Isabella's POV
Grandma's hovering eyes are all over me, monitoring my every movement. She hasn't asked me a single thing since yesterday when Jayden came to tell her of his intentions to marry me in two weeks.
I know she was shocked beyond words but her silence is killing me.
As much as I don't want much interrogation, I want to know what she thinks and if she will support me.
I can never tell her that this marriage is just for a year and there is a contract involved. She won't understand my reasons and she will be mad at me.
How can I possibly tell her that I will be married for just a year, not because I love this man but because I need money from him? How can I tell her that I will be divorced after a year and then I can begin to start my life afresh?
She would never understand that I am doing this for her and this is the sacrifice I am making for her to live again and be able to use her legs.
She would never understand.
She has always been dreaming of that day when I would come home with that special someone who will come for my hand in marriage just like it happened with my parents but I guess Jayden falls short of her expectations, either because he is rich and she is scared of his wealth or because of the sudden interest in me.
I have a feeling grandma wasn't convinced enough or perhaps she doesn't trust Jayden.
She is instinctive. She knows something is amiss but she can't figure it out. I have been trying my very best to avoid her.
Not able to concentrate any more on the novel I am reading titled "The Billionaire's Unwanted Bride", which is somehow related to what is about to happen to me, I drop the book.
I picked this book up from the bookshop I went to yesterday because of the title. I am going to be a billionaire's wife too very soon and I am also unwanted. I want to know what happened to the billionaire's bride who was unwanted by the billionaire.
Getting to where the billionaire was treating her harshly made my heart sink so low that I feel like the same thing is going to happen to me too.
I inhale and exhale deeply before turning over on my stomach to find some sleep. This is all I have been doing for days; eating, taking care of grandma, strolling out, and sleeping.
I miss my job so much. I wish I can still retain my job despite being the soon-to-be wife of my boss but I know he won't even give me a listening ear.
My major problem now is the noise that comes with getting married to someone influential and popular as Jayden Russell. He was ranked the youngest billionaire last year and everything that concerns him is always on the news.
I want to speak to him about our wedding. Since he is doing this to please his mother, I won't mind being a secret wife to the public.
I really can no go through the process of becoming used to being called Mrs. Russell and then all of a sudden, the title is no longer there and I will be called the ex-wife of Russell.
I don't want all of that. Whatever happens, I want it to be quiet; the wedding, the ceremony, the moving in, and the divorce.
I don't want public opinions, I can't deal with crazy paparazzi and I don't want to be seen in newspapers and magazines tagged as the antisocial wife of the youngest billionaire. I just want a quiet life. This way, I can move on quickly after the divorce.
As I begin to doze off, my phone rings, jerking me out of my reverie. I turn on my back and stretch my arms to get the phone from the side drawers while rubbing the sleep off my face.
The name "Boss" appears on my screen and my eyes open widely.
I haven't changed his name yet even though things are about to change between us. I am making a mental note to change it later so grandma won't see it and use this as evidence for her doubts.
I pick up immediately, wondering why he is calling me. He barely calls me on my mobile phone, we talk mostly with the intercom and it is always about business.
"Hello, sir," I say in a low tone.
"Meet me outside", he commands immediately with a tone of authority.
Before I can answer, he disconnects the call and I sigh, stepping down from the bed.
I wonder what it is he is here for.
I put on my flip-flops and walk to the door.
Grandma is in her bedroom sleeping. The medications we were given at the hospital usually make her sleep and eat a lot and it gives me time to sneak away and have a quiet moment to myself.
Sometimes, I think of the disadvantage that comes with this contract. I have heard people talk about contract marriages and read them in books but it seems unreal to me until now.
What will be my fate after this is over apart from the fact that I will have financial freedom?
I get to the front door and pull it open before heading out and glancing around for the sight of my contract husband.
His car is parked at the far end of the street and I wonder what he is doing there instead of moving closer.
Without giving it much thought, I walk briskly towards his car.
The driver comes out and opens the door to the back of the car for me where Jayden is sitting comfortably.
I hop in after nodding at David.
Jayden looks straight ahead without uttering a word and I shift uncomfortably in silence, wondering why he is looking this furious.
"Jayden", I call, the sound of the name coming out strange from my mouth because this is the first time I will be calling his first name in public.
He turns his blazing red eyes towards me.
"Your friend, Emily or whatever her name is came to visit me at the office this morning", he states, and confusion spreads across my face.
"Emily?" He nods, still looking annoyed. "Emily or Juliet?"
Juliet is the only friend I have and I know no one with the name Emily. Since he said my friend, I am sure it is Juliet, even though I have no absolute idea why Juliet will visit him at the office.
What for? She never came to visit me when I was working there, why then did she go there now that I am no longer working with him?
"You are right, it's Juliet. She came visiting", he repeats.
"What for?" My brows are still furrowed in confusion and I can't help but voice out my thoughts.
I wasn't at the office to know the reason for her visit, so he should be able to answer the question of why she visited.
"Simply because you couldn't keep your f***ing mouth shut and let the content of the contract be between us only", he yells and I know the reason for his anger immediately. "Why did you have to tell her, then?!"
His icy glare pierces into me and I lower my head in guilt.
What did she tell him? Why did she tell him?
Jayden tightens his fist and releases it with a sigh, making an effort to control his anger.
Finally, he hits his hand on his lap and demands with his voice still raised. "Why the hell did you tell her?"
"I'm sorry…"
"This isn't about being sorry, f***ing tell me why you couldn't keep your mouth shut", he shouts, making me ashamed of myself.
I am sure David would be wondering what we are talking about. We aren't married yet and he is acting this way toward me. What then will happen when we are eventually married?
I was thinking he would be nice towards me since I would be his wife and then he can become harsh and difficult towards me again after we are divorced.
Isn't this how it ought to be?
Am I leaving the same fate as The Billionaire's Unwanted Bride? I have a feeling we have the same fate and I don't know if I can bring myself to read the book till the end.
Because I am scared. Scared of the end. Beginnings don't scare me. Endings do.
I am scared the unwanted bride of the billionaire won't find her happily ever after and the same thing will apply to me too.
"Can't you talk?" He attacks me again.
"I only told her because I was indecisive on what to do. I wanted her advice so badly and…"
"And she asked you to accept yet she came back to stab you in the back by asking me to marry her instead?"
"What?" I exclaim loudly in disbelief.
"Yes", he grits his teeth in anger. "She was practically throwing herself at me."
Silence falls.
I am wondering why the hell Juliet had to do that. She told me she would have loved to go for it but she won't because I am involved and because she can't be in a relationship with him since there would be no sex involved.
"I just came to warn you never to speak ill of me ever again, either to your silly friend or anyone else…"
"I don't speak ill of you", I blurt out without thinking.
"Really?" He has an amusing expression on his face. "Yet, you told her I am difficult and harsh towards you?"
"What? She told you that?" I can't remember ever telling Juliet that.
"Yes, she did. If this goes on, then I will be left with no choice but to terminate the contract", he threatens. "Get out of my car, I have an appointment in the next 20 minutes", he informs me and looks away from me.
I can't believe we are doing this. I can't believe Juliet did this too.
The reason for her action baffles me more. Why did she even go to the office in the first place without informing me? What type of a friend does that?
We spoke this morning and she didn't even tell me anything about her plans to go to the office. She knew I was no longer going to work and she decided to do this behind my back.
"Isabella!"
I jerk upright and turn to the door immediately.
Without a goodbye, I climb down from the car and begin to walk towards our house with hot steps as if I am being pursued.
My heart is racing and my body is trembling.
The moment I get to the door, I open it and turn back to see that Jayden's car had already disappeared down the road.