Chapter 3
Arianna and Gavin returned back to San Francisco. Their honeymoon was a sour moon. It was the worst. They did nothing fun and hardly identified as a couple except when Gavin got into trouble and Arianna saved him by proving that they were a couple. Gavin treated her badly leaving her sad throughout their stay in the hotel . They had a Safe drive from the airport to their home. They got off their car and Arianna tried linking arms with Gavin who stopped her from doing so. They had a warm reception from everyone. Samantha welcomed them with a hug and a kiss. Arianna’s things were taken to Gavin’s room. Nora kept taking pictures of the couple. Gavin finally stopped her from taking more pictures. Samantha invited them to the dining room for dinner. Gavin and Arianna are silently and tried avoiding questions from everyone concerning their honeymoon.
“Was it fun? Nora asked
“Nora…I already asked dad and mom to quit the questions. So stop” Gavin said glaring at her
“C’mon Gavin. Is it bad to know about your honeymoon? I’m getting lessons for mine…”
“Nora. I’m really tired already, please don’t add to my stress”
“Please listen to him Nora. It was quite a journey for us. We’re really tired. Okay? Just let us enjoy our meal” Arianna said
“Okay fine. If you insist. Enjoy your meal”
They finished up with their dinner and left for the room. Gavin tried to open the door when Nora called out he’s name, stopping him from going in.
What’s it? Were you running? Gavin asked
“Yes. Your phone. You left it at the table”
“Thanks Nora. I’ll go ahead inside “
“Uhmmm… Gavin, why did you request for a second bed in your room? Isn’t your bed bug enough? You should have asked for your bed to be changed instead with a very big one”.
“I owe you no explanation”
“Yes you do. I’m your sister”
“None of your business. Go ahead and leave”
Gavin opened the door and went in with Arianna who shut the door at Nora’s face .
“Wow! So nice and big. I love your room. The Deco is lovely”
“Not liking it is not a choice for you. You definitely will like it”
“I was appreciating the beauty. Why a second bed? Looks pretty small to me”
“We won’t be sharing the same bed”
“But why not?
“Do you have amnesia? Have you forgotten all I said at the hotel? I don’t like you so I can’t share a bed with someone I detest”
“How do you explain it to your parents?
“That’s left for me to worry and handle. Not yours so don’t worry about it” Gavin said picking up a pen”
“What’re you gonna do with that?
“Kill you with it”
“What? Why?
“You’re so naïve and stupid. I’m gonna put down something and place it on this calendar. Don’t dispose this calendar”
“What have you written?
“That after five years, we’ll bid goodbye after celebrating Christmas. It will be our last one to be celebrated as a couple”
“What? Divorce? Why choose Christmas”
“You leaving my life will be the greatest Christmas gift so put it down in your diary”
“No need. I’ll never forget about it. I promise to leave once it’s Christmas”
“Good. I’ll put down my rules, things you should do and not do. You must abide to these rules”
“Okay. I’ll give you my own rules too”
“Do you have any rule? Like you’re disciplined”
“Yes. Your family and you will never stop me from signing any kind of modeling contract”
“Is it a rule? I don’t even give a little damn about you and your life. Once I were in, I’ll put down my rules and regulations we’ll sign the document”
“Sure. I can’t wait to sign it”
You’ll have to wait till I put them down in a book. You may leave , I wanna change my clothes”
“You can do that in your cahnge room”
“This is my bedroom not yours. So leave”
“So what do I tell Nora if she asks me why I left the room?
“Fine. I’ll go change over there”
“No problem. Rules and regulations. I really love you Gavin but you’ve made me a miserable being. I’m gonna deal with you and your family for making my life an unhappy one. My life is really a nightmare. I just wished to be happy with you. If I had an idea that you didn’t love me, I would have said no to this proposal and stop nurturing the feelings I developed for you. I just wish I will be able to overcome this”
The next morning, Arianna woke up to see Gavin dressing up. She hissed and laid back on the bed. She tried covering herself with the duvet when Gavin grabbed the duvet and pulled it out of the bed. Arianna sat up immediately.
“Now, I can’t even sleep”
“I don’t tolerate laziness. Don’t you have anything to do today rather than sleeping?
“None of your business. Didn’t you say that what I do with my life is none of your business? Wow! So sudden. The rule maker is the rule breaker”
“Don’t try to act smart with me. Here, I’ve already made the rules”
“What? Let me see…oh my world! No kissing, no touching, not allowed to change iny presence, must not wear sexy or transparent outfit especially when we’re alone, can’t touch me, no sleeping together on the same bed, can’t tell our parents about the truth, banned from interfering in my private and business life, ignore each other when we bump into each other on the streets or anywhere outside our normal place of life ,act as a perfect couple in the presence of family and the media, don’t visit my company, don’t hang out with my friends or try to make friends with them, don’t, don’t, don’t…wow! Lots of don’ts. I’ll give you mine. Here….have this”
“And what’s this?
“My rules Mr Gavin”
“Give me the attention needed, can’t befriend any lady, don’t make me feel less of a human, protect me from negative remarks and defend me, hold my hand in public, can’t see my nakedness….wow! Such lame rules. Don’t break mine”
“If you don’t break mine”
“Whatever. Let’s go down for breakfast”
“Go ahead. I’m not hungry yet. I need to sleep more”
“Arianna… don’t ruin things for me”
“I’ll follow soon”
“Let’s go together. Remember, no one must catch on , on what’s going on between us”
“Are you scared? Fine. Let’s go. I’m really hungry”
“Huh? You just said… nothing. Let’s go”
Gavin and Arianna left for the dining room. Breakfast was served already. They had their seats and the maids served them their breakfast. Gavin finished up mad grabbed his bag to leave. Arianna quickly stood up and followed him to the door and waved goodbye to him. Nora and Arianna kissed goodbye and Nora left for college. Seems like Arianna is gonna be home alone.
