Episode Two: “Stranger beside me”

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Rachel stood outside impassively with Vicky next to her. The wedding ceremony had ended with the church service and there was no reception planned. The man pushing Vicky’s wheelchair occasionally glanced at Rachel curiously but said nothing.

A car drove by and stopped in front of them. Rachel watched as the man opened the door and for the first time ever, Rachel got to hear her groom’s voice.

“Another car will take you to your house to get your things then to my house” he said indifferently, “let’s go Patrick.”

Rachel watched painfully as Patrick, the man pushing the wheelchair, helped Vicky into the car and took the wheelchair to the car boot.

Patrick shot Rachel a brief sympathetic glance before quickly rushing to his boss’ side in the car. The car drove off and left Rachel standing there waiting.

Rachel’s shoulder slumped. “Is this really going to be my life now?” she asked in despair. She began to think of her life now, she was now somebody’s wife. She was someone’s in law.

“What was I thinking?” she asked herself panicked as she thought about the wedding. She looked at the perfectly fit ring in her fingers and remembered when she took the vow.

Rachel stumbled, feeling the weight of her actions. A car came soon after and a man greeted her. “Hello, I’m Ope. Mr. Vicky said I should accompany you” the driver said.

This only made Rachel feel more miserable. “Okay, thank you” She said quietly. She entered the car and Ope drove off.

Rachel was taken to the Senator’s place and she dreadfully stared at the building. She walked in and entered the house.

“D-Dad?” She said.

“You did well Rachel. You have saved your family and also your mother” Senator Uche said proudly and Rachel silently dried her tears.

“What will happen to my mother and Testimony?” Rachel asked worried. “I don’t think I can’t take Testimony with me to Mr. Vicky’s house.”

“No, that will cause suspicions. Just bring him here” Mrs. Bisola said and Rachel shivered.

“H-Here?” Rachel stuttered and she suddenly fell into a memory of her staying with her father; how Mrs. Bisola and Bethany had maltreated her and her father did nothing.

“No!” she exclaimed loudly then lowered her voice. “I have another place I can take Testimony so don’t bother.”

“Okay” Bethany shrugged apathetically. She eyed the wedding dress and smirked. “Such a pretty gown wasted on a ugly face. Well better you than me in that dress.”

“Your mother will be taken care of soon so you can relax. Just go and take care of things with Mr. Vicky” Senator Uche said blissfully.

Rachel stared at her father full of hatred. Her fists clenched and unclenched at her sides and she walked away. She came back to the car and Ope asked, “do you have all your things madam?”

“No, please take me somewhere else” Rachel said and told him the address. Ope drove away and stopped at a more modest building. It wasn’t particularly beautiful.

Rachel stepped out in her wedding dress and the people in the surrounding shops stared at her openly and surprised. Rachel entered the house and came back minutes later, dressed in a more comfortable pair of blue jeans and red checkered shirt.

She dragged three suitcases with her and Ope rushed to help her. He put them in the trunk and Rachel ran back inside to come back with a nylon bag and the wedding gown inside.

“We can go now” Rachel said and Ope drove away. Rachel sighed as she watched her old neighborhood disappear. She was leaving her old life behind but not the way she wanted.

Rachel was driven into an estate and she stared in wonder at the beautiful houses. Ope finally drove into a more private house. It was a beautiful duplex with an impressive garden in front complete with a fountain. Rachel was amazed at the splendor of the house.

Rachel stepped out the car once Ope had parked the car and stared at the house. “Welcome to Mr. Vicky’s house” Patrick said, coming out of the house.

“Thank you” Rachel said, still in awe of the impressive architecture. Ope came to her side, carrying the two suitcases she brought with her and Patrick made a mental note on how small the suitcases were.

“Are those all your things?” Patrick asked.

“Yes” Rachel answered and Patrick nodded. “Who are you exactly?” she asked curiously.

“I am Patrick Okpocha, I am Mr. Vicky’s personal secretary” Patrick formally introduced himself and Rachel nodded. “You can ask me any questions if you have any, whenever and wherever.”

Rachel nodded gratefully. “Follow me” Patrick said, “and Ope, take those suitcases to the boss’ room.”

Ope went inside to do as Patrick ordered and Rachel thought about how she would be staying in Vicky’s room. Rachel followed Patrick inside and was more impressed with the interior decoration.

“The house is beautiful” Rachel couldn’t help but compliment.

“Thank you, Mr. Vicky had it specially built five years ago. He takes great pride in his home.” Patrick smiled. “He will be pleased to know you like it.” Rachel smiled relaxed in return.

