My Dream Marriage

It’s time for lunch. I head downstairs and I am welcomed by an aroma that sends all my hunger pangs screaming for attention. Grace really does an amazing job. The dining is already set. Maria emerges from the kitchen carrying a jug of water and places it on the table.

“Enjoy your meal,” she says. ” Where is your food?” I ask. “It’s in the kitchen,” she says. “Go to the kitchen, fetch your food, bring your mom along with you because I am not starting this meal before you join me,” I tell her. She nods reluctantly then leaves. She doesn’t want to argue about this with me, I guess she is going to talk to her mother

“Tell me Grace, did you attend some culinary school?” I ask the moment they are seated. “I haven’t attended any culinary school. Most of my dishes were taught to me by my mother while others are self taught, also getting ideas from online chefs,” she says. She is right, these days of internet anything can be possible. Her cookings are extraordinary.

We are almost done with lunch when the sound of a car is heard outside. Edward should be back. Grace and Maria make to stand up but I assure them, “it’s okay, you are eating anyway.”

The door opens and Alex enters. There is nobody else with him. “Hi ma’am,” he greets. “Where is Edward?” I ask. “He is still busy so he told me to take a rest,” he says.

“Okay, have you eaten?” “Not yet ma’am,” he says.

“Okay, join us and don’t call me that. Just call me Neera,” I feel so awkward when an older person calls me ma’am. It’s better if they address me by my name.

“Alex do you mind taking me somewhere?” We are done with lunch and I am still bored at home. I mean, I only have less than two days more before our honeymoon comes to an end. I haven’t asked Edward about it but I guess with the kind of a busy man that he is, he won’t stay away for too long.

“Of course ma’am, oh sorry, Neera,” he says, “where do you want to go?” ” Would you recommend a place that is cool?” I ask him. “Yes. You could go to a spa or Marina’s museum, the people here have a rich history,” he says. “The spa sounds interesting. Let me relax a bit today then tomorrow I will visit the museum. Do we have to book in advance for the two places?” “The museum yes, but the spa, not really,” he says. “Let me inform Grace about it then we can proceed.” I go upstairs and retrieve my purse and phone from our bedroom with the card Edward gave me for upkeep.

“I will be leaving you guys now. I will be off to a small tour of the town,” I tell Grace. “Yes Neera, enjoy yourself,” she says. “Maria see you again, I guess when I come back I won’t meet you here.” “Yes, I will be leaving in an hour, see you,” I wave them goodbye.

*****

Santa Marina Resort and Spa is a charming luxury villa resort. It is a secure ten-house compound with own swimming pool and private garden for each of the houses. The villas have a great view of the ocean and with the palm trees giving the tranquility of a coastal ensemble of its setting.

We enter one of the villas which seems busy compared to the other ones. This looks like a commercial one-open to outsiders who want to enjoy spa services like the sauna, steam and massage services. There is also a gym.

“Hello, what services would you two like today?” The beautiful receptionist asks. “Oh hello, just the lady,” Alex says. ” Hi, I would like to have a manicure and pedicure, is there anyone available,” I ask since we hadn’t booked in advance, we just walked-in. “Yes. There is someone available in like five to ten minutes. You just wait for a moment,” she says escorting us to a waiting couch away from the reception area.

“I will be waiting for you outside,” Alex tells me. “Aren’t you going to order any services yourself?” I ask him. “No thank you, maybe some other time,” he says. “Alright. I’ll come as soon as I am done.”

The spa area is so serene giving out the relaxation vibes needed for any spa treatment. Floor to ceiling windows that open to a beautiful garden welcoming the cool ocean breeze from the ocean that is not far from here. The therapist is a friendly lady who attends to me. She is so professional in her work showcasing her prowess from the way she scrubs and massages my arms and legs. She expertly removes the cuticles leaving my nails clean and fresh.

“Where are your restrooms? I need to use one,” I ask the moment I am done with the service. “Just come I’ll show show you,” she says. “Remind me your name please,” I say. “You can call me Molly,” she says. “There they are, the ladies’.” “Thank you Molly,” I say as I enter.

