Chapter 22

The next day of the wedding, Rita feigned illness. She couldn't being herself to attend a wedding that wasn't of benefit to her.

"Oh come, you want to tell me you're sick?", Edmundo said, pacing about.

"Edmundo, illness has no season. It could come anytime it so desires", she said, coughing for added effect.

"I see. Get some drugs from the kitchen. I'm going", he said, slamming the door behind him.

Rita sighed, rising up from her bed. So much for being his fiancee. She made her way to the bathroom, using it as quick as possible.

After the wedding yesterday, Rita decided to search Edmundo's room. She had a feeling that she would get one or two things concerning his recent attitude these past few days. When she was done, she made her way to his room, opening it with the spare key card she got from the table in her room. Before going to his room, she locked the main doors tightly incase Edmundo decided to come back earlier than expected.

When she got to his room, she was once again in awe at the size and the designs adorning it. Without wasting any more time, she moved the double wardrobe that stood at a corner of the room. She opened it but the only thing she found were his clothes and receipts of some things he bought.

Determined, Rita checked the other wardrobe and to her joy, she found what she was looking for. Stacks of papers of different types and sizes sat gingerly in the wardrobe. Rita brought down some, taking them to his bed side table where she could quickly read them. She opened the first one and wished she hadn't. The file in her hand contained lewd pictures of semi naked woman whom Edmundo fantasized about when he couldn't get ahold of any one of them.

Rita felt disgusted about this which only cemented her resolve not to ever have anything to do with him ever again. She flipped through the file but only it contained were more and more photos of the naked women. Deciding to dump that file, Rita moved on to the second one, opening it to revel various tax reports on him.

Apparently, Edmundo hadn't been paying his tax and now, the government were threatening to seize all his assets within the next one week. Knowing who he was, Rita had no doubt that he'll evade this arrest and find a way not to pay what he was oweing. He was just as corrupt as ever. She quickly snapped some of the receipts, something she could use against him when the time comes.

The next file she opened was about someone who he was watching. Rita shuddered to think about what Edmundo might do if he finally got the person he's been watching all along. The person's name wasn't specified. The only clue she got out of it was that the person was a male and in his early thirties. Rita snapped that too, gathering every evidence she could use against him when the time comes.

When she was done with that file, she returned them to the wardrobe, placing them at the exact place she took from. Edmundo had a keen eyes and he would know if his properties had been tampered with.

She picked up another file, flipping through it. She smiled, this was exactly what she was looking for. Edmumdo's involvement and shares in her company. Rita was horrified at what she learnt. It turned out that Edmundo not only had a large share in the company, he also controlled most of the major stocks. Rita had no idea how this came about, the only thing she knew was that Edmundo only controlled little of the company's shares but not this much.

She took some photos of this, planning to show her father on her return to Spain. As she flipped through the file, she was horrified to see that Edmundo controlled more and more of the stocks. He had almost fifty percent of the total shares, the highest any of their investors had. She quickly dialled Rodrigo's number. She needed to tell someone she could trust in case anything happened to her.

"Sugar girl, i was just about to call you", he said, sweetly.

"Hey you", Rita smiled despite what was on her hands.

"How are you love?",he asked.

"I'm afraid not fine", she sighed.

"Oh shit! What's wrong darling, talk to me", he said.

Rita told him all that she had discovered and her suspicions about Edmundo. She could tell that he agreed with her and this was something she was grateful for.

"Now i see why your parents want to marry you off to him. I'm going to say this the way it is. Sugar girl, your company is on the brink of bankruptcy. That's the reason why they insist you get married to him because of his connections and what he can bring to your family", he said.

"At the expense of my happiness, that's really not fair", she sighed.

"This life isn't fair baby and it's left for us to make it better for ourselves", he said.

"Rodrigo, I'm so confused. What do I do?",she said.

"Talk to your father. After all, he still has a lot of influence in the company even though you're the President, he's the founder", he said.

"But what if he gets angry?",she said.

"Why would he be angry?".

"I don't know, maybe because I discovered something I'm not meant to find out", she said.

"Sugar girl, I've learnt something very important. I learnt that if you can iron out an issue, it's best to talk with the parties involved. It would help in preventing confrontations that may arise", he said.

"Okay, I will. Sometimes you're so smart from the words you say but other times, you're so clueless especially in some kitchen stuffs", Rita smiled, biting her lips.

"Sugar girl, are you mocking me?", Rodrigo laughed.

"No lover boy, I'm only stating the obvious", she laughed.

"And the obvious is that I love you and I have no regrets in being goofy around you", he smiled.

"Aww, look at you. All mushy and sweet".

"I'm not mushy, I'm a man and men don't get mushy".

"Well, you're a man in love".

"That is correct my sweet, a man hopelessly in love with a damsel and can't wait to do naughty things to her", he chuckled.

"Gosh Rodrigo!", Rita laughed.

"I hope you're okay, I mean really really okay", he said, worry evident in his voice.

"To be honest, I'm just trying to be. I'm really trying to stay strong with everything that's happening around me", she sighed.

"Please stay strong for me baby, remember I love you so much that at times it hurts especially when you're not here with me", he said.

"I'll be with you soon. It's only a matter of time, a few days more".

"Wait, why aren't you at the party?", he asked.

"I feigned sickness. Lord knows i can't stand those things", she said.

"Oh, aren't you naughty",he laughed.

"Only for you. Baby, I've got to go now. I'll talk to you some other time", Rita said.

