PAPER VOWS Novel Chapter 2

After my quick bath, which I didn’t get to enjoy after that man snuck up on me, I wrap a towel around my body and look around the drawers and cupboards for a toothbrush and some lotion. I cannot believe that is the man who drove me here last night. I guess I was drunker than I thought because I am only getting a clear view of his face today. I am also curious as to what he wants to talk to me about so badly that he would bring a stranger to his house.

I find a new toothbrush, use it and then moisturise my skin with the lotions I find. I have a very strict skincare routine, but this has to do for today. I then walk out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around my body. Anne is still where I left her. I am pretty sure she is also the one who let that man sneak up on me while bathing. My dress is now laid on the bed – it looks pretty. It’s a peach flared dress. I hope it’s my size, along with those heels I see next to it. What is this place anyways and why am I getting all this special treatment?

“Do you need help getting dressed, ma’am?” Anne asks, she has her hands in front of her, and she is facing down like I am someone important.

“I can dress on my own, Anne, thank you.” I walk towards the bed, where the dress is. I am expecting her to walk out of the room, but she is just standing there. “Can I get dressed?”

“Sure, I will be right here. Tell me if you need anything.”

“I mean, get dressed alone. I am not comfortable getting naked around a stranger,” I say, trying by all means not to sound rude. She seems like a lovely lady.

“No problem, I will be outside the door if you need anything. Your dress, undergarments and shoes are all there. Next to it, there is a jewellery box with earrings and a necklace. If you need any help, I will be outside the door.”

What is really going on? Why am I really here? What does this Mr Lyon want to talk about, because all this feels weird. Before Anne walks out, I ask, “What is this place? Why am I really here?”

“I don’t understand your question.”

“It’s fine,” I say to Anne and wait for her to leave the room.

I guess the person who will give me the answers I seek is the person who brought me here. I let the towel loosen from my body, put on the panties and bra on the bed. I chuckle at how it’s the perfect fit. I put on the dress after checking which brand it is. This is a very expensive brand – I have never worn anything like this. The shoes are a perfect fit too. Is this some prank? Did Giselle plan this, and I’m about to appear on national television without my knowledge?

“Oh my God!” I gasp after opening the jewellery box. This is a diamond necklace and earrings. “Anne!”

She hastily opens the door, “Yes, do you need anything ma’am?”

“I said call me Jade. Are you sure I got the correct box? These are diamond earrings.”

“Mr Lyon brought the box here himself, just before he came to see you in the bathroom.”

Holy mother of Christ. “Do I get to keep these?”

“I believe so.”

If I sold this dress, these shoes, necklace and earrings, I wouldn’t have to work for a while. That could be the rest I need while I look for another job. I ask Anne to help me with the earrings. “So, how long have you been working for this Mr Lyon?”

“This is my first day ma’am…I mean Miss Jade.”

“Just Jade. Is this his house? I mean Mr Lyon?” I ask her. She tells me that she is not allowed to speak about Mr Lyon. I guess she values her job – I don’t blame her. Jobs are hard to find these days.

“Do you need a mirror to look at yourself?” Anne asks. She is such a sweetheart.

“I will use the bathroom mirror.”

“Come this way,” she says, already walking towards the dressing table, pressing something next to it. The wall pushes back a little and slides open. “There is a mirror in the walk-in closet.”

“That is so cool. There is no way I would have imagined that opens.”

“After you,” Anne says with a smile.

I walk in and look around. The closet is empty, so I walk to the mirror and look at myself. I look beautiful in the dress I am wearing. One day, when I am rich, this is how I am going to dress and live.

Anne clearing her thought snaps me out of my little bubble. “Mr Lyon is waiting for you.”

“Right, I forgot about him. Please lead the way.”

Anne leads us out. I gasp out loud after I walk out of the room. Anne even asks if I am okay. I am okay, just shocked as we walk down the corridor to wherever she is leading us. This house is huge and beautiful. How rich is this Mr Lyon if this is his house? Anne and I make our way down the stairs.

“What is this place?” I whisper to Anne even though I don’t know why I am whispering.

“This is Mr Lyon’s house.”

What does this man do for a living to have such a huge house? Everything here screams money. The portraits on the walls, the walls even look fancy. The expensive vases, decorations and furniture. Everything in here is fancy. Whoever is in charge of the carpets needs a handshake. They look so clean and match the walls and curtains.

“Miss Jade!” Anne calls me. I didn’t realise I had fallen behind. I quickly catch up to Anne. She stops walking when we reach a room. “Mr Lyon is on the other side. You may go in.”

“Thanks, Anne,” I take a deep breath, ready to push the doors open, but Anne gets the door for me and waits for me to go in before closing.

My eyes scan around the room. I am in what looks like a dining room. From where I am, I see Mr Lyon sitting by the table, on his phone, with what looks like a food buffet in front of him. Are we having lunch with an army? That is a lot of food.

As if he senses my presence in the room, he pushes his chair back and stands. “You sure took your time.”

“Apologies.” I don’t even know what I am apologising for, but it felt right.

“Come sit,” he says, waits for me to walk closer and pulls a chair for me. “How did you sleep?”

“Good, I had a little headache, but I no longer feel it.”

“Eat something,” he says, going back to his chair. At least this time, he doesn’t pick up his phone again.

“Why am I here? What do you want to talk to me about?” I ask, dishing for myself. I am going to start with a salad – some lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes and carrots. I wouldn’t want to upset my stomach. I really had a lot to drink last night.

Mr Lyon sits upright and says to me. “Let me start by introducing myself. My name is Dante Lyon. I am forty-two years old. This is my house. I am also the owner of that club you wanted to kill yourself in…”

I cut him off, “I wasn’t trying to kill myself.”

He also doesn’t look a day over thirty. He looks good for a forty-two-year-old man. I ask. “What am I doing here, Dante? What is it that you want to talk about?”

“I am looking for a woman to marry and you look like the perfect fit.”

I laugh – louder than I intended. Looking for a wife to marry? That is very hilarious. “Hold up, you are not joking?”

“I am very serious.”

“Why me?” I ask, now serious. This man barely even knows me to want to marry me.

“Because….”

“Because what?”

Keeping a straight face, he answers, “Because I want to.”

“That’s not reason enough. You barely even know me to want to marry me.”

He answers, “I can get to know you.”

“Do you even love me?”

Without hesitating, he answers. “I don’t, I only saw you last night and decided that I am ready to marry.”

“That is ridiculous. It doesn’t work like that. You don’t just look at someone and want to marry them.”

“You can. I looked at you and told myself that I wanted a wife and decided that I wanted to marry you,” he picks up the cup in front of him and sips from it. I don’t think I am hungry anymore.

“What if I don’t want you to marry me?”

“At least hear my proposal first,” he says. I tell him to carry on. “I want to get married, have a wife. I don’t care about anything else, but I want the title. I will give you anything you desire if you give me that,”

“In other words, you just want to be a married man.”

He nods, “Correct.”

“But I don’t like you like that, I barely even know you. I want to marry a man I love and who loves me back.”

“I can love you if that’s what you want. I can court you and make me love you – if that’s what you want,” he says. This man is not even joking.

“Is this a prank?”

He shakes his head, “I don’t do pranks – pranks are for children. What do you say? Do you want to think about it?”

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