CHAPTER 13 & 14 : A Marriage for Protection
● SALLY’S APARTMENT ●
Xavier made a turn into Sally’s street and he drive in time to see Sally being pulled into a car.
Immediately, he step on the brake and got out of his car, running towards them.
Taking the first guy, he gave him a punch which sent him falling headlong and then he took hold of the second guy and push him against the car.
“What the hell are you trying to do?” Xavier voice came out cold and terrifying.
“We are only doing our job” the man said in return.
“You know your grandmother ordered us to do this”.
“Then you tell her not to worry, I have it under control” Xavier said, letting the man go.
“But….”
“But nothing or do you intend to hurt me. You know my grandmother won’t let you live if you touch me” Xavier told them and immediately, they got into the car and left.
Sally who was still shaken up by the whole thing, stood in silence watching the whole scene.
“What was that? Who are those men and….”
“Get in the car, am taking you to my place, You aren’t safe here” he said bundling her into the car.
● TBC NEWS STATION ●
May sat at her desk, typing out a report when she got a call from the front desk.
“Are you sure that it’s me this person is looking for?” May ask, wondering who came to see her.
A while later, she got to the first floor and was told by the receptionist at the front desk that the man here to see her is in the waiting room.
May got to the room expecting to see someone of great importance but she was disappointed to see James.
“Hello” he said waving at her.
“Did you come to right place?” May ask, walking towards him.
“Common, am not a kid that will easily get lost” James said.
“Then what are you doing here? Didn’t I make myself clear during our last meeting?” May ask.
“You did. You very well did but I have this feeling that you won’t send the video to my boss” he said, having on his usual smile which is beginning to irritate May.
“What makes you so sure?”
“It’s the only leverage you have over me. So once you use it, you won’t have any other thing” James told her.
“You are right. I won’t have any other thing to use against you but don’t forget, am a reporter and we reporters always dig for information” May warn him but that only got his smile deepening.
In one swift mood, he pulled her into his arms, shocking May with his action.
“What the hell are you….”.
“Am also doing some digging myself. You know, I wanted to dig out some info on Sally but I change my mind. It’s you I want to do that digging on and I will make sure I find out every little thing in your closet” James said, his face very close to hers.
“You won’t find anything!”
“Don’t take my words lightly. When I say I intend to dig, I intend to follow you around, be your shadow, stalk you if necessary until I get the info I need”.
“Why exactly are you doing this?” May found herself asking.
“Cause I want to know what you and Sally are up to”.
“Why stick your nose into something that doesn’t concern you!” May said, trying to pull away from him but he held her tight.
“Think of it as a bored guy trying to find some interest” he said, letting her go.
“I just came to give you a heads-up. See you soon my sassy reporter” he said, adding a wink to it.
● PENT HOUSE ●
“Is this yours or your grandmother?” Sally ask as she walk into the luxurious penthouse.
“It’s mine. I got it to get away from her sometimes. Do you want something to drink?” Xavier ask.
“Right now, I can’t drink a thing. Let’s just talk about what happen earlier, tell me how your grandmother found out about me knowing your secret. It’s the reason why those men were there, right?” Sally ask.
“It is. Judy like I told you, my grandmother consider my illness to be a flaw, a flaw which no one must know”.
“So she has those men watching over me behind the scene. I don’t even know those guys watch over me, my grandmother told me herself”.
“Their job is to watch over me at a distance and they must have heard us talking at the company when the fire alarm went off “.
“They alerted my grandma and just like always she….”.
“She what?” Sally urge.
“I didn’t tell you this earlier but three people found out about me before you. A friend in college, a maid at home and one of our distant relative”.
“And?” Sally said again.
“And those three had to pay the price for knowing the truth”.
“Oh my gawd! Did your grandmother kill them?” Sally ask, looking very shock.
“No. Grandma might be ruthless but she isn’t one to kill, she payed off the three of them but two return trying to blackmail her and so she turn things around” Xavier said, a sad expression on his face.
“By doing what?”
“The maid got thrown in jail,somehow my grandmother made that happen even though the maid didn’t commit a crime and for my distant relative, he’s currently in a psychiatric hospital, it was also done by my grandmother” Xavier told her.
