Bound by Tension
40

I came out of the changing room for the umpteenth time. "Is this okay now?" I sighed.

"Nah... not exactly. It's really good on you but I want the best." Hames said, plopping his chin between his thumb and index finger.

"I could've designed the best exclusive wedding dress for her but you said there isn't enough time." The slender woman said. "Should we move to a different session?"

"That would be perfect." He clapped and rose to his feet.

"Hames, is it necessary? It's just a one-day ceremony without so many guests. Don't make such a big deal about it."

He strutted to me with his hands behind him. "I have to make a big deal about it. My bride's wedding dress has to be the talk of the Town." He lowered his head to whisper to me, "it would've been such a big deal for you too if your heart were in it. You have to pretend to be happy. People, including this woman, should believe you're happy about this and we're the best couple." He raised his head and gazed at the woman. "Please wear your original clothes again." She said to me.

"Okay."

"Babe, would you like for me to help you out with changing your clothes?" He asked.

I frowned but quickly forced a smile at him. "No, thank you." I feigned sweetness in my tone then left for the changing room again. Choosing a wedding dress was probably going to take forever.

***

"You aren't even married yet and you're acting like you're already pregnant." Nikita complained while tapping me, driving me out of my sleep.

I stared at her in confusion, trying to understand what she had just said. "Uh?"

"Silly, your phone has been ringing but you've been sleeping all day long like a pregnant woman."

"My phone?" I noticed it in her hand.

"Yeah," she handed it to me, "your husband won't stop calling. Can't he wait till you get married?" She took her leave.

I called Hames. He answered immediately like he was expecting me to call at that exact time.

"Imogen, jeez. Did your phone run away from you?"

"I was fast asleep."

"Oh," he said. "I'll need to come to my house as soon as possible."

"Is anything wrong?" I asked, yawning.

"No. I'm about to finalize the payment of forty million dollars and will need your signature on every page. Please be here soon. Should I send a driver over or pick you up myself?" "No, I'll be there soon." I ended the call abruptly. This was so stressful. I couldn't wait for these to end.

***

The taxi brought the car to a stop. I got out of it and paid the man.

After a few security checks, I was permitted in. I strutted to the main door and clicked on the doorbell.

"Fingerprint and face scanned, please come in." An electronic voice from a speaker said and the door automatically unlocked and opened.

I was surprised about that but got in anyway then the door automatically shut. Creepy.

Where was Hames? I walked to take a seat on a couch, waiting patiently for Hames to stroll down the stairs.

"Hi, Miss." A woman who was obviously a maid said. Her sudden presence and voice startled me.

"Hello. Where's Hames?" I asked.

"He's in his office upstairs. He had mentioned earlier that I should direct you there when you arrive. May I?" She wore a polite smile. "Oh, an office at home." I said, rising to my feet.

"Yes." She nodded.

"Okay, lead me there." I returned her smile.

She started walking and I followed behind her till we stopped in front of a black wooden door.

"He's in. Goodbye." She said with a polite bow and left.

I knocked on the door.

"I don't need the coffee anymore." He yelled from inside. Once again, I was startled.

I knocked again. "It's me, Imogen."

I heard loud sounds against the floor. It seemed like he or something fell or it was my imagination. "Come in." He replied.

I turned the doorknob and got into the office. I had expected a small office but this was equally as big as an official office in a company.

"You don't need permission to enter anywhere in my house. Please come." He wiggled his fingers.

I ambled to him and sat on the chair beside his. "What do I have to sign?"

"The final documents." He took out a big file. "Every page."

"Every page? That's a lot of work."

"We've signed more pages than this at work, don't you remember? Have you suddenly forgotten your job as my secretary because you haven't been going to work for some reason? Wait, I didn't give you permission to go on leave." "You did."

"When?"

"Shh." I shushed him, taking a pen from him and began signing on every box that had 'Imogen Mark signature'. I was trying my best to be as fast as I could be.

Hames leaned back in his chair, staring at me with admiration singing in his eyes. "You're so beautiful, I can't believe you'd be mine soon. It feels like a damn dream."

I didn't reply to him but continued signing it.

After about a billion minutes later, I was finally done with signing every page. I dropped the pen with a sigh. "Whoa, I'm done with it. Can I go now?" I asked Hames who hadn't stopped gazing at me.

"No, you can't leave yet." He rose to his feet and picked the signed documents, walking towards a machine I wasn't interested in knowing.

I waited for another billions of minutes till he was done with whatever he was doing then he returned to me. "Phew, that's settled."

"I thought Mr. Hawthorn was going to be present here. I was ready to let him know that it was mainly his fault and not mine." I frowned.

"He doesn't have to be here. I'll finalize everything with him tomorrow, before our wedding in three days."

"Why didn't he have to be here? I thought it was related to him."

"In a way, yes."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"That's our contract. We can't proceed with this without verifying it with a contract."

"Gosh! The contract definitely had so many clauses! What were they?" My eyes widened.

"Yeah, a lot. I was surprised and glad you didn't read it. That's so unprofessional of you but I'm really excited about it. It stated that we'll get married and I'll pay Mr. Hawthorn forty million dollars on your behalf, and many other clauses that give me the right to you. You'll have to fulfill every duty as a true wife, you'll pretend to the public that our marriage is perfect, we cannot get divorced till after 30 years of our marriage," I gasped. "I can touch you anywhere and anytime I want to and you won't stop me, I have every right to make love to you anytime and anywhere I want."

I gasped again. "Oh God,"

"There are many more clauses. You'll be given the chance again to read it after our marriage. For now," he smirked, "just know I have every right to you as my wife starting now."

"Where's the stupid thing? I'll tear it to pieces." I stormed towards the papers but he held me back.

"Don't be stubborn. I already scanned it and sent it to my lawyer. The contract is officially sealed now and I've made photocopies of it. Nothing can be changed. You'll have to follow it and you can't breach the indefinite contract."