TEARS OF A BILLIONAIRE
Beautiful, elegant and graciously endowed.
She smiled thinly and sighed as she adjusted her suit, looked into the large silver framed mirror. Her look reveals the scars of a warrior who had fought against all odds as she had stooped to conquer. At 22, life had treated her harshly, she was beaten, battered and emotionally manipulated but now, somehow, she has gotten a fair share of good life as her story is about to change.
Aryyah looked around the exclusive office while standing, she looked around her office then locked the door and stepped out into the garage. It was raining heavily, she put her hand bag in the car, closed the car door and then stepped into the heavy rain just beside the garage. She allowed the rain to wash her face as she nods gently to the right and to the left in aim to stretch her neck as if in a yoga exercise.
She began to weep as she remembered she had just become Mrs Peterson the day before. She kissed the wedding ring on her left hand and allowed the rain to wash away the slow, silent tears dripping gradually down her face. In her mind, she prayed for the rain to wash away the past horrible memories and soften her path for the life ahead. ' I'm grateful' she muttered under her breath as she goes down the memory lane.
She began to think about her husband who married her just yesterday afternoon and she only met his family after the wedding at the registry. She thought in her mind ' Who does that?' 'I mean who gets married to a total stranger and only get to meet his family after the wedding? Who gets married without first dating, without courtship and without an engagement?
Who gets married without any kind of proposal and doesn't go to honey moon after wedding but have to resume back to work the next day'? Well, I just did. She shrugged. That is what life has to offer and I have to accept it the way it came. It was my only chance to step into the other side of life. Besides, I love Jackson Peterson so much and genuinely. She said to herself.
She looked up to the sky and allowed more rains to flush her gentle face. She felt fulfilled sort of even though she doesn't know what lies ahead but ' I am determined to make it work, no matter the circumstance'. She whispered to the cold air. The rains increased with large drops falling down her face and she began to feel cold while her heart got warmer, she didn't mind that her hands were getting cold. The rains had been her loyal companion all along.
She opened her eyes gently, looked through the car window and saw her phone beaming with light while vibrating. Her heart skipped, Jackson (her husband) is calling. She adjusted her rain drenched suit and quickly moved into the car to pick his call but the call had already dropped. She sat there to check her phone and saw;
Mom, Twenty three missed calls. Jackson, eighteen missed calls, Dad in law whom she had just met yesterday, nine missed calls and Rukky her bestie, four missed calls.
What the hell is going on? She asked starring at her steering wheel as she turned on the wind screen wiper. 'Why so much missed calls?' Is everyone and everything ok? Why is everyone calling me at the same time? Some years ago, she was alone and lonely, she had no one to call her and she didn't even have a phone. She sighed, drove out gently and headed home wet, cold and with a little panic but also with a warm and grateful heart.
After a while, Jackson called again but this time she picked the call, 'hello Boss' she said. 'How many times have I told you I am only Boss in the office but I am your husband now and can't you recognize me as one? Besides, where the hell are you at this time of the night? Can't you see it's raining cats and dogs and you're out there when you are supposed to be home with me? I'm worried about you, is this how to start a marriage we wedded just yesterday?
Aryyah went mute and only listened. 'I'm sorry sir, I'm on my way already. I didn't know I had spent so much time. 'Don't tell me you're out there bathing shamelessly like a kid in the rain again'. Jackson screamed. Aryyah kept silent like she's just been hit by a gun shot, is this the kind of man and life I signed for? She wondered.
Loving and domineering, he treated me like a child but most times like an egg that is fragile and would break at every possibility. I told him I'm not that weak child anymore, yet he keeps treating me like one. Again, every rainfall and raindrops reminds him of me weeping outside the Petersons office building in the rain as every drop bathed my soul the first time he set his eyes on me.
She drove on heading straight home, everywhere was dark, no one on the streets except a stray dog who had lost its way home. Aryyah looked at the dog as she drove past almost hitting it, she didn't notice the pot hole ahead of her, the strayed dog jumped off the road. She cursed under her breath. Why keep a pet you cannot shelter? What happened to putting it in a cage or something? 'I almost killed it. I'm so sorry stray dog'. she said as she continue to drive.
Her mom called again, this time she responded with a voice note 'Hi mom, let me call you when I'm home' I'm on the wheels now. She dropped the call. She thought about her mom and how she navigated through life but the thought was interrupted by a flash light and a police man. She slowed down. 'Hello Madam, you're driving so late, where are you coming from and where are you heading to'? He asked. Good evening officer, I'm going home, I'm just returning from work. She smiled dryly. It's ok Madam, drive carefully. Good night. He waved. Thanks, she said and drove off.
She felt relieved after driving through some bends and corners and finally sights her new home afar off. Great! She smiled and increased the driving motion.
A magnificent, tall, complex duplex, painted in white with edges trimmed in gold, golden roof with a gigantic computerized golden gate stared back at her. Lights shines in and out of the building, street lights shines on the tarred street. This particular building is filled with ambience, serenity and abundance, just the way she had always imagined when when was a child. 'I love it' she smiled.
She drove into the garage as the gates opened on their own. She parked the car, turned off the ignition, sighed, took the keys, carried her bag and stepped out of the car. She looked towards the sky, little drops of rain showers on her face satisfying her soul. She closed her eyes and raised her head, the cold wind blowing her wet hair into her face. She smiled as tears streamed down her face with her bag clutched to her breasts and her hands cold.
She felt warm arms surrounded her and a warm jacket pulled over her shoulders. Welcome home, my baby girl. You got me worried and scared. Please, don't do that again. I had waited for you all day. I made you some tea, just the way you like it. She held her tears, turned back and faced Jackson, he held her hands and led her gently to the building. 'Thank you' she whispered as she shivered.