After I am done, I proceed to the sink to wash my hands. I feel relaxed and right now I feel energized to go somewhere else, maybe some shopping. I emerge from the restrooms and just as I turn to head towards the spa area, I turn abruptly. I think I saw someone, if I am not wrong, I saw Valen in a shower gown. She had a male company who was holding her hand but I could not see the man properly since he was in front and I could only see his leg. They disappeared around a corner that’s when I only saw a lady that really looked like Valen. Her wavy brown hair cascading her back. I walk faster trying to catch up but when I turn around the corner, I find that there are a lot other couples, and more ladies with wavy brown hair, seated while others getting into rooms indicated ‘sauna’. Good for my always hungry curiosity. My eyes are really playing a game on me. Anyway, why would I even try to follow her? It’s not like we are friends and I wanted to say hi. What would I even expect at a place like this? This is a public place for retreat. I slap my cheek and smile at my stupidity. That should be none of my business. A man who was coming my way smirks and shakes his head at my cheeky action of slapping myself.

I turn to the reception and pay for my services. Outside I find Alex leaning on the car. He opens the back door of the car but signal to him that I prefer the front passenger seat. He nods, closes the door and opens the front one. He gets to the driver’s side and gets in. “I wanted to do some shopping, can you take me to the nearby mall?” “Okay ma’am,” oh back to square one. I look at him and he smiles, a smile which doesn’t reach his eyes.

“Did Edward talk to you? When are you going to pick him up?” I have to ask him because he is in a right position to know, he is his right hand man. As for me, I still find it hard to ask some things from him, especially matters related to work. ” Uh? N, no he hasn’t talked to me,” his mind seems too occupied. “Is there any problem? You seem tense,” I note. “I am totally fine,” he says. I focus my attention to the surrounding outside the car.

Oh my goodness! I am so tired. I have managed to do some shopping. Some gifts for my friends Jackie and Azila and not forgetting my parents.

I am on the bed back at the mansion. I have to take a rest and wait for Edward. He texted earlier and said he would be late as usual. I don’t know if Alex is still here or not. I kick off my shoes and position myself for my beauty sleep.

There is a knock on the door and I open my eyes and slowly get off the bed. Is it Alex? There is darkness all over and this is an indication that I have slept until nightfall.

“Neera, are you there?” Grace calls from outside the door. “Yes I am coming,” I say as I open the door. Grace looks at me worriedly from my head to toe. “Are you okay, you have been sleeping for so long. I got worried,” she says. “I am totally fine. I have been busy touring the city so I got tired. Sorry I have worried you,” I say. “Oh don’t worry. It is good that you are okay. Your dinner is ready.”

“Okay then let’s go.”

“Have you had yours?” I ask Grace who watches me silently as I eat. “I did, you know it’s past dinner time,” she says. I have really overslept. Now I will have to stay longer before I get to sleep again. “Okay.”

I am back into the bedroom perusing through the shelves looking for a book to keep me occupied before I sleep, or rather before Edward comes. I can’t find ‘The River Between’ so that I can continue from where I stopped. It has been misplaced. The other night I couldn’t even read past the first chapter.

****

Marina Royal Hotel-Presidential Suite.

“Sir Aniston, it seems Lawanson Group has gotten that deal. We can’t beat them now,” Michael says. “I knew it. Edward was so adamant in winning that bid.” I say.

“This should not continue, he is bound on taking everything that concerns Aniston group. He wasn’t interested in this project but now he got interested suddenly and now he has been given the tender. He couldn’t even concentrate on the initial publishing company project he had started. He really is something else,” Michael says clearly pissed off.

I stand up to face the window that has a clear view of the city. “Don’t worry Michael. I should have known better. He wants to take everything away from me. I let him win this one but there are more opportunities in the future. Just wait and see.”

“How are we going to achieve that sir? Edward has agents everywhere,” Michael says and I chuckle. “Have you forgotten? I have everything that can take down Edward slowly by slowly. It’s just that I have conscience and in business the smarter one thrives. So in future, I will have to be one step ahead of him,” I say. “You know, that one threat didn’t trouble him so much because I just wanted him to respect his boundaries. Just one mistake and he oversteps, I make my move,” I conclude.

“Sir, why would Edward compete so much with you? Did you do any wrong to him? I find it hard to understand.” ” Michael, Michael. First of all, I am the only business man back in Sura City that can stand to his level, so automatically I am his top competitor. And competitors can become really big enemies. That is a valid reason he could want to bring me down, competing for any chance he gets that could concern me. As for the other reasons, I don’t really know.” “Sir I have the documents here I wanted to share with you of Mr. Lee’s proposal on the solar project.”

I go back to where he is seated and he fishes from his briefcase a brown file. He opens it and there is a detailed plan on how Mr. Lee could want this project to be.

“This one is a real deal. The solar powered planes could be a better replacement for the fuel ones. This is a good plan considering this era that we are experiencing climate change. We will put this excess sunlight to good use,” I say.

“You are really so future oriented. Not just for yourself but the future of others,” Michael says.