Pulling her up from a deep sleep, Emily's phone rang nonstop. Reluctantly, she reached out, blindly searching for her phone on the bedside table.

“Where is my damn phone”, she groaned, continuing to search until she found her phone.

“There it is”, she picked up her phone. Squinting at the screen, she saw Sarah’s calling.

“Urgh……Sarah, it’s seven in the morning…” Emily answered in a raspy voice. With excitement, Sarah practically shouted into the phone, “You won’t believe this!”

“What’s now?” half-asleep Emily mumbled.

“You have an interview at 10 AM today!” Sarah exclaimed.

“A.M. Enterprise?” Emily shot up fully awake and alert.

“Yes!” Sarah confirmed.

“You’re the best, Sarah!” Emily exclaimed. Sarah hesitated, then added, “There’s a small problem…”

Emily’s heart sank. “What?”

“James and Mia from college are also there, James is a VP,” Sarah continued.

“Errrr James?” Emily asked, “The guy who kept asking me out and I refused every time and he wouldn’t take no for an answer?”

“Yeah, that one,” Sarah confirmed. “And by the way James and Mia are engaged now.”

Emily let out a heavy sigh. “Just what I need.”

Emily reluctantly got ready for the interview, even though her chances were slim. Emily entered the living room where Alex was scrolling lazily through his phone while sipping coffee. Sensing the presence in the living room Alex looked up and a smile appeared on his face.

“You’re up early,” Alex remarked with a curious tone.

“Yeah, I have an interview. My friend got it for me,” Emily replied nervously

“Where?” Alex asked, his eyes darkening. He didn’t want Emily to work, but he couldn’t reveal his secret.

“A.M. Enterprise,” Emily said, moving towards the front door. “Wish me luck,” she added.

“Good luck,” Alex replied, as he typed something on his phone.

Emily entered A.M. Enterprises, her steps quick and purposeful, though her eyes marked with confusion. She approached the counter, clearing her throat nervously.

“Hi, I’m Emily. I have an interview scheduled.”

The receptionist looked at her and smiled and began to type something on her laptop.

“Umm, Ms. Emily. Right?

Emily nodded her head

“Let me take you to the interview room. The interviewer will join you quickly”.

Emily’s heart was beating in her chest as she sat restlessly on the chair, waiting. The sound of approaching footsteps echoed in the hallway.

Click, click, click!!!

The door opened, and Emily’s heart sank as she saw who entered.

“Mia,” Emily whispered, surprised by the arrival of Mia.

“Emily! It’s been ages since college,” Mia said with a smile, taking a seat opposite Emily.

“Mia, I didn’t know you would be my interviewer,” Emily said, trying to show Mia that she was unaffected by her presence.

“Life is full of surprises, isn’t it? When James told me you applied, I insisted on being the one to interview you,” Mia replied

“I guess so….How nice,” Emily mumbled grinding her teeth

Mia casually show-offed her hand which has a large diamond ring

“You got engaged?” Emily asked, already knowing the answer from Sarah.

“YES, and James is obsessed with me, unlike someone who claimed that James proposed to her.

“Congratulations on your engagement,” Emily said knowing whom Mia was pointing out.

You just got married to Alexander Griffin right?

Emily nodded her head, "yes".

"Everyone was talking about him. Wasn't he in jail? ", Mia asked with a tone to humiliate Emily.

Emily remained silent.

"Never mind! Let's just start the interview ".

Mia was looking at Emily’s CV. "Emily you don't have any serious job. Did you work at Walmart? Mia said sarcastically.

"I am applying for an entry-level position. On the job description it said no experience was necessary" She further added, "I'm a fast learner I have a 4.0 GPA”.

“Oh, Emily,” Mia sighed. “Let’s be real. After college, no one cares about your GPA. I don’t care what the job description says. Just by looking at you, I can tell you’re not qualified for this job,” she said and left Emily alone in the room.

“I know that something like this would happen. What can we expect from that bitch?” Sarah cursed under her breath. “Let’s get you out of her”. Sarah held Emily’s hand and they both made it out of the A.M Enterprises building and headed toward Sarah’s apartment. Both besties stayed there till evening to have some “ME TIME”. Sarah tried to lighten up Emily's mood by baking her a cake and some skin care stuff which they both did to each other.

“Let’s go girl and drink till our head spins”, Sarah suggested excitedly.

“NOoo”, Emily declined, as need to think of a way to pay her mom's medical bills.

“Please”, Sarah pleaded making a cute pout.

“Okie Boss lady”

They both made their way to the club and ordered their drink while sitting there Sarah could still sense that Emily was hurt and disappointed, regret flushed all over her

“I’m sorry, Umm, I should not have to introduce you, but don’t worry I have a list of companies begging to appoint you, we will sort this out trust me, Emily”.

To ease Sarah's guilt Emily patted her shoulder, “Sarah it’s okay, you were just trying to help me out of goodwill. I appreciate it more than you know”.

Sarah leaned towards Emily with playful expressions. “How are the things going with your new husband? Is he still being an asshole like everyone said?"

