Chapter 9 Love At First Sight

• When Victoria woke up, it was 2 pm, she took a shower, she applied light make-up. She went to her closet and picked up a knee-high yellow dress that showed off her long legs. She brushed her long black hair, she looked like a fairy, she was stunning. She decided not to eat at home. She went to her favourite restaurant, His Wings. She parked her car, she was absent-minded, she bumped into someone. “So..rry” she stammered; she was about to fall but someone’s arms held her. She looked up; she was stunned, she was in a daze. Wow so handsome, her heart started to beat so fast. The man who was holding her was so handsome. It was love at first sight. The handsome man smiled at her, something happened in her heart, there were butterflies in her stomach. She just rested in his arms. The man coughed, then she came back to her senses and said, “sorry it was not my intention.” The handsome man smiled at her, but he didn’t release her. “Did we meet before?” asked him. “I don’t think so, please release me, I’m no longer in danger,” said Victoria with a shy smile. The handsome man released her, he felt that he had lost something important, he felt empty. “Thank you,” said Victoria and left quickly. She was scared that she would confess her love to a stranger. James was handsome but that stranger was outstanding. In his arms she was at home.
• The handsome man was Mark Anthony. He was twenty-four years old, and he was the son of a business mogul, Timothy Anthony. His family owned restaurants, hotels, imports and exports, real estate all over the country and overseas. His family was wealthy and powerful. Mark Anthony was the Deputy CEO of the Johnson Group; he lost his mother when she gave birth to him. His father blamed him for losing his wife and he just ignored him. He sent him to private boarding schools; he never visited him. During the school holidays, his father was busy with his empire. After one year, his wife died. He remarried; his wife gave him a son. He loved his second son very much. In his heart, he had one son.
• After graduation, Mark Anthony applied for a job at Johnson Group, in the Designing department, as a fashion designer. He was very smart and a quick thinker. He was responsible for designing clothes for Johnson Shopping Mall. After graduation, his father tried to reconcile with him, but Mark ignored him. He offered him the CEO position at the Anthony Group. Mark declined and told him that he didn’t have a father, he was an orphan. Timothy Anthony knew that he hadn't been treating his son well. He tried several times to correct his mistakes to no avail. Mark told himself that he would never rely on his father.
• That day, he received a call from his father that he wanted to see him. Their meeting took place in one of his father's restaurants, His Wings. His father asked him to come back home to be a CEO in the family business, but he refused. His father had never acknowledged him as his son, there was no relationship between them. He was a stranger to him; he knew that the reason he asked him to come back home was because his precious son was not interested in business. He was a playboy; he lived a nice life. He spent his time with women and parties, he was spoiled. He was always in scandals and his mother always bailed him out.
• The best thing that came out of meeting his father was that he met his future wife. When the beautiful lady was in his arms, he felt that he had held her before, it seemed as if he had found something he was looking for, for a long time. His heart was beating so fast, it was love at first sight. Her beauty was indescribable. He asked his Assistant, Ralph to investigate her. Ralph was capable within a few minutes; the report was on his desk. He was shocked to find that his friend James was married to Victoria Lewis. He knew that James loved Serene Logan so much, but why did he marry Victoria Lewis? Was it because of the cooperation? How could he fall in love with a married woman? He was so sad; this piece of news really crushed his heart. He couldn’t breathe, he decided to go out to get fresh air. He saw James and Serene Logan kissing in the underground parking lot. He was confused. He went to his car and drove away.
• Serene Logan went to the Johnson Group to look for James. He was so happy seeing her, but he didn’t have courage to tell her that he was married. He told her he was taking her out for lunch, Serene pounced on him and kissed him, and James couldn’t resist her. At that moment, Mark saw them. James wanted to explain to her clearly what happened when she refused to take his calls. They got in his car and left; he took her to the seafood restaurant. After that, he took her to the hotel. He needed a quiet place to talk to her nicely.
• “Why are you taking me to the hotel, why don’t we go to your apartment? asked Serene, pouting her mouth. “I need to talk to you,” said James patiently. “James, I’m tired of waiting for you, most of my friends are either married or engaged but I don’t see a ring on my finger, if you don’t make clear to me, I’m going to leave you,” said Serene with sad face. James was so angry and said, “Serene, I’m so tired of your tantrums, I think my parents are speaking the truth when they say you don’t love me. If you want to dump me, please go ahead, I think we are in a one-sided relationship.” When Serene saw that James was angry, she became scared and said, “I’m sorry James, I didn’t mean what I said, it’s just that I’m sad, my family put a lot of pressure on me, please forgive me love.” She hugged him and kissed him.
• James looked annoyed. “Your tantrums caused me to make an impulsive decision. My father got into cooperation with the Lewis Group. One of his conditions was for me to marry Lewis' daughter for two years, then he would allow me to marry you. I got married yesterday. It is a contract marriage. I’m not going to touch her, we will divorce after two years. She sleeps in the guest room. I agreed to my father’s proposal because I was angry with you. You knew that I was coming back from a business trip after half a month, but you refused to see and talk to me. I feel that you take our love for granted. I was teaching you a lesson.”
• When Serene heard James’s words, she was shocked, she couldn’t believe her ears. She cried and asked, “what did you say, James, are you married? How can you do this to me? I hate you, you are teaching me a lesson. Have you ever loved me, James?” James couldn’t bear to see her crying; he took her in his arms and kissed her. Serene tried to struggle but he didn’t let her out of his arms. He coaxed her and said, “I love you so much, but you know that my parents do not approve of you. My dad promised me that after the divorce he would personally send the engagement invitations.” Serene looked at James speechless.
• “I will not be seen in public with Victoria, I will attend all the important events with you. I married her in name only. You are the queen of my heart. I did it for you baby. Please don’t tell anyone that I’m married. Please don’t provoke Victoria when you see her. My dad will be upset, and he will not allow us to get married. I’ve warned Victoria not to play tricks on me, and she must not provoke you.”
• Serene was happy when she heard that it is a fake marriage, but she would never let Victoria off for stealing her future husband and for delaying her. She hated her; she would do everything in her power to restrict James from going to his apartment. To avoid them developing any feelings for each other, she will get pregnant as soon as possible and force James to take responsibility. She heard James said to her, “ Dad, said if you get pregnant during this period, he will not allow us to get married. Please, I don’t want my son to be born out of wedlock. Should that happened the Johnson family would take the child away from you.” It seems that James read her mind, she was like a deflated balloon. To appease her, James bought her a fully furnished apartment. They moved in together.