“This is the kitchen, Mr. Vicky doesn’t really use it much since he has no one to cook for him so he eats out.” Patrick said, showing her around. “There is a swimming pool at the back and a study here where Mr. Vicky does his work from home and a gym room, which he doesn’t use anymore…”

Rachel didn’t bother asking why because it was obvious. “There are three rooms, two are master bedrooms and there are two guests bathrooms.” Patrick said, ending the tour.

“Wow, it’s an impressive house” Rachel said honestly. “It is really beautiful.”

Patrick smiled and led her to a room. “This is your new room. Your suitcases are here and you can keep your things anyhow you wish.”

Rachel looked at her things and nodded. She looked at Patrick, “thank you. And is Mr. Vicky home?”

“No, sorry. He is out for work.” Patrick apologetically said. Rachel nodded and he left.

Rachel looked around at the new big room and slumped on the bed. “At least look on the bright side…” she said but she had nothing to say of as the bright side.

“Ah, there is no bright side for me” She sympathetically said. “It’s okay. Dad will start paying for mom’s hospital bills and Testimony will continue his treatment. I…will keep on studying. I will become a doctor.”

Rachel sat up looking determined. “I’m done crying. What is done is done” She said, wiping some escaped tears. “I am going to keep on living. I will become a doctor and help my family. I will finally escape this life I am trapped in.”

At Gold industries main building, Vicky rolled his chair on the grass, staring blankly and uninterested in the things in front of him. Patrick joined him shortly.

“Has she settled in?” Vicky asked.

“Yes sir.”

“What is she like?” Vicky asked.

“Quiet and reserved.” Patrick answered. “She didn’t seem too unhappy about the marriage.”

“I seem a little crazy don’t I Patrick? I agreed to marry a woman and didn’t bother to meet her until the wedding day” Vicky said dryly.

“Yes sir, very” Patrick added jokingly and Vicky laughed a bit.

“You know exactly what this marriage means to me Patrick. I don’t care what my ‘Wife’ thinks and I am not interested in it” Vicky said calmly. “It’s all business after all.”

Patrick agreed with him but looked a bit apprehensive about the future and what was to come.

Night fell quickly and Rachel fell asleep waiting for Vicky to return. She needed to talk to him urgently but he took so long to return that she had fallen asleep. The stress of the day had gotten to her.

Patrick and Vicky arrived home and found Rachel asleep on the arm of the couch. Vicky stared at her blankly with curious eyes while Patrick had a small smile on. “Leave us Patrick, and don’t wake her up” Vicky said, “I will do it myself.” Patrick nodded and left.

“Wake up” Vicky said. “Wake up girl.”

Rachel stirred in her sleep and finally woke up to see Vicky staring at her with the most unpleasant expression. She reared back in surprise, knocking something from a glass table.

“O-oh um, sorry” She quickly apologized and picked it up. Vicky just stared at her as if studying her. Rachel continued talking nervously, “I was waiting for you because I needed to talk to you but I fell asleep. I–”

“Before you say anything Miss Rachel, I want to let you know” Vicky said indifferently. “This marriage is just a business contract, I hope you know that. We only got married because of what our businesses stand to gain.”

“I have no interest in acting Ike a husband to you or fulfilling any marital responsibilities so don’t harbor any hopes.” He said, “we will live our separate lives like we lived before we were married. Just stay away from my affairs. All we need to be is two strangers staying together.”

Vicky turned around about to leave but Rachel’s voice stopped him. “I know you are not interested in me and that this marriage is just a business contract but I can’t pretend that we aren’t married.” Rachel said bravely.

“You may not want to act like a husband or you may not want to see me but one thing is certain, we are married” Rachel confidently said. “You want me to stay away but I will fulfill my duties as your wife. Neither of us may like it but I will do it, so I can live happily without feeling I was wronged or that I wronged you.”

Vicky said nothing and Patrick, who was listening in the corner, smiled impressed. Vicky rolled away to the door side and Rachel slumped on the couch, not quite believing what she told him.

Vicky went over to Patrick and Patrick looked at him with a proud smile. “I have warned you to stop eavesdropping on my conversations Patrick” Vicky scolded upset.

“Sorry boss.” Patrick said, with the proud smile still on his face.

“You keep apologizing and doing it again” Vicky grumbled. It seemed like Patrick had done this several times and instead of it being serious, it turned out to be like this between them. “Stop smiling.”

“Yes sir” Patrick said, his smile turning into a full blown grin as he pushed Vicky to his room.

