Chapter 9
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My heart boils at the utter look of disgust on Elle’s face as she runs her eyes over my frame.
She doesn’t utter a single word to me. Instead, she turns her attention to Caesar.
“You’ve got to be kidding me, tesoro mio. Please tell me this is a bad joke.” She says, flipping her perfect hair over one shoulder.
“Maybe I would’ve understood if you were getting married to a woman who’s better than me. Not this cheap–looking, street
“That’s enough. Elle!” Caesar thunders, startling even me. “Amaya is my future wife. The mere fact that she will bear my name soon should tell you that you have to accord her the respect she deserves. Do you understand me?”
Elle stamps her foot on the marble floors like a recalcitrant chil
“But what does she have that I don’t?! I’m better than her. I’m more beautiful! Don’t you think.
“And that’s all you’ve got, Elle. Beauty” Caesar cuts in. “If your beauty is taken away, you’ll be empty.”
Elle takes a deep breath.
“Caesar, you
need to calm down and think about this. Is this the kind of woman you want to appear in public with Look at her weight. She’s fat, and I know you hate fat girls. Your associates will laugh at you.
I’m perfect for you. Think about it.”
Elle’s opinion about my weight suddenly has me feeling self conscious. I know I still have a little weight after giving birth and I plan to lose it at the gym when I’m fully healed. But no American woman likes to be told she’s fat. Me included.
I wait and wait for Caesar to say somethibg in my defense. He doesn’t. Then it dawns on me that Elle might be right. What if Caesar really doesn’t like fat girls?
I take my hands off his arm and stand on my own, paying him no heed when I feel his eyes on me.
It’s high time I stopped waiting around for a knight in shining armour. It’s high time I stood up for myself.
I fold my arms and face Elle squarely:
“For your information, Miss fake voice, I’m a mother. A new mother. I just gave birth and I love my pregnancy weight. I’m proud of it. If you think you can hurt me by insulting my weight, you’re dead ass wrong,”
“She curses, too!” Elle blurts, turning to Cacar you get married to someone like this?”
“You don’t like it when women cuss, especially around you, Caesar. How can
Once again, I wait and wait for Caesar to say something. He doesn’t utter a word. His face is as hard as granite.
Suddenly, he turns around and makes to leave.
“Henry, I don’t want this mad woman around my house or my woman. Dispose of her.”
My woman? Me?
“Yes, sir.” Henry replies and walks towards Elle. “I’m sorry, ma’am, but you have to leave. Now,” “Wait.Caesar!” She screams. “You can’t just throw me out. I have nowhere to go.”
Chapter 9
Caesar stops. Then he turns around and angles his head at her.
“You have nowhere to go? How’s that even possible?”
Her eyes fill with rears and seconds later, it spills over her cheek I can swear that those tears are fake.
“I don’t have any money, Caesar. I’m broke. Penniless. I ran intots of debt and the bank took everything from me. I have nothing to my name. Please help me,” She sobs pitifully.
My blood boils harder. She’s such an actress. A pretender.
“And what happened to all your wonderful friends? Why don’t you ask them for help?” Caesar asks sarcastically.
Hey cheeks colour with embarrassment.
“I can’t ask them for anything because you were right. They all ran away when they learnt I’d gone broke.” She sniffs. “Please, help me Caesar. Please…”
Caesar’s expression is still as cold as ice.
“I’m sorry, but I believe we settled amicably after the divorce. I gave you thirty million dollars. That’s more than enough.”
“But I’m the mother of your only child!” Elle sobs. “All I’m asking for is a place to lay my head and food to eat, that’s all. Please, Caesar.”
I see the moment Caesar agrees to help her. His eyes darken and his lips tighten with anger. But I know his hands are tied because no matter what, Elle is right. She’s the mother of his child. I’m sure Michaela wouldn’t like it if she found out thì daddy threw her mommy out on the streets.
“Fine. I’ll get you a place to stay. But note that I’m giving you just a month to find your feet. When your period of grace is over, please leave.”
My fingers curl into fists as I watch the manipulative bitch smile widely.
“Thank you so much! My suitcases are downstairs. I’ll ask the doorman to bring them in.”
Wait. Bring them in? To where?
I step forward, “Hold on, where exactly will you be staying again
Elle looks at me like I’ve gone crazy.
“Where do you think I’ll be staying? Here, of course. Or aren’t you aware that Caesar bought this penthouse for me as a love gift?
I’m stunned into silence.
“This house belongs to her?” I ask Henry who guiltily looks away
My heart has stopped beating properly. I can already feel my head spinning.
Before I can stop myself. I stomp towards Caesar and stop directly under his gaze
“Are you really going to watch her move in here? I cannot share a house with a mad woman, Caesar. My children.”
“Henry,” Caesar calls, cutting me off. “Go downstairs and instruct the doorman to bring Elle’s boxes inside.
“Wait, what?” I whisper.
12:51 Tue, Dec 3 GYIB.
Chapter 9
Caesar’s eyes hold mine once more.
“Oh, and Henry?”
“Yes, sir?”