“So you mean your grandmother got rid of them by sending one to jail and the other to a psychiatric ward?” Sally ask and he gave a nod.
“What about me then? What will she do to me? Will I be send off to the Marines or an island of no return and why, why do you let her do all that? Couldn’t you do something?”
“Whenever I did. She always find a way to stop me, I did my best to help the maid, even got a lawyer for her but it was no use. She once told me that she made those people go through what they did just to hurt me, to make me see sense and to keep me alert”.
“From then on. Have been doing the best I can to keep my secret safe but you…you found out ” he said, masking his earlier pain with anger.
“I should have listen to you when you said it will lead to danger for me” Sally said softly.
“You should have done that” he return as his phone began to ring.
He answered the video call when it saw the caller to be his grandmother.
“Why did you interfere, Xavier?” Desiree Landon ask the moment he answered.
“Cause have had enough of you hurting people just to cover up my condition”.
“And where on earth did you hear that I hurt people? You know that what I do is for your sake!”
“For my sake or for yours” Xavier return smoothly.
“This is the first time you get in my way, Xavier. You were like that when I invited her over, what’s going on between you and that girl?” Desiree demand.
“You have a right to stick your nose into my life when it comes to business but when it comes to my personal life, you stay out of it” Xavier said, refusing his grandmother for the first time.
“Did you just say that to me? It’s like you are no longer the kid I brought up? You are changing and you know how much I hate change” Desiree said.
“Well that’s too bad. It’s either you live with this change or forget about me”.
“Fine! You win this time but I still need to speak to her. I need to know that we have her trust” Desiree said.
“There’s no need seeing her. You will talk to me instead, I will come see you before going to work tomorrow and you better not do anything behind my back” Xavier said, ending the call for the first time.
“That’s a first, right?”
“Huh”
“It’s the first time you stood up to her, right?” Sally ask and he nod In answer.
“Have been doing things her way just because she say so but not anymore, have had enough” Xavier said.
“You will have to spend the night here, cause we don’t know what she might do until I talk to her tomorrow ” Xavier added.
“Hope she won’t try to hurt my family?” Sally ask.
“She knows how sacred a family is and she only go after those that know the secret and not their family” Xavier assured.
“Can I make a call then. I left my house open and my twin sibling are coming tomorrow” Sally said and he gave her his phone to use it.
● NEXT DAY ~ MORNING ~ AIRPORT ●
Sally Twin sibling, a girl and a boy, emerge from the airport looking tired and they found it more tiring when they couldn’t get a taxi.
“How about we call,Sally?” Marie suggest to her brother.
“She’s probably at work. Let’s just get a taxi and go to her apartment” Mathew said but they couldn’t get a taxi.
Most of the taxi there has been book by other arrival like them.
Marie excuse herself to the restroom and during that time, Mathew got them a taxi.
He was waiting for Marie to show up when he saw her coming out of the airport with a guy in toll.
They were talking and Marie was laughing at a joke he made.
Feeling angry, Mathew watch his sister give out her number and when she got to him, he lash out at her.
“Why the hell do you that?”
“Do what?”
“Give your number to total stranger”
“I wasn’t giving out my number. He was just asking for direction and….”
“And you decided to give it to him. Do you think am a fool?” Mathew demand.
“Okay! I gave him my number because he help me a while ago and he seem friendly and I only lied to you cause I know that you will get angry just like you always do whenever a guy ask for my number” Marie said softly.
“That’s because I don’t like it when they ask for your number. It makes me angry and jealous” .
“What does anger have to do with….”.
“It has a lot to do with it. I don’t like it when you talk to them or when they smile at you or when they ask you out or when…”
“Okay! I understand but it’s unfair. You spend your time with other girls and I don’t complain” Marie said getting into the car.
That made Mathew feel like an @ss, what will Marie think when she find out that those girls he hang out with are the distraction he use to stop thinking about her.
She has no idea how hard it is to keep his feeling under control and that’s the price he has to pay for falling in love with his twin sister….Mathew thought as he get into the car, giving the driver Sally’s address.
