In Love With My Bully

Junior didn't recognize me. He didn't seem to be pretending. Or was he just so good at acting? After making my life a nightmare for my first two years in board school and that night… He stood there looking at me like a stranger who had magically grown two heads. Oh, fate was a prankster. I remembered. I couldn't manage to keep a boyfriend because I was scared of any man touching me. And here he was just living life. His mother was right, he got away with everything.

"So, how do you like my cologne now? I changed into dad's clothes," he asked with a smirk, leaning against the doorframe, one hand in a pocket and the other cradling a glass of wine. 

I couldn't stand him but one thing he probably hadn't realized was I wasn't that scared little girl from board school anymore. I wasn't going to let him intimidate me. "Still too strong. But I suppose it matches your personality—overpowering."

"Ouch," he said, clutching his chest. "She has claws. I like that." He looked at his mother, throwing her a nod like some code conversation.

"You won't like it for long," I muttered under my breath.

"I didn't catch that.." He tilted his head.

"Nothing." I plastered on a fake smile. "I need some air, excuse me!" I announced to everyone in the room and headed outside towards the garden where I wouldn't feel so suffocated. Why didn't I find out who my parents were pairing me with before I agreed to it? I just couldn't stand my dad's failure. He put his blood and sweat into Wita. What am I going to do?

I found a soft spot on the garden floor, not minding my dress which my mother spent days picking out, I sprawled on it. I must have been sitting there for a while with my eyes closed, sorting through my brain for a way out because when I opened it, I saw Junior standing over me, looking like a smug stupid billionaire heir.

"So, what's on your mind? Let me guess— me?"

I sat up quickly shifting my self away from him. "I can't marry you."

His smirk faltered for the first time. "What?"

"You heard me," I said, looking down at my feet. "This— is a terrible idea. I don't like you, and you don't take anything seriously."

He stepped closer, and I shifted further away from him, my position on the ground not giving me adequate advantage to get even further away. "I must say, this reaction is unusual. Most women would do anything to be in your shoes."

"I am not most women," I shot back.

"I can see that," he probably had noticed how quickly I kept moving away from him because he took a seat on the ground but made sure there was at least a foot distance between us. "Benita, I'm not exactly thrilled about this arrangement either. I am a businessman about to enter a world where I only matter because my father ruled it. Marriage is the last thing on my mind but if I plan on making my name, I gotta do what I gotta do,"

"As always, everything is about you and what you want" I retorted, my voice rising. "Well, it's not my problem. It's yours and I don't give a rat's ass about your problem."

"You speak like you know me… Let me refresh your memory, your family is about to lose everything. The only thing that can save your family is the Numero name, not even a loan will help your dad. People trust the Numero brand. So let me put it to you this way," He raised an eyebrow. "Bankruptcy or marrying a stranger who smells great?"

I looked at him for a moment knowing he was right. I was trapped. "You don't even recognize me, do you?"

He blinked, confused. "Should I?"

I fought back the tears stinging my eyes. I wasn't going to give him the satisfaction. "Why me, though? You're rich, handsome, I'm sure you have hundreds of women to choose from."

"I'm going to forget you didn't sneak a compliment in there and just answer your question. My mum doesn't trust me. She thinks I am going to bring home a lady I met an hour ago at the club. She is probably right though." His tone was light.

"So, you are a mommy's boy. The I will do whatever my mommy says type,"

"girl, you're giving me whiplash. First, you say I look good enough to eat and in the next breath, you throw mockery in the mix. I just don't have the motivation to argue with her on this. We… have a … uhm… complicated relationship," It seemed like he was uncomfortable talking about his mother. Every word is a struggle to get out. He shook his head quickly and continued "Look, let's cut to the chase. How about we make this some business contract,"

"What do you mean?" I asked, curious.

He sighed deeply. "we get married for one year."

"The business school you attended should give you your money back if you don't know the basic concept of business." I rolled my eyes and then looked at him incredulously.

"Girl! Hold on for one frigging second, I am not done." He sounded exhausted. Good! Anything to give him grief. One year. You play the perfect wife, and I play the perfect husband. At the end of it, we part ways—amicably. By then, I am already chairman of the board and your family should be doing well. No strings, no drama."

I stared at him. He looked dead serious. "define perfect wife,"

"You make me look good to the world, that's all. When we are home by ourselves, we can live our separate lives,"

He took my silence as a sign of victory. "See? It's not so bad. Strictly professional. Besides, I think we will get along just fine. You just have to stay out of my way." He got up and walked towards me extending his hand, "So, do we have a deal?"

I stared at his outstretched hand, my mind racing. Every fiber of my being screamed at me to walk away, but the thought of my dad losing everything was enough to make me hesitate. There was also something in it for me. I could make his life a living hell for all the torment he put me through in school. An eye for an eye.

"Fine," I said, getting up and taking his hand.

"Shall we seal it with a kiss, then Princess," he said with a wink.

"Fuck you!"