“Move Amaya and her babies to my private home in the Hamptons. They’ll be living with me onwards”
THREE HOURS LATER…..
Im n still in a state of shock.
After Caeir ordered that we be moved to his mansion, he left for an important meeting without saying anything else and Elle threw a grand fit.
She screamed and made a fuss while the movers were moving our stuff into the van. Just before I left, she pulled me aside and muttered bitterly;
“If you think that I will stand back and watch a street rat like you take my place, you better have another thought coming Caesar Manchester is mine and mine alone. I will never let you or anyone else take him away from me. Watch and see”
Normally, I wouldn’t pay her any mind, but my witch senses tweaked wildly whilst she held onto my arm. And that could never be good.
Caesar’s private mansion in the Hamptons is gorgeous.
From the tree–lined driveway to the numerous water fountains outside, the marble walls and luxurious rooms, it’s an ultra modern palace of comfort.
“Anaya, if I had a house like this, no one would ever see me outside ever again.” Jayla says as she jumps on the fluffy, pure white sheets on the bed.
After breastfeeding my babies and putting them to sleep, I get to my feet;
“Come on, Jayla. Tomorrow’s my dinner and introduction night with Caesar’s family. I need to pick out a dress before the glam team arrives.”
“Oooohh, I love participating in dress ups.” Jayla squeals, activating the door that leads to the closet.
I had no idea what I was expecting, but the closet I’m looking at night now has exceeded even my wildest imaginations.
My best friend looks like she’s having a full blown orgasm as she slowly walks into the wide open space.
“Amaya, this closet is bigger than your bedroom back at the penthouse.” She whispers, her voice filled with wonder
“Is it a boutique? Did we mistakenly land in a luxurious boutique” I whisper.
“Girl, “boutique” is an understatement,”
The closet is huge and filled with all colours, brands and styles of shoes, bags, clothing and jewellery imaginable.
Floor–to–ceiling shelves line the walls, each divided to serve its own purpose. In the middle of the room are more shelves that continuously spin slowly, controlled by some sort of mechanical device.
“Chanel, Lululemon, Victoria’s Secrets, Bottega…” Jayla lists softly. “You name it, it’s available.”
“I’ll never be able to wear these many clothes even in ten years to come.
12:51 Tue, Dec 3 G
Chapter 9
Jayla gives me a look.
“Girl, you’re getting married to Caesar fucking Manchester, remember? No more sitting in the house like a damn ancient monument while your husband attends all the fun socialite parties. You’ll be attending those parties along with him.”
I visibly shiver. “Jayla, that sounds scary as hell.”
She giggles. “Have you thought about how y
might be welcomed by your in–laws…?”
While Jayla and I chatter away, excitedly preparing for tomorrow, we have no idea that something is brewing in the shadows.
Something horrible…
DINNER NIGHT
It is finally dinner night with the Manchesters and I’m a nervous wreck.
I stand stiffly before the mirror while the stylists add finishing touches to my hair and make–up.
“Girl, you’re gorgeous!!” Jayla squeals, spinning around me like an excited child on Christmas morning.
I laugh along with her and some of my nerves are immediately relaxed.
I’m just about to say something when Laila, the housekeeper, comes inside with her phone.
“Phone call for you, ma’am. It’s the boss.”
Upon hearing his name, my nerves skyrocket once more. Damnit
I take the phone with shaky fingers and press it against my ear.
“Hello?”
“Amaya.” That raw, deep baritone does crazy things to my insides as always.
“Carsın.”
“Something urgent has come up at work and I won’t be able to make it back home in time for us to go together.
to go to the dinner
I’ve sent a car for you. It’ll be there any minute now and Henry will be accompanying you, I’ll be at the venue shortly afterwards. Okay?”
I want to argue but I suddenly remember that I have no such right. In the end, I just nod.
“Yes, I get it. I’ll see you there.”
“Oh, and Amaya?”
“Yeah?”
I heard you haven’t eaten anything since this morning. Why?”
It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell him that I’m too nervous at the thought of meeting his family to eat anything, b my mouth shut.
“Um no reason.
lamp
12:51 Tue Dec 3 Gy
Chapter 9
There’s a tense pause on the line. Then he says in a mildly autheitative tone
“Laila said she made some pastries Make sure you have at least one of them before you leave for the gathering. Don’t come with an empty stomach, Amaya I’ll call Laila for confirmation that you’ve done as I’ve anked”
1 nod. “Yes, of course.”
Then the line goes dead.
Laila leaves the room and renuns three minutes later with a tiny glass plate filled with a single slice of cake.
The moment I set eyes on that cake, my witch senses start to go haywire.
I don’t know why, but my brain starts to spin and my heartbeat accelerates.
What’s going on?
“Cake for you, ma’am. Laila announces.
1 force a smile. “You can eave it there.”
“I’m sorry,
Ma’am.
but the boss asked me to make sure you
you eat it.
I roll my eyes and pick up the cake. “I’m not a child.”
I take a big big bite of the strawberry flavoured goodness, not knowing that I’ve been drugged
would then go This evening married to me after tonight.
on to be the worst evening of my entire life. It would be a miracle if Caesar still wants to get
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