CHAPTER 15 & 16 : Xavier’s Family Secrets
● BOSTON CITY ●
“Okay then, take care of yourself and let me know Sally gets back so I can talk to her” Lucia Sawyer said into the receiver.
“Okay, love you too and take care of Mathew. Make sure he cope in school, you know how shy he get sometimes” Lucia said and ended the call sometime later.
“Is that Marie?” Grace, Lucia sister ask when she ended the call.
“It is. They just got to their sister apartment and are settling in” Lucia said, happy to know that all her kids are together in D.C.
“How old are they now?” Grace ask.
“They will be twenty in November” Lucia reply, continuing with the pastry she’s baking.
“They will be twenty in November. Don’t you think it’s time you let them know the truth?” Grace said and that made Lucia pause.
She stared at Grace who was watching her in return.
“What do I have to let them know?” Lucia ask, feigning ignorance.
“We both know that it’s been long and you take them to….”
“Enough, Grace. Let’s not talk about it” Lucia said.
“But the twins deserve to know….”
“I said it’s enough! I don’t want to talk about it and that’s final, let’s keep it that way,please” Lucia said and Grace nod in reply.
● WASHINGTON D.C ~ LANDON RESIDENCE ●
“So? You did come alone” Desiree Landon said as her grandson strode in, alone.
“I told you that whatever you have to say to her will be said to me, so go ahead, grandma, am listening” Xavier said, taking a seat.
“Tell me one thing, are you in love with this girl?” Desiree ask and Xavier let out a laugh.
“With the way you brought me up. Do you think I have a heart to fall in love with anyone?” Xavier ask in return.
“Then why are you going this far for that girl. In the past, you never meddled”.
“Point of correction. I did try to stop you, I never agreed with the way you treated those people that found out my secret but you ended up doing things your own way” .
“If you know that then you should know that I will do things myself own way this time around” Desiree said.
“No! You won’t be having your way this time around, grandma” Xavier said firmly.
“Is that a threat?”
“Take it whichever way you want but get it through your head that I won’t let you touch Sally or anyone else”.
“I really have a lot to thank Sally for. Not only has she brainwash you to turn against me, she’s also making you rebel! Something you never did before” Desiree said, looking very angry.
“Sally did nothing. This is just me standing up for myself, you’ve had enough control over my life and it’s time you stop”.
“You know that all am doing is for your sake”.
“I know that and I will always be grateful but it’s time we put an end to it. Am old enough to take care of myself” Xavier told her.
“You really believe that? You know that without my help, things will fall apart for you”.
“It might but am willing to give it a chance” Xavier return coolly and that got Desiree hitting the table in anger.
“You are hell bent on disobeying me and all because of that girl!” Desiree tell at him.
“This isn’t me disobeying you, am just trying to take over my life from now on”.
“Fine then, let’s see how it goes for you and let me tell you now that I won’t make things easy for you. You will end up crawling back here, asking for my help”.
“I expected that from you but don’t worry, I won’t be doing that and let me also tell you that am prepared for whatever you throw at me, I won’t let you win this time, you’ve been winning long enough” Xavier said and left, making her more angry.
● SALLY’S APARTMENT ●
“Since there’s only two room. Why don’t you two share a room?” May suggest as she stood in front of the empty room with Mathew and Marie.
“I don’t think that will be a good idea. We might be siblings and all but I don’t think it’s right that we share a room” Mathew said.
“That will be hard. At first we wanted Marie to share our room but it’s going to be too tight which is why we thought you two can….”
“How about I take the couch” Mathew suggest.
“Hell no! Don’t worry, May. Mathew and I will share the room. We will unpack and join you downstairs to prepare something to eat” Marie said, drawing Mathew into the room.
“Is it too hard to share a room with me? It’s not like we will be staying here forever. We just need somewhere to sleep until the college dorms are ready and besides, we both agreed not to be a problem to Sally” Marie said.
“I know but it’s just that I….I can’t share a room with you” Mathew said, turning away to stand outside the window.
“You know Mathew, you’ve been acting weird lately. Sometimes, you make me feel like….you hate me” Marie said and immediately, Mathew took hold of Marie’s hand.
