The room was silent with only sound was the soft humming noise of the air conditioner. The curtains were also drawn such that they weren't allowing any light to enter, so the room was also dark.
Suddenly, silence was broken by the sound of a phone ringtone. It wasn't unpleasant, nor was it very loud, but it still stung like it had disturbed the silence inside the room.
Quickly, under the covers of the bed, Arabella got up despite the irritation of the softness that was hugging her body and silenced that incessant ringing of her phone.
Only then did she see the name. It was from Andrea.
This was the second time she had to wake up, as Clara also called her about some car that Andrea preordered.
Anyway, she glanced at the alluring naked figure sleeping under the covers before she got up from the bed and went to the bathroom attached to her room. Once she was inside and closed the door, only then did she pick up her call.
"Yea—"
–Ella, I need your help.
She wasn't able to finish before Andrea's hurried voice resounded from her phone. A frown appeared on her face—it seemed it had become a part of her face now.
–You know that woman I married,...I think she has run away.
There was a pause before Andrea continued.
–With my marriage certificate.
Arabella closed her eyes as she sighed in disappointment. How did Andrea think that she just agreed to marry her because of the money? It was obvious that she was already in need of something.
When Andrea told her that she signed the marriage certificate with her original name, Arabella knew something was off, but now, she fully understood why.
Plus, in terms of capability, Arabella knew no one that was better than Andrea. So, it made her sort of a perfect marriage partner. That was also the reason why she didn't said anything to her marriage with Angelica.
"Calm down, she couldn't do anything about that certificate on her own—you are also needed if she wants to do something."
–No, no, it's not that, but my mom is asking... with all the quests.
Arabella again shook her head. There were many things she wanted to say to her—mostly, why would she ask that woman to marry her in the first place if she was too prideful to lie about not showing her certificate? But who was she kidding with? In a sense, she was much more of a bad person than her best friend was.
–So, can you find out who she is? I will send you her photo from the clip of the wedding video shoot.
Arabella walked around the long bathroom and stood in front of the tall wall mirror that showed her whole figure.
–Alright. I will. Just send me her photo.
What was reflected to her was her naked figure. A tall, fit body with a slim waist. There was also an outline of abs on her stomach from all the exercise she did. Her skin wasn't as fair as Andrea's or Angelica's, but it was smooth. Or should be, because...
As she looked at her body, she found it marked with scratches from fingernails and bite marks. Some were too deep that they even started to bleed.
It seemed she was really sad about her marriage and became a little too wild last night.
Arabella sighed as she thought about what she had been doing with her life, but then she heard the faint sound of her room's main door opening before closing again.
After cancelling the call, and with another heavy sigh, she went to take a shower.
*****
Before the wedding, I already took five days of leave from work for the honeymoon—though I wanted to take more than a week—but instead of going to the seaside of the country like I had already planned, I spent my whole five days searching for my wife.
And the most terrifying thing was not that, really, but after when I asked Ella, she didn't seem to find out who that woman really was.
Ella's family owned one of the biggest entertainment companies of the city that had many celebrities and models as their contractors, but even with her connection and source, I didn't find that woman.
It was as if she had descended on land to marry me and then left. If it wasn't for my missing marriage certificate, I would have thought she was an angel who came to save me from the disaster of a wedding.
On the whole five days, I cursed myself nonstop for not asking her name or any other information.
Of course, that didn't mean I had given up on finding her. No, I at least had one thing that I knew about her, and that was that she worked at J&K Enterprises, just as me.
Yes, it was the biggest company of the city and had God knows how many employees, but it was still a start.
And in the meantime, I had to lie to my mother that Angelica had taken it to show it to her family, since they couldn't attend because it was a small function with only my side of the family.
I looked at my reflection in the mirror, where there was a large darkness looming under my eyes.
Damn, what a sorry sight.
Marriage...
What a terrifying thing.
It turned my life upside down in just a day.
Well, at least I have my job to find some solace in, right?
I took out the concealer and applied it under my eyes before smoothing it with the powder. It didn't hide much, but it also wasn't that bad.
After nodding in satisfaction, I walked out of the bathroom.
Today, I was resuming my work after the holidays. Finding my wife aside, I feel refreshed after a long time.
A new position had opened in the company after the announcement of the new Ceo of the company.
Long story short, it was better than my previous one, as it made me one of the company's leaders. So, naturally, I had done everything I could—even staying late at the company on the day before my wedding.
And obviously I got the position.
It was supposed to be my fresh start with married life and a new job, but I guess now I only need to satisfy myself with the job. Despite there being many things I needed to do, like checking up with Angelica—wait? Did I really need to meet with her? No matter what, I really wanted to know her reason for calling off the marriage.
"Good morning, Miss Andrea, and congratulations on your promotion."
As I headed to the main door, other employees started to greet me and congratulate me on my promotion.
"Thank you, sir. Good morning to you, too."
I forced a smile on my face as I slightly bowed to my senior just now, and then the others chimed in.
"Andrea, you seriously are amazing."
"You are praising me too much, ma'am."
Normally, I would say I was, but I didn't actually care and just laughed as it was some joke.
"Yeah, tell me about it. Did someone become a director below the age of thirty in the whole company?"
"Forget our company—I bet there is no one like Miss Andrea in any company."
"It's just that I am lucky."
Soon, I arrived at the main door of the company. Today was also the day when the new Ceo was arriving, and all the main figures were gathered to welcome them into the company.
Obviously I planned all that—my holidays for the honeymoon to the first day of the Ceo accordingly—as the first impression matters, and so I couldn't afford to lose that opportunity by being absent on their welcoming day.
"The Ceo is here. Everybody focus."
One of the vice presidents shouted like he was the one who was leading the whole event. Still, no one said anything and quickly formed a line where I stood at the very last in the line of many directors.
The door was already opened by the employees, and the new Ceo walked in.
Now, about the Ceo, all I knew was that it was one of the grandchildren of the chairperson, who took the failed business in an overseas country and turned it into a success.
And the chairwoman, impressed by their deed, gave the position of the Ceo of their largest company.
This...
J&K Enterprises—short for Jewels and Kingsley Enterprises.
And the most important part was that I wasn't the only one who knew nothing about the new Ceo—almost no one did. But, then...
I saw "her" as the new Ceo.
Was I that depressed that now I was starting to see her in random people?
"Good morning, President. I am vice president of the sales department, James Hill. I heard so much about you..."
The vice president started to introduce her to every other member. She just smiled and gave a nod to everyone's greetings, and I didn't know when, but soon, she was already looking at me as it was my turn to speak.
As everyone introduced themself, I too moved forward, but instead of introducing myself, my eyes widened as the words couldn't escape from my mouth.
She was wearing a black business suit, unlike the one she wore at my—our—wedding. She had her hair loose, which was dancing along the wind as she walked, unlike how she styled it several days ago, but she was definitely the woman who I married with.
No, I think it would be correct to say the one who married me and ran away with the marriage certificate.