine actor. I on the other hand had gotten a glimpse of the real devil that he was. I could even feel him glaring at me from the corner of his eyes. Once we got into the car, he let go of me and leaned against the window. The look in his eyes were quite readable. As far as he was concerned, I didn't exist anymore. I frowned.
LAYLA’S POV“Mistress,”My eyes fluttered open. I sat up on the king sized bed. Sunlight streamed in from the open window casting a warm glow on my face. Rubbing my eyes, I wondered where I was. One thing was certain, I had woken up from a terrible dream. But wait... It wasn't a dream. Last I remembered, I was sobbing on the ground, the footsteps of that terrible man sounding in my head. It was settled then, I was the legal wife of the Ethan Crawford, the fucking CEO of some company. “Mistress,” I heard again. Standing at the door was a young lady, not much older than I, with short auburn hair and a plain white dress with black polkadots. She must be a maid. “It's alright, you can come in.” “You were in a bad state yesterday. We took you to this room to recuperate. But your things aren't here yet, you can still choose any of the rooms to stay in.” She said keeping her head low. “I'm your lady in waiting, America.” She said with a curtsey. “Is he always like that?” I asked sudd
LAYLA’S POV“Milady,” The guard directed me towards a red sports ferrari. He showed me the keys. “Would you wait for your driver or should I drive you myself?” He asked opening the back seat for me. He might as well drive, I shrugged entering the car. “Would you mind introducing yourself.” “My apologies Milady,” He bowed closing the door. “I'm Jonas Kent.”“Right,” I nodded. He entered the front seat and the garage gate raised open. The sports car zoomed past and within minutes, we were halfway across the city. He didn't stop for anything and arrived in front of huge brass gates. Maybe being married to a billionaire was not as bad as I thought. I began to think. The gates opened and our car drove in, parking soundlessly in the parking lot. Drake opened the doors for me and led me into the main building. I reasoned he must have been familiar with the people here because none of the security men bothered us. There was an open hallway with a receptionist dest at the front. People
«ETHAN CRAWFORD»I had my reservations concerning one, Layla Wales. She struck me as nothing exceptional. I was drugged, and there, a random lady bumped into me with dressing loose enough to turn me on. Goodness, it could have been any other girl! only to discover that she was the same woman my father had requested me to get married to. I wasn't ready for any relationship. Anyone close enough to me knew that. As a result, I had reason to believe that little Miss Layla Wales had it all planned. I told my father to postpone the agreement and have me focus on my work for now, and what happens next? The very girl I'm avoiding comes around and brings the whole wedding more than a month closer. I sighed, rubbing my temples. “How frustrating.”Entering a black sports car, I told the driver to take me to the company. I had a meeting with the board of directors. Taking out my cell phone, I called the manager. “Has Layla Wales arrived?” I asked coldly. “No, boss.”When she does, “I want y
«Nicole Wales»I stared at the face in front of me in astonishment. The dashing man tilted his head go one side, regarding me quietly. He was on one kneel gathering the remaining of the files.“You stare at me,” He noted cooly with an expression that was difficult to read.I quickly diverted my gaze feeling the red that crept up my cheeks. I wonder what he thought of me... Nothing bad I hoped.He stood up and offered me a hand. “Be careful next time, do you know who I am.”He said it more like a fact than a question. “Mr Ceo I....” I stuttered. He raised an eyebrow. “It's fine, I wasn't going to announce my presence anyway.”He brushed past my shoulders and walked into the elevators. “Well?”“Of course,” Hurrying to compose myself, I shuffled the files under one arm and made my way away. Forward, I thought wobbling slightly on my heels.Glancing back sharply, I caught the slightest hints of a smile in his eyes as the doors of the elevator slided shut.My stomach felt queasy. I had j
«Layla»It was my first day of work, I was already trying to be in ten places at the same time. Was there really that much vacancy at Ethan's company? And if so, half the city would die to work here. Why was he giving all the job to one person?Somehow, I didn't think it was as simple as that. Once I introduced myself as Layla Wales, the manager smiled at me and began typing on his laptop. I offered him my credentials and he just swept his eyes through them really quick and announced,“You got the job.” Then went back behind his laptop.Now, seated in a large hall where fifty of the workers worked, I looked through the slip of paper that he had given me. My working schedule. God it was choked!Mondays to Fridays I took a morning shift at the lab, afternoons, I went for a brief break then joined the archaeological research department. Saturday
«LAYLA»Finally, I was done for today... Or more like for now since I would still have to conclude the rest of the day's work once I returned to the mansion. I took the elevator down and phoned Jonas to pick me up.I walked past the front desk and outside the building. The red ferrari was already parked. Jonas leaned against the car waiting for me. Either the black camo outfit and dark shades was part of the uniform or he just enjoyed the in-between look of an underground gangster and a black belt ninja.“Milady,” He straightened and bowed as I approached.I acknowledged him with a nod. He opened the back seat for me.“Your driver is here.”True enough, I sighted a stranger at the wheels. His well ironed navy blue suit glinted in the sunlight. “My credentials,” He said offering me his license. Gloves, I noted. As well as a British accent. I glanced at the card and shrugged sitting down. I wasn't the fucking sherif anyway. Jonas closed the door and walked around the car, sitting at