Nerida faked a smile throughout her wedding ceremony.
There were numerous people in attendance but she was lonely. Extremely lonely.
She knew no one and no one seemed to know whom she was. Probably a poor brown haired that was able to seduce the CEO of Damian Holdings.
She believed everyone thought her to be.
"Smile Rida. You look so pretty and perfect for my son!" An aged man approached her and muttered while hugging her.
Kennedy had tugged at her arm.
"He is my grandfather" he whispered to her hearing, careful not to be overheard.
He wasn't scared of the chairman finding out that this was an arranged marriage, afterall he was the one who had commanded him to address the trending rumours and scandal . And it was exactly what he was doing.
But what bothered him about it was that his grandfather was an upright man. And if he were to discover the conditions and clauses that led to this marriage, his anger at Kennedy would cause the entire secret to be leaked to the internet.
He hated seeing the helpless used or oppressed in any form and Nerida at this point was exactly one, and he the oppressor.
"Kenny didn't even tell me he had a girlfriend. I almost believed the scandal" he mentioned to Nerida again while smiling.
Kennedy tightened his grip on Nerida's arm, fearful of what she might say as that hadn't been in the anticipated questions and responses Kelvin had created the other night for them.
He waved his arm at her to signify not to say anything but Nerida didn't appear to have seen his signature.
"Oh father. Kennedy kept everything a secret for my safety. I was even surprised myself how he was able to for two years plus, despite being one of the media's most wanted man" she replied while brimming from ear to ear.
It was her day afterall and even if it were fake or a contract, atleast she was still free to have fun.
It might not be complete because her mother wasn't in attendance or awake to know how her daughter's life had turned, but then, she wasn't sure if she would ever be in such a wedding reception as grand as this again, or even in attendance as the bride.
Kennedy watched her hatefully as she smiled so happily with his grandfather and him returning the gesture as if it were the happiest day of his life.
He felt tempted to whisper a few words into Nerida's ears. Afterall she deserved to hear them because he could see no reason why she was so overjoyed marrying him.
"Rida, come with me, let me introduce you to a few of my business associates. I'm sure they all will fall in love with your art once they have a peak at one"
The chairman said while taking Nerida by the arm.
Kennedy had no other choice than to let go off her second arm which he held, all because Kelvin in the list had told him to maintain holding in the files he sent to him the previous day.
He felt a jolt of jealousy seeping through him. The chairman was all over Nerida since the day of their fake engagement.
Especially after he found out that she was an artist, the painter of a collection he had been gifted by someone before, to be precise.
He didn't even seem to recall that it was his grandson getting married with the way he was all over Nerida.
In short, he didn't behave as if Kennedy mattered to him at that moment with the way he flaunted Nerida up and down before his associates as he watched.
Maybe the old man should've married her himself. At least then, one of them would be smiling for the right reasons. Kennedy thought as he watched them.
It wasn't entirely impossible to. And besides, if the chairman were to get married to a young lady while his grand son was involved in a scandal, it would cause a buzz on the internet.
And even if it were for a week or two, his gay scandal would be forgotten while the Chairman's marriage discussed and dissected by unemployed investigative journalist netizens.
"Congratulations on your lovely marriage" a familiar voice came from behind him.
He snapped back from his monetarily distraction when he turned and saw Ella Cordis, smiling casually at him.
" Don't start any drama here Ella. Please I beg you" he pleaded while staring at her, knowing fully well whom she was.
" That's such a disheartening statement to hear, Kennedy. Why do you believe I'm here to cause trouble? Do you truly believe I won't be happy if you found happiness?" She interjected.
Kennedy shaked his head in disappointment. She was here for the exact reason he had believed.
He shouldn't have instructed Kelvin to send her an invitation card. He regretted.
" You of all people know why I'm doing this Ella"
" Of course I do and that is why I'm here to congratulate you. It's such a fresh sight seeing how happy the chairman is on your marriage. A stranger might mistake him as the groom" she muttered.
Kennedy turned behind him and stared at his grandfather who was still smiling so happily as he introduced Nerida to his friends.
Truth be told, he had never seen him that happy before since after he lost his wife and son in an accident.
His emotions were conflicted at the moment. Feel resentment at Nerida for making his grandfather that happy or at the chairman for forgetting about his existence on his own special day.
"Why? Should I leave you to join the family joy?" Ella called him back as she noticed how transfixed he was in watching the Chairman and Nerida.
Something about the girl just did not sit down well with her. It had nothing to do with her looks or her silhouette hourglass figure in the body hugging wedding dress she wore, but just something she couldn't wrap her fingers on.
"Ella,please stop now" Kennedy replied.
He knew exactly why she was this way and it wasn't because of the wedding.
The chairman had opposed their wedding years ago despite knowing how long they had dated and now he accepted Nerida as his grandson's bride in less than a few days after meeting her.
It was just pure jealousy. And he hated that he was the cause of Ella's jealousy.
"Kenny, I'm so sorry I'm returning now. Your grandfather wanted to introduce me to every business associate of his" Nerida said while walking towards Kennedy's side.
Ella clenched her fists when she heard her calling him that. Did he not let her in that this was a contract marriage? Why was she over doing things?
Kennedy noticed her clenching fist and the anger that wrought on her face.
He managed to fake a smile to brush Nerida off. Reporters were everywhere. He couldn't risk his hard work so far being discovered all because of Ella and her jealousy.
"Meet Ella Cordis, my cousin" "Ella, you already know my wife"
"Hi, I'm Nerida" Nerida chirped innocently while extending her hand to Ela for a handshake.
Ella couldn't leave her hanging, so she had to accept her handshake.
Kennedy heaved a sigh of relief as she did because it was her right hand she had accepted the handshake with. The same hand she had clenched before.
"Happy married life Nerida. Congratulations on your lovely marriage" Ella added again.
She dipped her hand into her handbag and brought out a brown envelope which she handed to Nerida before leaving.
Nerida held on to it tightly. It was a wedding gift from her husband's cousin, so of course it was special.
"I saw how smiley your face was when you were with my grandfather. How happy did his actions make you? Being introduced to several and different billionaires in such a short span of time?" Kennedy's voice came immediately Ella left, laced with malice and resentment.