She retire to the bedroom and sighed. She picks up her phone and laid on the bed and logged into her social media accounts and updated them. It’s been long she made any posts on them. She really missed her fans and her fans missed her too. They wished her a happy married life. A married life that’s a nightmare. She dropped her phone and picked up a novel laying on the bed and started reading.
Gavin got home quite tired. Arianna was asleep when he walked into the bedroom. Seems like she never stepped out of the bedroom. He dropped his bag and removed his jacket and neck tie. Arianna turned and noticed a presence in the room. She quickly sat up and saw Gavin only wearing his trouser. She quickly grabbed the pillow and threw it at him.
“Ouch!
“You ..have no right to change in front of me”
“I thought you were asleep”
“Excuses. Such a fool”
“What did you just say?
“Nothing. I’ll go wash my face”
“Where?
“Bathroom of course”
“I wanna take my bath”
“So? Not like I’m gonna take forever to wash my face”
“I don’t care”
“Gavin…. Please…I had a peaceful and quiet day… please don’t ruin it by making my night a bad one”
“I don’t care”
“May I come in” Nora said shutting the door behind her.
“You’re already inside why seek for permission? Don’t you know the proper way to do things? Arianna snapped at her
“Ari…are you okay? You sounded rather rude to me”
“Goodness. Am I supposed to speak with sugar coated tongue? I’m a being with moods”
“Ari…tell me, did Gavin annoy you? He’s such an annoying being”
“Yes. I’ll be in the bathroom”
“No you can’t. I’ll be in the bathroom. You wait Arianna”
“Is this your first lover’s quarrel? Oh my gush. Your first lover’s quarrel is about who gets to use the bathroom first. Oh my, so so cute”
“Not cute! Yelled Arianna and Gavin
“Okay, I get it”
“Why are you here?
“Dad said…tell Gavin about tomorrow. He’ll be made the CEO”
“What?! For real? Man! I’m so excited! I can’t believe this. Dream come true. Thank you Lord. Where’s dad?
“Downstairs”
“I’ll meet hims once I’m done having my bath”
“Is that all Nora? You may leave”
“Not all. Mum said you guys Will be…uhmm…what was that? Invited for an interview with….
“The news? Not interested” Arianna said
“We’ll do it. Tell mum that. You may leave”
“Sure . Goodnight”
“Why say so to Nora? Arianna asked
“You must be nuts to have said that to her. Don’t create impressions that we’re unhappy or that I’m making you unhappy”
“Ain’t you making me unhappy? I’ll use the bathroom. Rejoice now… CEO…”
“Yes. I finally did it. I achieved my goal to be the CEO”
The next morning Gavin got dressed in his best suite. He checked out himself at the mirror and went downstairs to meet his father who was having a cup of coffee. Gavin joined him and asked for a cup of coffee.
“Dad. I’m so excited for today. I can’t believe this. You’re gonna introduce me as the CEO”
“No. The board are going to vote. But I know the vote will be in your favour”
“Really? You putting it that way is making me pretty nervous”
“You shouldn’t be. You don’t have a competitor. It’s just that…they have to vote to either make you the CEO or I continue”
“Really? Fine. Shall we get going?
“Let’s have breakfast first”
“Yes”
Gavin and George had breakfast and left for the company. The board were already present at the conference room. Gavin had his seat. He was pretty nervous. He tried not to show it. George asked him to give a speech on how he’ll move the company forward. Gavin approached the front with the short speech he made. He gave a nice speech and the board began their vote. Their vote was in favour of Gavin but the result can’t be announced without the last shareholdervoting. It was Arianna’s dad. Arianna walked in and greeted everyone. Gavin was shocked to see her. What if she votes against him. His nervousness increased. Arianna had her seat and casted her vote, she voted on behalf of her dad . She voted I favour of Gavin. The result was finally announced. Gavin was declared the CEO of the company. The board congratulated him. Arianna left the conference room. Gavin followed her. He stopped her by grasping her hand.
“What now?
“You voted for me?
“Yes. I voted on behalf of my dad. He asked me to vote for you. I’m not a shareholder in the company. Even if I’m a shareholder, I’ll never vote in your favour”
“I understand. Thank goodness you made the wise decision. Your night would have been a miserable one if you had gone contrary to his decision”
“Stop using threats on me Gavin. We have a contract, why feel so unsecured? I won’t go contrary to your stupid rules as long as you don’t break mine. I have a meeting to catch up with. I’ll be leaving now”.
“Sure go ahead”
“Before I leave…may I fulfill all righteousness?
“Which is?
“Congratulations Gavin on your elevation to the high position of the CEO of this great company. I hope you will pilot it well… even if it’s as 100% the way father in law did maths at least 69%. I’ll leave then”
“Hold on…I will definitely do better than dad. Just watch out and see”
“Your dad made it this far with a good woman beside him. Unfortunately…you have no woman on your side. Am I wrong?
“Woman or not, I can achieve anything”
“What? Arianna sniggered “ you’re so foolish. You’re a bigger fool than I thought. Goodness. Achieving your goal became possible because of me. If you had refused to marry me, you won’t become the CEO. So, I’m the reason you became the CEO”
“Oh really? You’re not the reason but a condition, no…an obstacle I must overcome to become the CEO. Guess what? I overcame and I’m now the CEO. I think you should run along”
“I’ll leave then. Don’t think you won over me”
“I did and I’ll keep winning”