The Perfect Lie

The sitting room was enormous and packed with guests. Some were seated, but most were standing with drinks in their hands and mingling. No one seemed to even notice her.

"What now?" Sam whispered to Stella.

"Steal the spotlight."

"I don't think so."

"Yo, people!" She yelled anyway. Everyone turned in their direction. All the women had one sort or another expression of pleasure on their faces on seeing Stella.

"Looks like you are a star among women," Sam said quietly.

"I make them look good," Stella shrugged.

A few women were already moving close.

"I'll just fade into the background," Sam said, and she moved away from her. In no time, the women had flocked around Stella.

Sam looked around for a place to sit as her little toe had started to hurt. On a couch, she met Stephanie's eyes. The woman smiled at her and beckoned her to come to sit in the empty seat next to her.

Sam hated the idea of sitting with this goddess and risking people noticing how they contrasted with each other, but it would have been rude if she refused, so she went and sat next to her, making sure she kept as much distance between them as she could.

"How have you been?" Stephanie asked sweetly.

Sam found it strange that the woman was nice to her. Wasn't she hostile to her last time?

"I'm fine," Sam replied quietly.

"Look. I'm very sorry about the other day. I thought you were one of those gold diggers that like to shamelessly throw themselves at Desmond."

What was she, Desmond's mother?

"I have never seen you or heard of you in the family, so you must be from his mother's side, hmm?"

Sam couldn't answer immediately because Stephanie wasn't making much sense.

"Forget it. What's your name?"

"Samantha?" a deep voice called.

The two women look up at the voice. It was Desmond.

"Desmond! We are just getting to know each other. I feel I and this pretty cousin of yours will become best of friends."

She patted Sam's head adoringly.

Desmond ignored her.

"Why are you just here?" he asked.

"Well, I was giving her a makeover!" Stella yelled.

When had she appeared? At Stella's voice, most of the guests were already looking for the subject of the makeover, which was Sam. Sam felt her face heating up at the stares.

"I must say you did a great job, Stella, although your services weren't much needed. Come let me show you around, honey."

He extended his hand to help her up. She placed her small hand in his big hand and stood up. Desmond offered his bent elbow for her to hold so he could introduce her, but to his surprise, she threw her arms around his neck and buried her face in the crook of his neck.

There was a wave of murmurs among the guests. Desmond could feel how she trembled as she clung to him like a magnet.

He cradled the back of her head with one hand and the small of her back with the other.

"It's okay honey," he said while caressing her head.

The entire room had become so quiet. You could hear a pin drop. Several seconds later, he could feel that she had stopped trembling. Still holding her waist, he used his other hand to tilt her face up by the chin.

Her face was blazing red. Her eyes looked wet and glassy like a doe's. She was breathtakingly beautiful.

"I'm right here. Don't be scared," he said softly.

His face was just about 4 inches from hers. 'Follow your instincts', she heard Stella's voice in her head. Her gaze lowered to his pink lips. Standing on her toes, she pressed her lips against his.

The couch beside them creaked as Stephanie sprang to her feet in shock.

Sam finally unwounds her arms from his neck and stepped out of his chest a little with her palms resting on his chest and her eyes still holding his.

"I want you to meet my family," he said gently.

She was suddenly aware of how quiet the packed room had become. She looked to the side. Her knees went weak suddenly at the stare. She quickly wrapped her arms back around Desmond's neck and hid her face in his chest, trembling again.

"Awww!" the crowd chorused adoringly.

And all sorts of comments about how she was cute began to circulate.

"I apologize for my wife's shyness," Desmond said aloud.

At the mention of "wife," the room roared with murmurs.

"When did they marry?" Many asked each other.

"Please, excuse us." He swept Sam off her feet and carried her, bridal style, up the stairs while people watched in awe, envy, and disapproval.

Even after they disappeared upstairs, Stephanie was still looking up.

"Hi, Stephanie!"

She snapped around to see Stella. This lousy black woman.

"Stella," she replied, forcing a smile.

"Are you alright? You look a little green around the edges."

"No, I'm fine."

She tried to walk past Stella, but she got in her way.

"Nah. You are green. Could be from the flu or...envy."

"What?!" Stephanie snapped and faced her threateningly.

"I would have loved to chat with you, but I have things to do."

Stella spun on her heels and walked away, leaving Stephanie to fume.

Desmond carried Sam up the stairs towards their room. She still trembled. He smiled to himself. Where was the lady that wanted to have a chat with his grandfather?

In the hallway, their ears were suddenly assaulted with multiple clicking. It was so loud that Sam looked up.

Two women soon step into the hallway, hurrying towards them. They almost looked identical, but one was much older than the other.

They were extravagantly dressed. With heels with laces reaching above the knees, The older one was in leather pants and a furry blouse that had enormous sleeves. She wore a pair of glasses.

The younger one wore a Minnie skirt with a vest and had thrown a furry mini coat on. The coat was cropped in length but excessive at the shoulders, making it only possible to keep it on one shoulder and leave the other and most of the back bare. She'd left her blond hair free and wore heavy make-up.

