Norman's expression transformed, a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes. A small enigmatic smile played on his lips as he regarded her with piqued curiosity.
" Marry you?" He repeated, his voice low and smooth. Their gazes locked into each other, none willing to break off their stare.
" Yes," she affirmed. " Plus I know that you've been under pressure from everyone else in your family. Everyone is urging you to take a bride, and I'm offering to be that bride," she added.
" Well aren't you interesting Ms Cordelia, you seem to know more than you should," he noted, his eyes narrowing at her.
" I have my ways," she answered.
" What makes you think you'd leave here unscathed taking into account the things you know," he asked.
" Because you need me," she drawled. " And you know it," she added.
He chuckled, " Well played Ms Cordelia."
" Meet me at the Bureau tomorrow, 10 am, try not to be late.
A small triumphant smile played on her lips as she heard his words.
" Excellent, tomorrow it is then," she concurred.
As she stood up and made her way to the door, her steps seemed steady at first. However halfway across the room, she faltered, her legs wobbling beneath her.
Norman's eyes snapped towards her, confusion etched on his face. Before she could regain her balance, her knees buckled, and she stumbled.
In a swift motion, he dashed towards her, his arms outstretched to catch her. He wrapped his arms around her waist,steadying her just as she was about to hit the floor. For a moment she leaned into him, her body weight transferring unto his arms.
" Are you alright," he asked, as he gazed at her face, he noticed the beads of sweat glistening on her forehead, despite the cool air circulating from the air conditioner.
Cordelia's eyes fluttered, and for an instant, she seemed vulnerable. But then she pushes against his chest, her palms flat against him.
" I'm fine," she stated, her voice firm, but breathless. " Thank you."
With a swift movement she disengaged herself from his grasp and took a step back.
" I'll be on my way now," she murmured, her voice sounding like a whisper.
Without another word, she turned and left the room.
As Cordelia closed the door to her car. she placed her hands on the steering wheel.
" Breath…breath Cordelia," muttered to herself.
Her throat was itching and it burned so much.
She sat motionless in the car for five minutes before she moved the car and went home.
When she stepped out of the car she heard the distressed meows of a cat, as she looked down she saw a white kitten ,it looked quite dirty and also hairy.
Cordelia had always had a likeness for furballs, so she picked the distressed kitten and carried it inside with her.
Then she bathed it and fed it some oatmilk she had and it quickly fell asleep then she gathered a few clothes and places it on top the bed and placed the kitten there and proceeded to take her bath and fell asleep as she laid her head on the bed she was quite exhausted from the whole day.
....
Cordelia's eyes fluttered open, her mind foggy from the sudden interruption, her phone was ringing insistently on her bedside table.
She groggily reached out and grabbed her phone, silencing the ringtone. Following that she answered the call without looking at the caller id, as she listened to the voice on the other end, she realized who it was.
" Dad?" She paused, " Why are you calling this early, it's bloody six in the morning!" she exclaimed, as she gazed at the clock on the wall.
" Get home as soon as possible today," he commanded.
" What is going on Dad?", she inquired,as she heard the urgency in his voice.
" Ever since the news of your broken off engagement to Philip, most of our partners have been pulling away," he said. " And our shares have fallen, everyone thinks we've lost our backing," he added.
" Whatever, whoever it is you have in mind, we need him now and I need to know who is, I can't give you anymore time," he declared.
" No worries Dad, I'll bring him home tonight," she announced.
" See you at home then, I have quite some work to do," he said.
Then the line went dead.
Right after that, she heard meows coming from the kitten next to her, it was awake but just stayed put on the bed.
" Well aren't you quite lazy little thing," said, as she carried the little kitten up, and left the room and went to the kitchen and fed it oatmilk.
She decided that she was going to take it the vet this morning before she headed to the bureau.
She let the kitten be, deciding that it needed to familiarize with its new environment as she headed for the bathroom.
After she was done showering,she came out of the bathroom, her hair wrapped in a bonnet. Today was not a hair wash day, so there was no need to soak her hair with water.
As she approached the full length mirror, she untied her robe and took it off in front of the mirror and turned to the side, gazing at the mirror, two long scars could be seen in the lower middle of her back, it stretched from one side of her back to the other.
Suddenly.
No!.. don't…please…
Cordelia blinked, the mirror coming back into focus, getting her out of the reverie.
…..
As she dropped the kitten off at the vet, she notified them she was going to pick it up the next day.
Following that she made her way to the Bureau. She was already late, it was already clocking twelve.
" Bloody hell," she cussed out loud. " He might have even left, feck!" She exclaimed.
As she sped to the bureau, she wondered how she would even know that he was there, she didn't know his car plus she didn't think she would be able to spot him in a place that might be crowded.
As she parked her car at the parking lot, she received a text and it was from the same unknown number. It said
" Five cars before yours, come - N."
' Is he stalking me?" She thought. ' This is such a weird way to text,' she chimed in her mind, as she opened the car door, closing it behind her as she proceeded to look for his.
When she found the car,she knocked on the window and the door opened and she entered inside.
" Well good day Ms Cordelia," he greeted, he was seated by her side, wearing a tuxedo and a white shirt inside.
" A good day to you too Mr Norman," she responded.
" Well are you ready to get married?" He asked her
.
" Yes, shall we?" She responded.
He nodded at her and opened the door, stepping out, which she also did.
As she stepped out of the car, the gentle breeze caught her honey brown curls, sending a few stray strands dancing on her face. A few curls slipped to the front, grazing her cheeks and forehead. She wearing on a white jumpsuit that accentuated her figure.
As they walked into the Bureau of Civil Registry and Marriage, she exhaled sharply.
...
As she walked out of the bureau with him, they had a red booklet in their hands. ' She was married…married to Black Norman,' she thought to herself.
' Well time to move on to the next phase,' her inner voice whispered to her.
" Mr Norman ," she called out.
" Yes," he answered as he faced her.
" Well I have a little request, I would like for you to accompany me home to meet my dad," she requested. " Tonight," she added.
" I see, send me the address," he responded.
Then walked towards his car and zoomed off, while she got to her car and made her way to the office, she had a lot she needed to do.
…..
As she rang the doorbell, the door opened and she was ushered in by Lady Cecily.
" O my, how have you been, your father told me you'd be back and I had the kitchen prepared for your favorite meals, come have a seat in dinning, you father and I have been waiting for you to arrive," she paused. " And he's in the dinning, come on let's go," she added, as she held onto her hands dragging her to the dinning.
' Sod it, get your hands off me woman, I should have expected it, after all I'm back at this damned house,' she told herself.
" Well I can walk on my own, Lady Cecily," she said, as she peeled her hands off her and walked forward, heading for the dinning.
" Dad how are you doing?" she asked him, as she sat down on the chair.
" Well I'm quite alright," he responded.
Everyone was seated, about to dig in, when she noticed that one person was missing.
" Where's Matilda?" She asked.
" