I burst into laughter immediately he said that, this man is just so strange in many areas.
I suddenly stopped laughing as though I wasn't doing it just seconds ago, I had my normal facial expression on.
“I get that my parents like you and all, but if you think you can just answer my question with that kind of joke for whatever reason you have in mind, then you're so wrong."
“Because I didn't like you already." I added.
"Trust me sweetheart, I'm not a comedian, neither was I trying to make you like me. I only answered your question.” He chuckled dryly.
I stood up at that, I don't have time for things like these, I have better things to think about.
"Have a really nice life, I have better things to do than listening to you tell me things that are impossible.”
I didn't wait for his response before I attempted to walk away but was grabbed back with my wrist being grabbed by a really strong hand.
“You aren't going to walk out on me!" He growled and yanked me back.
A yelp of surprise escaped my mouth at the sudden movement. He looked so angry now, the calm guy facade on his face before has ebbed away completely.
“Who the f*ck did you think you are to throw me around that way?!" I asked angrily after finding my voice.
“Your soon to be husband.”
"Are you delusional or something? I don't even remember whatever the h*ll your name is, neither do I want to and I'm sure you don't know me too, what's your deal then?”
"You'll have to memorize my name if you need to, your parents already took what they want from me in exchange for you.” He replied.
Maybe I'm dreaming, this just has to be a nightmare, there's no way what he's saying is really true. It's just not possible that they did that.
“You're lying." I mumbled, finding it hard to believe what just came out of his mouth.
“I'm not, why would I? Now that all that is said, I'll pick you up for dinner on Friday night. Dress elegantly, I hate it when my woman dresses shabbily. Ask me for money if you need to."
He turned around to leave, but not before patting my hair as though I'm his dog or something.
“I'm not marrying you or going on a date with you, not ever and definitely not now.” I said through gritted teeth before he got to the door.
He turned around and smiled with his stupid dimple popped out, making that devilish smile even more apparent.
“We'll see to that." He opened the door and walked out of so leisurely like he owns the house.
Anger thrummed through me, my fists clenched hard, I pictured myself punching him hard in the face repeatedly.
The door was pushed open and my parents came in, they both ran towards me immediately.
“What did you both talk about?"
“Was he nice to you?"
“He's handsome and would make a good husband right?"
They bombarded me with questions, both not giving the other a space to land before asking me another.
“You both really think I'll marry him?" Was the first thing I asked them.
“We don't ‘think’, Michelle, we know. You're going to marry him." My father said with a supposed tone of finality.
“I’m not. I'm an adult, not a child. I have the right to choose what I want and do not.” I said through gritted teeth.
"Oh, please. You're getting married to him and that's final.” He said again.
“I won't marry him and that's final.” I went up the stairs after that, purposely ignoring their calls for me.
I expected them to run after me like they always do but they didn't, they stayed downstairs, probably conniving on ways to ruin my life more.
~
The silence that I've become so used to whenever I'm cleaning Vincent's office once again reverberated in the room.
It's just like the first day I came here to clean his office, the only thing I do is greet him when he comes in. I wonder how he always manage to come so early to work.
The only thing I haven't tried is coming here to clean when it's still dark, I'm always really early.
When I was done, I took the cleaning materials with me and was about to get in through the door when that familiar voice stopped me.
“Michelle." He called out.
I turned around to face him with a blank look on my face.
"Is there anything you want sir?" I asked him in a professional voice.
“Can we talk?" He asked after just staring at me after a while.
“Sure, do you have any other place you want me to clean?”
"Michelle, can you just stop acting that way? There's something I want to talk to you about.” He sounded serious.
"I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about, this is strictly a boss and employee’s conversation and it's meant to be that way, right?”
The frustrated look on his face is something I'm starting to enjoy.
“If there's no other thing you want me to do for you Sir, let me know.” I stated.
When he didn't say any other thing, I turned around and left the room without looking back.
I inhaled and exhaled loudly on my way back to the elevator. On getting there, I pressed the button for it to give way to me but it didn't yield.
I was still trying to figure out what was going on when Vincent's secretary appeared out of nowhere.
“The elevator is out of service for now, I'm afraid you might want to use the stairs.” She said with a tight lipped smile then walked away from me.
I look from the elevator to the stairs, then to the elevator again. I looked back at Vincent's private elevator, the one right beside his office.
I'd be d*mned before I ask Vincent for help again. With that, I took the stairs to the ground floor from the tenth one.