"Okay, but it shouldn't be too long. Every minute you're away from me, I die silently", he said.

"Soon baby", Rita smiled.

"I love you and come home soon", he said before cutting the call.

***********************

"What did you do while I was gone?", Edmundo said over dinner the next day.

It was the third day since they arrived Madrid and two days before they'd leave. So far, Rita had successfully avoided going to the parties and she was secretly glad that Edmundo seemed not to be disturbed. The only time he showed concern over her "illness" was when he asked if she had taken the drugs he asked her to. According to him, he didn't want her dieing on him.

"I didn't really do much. Just slept the whole day because the drugs kind of knocked me down", Rita said vaguely.

No way was she going to tell him the tons of incriminating materials she found in his possession. She was bidding her, waiting for the right moment to strike. Until then, she would remain patient and wait.

"I see. And how do you feel now?",he asked, munching on his food.

"Better, much better thank you", she said.

Even a blind man could see how stiff their relationship was. There was simply no chemistry between them. Edmundo felt like he owned the world but Rita didn't agree to this which was the main bone of contention between them.

"You know, on a second thought, I think we should leave for Spain tomorrow. I just found out that I have some pressing things to take care of which requires my attention as soon as possible".

In another world, Rita could have hugged him. She was happy within her over this news, Lord knows that she couldn't stand one more day at the party and also another day with Edmundo. On a second thought, she knew that he's going had something to do with one of those files she found. She had no idea what it was but she was determined to find out.

"It's a good idea. I also have some things to take care of back at the office", she smiled.

"Good. We'll leave tomorrow, the jet would be ready", he said.

"Alright, I'll prepare", she said.

"I'll be in my room if you need me but I doubt you would since everything you need is here", he said, rising up from his seat.

Rita nodded as she watched him leave. She couldn't believe her luck at the freedom she just got. A rare one at that. Packing the plates to the kitchen because Edmundo never bothered to, she wondered what that pressing issue was that would send him back to Spain. She sighed as she never liked being in the dark.

She made her way to her room, passing Edmundo's. She stopped for a moment, listening to his conversation with yet another person she didn't know.

"Darling, I'll be back tomorrow", he said.

Rita pressed her ears to the door, feeling disgusted by his behaviour. He had no ounce of respect, not caring if she overheard him or not.

"Of course, I'll come straight once my plane lands. Remember to prepare for my arrival, I want you in that skimpy bikini", he chuckled.

Rita was horrified and she had a good mind to barge into his room but she held herself. After all, she had never loved him, so she wouldn't really be bothered over what he does.

"Oh. The woman is fine, I left her at the dinner table so she can't hear what we're saying and even if she does, can't do anything about it", he boasted.

Tears of anguish streamed down her eyes as she heard the hurtful things here said. The only boldness he had for him to speak this way was because of the stocks he controlled in her company. She didn't know why her life was going this way, the only person who could have comforted her was several miles away.

"Okay, let me go now darling. I'll speak to you before i leave tomorrow", he said.

Rita dried her eyes, walking away quickly. She resolved within herself never to shed tears over Edmundo again. He wasn't worth it and she wouldn't bother about him anymore.

On getting to her room, she packed the little clothes she brought, refusing to touch anything in the wardrobe. When she was done, she lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling. Just then, her phone made a sharp beep, indicating she had a message. Swiping it, she discovered that the message was from Rodrigo. It was a gif message containing love and kisses. She sent off another message, blowing kisses and patiently waited for his reply.

Rather than responding to the message, his name suddenly appeared on her phone. He was calling. Rita smiled, picking it up on the second ring. She made her way to the door, locking it to avoid Edmundo barging in.

"Sugar girl", his calm voice calmed her raging heart.

"Guess what", Rita said.

"Oh baby, you know I'm not so good at guessing", he groaned.

"Oh, just try", she smiled.

"Okay, let's see. You're pregnant for me because that would only make me marry you faster", he laughed.

"Oh gosh! No, we haven't even had sex", Rita laughed.

"Come to think of it, why haven't we?", Rodrigo said.

"You're digressing and I know it but I'll let that slide. Well, the reason is, I want to keep myself pure until my wedding night. If there's one thing I love my mother for, it's that singular thing she taught me", Rita said.

"That just made me love you the more. I'm ready to wait for how long it takes", Rodrigo said.

"Oh my gosh! Really?", Rita said, tears of joy streaming down her eyes.

"Yes my sweet for as long as it takes but promise me you'll wait if I'm not there with you", he said, quietly.

"As long as the sun still shines. Rodrigo, I'll wait", she said.

She couldn't help but think of this of as a vow, a promise of their love and commitment. She felt fulfilled, knowing that someone cared so deeply about her as to wait until they got married.

"So what's the surprise baby?",he laughed.

"I'm coming home tomorrow", she said.

"You really don't have any idea how happy I am hearing this".

"I know. Edmundo said he has some things to take care of but I strongly suspect he's tired of attending the wedding", Rita laughed.

"For once, I'm glad that he actually used his brain", he said.

"I know. So, I'll be coming tomorrow. I won't go home straight though, please come pick me up when his plane lands. I want to go to the private place with you alone", Rita said biting her lips.

"I really can't wait to see you tomorrow and of course do wicked things", he groaned.

"Patience my dear, it's just one more night", she laughed.

"Okay, I've got to go now. I need to help mum with something".

"Alright, see you tomorrow. Love you", she said.

"And me too, always", he said before cutting the call.