CHAPTER 3

The car had stopped and she was refusing to get out of the car. The thought of leaving him and not see him for the whole day was excruciating.

'You need to go or else you will be late. I have a meeting in the morning love,' Sean said urging her to go but still she wasn't buying it.

'Can we just sit like this for a while?' she asked him, practically begging him.

'I will come and pick you up once you are done with classes, are you satisfied with that?' he was bargaining with her and this deal she liked it.

'Okay, I will wait for you. My last class ends at four,' she informed him.

'Okay, I will make sure that I will be here by then. Now go to class, I wouldn't want my wife to make a bad name,' he said.

'Have a good day then,' she said as she prepared herself to get out of the car but he pulled her to him and she looked at him, wondering what he was doing when he had been trying to chase her out for the past ten minutes.

'What is it?' she asked him, wanting to know.

'You shouldn't leave without saying proper goodbye,' he said as he lowered his mouth to hers. She closed her eyes as Sean gave her a kiss that was going to make her think about him the whole day.

He kissed her on the forehead and wiped her lips with his thump.

'Now you can go, don't flirt with those seniors. You are a married woman after all,' he reminded her and she nodded her head.

How can she flirt with another man when the only person she has on her mind is him? She got out of the car happily and Richard opened the boot and gave her bags.

'Thanks,' she said as she took the bags from him.

'Have a good day ma'am,' Richard said as he returned to the driver's seat.

She was still not used to be called that especially with people who were older than her but there was hierarchy and they stick to that. She waved goodbye to Sean who had rolled down the window as the car drove away.

She carried her other bag on her back and another one in her hand. Selena began to walk into the campus; she didn't want him to drop her inside. When she starts driving her own she will simply park inside like everyone else. She took the shuttle bus which took her straight to her faculty building. She might be married to a wealthy man but that didn't stop her from doing things she was used to. Her husband never stopped her from doing that so she was not going to stop.

'I knew that it was you!' a familiar voice yelled and she turned around to see who it was.

It was Vivian she really was going to attend at her school but what was she doing at her building?

'Are you going to study here?' she asked her and Vivian nodded her head.

'Yes, I will be your fellow starting today. Let's get along together,' Vivian said as she stretched her hand to hers.

Selena smiled at her new friend and they shook hands.

'Let's go to class then, it would be bad to find a bad seat early this morning,' Selena said as she started walking.

Like every time the class was full and they all gawked at her the second she walked in. she was used to it so she wasn't bothered anymore. She found a nice seat and made herself comfortable; Vivian joined her and sat next to her.

'Why is everyone being awkward?' Vivian asked her after seeing the way the other classmates were staring.

'They have been like that ever since my marriage. Apparently a poor girl is not allowed to marry a rich guy and an older one on top of that,' Selena explained.

'How can they be childish like that? It's not a big deal having money, besides I can tell that you love him and that is all that matters,' Vivian came to her side.

'Thank you, it means a lot.'

'Don't let those people bother you. From today going onwards I would love to seek your help on something,' Vivian said.

'What is it?' she asked.

'There is a matter of my studies, you can help me when you are free of course and I would like to hear from you how I can capture the heart of this guy I have been pursuing,' Vivian said and she found herself giggling. This was hilarious, how could she ask help from her? She didn't do anything extraordinary at all except to taint that expensive dress shirt. She wouldn't advise anyone to do that, she nearly had her life halved that day.

'I can help with studies but the other thing I am not good at it. I am struggling myself,' she told her.

'Just a little advice will do,' Vivian begged her.

'Okay I will see what I can do, the lecture will be starting any time soon,' Selena said as she took out her laptop from her bag and the textbook from the other.

'You are a devoted student, I admire you,' Vivian said as she took out her books.

'That is the only thing I am good at so I shouldn't slack off,' she replied with a smile.

It was true, she wasn't a great cook. Her parents spoiled her so much that she never went into the kitchen. They practically did everything for her and it was a good thing that her new home was filled with so many staff otherwise her husband was going to see the real her.

The lecture began and it was another hectic session again. She only loved one thing though; the professor was good at explaining which made things easier.

Sean sighed as he signed the last document that had been brought to him that morning. It was a busy day and he just wanted to get it over with.

'Sir, the chairman is calling for you,' Brian said standing at the door.

'Okay, I will be up in minutes,' he told him.

What did the old man wanted from him? He looked at himself and stood up. He walked towards the door and closed the door behind him. He took the elevator to the top floor where the chairman's office was. When he arrived the secretary let him in and there he found his other siblings inside. He wondered what conspiracy was being brewed that they all had to be seated in one place like this.

'Good morning,' Sean said as he took his seat.

The Chairman nodded at him and his step siblings just looked at him. Why was he really here?

'I am glad that you are all here, I have something that I need to announce,' the Chairman said and they all looked at him. He can't probably be resigning and picking the next candidate already right? He wasn't ready to witness the fights between the siblings for this office yet.