“Don’t ever say that, you know I can never hate you. You are my sister”.
“Then prove it by sharing this room with me. If you really don’t hate me like you claim, then let’s share this room together” Marie said, making it hard for him to refuse.
“Fine then”.
“Great. Need to take pictures and send it to Melanie, she will want to see the new place I stay” Marie said, moving away from him to take a pictures.
The real reason he has been refusing to share a room with her is because he knows how tempting it will be to him.
He has been doing his best to keep his feeling under control and now that they will be sharing a room, it’s going to hard for him.
What’s he going to do…he thought, watching Marie take picture while his feeling for her intensify.
● BROOKS RESIDENCE ●
“Your tea, Godfather” Genova said as she walk in to place the tea on the desk.
The bald scary man sitting behind the desk in the study room stare pick up the cup and gulp down the content.
“How are things going?” Teddy Brooks ask, relaxing on his chair.
“If you are talking about the take over of Bindu industries, it’s going well just as you want” Genova said.
“That’s good but Bindu isn’t what am interested in. Am talking about Xavier Landon, how is the plan coming along?” Teddy ask.
“Xavier doesn’t suspect that am not the real Genova. He solely believes that am his childhood friend, we even went to the park recently ” Genova said.
“Great. Just keep up with the pretence, you need to make sure he trust you completely, it’s the only way for me to get my revenge on Desiree Landon” Teddy said, tightening his fist.
“Have always wanted to ask Godfather, what exactly did Desiree Landon do to you?” Genova ask.
“You don’t need to know. What you need to understand is that to get to Desiree, we will need Xavier Landon and so, you mustn’t fail me ” Teddy said and Genova nodded before leaving the study room.
● LANDON REAL ESTATE COMPANY ●
Sally was having lunch with Claire at the company cafeteria when Adam Parker showed up.
“Oh my gosh! It’s Adam Parker” Claire said with her mouth full.
His arrival did havoc on the female employee having lunch except for Sally who is set on ending the date with him.
“Flower for the most prettiest lady in the room” he said, giving a single rose to Sally who reluctantly took it.
“So, what time do we go for our date?” Adam ask, seating beside her.
“About the date. I need to….” Sally words were left unsaid when her phone ring.
She answered and speak for a while before ending the call.
“Am sorry, I have to go” Sally said.
“But what about our date?”
“Maybe some other time. This is really important” Sally said, throwing his rose on the table before dashing off.
“Am so sorry for that. Maybe she got a call for work and….”
“There’s no need to apologize on her behalf. I totally understand her, she’s playing hard to get but what she doesn’t know is that I love a challenge, if she wants me to pursue her then am in for it” Adam stated, a smile splaying on his lips.
● XAVIER’S OFFICE ●
“Take a seat, Sally” Xavier offered as soon as she walk in.
“Did the conversation with your grandmother go well?” Sally ask.
“It didn’t go as I expect which somehow made things bad between us”.
“How bad is it?” Sally ask.
“We had an argument and I told her that I can handle my life and she should stay out of it which she took badly and blame you for it” Xavier reply.
“Doesn’t that make things worse for me?”
“It does which is why I have a proposal to make to you. I know I once ask you before but I didn’t mean it then” Xavier said.
“What is this proposal of yours?” Sally ask, wondering why she felt uneasy.
“Let’s get married, Sally” .
CHAPTER 17 & 18 : A New Identity
● HIGH WAY ●
Genova was driving down to Landon real estate when the memory from the past came to her.
It all started two years ago when the real Genova died. Her own name then was Abigail.
Abigail had known Genova when she move to Australia for college but an accident which they were both in had killed Genova and disfigured Abigail.
She could remember that she had been at the hospital when she first met Teddy Brooks.
He told her of Genova’s death and assured her that he will take care of her since Abigail is an orphan.
He did as he promise and even payed for the operation which help repair her face but Abigail had been shock when she found her new face to be that of the late Genova.
Teddy then told her of his plan. To Genova family, she’s dead but to the Landon family, Abigail will take the place of the late Genova and befriends with Xavier so Teddy will be able to get his revenge on Desiree Landon.
