Forced Marriage: Escaping Her Monster

"Don't kid me, Joel... Did it really happen?" still burying her chin to her chest, she pulled his collar. 

"Have I really lied to you before?" he grabbed the back of her head and she felt a tingling feeling where he touched her. 

He made her look at his face that was bright with a teasing smile.

She pouted looked at him pitifully. "I did not, did I?"

"You did," Jeremy shrugged with a smile. "You were very cute yesterday. Playing in the park, asking for ice cream, calling me daddy..."

"Stop!" she tried to turn but he held her.

"Shh, don't move. I'll stop."

Jerlina in his embrace closed her eyes. "I don't know why, but lately I'm missing my dad a lot... my mom too..." her eyes welled with tears.

Jeremy hugged her close. It probably is because of the wedding. She probably wanted her dad to walk her down the aisle like most women. And you don't need a reason to miss our mom. 

"I miss my mother too," he said with all honesty. 

He really wished his mother was here to see him getting married to Jerlina. She'd have been so happy and cried.

"Do you want us to visit your dad?" he asked. "And we can visit your mother too." 

"Hmm?" Jerlina looked at him. He seemed to be serious and she thought it won't be unsafe for her to visit her mother.

"I visit dad often. But I haven't visited my mom for more than a year... Maybe I should visit her during the holidays," Jerlina said without noticing that he said 'we visit' not 'you visit'.

Jeremy took in a deep breath.

She seemed to want to go alone but Jeremy wanted to meet her parents. His mother's grave is in the same graveyard as her mother's grave. He thought they can visit her as a couple and he could tell her about the friendship between their moms too. But if Jerlina doesn't want to, he can arrange for her to go alone.

"You don't want me to tag along?" Jeremy asked. He thought it would be better to clarify rather than jumping to conclusions. She didn't say 'Don't come!', right?

"You want to go with me?" Jerlina was surprised.

"Yes, I do," Jeremy spoke his mind. He watched her contemplating seriously and he rubbed her back. 

He wanted to add that she can go alone if she prefers that way, but before that, she answered him.

"Then I'll book a flight after checking your itinerary," She didn't refuse him. She missed the thousand-watts smile that could have blinded her projected by Jeremy. 

She always visits her parents' grave alone, but she didn't mind Jeremy tagging along. She understood that he might want to visit them considering he married her and she cannot deny his wish. 

"Do you want to fly private?" he asked, embracing her. 

He was happy she didn't refuse him. And she seemed to be pretty cool with him tagging along.

"Private?" Jerlina raised her brows. "I've never flown in a charter plane before... "

Did she want to? Yes! Who wouldn't want to? Who would willingly put themselves through the plight of traveling commercial to be packed like cattle and suffer, unless they have no choice? 

"We can if you want," he kissed her forehead. 

He could see that she liked to travel in a private jet. 

"Then I'll book a charter plane," Jerlina said with a smile. 

She decided to book one soon before he changes his mind. Also he probably wants to travel comfortably.

"No need, I am planning on buying one," he said and sat up.

As expected, her face went blank.

What a cute woman!

"Oh?" Jerlina got up with a smile. "Wow! Guess I am married to someone who could say 'I am buying a private jet' as easily as I say 'I'm ordering pizza for tonight- for myself'," Her brain really stopped working.

She never ordered pizza for others with the same enthusiasm as he proclaimed he is buying a private jet.

Being with him, sometimes she forgets that he is filthy rich.

"So cute," he kissed her cheek making her snap out of her reverie.

"You're not... You're not buying a jet for me, are you?" She held his arm and he chuckled.

"Well, what do you want me to say?" Jeremy leaned closer to her face. 

She looked petrified by the thought that he might buy her a jet.

Sigh! Why can't she accept that she is worth it?

"If you want me to say that I am buying it for you, then it is the truth. But if you don't want me to... you know some international business trips are coming up for me next year. Rather than flying commercial each time, it would save me a lot of hassle if I own a jet. So...take it as you please," he got down from the bed.

It's a shame that those "international business trips" happens to be popular honeymoon destinations. And it is more of a shame that as my secretary, she'll have to come with me.

Hehehe... Shame... Shame... so much shame... hahaha!

"Yeah..." Jerlina didn't know what to say. He needs a jet.

"Wait... where are we?" Jerlina only then realized they are somewhere else and looked around. It felt like a hotel.

"You realized it only now?"

"Yeah, I was just looking at you and didn't-"

She stopped as her eyes met with his. Her heart pounded. 

Yeah, she was looking at him and forgot her surroundings even. Since when did I start trusting him this much? And when was the last time I was this careless?

"We're in one of the bedrooms of Mikhail's suite," he saw her covering her face with her hands.

"You said I was acting uncouth and brought me here?" she was a little mad.

"When did I... I said you acted cutely! I didn't want you to end up in a viral video and that's why I brought you here..."

"Ugh! He's my client... My reputation..." Jerlina's eyes started to water. "how can you do this to me..?"

"Don't be so dramatic... He's my friend and he didn't even see you. He was in his room. Go... wash up. I'll buy you new set of clothes..." he guided her to the washroom.

Jerlina with a pout went inside the bathroom. She almost screamed looking at her face in the mirror.

"How did he call this face cute? I really look like Mrs. Potato Head! He truly is hopeless!"

After cleaning up, she saw a new set of clothes on the bed. She tried to check the price, but she couldn't since the tag was missing. Wearing it, she could say it was an expensive dress. And her face... she couldn't change it.

Well, whatever!

"There is something important we need-" Jeremy entered knocking on the door. But he paused looking at her. "You're so pretty, Jerlina," he said with a smile and she couldn't help but blush.

"Only you'd say this, Joel... You're..." 

Hopelessly in love!