'What is it, father?' Wendy asked and they all wait to hear the answer.

'This matter is in regards with the face of our company. I wanted everyone to be here as I announce who the next face is going to be,' the Chairman said.

It was true that the face of the company was an important matter, usually they pick a famous model to be the face or an employee who had done great and at some point Wendy was one to. So who was going to be the next one, he wondered.

'Who is it?' Andrew the eldest asked.

'Sean's wife, Selena will be the next face of our company,' the Chairman said and he looked at him with disbelief.

What was happening here? How could he pick his wife for such a role? It was a good opportunity for him but many people would use that against him too.

'Father what is going on?' Sean asked him.

'She is young and fresh, she is probably the most innocent child I have ever seen and she will be perfect for the role. Talk to her when you see her and get her to sign the contract,' the Chairman said bluntly. That wasn't the reason why he would pick his wife for the role. It was a battle for him to marry Selena. Even his mother was against his marriage, if he hadn't threatened his family then this marriage wouldn't have happened. Was he trying to get back at him for what he did?

'Can I speak to you alone?' he asked him.

The Chairman dismissed his other children, leaving the two of them in the office.

'What do you want o speak to me about?' he asked him.

'Why her of all people?' he asked the chairman.

'Do you want the truth?' the chairman asked him.

'Yes, I would love,' he replied.

The Chairman threw an envelope on the table which Sean took and opened it. Inside the envelope were pictures of him and Selena on their date in the mall. She was smiling so brightly that he just kept on looking at her.

'That smile is the smile that this company needs. I know I was against your marriage from the start since I wasn't sure of the girl you wanted to marry. In this life there are so many women who just get with you because of money but after investigating her I found out that she isn't that type at all. I want to give her power so that no one can step on her again. Wouldn't you want that as well?'

That was some hard truth he was hearing. He would be happy if she has some power of her own, maybe she will start to look down upon herself. It was a good deal after all and he was glad that he was seeing her in such a new light.

'If that's the reason then I thank you for choosing her. I am grateful for your consideration,' he thanked his father.

'I just want you to be happy. You should visit home more often, your mother misses you,' he told him.

'I will visit with Selena some other day, if there is nothing else I will take my leave now. I have some meetings to attend to,' he said.

'Sure, I will not keep you. Go and do your business.'

Sean bided farewell to the chairman and left his office. He went straight to his office only to find Wendy waiting for him. She was so furious he wanted to take a photo and keep it as a reminder.

'I don't remember having an appointment with you Director Wendy,' he said as he entered his office.

'What the heck was that? What are you plotting this time?' she screamed at him.

'How dare you say that? It's good that you came here on your two feet. I want you to stay away from my wife, if I ever see you near her again and talking nonsense again, I promise you that I will strip you of everything you love. You may go after me but don't go to my wife,' he wanted her and she just laughed.

'Stop kidding yourself, we both know where your heart is. You are just interested in her because she is all young and fresh but I know you, soon you will be looking elsewhere. She is coming back you know,' Wendy said and he felt all his bones weakening.

'Get out!' he yelled at her and she left the office laughing. He really hated her so much; if it was possible he could just strangle her and be done with it.

Why did she remind him of her? He sat back in his chair and thought of the time he was in love. He met her and she was just lovely. He was still a student back then and he fell for her easily. He accepted her as he was and he was so in love. They dated for four years and he was planning to marry her and start a family with her. After proposing her learnt one hurtful truth, she had been playing him all along. She was after his money and was planning on being with another man. It was his siblings that brought her into his life. They made his life a circus and watched and enjoyed as he got played. It was hard for him but with time he healed.

When his parents wanted him to marry someone they arranged for him, he flipped. He was going to choose a better devil which was the reason why he found himself a bride of his own.

Even if that devil returns he was going to show her that things have changed. His heart was slowly being occupied by his wife and he was not going to do anything that was harmful to her no matter how tempted he gets.

....

Vivian was excited to find a friend even when things were a bit complicated. Because of the family she was raised in t was difficult for her to have any friends. They always wanted something from her but meeting Selena was different. She could tell that she was a saint and even when people were busy badmouthing her that she married the Sawyer group's son for money she could tell that was not the case. She could see it in her eyes, what Selena showed in her eyes was exactly how she looks when she sees him.

Because of the age difference she was always afraid of showing him how much she feels for him but thanks to Selena she was going to muster up her courage and confess even when it means to be rejected. It was better to be rejected than for her to keep silent. It's been too long and it was time for her to get answers.

She smiled at her friend as they both packed their bags and ready to leave for school. The last class had just ended and yet Selena was so eager to go back home. Is this the way she will be acting too if she is in love?

'Why don't we hang out and have dinner together?' Vivian asked Selena.

'Let's do it another time, my husband is supposed to come and pick me up in a few minutes,' Selena answered her and she was shocked by her response. It really felt weird to hear an eighteen year old girl talking about a husband. At this age they would be talking about first love or boyfriends but not husbands. No wonder why their fellow classmates find it weird whenever they think that she is married.