Rachel stood in her room, staring at everything and the beautiful balcony at the right side of the room. “No surprise we are sleeping in separate rooms” she said, “it’s a relief.”

Rachel wore her night gown and dropped on the bed. She laid on her side and began thinking about her mom and brother. “I hope you are sleeping well, mom, Testimony. I am not going to cry anymore, I will live, live the best I can from now on.”

The next day, Rachel woke up early and got dressed. She looked up in surprise when she saw lights shine outside. Rachel came downstairs to see what it was and found Vicky and Patrick downstairs.

“Good morning madam” Patrick greeted brightly.

“Good morning Mr. Patrick,” she looked at Vicky hesitantly. “Good morning Mr. Vicky.”

“Good morning” Vicky answered, not sparing her a glance.

“Where are you going?” Rachel asked curiously.

“If you didn’t think about it, I actually work” Vicky said matter of factly. “listen, we are having a family dinner with our parents tomorrow so be prepared. I will let you know more later.”

“Okay.”

“And take this” Vicky said and gestured to Patrick. Patrick walked to Rachel and gave her a credit card. “Since you are my…wife” Vicky’s face went bitter when said ‘Wife.’ “That is a credit card. You can spend as you want.”

Rachel looked at the credit card surprised. “I…I don’t need it” she managed to say, handing it back to Patrick.

“You do. Get a new nice dress to wear to the dinner” Vicky said indifferently. “we also have to go to the court today to sign our marriage certificates. I will pick you up at four.”

“Okay” Rachel said and Vicky left the house. Patrick followed and Rachel stared at the credit card in her hand. “I wonder what he thinks of me” she mumbled curiously.

Rachel went to the kitchen and saw all the cabinets empty. She looked at it in surprise and checked the fridge, there was only some bottles of water and juice boxes. “Everything is empty” she said in surprise.

“How can he live like this?” Rachel wondered as she checked the cupboards and gas cylinder. There was even no gas. “This isn’t healthy at all. How long has been living like this? It must have been terrible.”

Rachel’s stomach grumbled and she held it. “I’m hungry, I guess I will have to eat out” She said and left.

Rachel went out the door and saw Ope washing the car. “Madam? Are you going out?” he asked. “let me take you.”

“No don’t worry, I’m okay” Rachel politely refused.

“Are you sure?” He asked, “this is your first time leaving the house. You might get lost, let me drive you.” Rachel pondered on the thought and reluctantly nodded. She got into the car and Ope drove her. She made him stop at a particular junction where no one she knew would see her.

Rachel went to the restaurant where she worked part time. “Good morning Rachel” a man greeted brightly.

Rachel smiled, “Good morning Ugo, I hope I am not too late.”

“You are always on time, do you even have to ask?” the man Ugo joked and went to the kitchen. Rachel walked inside and went to change in the women’s room. She came out dressed in a white shirt and black pencil skirt.

She started her waitressing work and chatted a bit with her coworkers happily. It was times like this that she felt free even though she was working to support herself.

At the Gold industries main building, Vicky was seated across his father and the man who answered the priest the previous day. “I’ve gotten married, are you happy now?” Vicky said sourly.

“Stop being angry, it is for your own good.” His father, Manuel said.

“How could I not be angry? You threatened me that if I didn’t get married to Senator Uche’s daughter, you would remove me from my position and disinherit me” Vicky angrily said, “to give that faker over there.” He gestured to the man seated opposite.

“That’s a bit too much Vicky, watch your mouth. I’m still older than you” said ‘Faker’ snarled annoyed.

“Cause age guarantees sense.” Vicky retorted. The ‘Faker’ glared infuriated.

“Will you two stop arguing like children?” Manuel chided.

“How can we when you pit us against each other?” Vicky retorted again. Manuel shot him a warning glare and he looked away huffing.

“The main issue is that the wedding went well. I actually did you a favor by that. You wouldn’t have gotten married without any encouragement” Manuel said.

“Ridiculous” Vicky scoffed.

Manuel ignored him, “Austin, sorry I used you as a motivation to get Vicky to do what I asked.”

“it’s okay, dad” Austin, the ‘Faker’ said and got up. “If this issue is resolved, I have other business to attend to.”

“Yes, you can go” Manuel said and Vicky glared at Austin till he left and Austin reciprocated the action.

“I have no idea what you were thinking when you did this to me” Vicky said bitterly but Manuel ignored him promptly.

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Now we know why Vicky had to marry Rachel…or at least Senator Uche’s daughter. Who is Austin to Vicky? How will this two strangers make the most out of their marriage?

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