Teddy never told Abigail the reason for his hatred on Desiree Landon and she never ask.
Her job here is to earn Xavier trust and also seduce him. Teddy made it clear that she should never let her heart meddle in their plan but she has made a mistake of falling in love with him.
Teddy doesn’t know about her feeling and he won’t be knowing. She will seduce him like he wants and who knows, he might end up falling for her…Genova thought as she step on the gas.
● SALLY’S APARTMENT●
Mathew had just finish taking his bathe when he got to the room to find Marie in the room.
“I thought you were downstairs” Mathew said, feeling a bit self conscious.
“I just came to get my phone and am glad I came” Marie said suddenly which got him starring at her.
“What do you mean?”
“I almost don’t recognize you with those muscles, have you been hitting the gym?” Marie ask.
“I haven’t” Mathew answered, moving towards his table to pick up his lotion.
“Aren’t you leaving, I need to get dress” he said, his back on her.
He expected her to leave as he said but instead, she took the lotion from him and put some on her hand.
“Let me” she said, standing behind him to rub the lotion on his back.
Mathew didn’t expect such action from her and though he wanted to, he couldn’t stop her since he like her touch.
He stood still while Marie rub the cream all over his back, stirring up feelings in him.
Feelings he did his best to keep under control. It wasn’t until he felt his manhood hardening that he stop her.
“I will do it myself” he said trying to move away but Marie stop him.
“But I want to do it. I need to know just how perfect your abs is so I can flaunt it to my friends when we get to college” Marie said, totally innocent.
She began rubbing his chest and that did it for Mathew.
His control snap and he took hold of her hand and pin her against the nearest wall, starring down at her while breathing heavily.
“Do you know what you are doing?” He ask.
“I was just….am sorry” Marie apologise, watching him with those innocent eyes of hers.
He shouldn’t do it but he can’t stop himself, he wants to kiss that innocent lips, cuddle her in his arms and kiss her till she’s gasping for breath and asking for more but instead, he move away, silently cursing himself.
“Mathew, are you….”
“Stay away! ” He said, moving away from her.
“I don’t think I can do this. Am using the couch” he said, moving towards the drawers to take some fresh clothes before leaving the room while Marie stood, watching the close door with tears glistening her eyes.
● LANDON REAL ESTATE COMPANY●
“I know have taken you by surprise but the difference this time is that I mean it, I want to marry you, Sally” Xavier continue, walking around the desk to come stand in front of her.
“B…but marriage is a sacred thing. It’s not something we can just get into just to get your grandma off your back” Sally said softly.
“I know and I know that am being selfish by using marriage to prove to her that I can take care of myself but it’s the only way I can think of right now and by being my wife, she will have no cause to harm you” Xavier said, trying to make her see the reason.
“But we don’t…we don’t love each other. How will our marriage work when there’s no love? ” Sally counter.
“Love isn’t necessary, Sally. It’s a feeling which makes one do something stupid and end up hating himself forever ” Xavier said, looking wistful.
“Were you scarred by love?” Sally found herself asking.
“Scarred? Of course not, I didn’t even have time to waste on such emotion”
“But being in love is the best feeling one can ever feel” Sally said.
“That’s your belief but it isn’t mine. To me love is an unwanted and useless emotion and so you can be rest assured that you won’t have me grovelling at your feet confessing my feeling. Our marriage will be a contractual one”
“Contractual?”
“Yes. Marrying me will help me take the first step in getting out of my grandmother clutches while you will have my protection for as long as you want. It’s beneficial to both of us and that makes it a contract marriage” Xavier explain.
“Xavier I….” Sally didn’t get to finish her sentence because Genova walk in, Interrupting them.
“Genova, what a surprise” Xavier said as Genova walk straight into his arms, giving him a hug and at the same time, starring at Sally.
“I wanted to surprise you and since there was no one at the secretary desk, I decided to let myself in. Who’s she?” Genova ask, still standing in Xavier arms.
“She’s Sally Sawyer, my secretary. Sally this is Genova, my friend” Xavier did the introduction.
