chapter 2: Is it too late for me to runaway?

Had and I both went to bed after I finish eating and we discussed our plan but I couldn't sleep. I was anxious I had a nagging feeling something would go wrong with our plan. Should I just go ahead with the marriage instead of trying at all? Where can I run to after going to Had's Auntie's place if things don't get better? Will I be able to just come back and live my life again like nothing happened? Will Asher Kelvin let me be? How was my dad going to pay me back after I ran away? what was I supposed to do about my internship which was in a month? Was this how all my hard work in school would go to waste? Was this how my dream of graduating as the best in my class come to an end?

More and more questions kept popping up in my head, I held my head and tears came running down. I was no longer crying for my ex who choose my sister over me but for my hard over the years in my academic.

" Enough with all these tears I reprimanded myself ' determined to get my tears under control.

I stayed awake till dawn and stood up and showered. I came out of the bathroom to see Hadassah awake and packing up my stuff and some of hers I could use. I shook my head and hugged her from behind knowing how much she hated waking up early, She smiled and hugged me back.

" when get to London you must video call me every day okay?" she said and I nodded.

I was ready by 6 am and called for a cab that would take me to the airport. The early hours of San Francisco were normally busy from 7 am to 9 am and I wanted to get to the airport before then. Hadassah insisted on accompanying me to the airport but I reminded her she had to attend all the classes for both of us till I got back and she nodded in tears. This was surely going to affect my perfect attendance I thought shaking my head. I was wearing a blue boyfriend Jean with a pair of black boots and a long black jacket with my backpack, I packed my hair back and held on to my bag tightly as I waited like it was giving me some sort of strength. I didn't pack much just a few clothes, my laptop, headphone, my wallet which had my credit cards and my diary.

I waited for about 10 minutes before my ride arrived, I got in and told him to take me to the airport. we got to the airport 30 minutes later.

I entered the airport, found the terminal to my airline and got my boarding pass. I headed to the gates and sat down waiting patiently for the take-off time. I checked the time again, it was 6:50 am and my flight was by 7:30 am. I had to wait for another 40min I thought shaking my head impatiently, I wanted to do this before I lost the courage to.

I brought out my headphone and put them on then turned on my music. I checked the time everything was 5 minutes but every time I check I got more anxious but I decided I was going to do it anyway. It was finally 7:15 am and I was happy it was about time. suddenly my phone beeped, I took it out to check but saw a message instead. I opened the message to see a picture of my dad tied to a chair, my heart skipped and I jumped up from my sit. Just before my brain could process what was happening a call came in, and with a shaky hand, I picked up.

" Hello," I answered with a calm voice.

" You board that plane and your father dies." The caller said in a warning tone

" What do you want?" I asked already knowing the answer to my question.

" I believe you already know what I want." He replied.

" Come to the marriage registry close to the airport in 25 minutes" he continued and hung up.

I stood there blank after the call, I carried my phone but my hands were shaking. I didn't know what to do but I knew I couldn't let my father die, he's never been there for me and he has sold me out yet his the only one I have and I can't let him die. I dialled Hadassah's number it rang but she wasn't picking up. I rubbed my face frustrated and dialled the number again yet she didn't pick up.

I ran out of the airport and called a taxi and asked where the nearest marriage registry office was. I was told it was just 15 minutes from the airport, I entered hurriedly and we got to the marriage registry office. I looked at my time and I was 5 minutes early, I stood there waiting at the entrance. Exactly 5 minutes later a BMW i7 and Audi A8 parked in front of the registry. Two men in black suits with dark sun shade came out of the Audi A8 and opened the door of the BMW i7 and an elderly man stepped out of the car. From his shoe to the sun shade he wore all spoke money, when he came out of the car he looked at the sky and then checked his watch and nodded. A handsome young man came out from the other back seat and stood beside him and it was obvious it was his assistant. I found it weird as elderly people always had elderly assistants but this one had a handsome young assistant instead. I stood where I was and waited for him to approach me, I would stand my ground and not be intimidated. He stared at me from there and I stared back stubbornly. Finally, he walked to me and stood in front of me, in response I looked at him right back.

"Shouldn't you introduce yourself to your future husband?." he finally said looking at me like a predator. He was observing something.

" I could say the same sir" I replied calmly even though my heart was beating so fast and I was nervous. My hand started shaking and in response, I quickly put them inside my pocket without removing my gaze from the man in front of me. This was a quality I inherited from my mom my dad had said, I could remain calm in any situation I found myself plus I could look anyone right in the eye. He kept studying me without saying a word. He instead turned around and started walking into the registry but I didn't take a step. He walked for another 3 steps then turned around and looked back.

" Have you changed your mind and I can go ahead and kill your dad?" He asked in a deep voice.

" No, but I won't go through with this if am not assured my dad is alright. " I told him

He looked at me with an evil smile like he expected this and signalled one of the men in the black suit he spoke into his airport and an Audi S8 drove there. The driver wind down the car and my dad sat at the back sit with Hadassah. A man in a black suit drove with another in the passenger's seat. I clenched my teeth in anger yet remained calm.

My heart skipped when I saw my dad, I looked closer and he looked fine, My heart broke upon seeing Had, she didn't need to be in all this. With that, I walked up to the old man and he gave me his hand.

" We have to look happy," he said

" I've got a question though," I said as I took his hand.

" shot," he replied.

" why are you doing this and why me? Am sure they are many girls who would do this willingly and happily. why did it have to me?" I asked

" well, that's more than a question. Someone has to pay for what your dad owns" he said with a chuckle.

" They are other ways to pay back," I said

" But I don't want other ways" he replied

" You're ruining my life sir," I said helplessly

" Am not ruining your life Melissa, we are getting married that's two different things," he said coldly

" Okay... Then can we keep this a secret please?" I pleaded now " I have my internship in a month." I finished.

" Let's see." was all he said and started walking into the registry office.

We entered the registry and people stared at us, but no one could look at him in the eye or even murmur. I must agree that this man carried an aura of authority around him. Everything about him spoke to power.

We were in front of the marriage registrar and he brought out some documents and ask for our names. I told him I was Melissa Stanley and the old man told him He was Asher Kelvin. Immediately the man heard the name he started sweating because that was when he rose his head and looked at the man standing beside me and the men in black that surrounded the place.

The man hurriedly up the whole process like he was scared he was the time of the man beside me. It's got to where he was supposed to ask if we were sure about getting it.

" Are... you both sure ....about this marriage?" he asked stammering.

" Yes," Asher replied. I didn't say anything and they waited for my reply.

" Madam?" the registrar asked uncomfortably.

' Is it too late for me to run away' I thought at my last opportunity of saving my life and then I thought about my father and Had who were in the car outside with those scary-looking men.

" Yes," I replied with a calm voice as my heart ached inside.

He finished the process and we walked out of the registry.

" I believe you have school to attend so I'll leave you to it. You'll be picked up later from your apartment in the evening" He said and turned to leave but then I remembered I had a shift then I said...

" Sorry, I have a night shift. can they pick me up a bit later?"

" How can you work when you're married to me? even my girlfriends don't work" He said annoyed

" Am sorry but am not one of them, I work because I like doing it" I replied.