180 days with my crush

Rachel POV

The ride to our mansion was a long one. As soon as we hit the road, driving towards my place of residence, Femi asked for the address and moved in that direction while the voice of Alec Benjamin rocked through the car. He must have realized I didn't want to talk because he concentrated on his driving, leaving me to pound on what I'd meet when I got home. Would he have seen the news by the time I'd be home? What would be his response after he's seen it? He wouldn't call off the wedding immediately, right? A series of questions reverberate through my mind like the clapping sound from a pair of cymbals. This wasn't the time for things to start happening.

My gaze drifted from the road, seeking solace in the city's skeletal silhouette, its steel and concrete contoured a respite from the turbulent sea of my thoughts. The reduction in the volume of the song jolted me back to reality. I looked around at my driver and realized I was the object of his fascination.

"What?" I asked, oblivious to why he was looking intently at me

"I think we are home" He answered

"Home?" I examined my environment, I was indeed in front of my house

"How did you know this is it?" I was surprised he got the address right

"You gave me the address, remember? Google map did justice to that address and everyone would know this house belongs to an influential person from outside" he explained and I Sighed

"Do you need me to go in with you? You seemed disturbed" I wish he could understand that he should never be worried about my welfare. It's not as if I'd be entering a lion's den.

"No need. I will be fine." I tried to remove the seat belt that was wrapped around me, but it felt like it had an ear of its own because it refused my forceful pull. I didn't even know he was out of the car until the passenger door was opened

"Let me" He took my hands off the devil straps and detached it as soon as he touched it. How did he do that perfectly?

I got out of the car with his help and moved towards the gate

"Are you sure you don't need my help in talking to him?"

"No. I will be fine. Thank you for today" I turned around and knocked at the gate. Even without looking back, I knew he hadn't moved from the spot I left him, but I care less at this point. Talking to my husband is my priority right now. The gateman opened the door, and as soon as he saw me, he let me in.

Anxiousness gripped my body, my palms became sweaty as soon as I entered the compound. I found his favorite car parked in the garage, which means he was home. This house isn't strange since I was familiar with every nook and cranny of it but the fact that I'd be seeing him without preparation scared the hell out of me.

I walked like jelly towards the door. It was as if Joy knew I was around because she opened the door as soon as I got to the doorstep. I entered the living room and sat down, my mind reminiscing the events of the day. She brought me a bottle of chilled water and I immediately gulped the content. I must have lost a lot of fluids from crying earlier today

"Do you need anything?" I could see a crease of worry on her forehead, but she decided not to ask any questions

"No, I'm okay with just the water" I answered.

" Where's he?" She must have known who I was talking about because she replied instantly

"He's in the gym room." She took my backpack and went in with it. I sat back on the sofa, deliberating on what to do next. Going to the gym to tell him or just going directly to my room to sleep the day away. As I lingered in indecision, he strode into view, radiating an aura of confident masculinity. His damp hair glistened, hinting at a recent shower, and his fitted cotton tee showcased the sculpted contours of his arms. My gaze roamed, tracing the lines of his physique, my south leaking love nectar juice, and my mouth grew parched as if the very air had been drained of moisture. The vision of this male beauty is so effortlessly commanding and captivating my heart without warning. It took me time to call my brain back to its normal state of functioning. I couldn't believe I'd just forgotten why I was home that instant. He just seemed to have more control of my body and mind than I could ever imagine. I pinched myself back to reality. This wasn't the time to fantasize about a man who could ruin my future before it even started.

I forced my eyes to look at his face... A mistake.. because I could see a Shadow of fear in his eyes. The reason for my sorrow disintegrates that instant. His reason for his fear became the launch of my curiosity.

"You are home" It sounded more like a question than a sentence in my ears

"I got back some moments ago" He told me like I should know. Everything feels so awkward

"You cried?" His question came as a shock to me. He shouldn't be worried, should he? I couldn't get a word out of my mouth without breaking down into tears so I'd rather stay silent. My phone vibrated on the table but I ignored it as soon as I saw the caller. He moved towards me, held my hands, gesturing for us to sit down. I took my seat beside him, wondering what would be next

"I'm sorry, I caused all this" He must have read the source of my worries. I can't believe he's apologizing for something I caused

"No, You..."

"I should have discouraged you when he gave that suggestion, now your life's on the show because of me" he explained

"I knew what I was getting myself into when I made that suggestion" I lied, I never knew I'd be putting my private life in jeopardy when I agreed

"But you cried" he said as a matter of fact

"Because my friends thought I lied to them." I couldn't tell him. I cried because everything was overwhelming for my small mind. I wanted a private life, a private wedding, a private relationship, and a private love life.

"I should have warned you that a celebrity like me has no private life. Even when we try to keep things private, the journalists always have ways of disrupting that privacy"

"Do you want to call it quit at this point?" Is he crazy? I didn't suggest this shit to end up being an object of ridicule. It hasn't even been 2 months since we got married. We have neither achieved our goal nor reached the 6 months ultimatum. My parents will be subjected to insults and I will lose face among my peers. No way am I backing out from this. Who knows, he might eventually see through my heart and find a place for me in his own heart, before the end of our relationship

"I want to continue. A lot is at stake if I give up now. You haven't even gotten back to Mia" I knew Mia was just an excuse

"I can always find another way," he said

"No. It would ruin my parents." That must have caught his attention because he looked at me instantly. They don't deserve to be humiliated for what I did

"Now that it's all in the open that you are married, we should make them believe whatever they see." I knew I was making a terrible mistake, but I wasn't ready to back down from the challenge. He looked into my eyes, searching for what I didn't know, but I hoped it was not love because he would be surprised by how much love I had in that small heart of mine.

"I do not want you to suffer because of me"

"I won't. The picture that was released shows we are madly in love"

"Hmm... Really" he smiled

"Does it not?" I asked, scared he might rebuff my claim

"We should be careful from now onwards," he said

"Have you met Mia?" I asked, curious

"No. I heard she's in the country but we've not met. I've been in contact with some of her friends" I felt a crushing disappointment

"Oh..." The only word I could mutter

"I think we are on the same page now" he muttered. All I could do was look at him like a dumb ass. He got up from the seat like we're done with the discussion

"We should revise our contract" he said and left

His receding figure severed every connection, leaving me to stare at the emptiness he left behind

Does he even care at all? Was the question that rang in my mind as the pent-up tears, like autumn's first rainfall, finally broke free, streaming down my face in a cathartic release.