Emily’s face flushed remembering her husband's playful tone. “Well… yeah, he’s actually good …BUT! She stopped remembering there was something more important

“But what? Speak, you can tell me anything and I am here for you”.

Gulping the drink down her throat she spoke. “It’s just... my dad still hasn’t sent over the money, and the medical bills for my mom—they’re piling up fast. I feel like I’m drowning.”

Sarah was caught off guard. "Wait—so your mom still doesn't know about the marriage? And you did it because of her medical bills?"

“No”, Emily shook her head, “I can’t tell her, Sarah. She would lose her mind if she knew I married Alexander just to pay off her hospital bills. She’s already in critical condition”.

"ERRRR," Sarah groaned, resting her head in her hands. "You're in shit right now and I am unable to help you."

Emily sighed, her voice barely above a whisper. “I feel trapped. I don’t want to keep lying to my mother do I have a choice?”

Sarah’s eyes roamed around the room as if she was searching for a solution.

“Do you have anything, I don’t know, valuable you could sell? Just to buy yourself some time?”

Emily thought about it, her mind racing. Then, a flash of the red-bottom heels crossed her mind. Alexander had gifted them to her not long ago.

“Actually... I have heels he bought me. They’re designer.”

Sarah’s eyes sparkled. "Now we're talking! Sell them for a nice stack of money."

“Wait a second—where are you going?” Sarah screamed, but----

DASH Emily was long gone.

Emily reached home her mind was filled with possibilities. She took out the shoe box from the cupboard and sat on the edge of the bed whispering, “No matter how much I want.... but I can’t keep them”

*****

It was early in the morning when Richard and Alex sat in the car and they were going out for some business. Alex was adjusting his jacket when Richard saw something, he noticed a similar figure stepping out of the house.

"Isn't this Ms. Emily? She looks to be in a hurry and there was something in her hand... Richard narrowed his eyes to focus….. Oohh!! Is it a box which Ms. Emily was holding? Richard asked not sure about what he saw.

"It is" Alex replied keeping his eyes close.

"Follow her" Alex commanded Richard and they followed Emily as she entered the pawn shop.

Why is she going there? Richard asked not keeping his curiosity down.

"Let's see what my baby girl is up to" Alex thought.

Emily entered the pawn shop.

“Hey! I wanted to sell these off. How much will you give me?”

"These are brand new" she added further.

The shopkeeper inspected the shoes very keenly admiring them secretly, said

"3K for the shoes".

Outside the pawn shop, Richard and Alex were watching through the window.

"Is she really selling off the shoes you bought for her?", Richard asked surprisingly as he was not expecting this from Emily.

"These are her shoes and she can do whatever she wants with them that is her choice. Alex said clenching his fist.

"Wait until I show you, my dear wife," The thought of this made Alex curl up the corner of his lips.

Inside the pawn shop. Emily grabbed the shoe box as she remembered Alex bought these for her with so much care and to prevent her humiliation.

“Actually! I'm not selling these off ". Emily told the shopkeeper

"4k", that's enough Ms don't be greedy”. Shopkeeper snapped.

"I SAID I'M NOT GONNA SELL THESE, DO YOU NOT UNDERSTAND??", Emily retorted.

With that Emily turned to leave. She felt a tight grip on her wrist as the shopkeeper pulled her backwards with sudden force.

"How dare you talk to me like that bitch ", Shopkeeper barked.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The shopkeeper fell to the floor as someone punched him. Emily looked up to see Alex standing there with a weird expression in his eyes and within a second he pounced on the shopkeeper and bombed him with punches.

Ohh! Don't do that Alex, you are going too far ".

Emily hurried toward Alex who was busy beating the shit out of the shopkeeper.

Emily crouched down trying to touch Alex's hand, "That's enough Alex you are scaring me."

But Alex pulled her with the jerk and she fell hurting her elbow Alex screamed at the top of his lungs

"HOW DARE YOU TOUCH WHAT'S MINE ".

Emily was taken aback by the sudden outburst of Alex. This was not Alex she knew.

After beating the shopkeeper to his will Alex dragged Emily out of the pawnshop

"Ouch!! You are hurting me, Alex"

Emily said her voice barely audible and tears welled up in her eyes. Alex grabbed her wrist tightly while dragging her towards the car.

Alex put her in the backseat and slid inside with her, keeping his hand on her wrist.

"Drive" he commanded.

Alex pulled Emily inside their apartment and she fell on the sofa.

Standing up while adjusting her dress “What are you doing Alex? Are you out of your mind, what’s wrong with you? Who gave you the right to beat that shopkeeper? And how did you know -----

Her words were swallowed by him as he kissed her. He kissed her fiercely sliding his lips with her. Emily closed her mouth tightly but Alex clenched her jaw unable to bear the pain she opened her mouth and taking that opportunity he slid his tongue into her mouth and when she started to feel dizzy he left her lips.

Emily was embarrassed by the action of Alex and a blush crept on her cheeks. She turned towards him to confront him as they were married on contract. How can he do that to her? This was her damn FIRST KISS and he took it forcefully but before Emily could say anything he left her alone …….