From Transactions to Forever

Waking up on that faithful day was something that Ella wished would not come to pass.

She dreaded the new reality of what that day would bring.

She lay in her bed, staring blankly at the ceiling, remembering and wondering how on earth she ended up here, in the house of her billionaire soon to be husband, and just like that, she went into what seemed like a trance as she recalled the events that brought her to where she was.

***

While still in the process of recovering from her breakup with Micheal, the ex that nearly beat her to a coma, Ella decided that she wouldn’t go out to celebrate her birthday, because it wasn’t worth celebrating.

Her hyperactive bestie however, came in, and swooped Ella off her feet forcefully, made her get dressed, and all glammed up.

Apparently Ella shared the same birthday as Will Sanders, the CEO of Photogram, and for some unknown reason, this wealthy billionaire decided to give free slots to ten ladies who were not in the same class as him.

“We’re going, bestie! Whether you like it or not! I know that you have no plans except to sit here and cry about how pathetic your life is but no!” Diane, Ella’s bestie told her.

“But…”

“But nothing, Ella! Get up, let’s go do some shopping!”

Diane was resilient, and whenever she made up her mind to do something, she always made sure that she did it.

After shopping, Ella prayed fervently in her heart that the free slots would be exhausted before they got to the venue, but it turned out that Diane prayed harder.

They got into the venue, and Diane took photos of both of them, posted it on Photogram, wished Ella a happy birthday in the caption, and tagged the CEO of Photogram himself on the post!

Tagging Will Sanders to the post made Ella cringe, because she knew that there was no freaking way that The Will Sanders would get to see Diane’s post, ever, but apparently, she was wrong.

The birthday dinner started, and to Ella and Diane’s surprise, Will mentioned them in his welcome speech. He said that he saw their post on Photogram, and that he would love to celebrate together with Ella since they shared the same birthday.

From that moment, Ella’s life swerved in a direction that she never imagined.

It felt like a dream.

She? Celebrate with Will? She? An ordinary young lady with a fucked up life? Miracles really happened, but she was wrong. It wasn’t just a coincidence, Will Sanders also had something up his sleeve.

The entire purpose for giving out ten slots to middle class ladies was for Will to pick a lady that would agree to go into a contract marriage with him.

He chose someone from the middle class because he believed that people, women especially, from the middle class, would fall at his feet when he offered them a contract that paid just $20,000 weekly.

He was on the verge of being forced to marry Tracy, his mother’s choice for him, a spoiled bratty woman who was obviously interested in him because he would be able to afford, and keep her in the standard that she already attained in the social ladder.

He made a deal with his mother that he would get a bride on his birthday, and if he doesn’t, she could go ahead and fix a wedding date for him and Tracy.

Diane made his job easier with her post on Photogram. Ella was beautiful so she fit perfectly for the role that he intended her to play in his life at that moment.

After his birthday dinner, he began to track Ella to her waitress job, and also her home. He stalked her for about a week before Ella finally asked him what he wanted from her.

He didn’t pretend or lie. He simply told her the truth, and she plainly rejected his offer. Her response shocked Will because it did not tally with the narrative he had of middle class women at all. Ella showed him that there was a difference between women, and that made him interested in getting her the more.

Ella admired his resilience, he reminded her of her best friend, Diane, so she related the issue to her, and Diane talked her into accepting the offer. Besides, it was just for a year, and she could save up so much money to start her own restaurant, just like she had always dreamed of.

Ella made the decision to accept Will’s offer after weighing the pros and cons of the deal. What did she have to lose?

Before signing the contract, she gave Will her own rules as well.

He was not allowed to touch her sexually for the one year that their contract would stand, and when it was time to make babies, they would adopt.

She could not afford to be tied to a wealthy family that pushed their son so hard to the extent that he had to deceive them into thinking that he had a wife, and in less than three weeks, it was happening. She was getting married to him.

***

The loud banging on her room door startled her back to reality. She shuddered, hoping that it wasn’t Mrs. Maria, or Tracy, they both made her life terrible the past few days she had been in Will’s mansion.

“Open up, lowlife! I have something to say to you!”

Shoot, it was Tracy. She had not made Ella’s stay pleasurable at all, so Ella despised her presence.

She dragged her feet to the door to open up and hear what Tracy had to say about her this time.

Ignoring her was even worse because she would end up telling Mrs. Maria that Ella was being mean towards her because she felt insecure, and Ella did not want anyone to have such impression because she didn’t feel Will that way at all.

“Hi bitch!” Ella snorted.

“Oh my…I see you’ve grown some wings, pauper!” Tracy replied with a look of surprise in her eyes.

Ella moved closer to her, and spoke up

“What do you want?”

Tracy squeezed her nose and covered it with her palms…

“Omg, your breath stinks! You’re really a pig!”

Ella realized that she was right. She hadn’t brushed her teeth yet, hence the bad morning breath. She felt a little embarrassed, but she didn’t flinch. She put on a tough skin, and spoke up again.

“I can see that you’re not so bright after all, because if you were, you would realize that I just freaking got out of bed, bitch!”

“Hey, hey, hey! What’s all the ruckus about?!”

The two ladies who were so close to ripping each other’s throats apart, turned towards the direction of the voice.

It was Mrs. Maria, Will’s mother.

She was dressed elegantly, in a white fitted dress that stopped below her knees, and a pair of black stilettos.

She styled her hair up in a messy bun, and she marched forward to intervene in the scene that was becoming so usual.

“What is this? What are you doing here Tracy? I expected better from you. When did you start exchanging words with paupers and lowlifes? A stinking one at that!”

Her words stung Ella’s heart like the sting of a bee.

“As you can see,” she continued, “she isn’t even dressed properly. She’s still in her night wear by 9AM, and her wedding is scheduled for 4pm! She isn’t worth your energy, and I still can’t fathom why Will chose her over you.”

“He didn’t choose her over me, mother. I’m sure she bewitched him!” Tracy snorted with disgust evident in her tone.

“Whatever the case may be, my love, we won’t rest until you become his bride. Now come on, let’s go, my love.” Mrs. Maria said while crossing her hand over Tracy’s shoulder, and leading her away.

“The least you could do is be nice to me. I would be your daughter in law for Christs sake!” Ella blurted out. She tried to hold her tongue but it didn’t work out. She couldn’t stand being intimidated by Will’s mother on her wedding day.

Mrs. Maria did not spare her a glance. When Tracy tried to respond, Mrs. Maria shushed her, and they ignored Ella. That was even more painful than whatever mean thing they may have said to her.

Ella stood in front of her room, filled with rage, and humiliation. She sniffed in, and tears welled up in her eyes.

She turned around to get back to her room but she was startled by the huge masculine figure that stood behind her.