Something Sam noticed was how she looked like Stephanie. Not facially, but in form.

The duo stopped in front of Desmond.

"What is this?" Theresa pointed a distasteful finger at Sam, who immediately hid in Desmond's chest again.

"Aunt Theresa, meet my wife, Samantha."

The two froze. The younger one moved closer in disbelief.

"Wife? What did you say?" She asked dramatically.

"You heard me, Rhonda. If you would please excuse me."

Rhonda made way for him and watched in awe as they left.

"Desmond married without asking for your consent!" Rhonda said dramatically.

"We'll deal with that later. Now, look your best."

Rhonda flipped her hair and forced a smile.

"Great. Let's go."

Nudging the door open, Desmond stepped into the room, still cradling Sam. He kicked the door shut behind him and walked straight to the bed. He laid her down on it gently.

Immediately, her back touched the bed. Sam took her hands off Desmond and turned the other way to avoid looking at him.

Desmond kept on looking at her.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Desmond," she said when she noticed he wasn't leaving immediately.

"Don't apologize. Just do better next time," he said blandly.

The door clicked to announce his exit.

Sam got up and went to the wardrobe. Her clothes were arranged on one side. On the other hand, they were Desmond's. So, she was to share a room with Desmond.

Sam looked back at the bed. It was big enough to keep some distance between them while they slept. At least it was better than sharing a room with mice.

She took a bath and changed into a pair of shorts and a black shirt that didn't fit quite well, but felt comfortable, and then she went to bed.

As all the guests had left, Desmond came into the room to get her out to have dinner with the family. He found her in bed.

She lay coiled up with her knees pulled up towards her face and her arms wrapped around her torso. Her long hair splayed beautifully on the pillow. Her face looked as peaceful as a child's. Her thick lashes contrasted with her white skin, which didn't look so pale right now.

The good life must have been good for her. Her rosy lips were stuck in a sleepy pout. Desmond remembered how she'd kissed him earlier and smirked.

Had she always been longing to kiss him and decided to grab the opportunity, or was she trying to convince people about it? Either way, it had taken every bit of courage in her to carry it out. He recalled how she trembled in his arms.

He sat on the bed next to her face and picked a lock of hair out of her face.

He was right to have chosen her. Sam was going to get Javo for him. Her shyness, her flops, her innocence. Though he had accepted her apology earlier, she hadn't done anything worth apologizing for. He might not have had that plan in mind earlier, but after what happened downstairs, he has decided not to lecture her on his plans and just let things flow naturally. What was a better way to show a man's repentance than through true love?

A handsome and wealthy heir of a rich household, married to a shy, socially lame bastard with no penny to her name. This was the kind of story that brought people to their knees, but it was all lies. Desmond left her to sleep and went back.

Desmond regained his seat in the dining room next to the empty seat he had preserved for Sam. All eyes were on him. Desmond pretended they weren't looking at him and started eating.

"Well, where is the girl?" Eric asked impatiently.

"She is sleeping," Desmond replied nonchalantly.

"Well, she ain't dead, is she?" Theresa snapped. "Go wake her up!"

Desmond frowned at her.

"I know you are eager to meet Sam Aunty, but she is resting. There is enough time for you both to meet in the future. There is later and tomorrow morning."

"There is later for her to sleep!" Theresa gritted. "And I am in no way interested in meeting that thing of yo-"

"Samantha!" he roared, standing up and stumping his fist on the table.

The dishes rattle.

"Alvaro!" Eric roared. "Sit down!"

"She insulted my wife, pa!" Desmond said between gritted teeth.

"I say sit!"

Desmond reluctantly sat.

"She's your aunt. You should never speak back to her."

"Is nobody going to talk about how Desmond just called himself a married man overnight? Who witnessed the wedding?" Tim asked thoughtfully.

"Keep quiet, Tim. I have told you to avoid commenting on any issue involving Alvaro." Eric cautioned.

"For all I care, he could have chosen this particular girl to spite us."

"We can't say if we haven't met her," said a gentle voice.

Everyone turned to look at Claire.

"You shouldn't be talking when elders are talking. Should she even be here?" Rhonda asked distastefully.

"But I'm right here and that makes me part of the conversation," Claire said sweetly.

"Claire is right," Eric said. "We should meet the young woman first. Tell us how you met Alvaro."

"I met her in Japan."

"Was she taking a vacation?" Claire asked interestedly.

"No. She was a servant in some gangsters' houses. She had been trafficked from here, you see. Sam is an orphan. That man was very mean to her, so I rescued her. We fell in love over the years. To not get her mixed with all the danger, I kept her a secret and I'll love to keep it that way. The public shouldn't know."

"Gladly," Rhonda responded with a groan.

"Now I see Timothy's point." Theresa sneered. "He married her to spite us."

"She's here!" Eric smiled.

Everyone looked up to see Sam standing at the entrance with a lost expression.

"Come on in, girl," Eric gently invited.