“Just your friend. Common, we are more than friends. Nice to meet you, Sally” Genova said, stretching her hand for a shake.
Sally took the hand while wondering why she felt some kind of hostility from the woman.
“How about you get to work and leave Xavier and I to talk. Thank you” Genova said, giving her marching order.
Sally was at the door when she heard Xavier say.
“About our discussion, we continue later”.
She didn’t bother to give him a reply, instead she left the office giving them the privacy they needed.
“You were rude to her” Xavier said, taking his seat.
“I wasn’t. I just wanted her to leave us alone and I kind of sense something going on between you two before I arrive, what’s up?” Genova ask, feeling a bit upset just by the thought.
“Nothing. I was just asking her something”
“Which is?”
“None of your business. Why are you here?” Xavier ask, going through the document on his desk.
“To ask you out to dinner and you mustn’t refuse” Genova said, hoping he’d go with her.
Sally on the other hand was typing out a document when she got a call from an unknown.
She didn’t want to pick at first but then she ended up picking.
“Where do you want us to meet?” She ask after listening for a while.
● EVENING ~ RESTAURANT●
The VIP section Sally was led to made her think that she’s walking into the lion den.
Did she do right by agreeing to meet her….it might just be a trick to capture her, Sally thought as she hesitate at the door.
Putting her fears aside, Sally walk into the room which had Desiree Landon in it.
“I thought you wouldn’t come” Desiree said, already seated at the table, helping herself to some steak.
“I told you I would,I never go back on my word” Sally said, seating beside the lady.
“Aren’t you scared that I might abduct you or something?” Desiree ask, a smile playing on her lips.
“I did thought of that but if you were going to abduct me, you would have done so instead of asking me to see you” Sally reply.
“Good reasoning. Just like I promise, I have no intention of hurting you or anything, I only want to talk to you” Desiree said, pushing her plate aside.
“And does it have to do with Xavier?” Sally ask, remembering their discussion from earlier.
He had told her to wait after working hours so they could continue their conversation but she had escape before he could call for her.
“For the first time ever, Xavier is rebelling and it’s because of you. Have offered you money to stay away from him but you’ve refuse, tell me, what else can I do for you to stay away from my grandson?” Desiree ask.
“You called me here just to ask that?”
“You might think it’s a trivial issue but it’s not. Xavier insist on doing things his way and I….”
“Why don’t you let him do things his way. He is a grown up man ” Sally said, cutting her off.
“A grown up man who has a disability. You found out his secret due to him not being careful, imagine if his disability issue gets into the hands of an enemy. He’d be made a mincemeat ” Desiree lash out.
” You are right. If this get into the hands of a wrong person then it will turn out bad but what you should understand is that Xavier is a grown up man who can take care of himself, give him a chance to show it to you” Sally said.
“Now I get it. You are in love with Xavier, right?” Desiree ask.
“Am not….”
“Well, I won’t blame you. He his handsome and rich too, who wouldn’t want him but you should know that Xavier is a nobody without me, couple with that, he’s suffering from a disability which will be quite embarrassing sometime. Unlike other men out there, my grandson is the worst candidate you could ever pick, so I will advice you to reconsider” Desiree said.
Sally wondered why she felt angry listening to her talk about Xavier in that manner.
She made him look like a useless person and just so she can get her to leave her grandson….Sally thought, fuming within.
“So, are you rethinking the whole thing?” Desiree ask and Sally stood up.
“You know, just this afternoon. Your grandson ask me to marry him”.
“H…he did what?”
“He ask me to marry him and I was going to refuse him. Not because of his disability or the terrible things you just said about him but because he’s a wonderful guy who deserves to be love and to receive the love you fail to give him “.
“How dare you! What do you know about Xavier’s upbringing!” Desiree yell at her.
“I know enough and that’s why am going to marry him. I will marry him and together we will show you that without you, he can make it on his own !” Sally said, speaking out of anger.
She turn to leave only to stand still when she saw Xavier standing at the entrance, watching her.
“You are marrying me, after all” he said, smiling at her and Sally silently curse herself.
She had said that out of anger and Xavier had heard….will she end up getting married to him……