'Okay, let's do that another time then,' she said seeing that she was not able to change her mind.

'I will see you tomorrow then,' Selena said with a smile and rushed out of class.

She really envied her a lot; she wished she had someone to run to after school like this. She carried her bag when this other girls came to her. They were courting trouble, she could sense it.

'Why are you befriending that gold digger?' one of the girls asked and she laughed at them.

'Why are you laughing?'

'You are. I can't believe that such people like you exist. How can you be so obvious? If you failed to be born into a rich family doesn't despise those who got married into them. If you really despise her being that rich now then go and seduce your own and get married. And for your own information, I would advise you to stay the hell away from me or I will not be lenient with you. If you don't know me then Google my name and you will find out,' she made her threats and left the girls' mouths open.

How dare they badmouth her friend? Where was it written that only the rich should date the rich and the poor against poor? She was going to rip off their mouths and feed them to the dogs. How can they just come up to her to threaten her? Didn't they know who she was? She was the only daughter of a huge conglomerate and yet these small scumbags who relied on their dad's money who didn't own anything dare to say such rubbish?

One way or the other, she was going to put all of them in their place but right now she has to go back home. She was going to plan a strategy to win her man's heart.

She arrived at the car park and put her bag in the boot before getting into the car. She drove her car from the faculty building towards the gate. She was driving by when she saw Selena receiving a warm hug from her husband. How can he be so devoted to the extent of coming to pick up his wife during working hours? He could have just sent someone else to pick her up and not to come himself. It was really good being Selena, she wanted to be like her and the sooner she goes home the sooner everything gets settled.

...

She was happy when she saw him, to know that he had kept his promise to her. She just never expected that he would go with her to his office. She had never gone there before; she was scared of the way people will look at her.

She didn't sit down but kept looking around the office. It was spacious and lovely. She couldn't believe that this was the place her husband comes to work every day. Will she get to work in an office too one day? What did her future hold? She had so many questions but those would be answered with time.

'Come and sit, I have something I need to discuss with you,' Sean said and she went to sit on one of the couches.

'What is it? Is anything wrong?' she asked worried now.

'Nothing is wrong, I just wanted to hear your opinion on something,' he clarified and she felt at ease.

'Okay, ask right away,' she said.

'What do you think about working again while you go to school?' he asked her. Why would he ask her such a question?

'Is the company going broke or something like that? Am I spending a lot?' she asked wondering whether she was a problem. How could he suddenly ask her that when he was the one who told her to stop working after the proposal?

'It's not like that at all. I was just thinking that you would love that too. Since you want to be someone who can proudly stand by my side and not be ridiculed by anyone,' he explained.

She listened to him and it all made perfect sense. Because she had nothing to bring to the table she had always looked down upon herself, she saw herself as a useless being but since he was asking it meant that he was going somewhere with his story and she was going to hear him out.

'So did you have something for me?' she asked him.

'Yes, I do but if you don't want it I will not force you,' he said.

'Just tell me. If it can help you then I am willing to do anything. I want to be that kind of wife that can help you even if it's just a small thing,' she told him; she really wanted to be of help to him. She knew just how much he suffers because of his birth. They didn't take him serious since he was not a bloodline of the Sawyer.

'I would like you to be the face of the group,' he said and she choked on herself.

She knew exactly what he was talking. That wasn't a joke at all. Being the face of such a company would require years of experience. She didn't know anything to be the face of the company.

'Is not that too much for someone like me?' she asked her husband, fearing the weight of the cross she was about to carry.

'How many times did I tell you not to look down upon yourself? I need you to be strong and tell yourself that you can do it. Can you do that for me?'

She could hear encouragement and disappointment in his voice. Why did she keep on doing this all the time? She had to grow up and start thinking and acting like a madam.

'I can do it. What do I need to do?' she asked him.

'Good, just keep that confidence and I will guide you all the way. You have to sign the contract first and see if the terms are good for you,' he said putting some documents in front of her.

She had never thought that one day she will be having a deal with her husband. That was her first contract and formal business. This was good news, her parents will be very proud of her. She took the documents and began to read through them.

She understood almost everything written there, she was after all a business major student. She was surprised by the amount of money that was written in the contract. Was that even true? She looked at Sean and he nodded in response. The terms and conditions seemed fine and since he gave it to her it meant she wouldn't be at a disadvantage. She was going to trust him so she signed the contract.

'Thanks for doing this,' Sean said and she smiled. She was happy that she had done something that was of great help to her husband.

This was going to be one hell of a marriage but who cares? She got herself a job and she was going to send her parents some money without feeling guilty about it. She got an opportunity to work with her husband and make a name for herself. After this no one was going to trample on her, she could feel it.

Everything was about to change and she could see that it was all for the better. She was going to become the wife and woman her husband would rely on at any time. She was going to protect him at all costs.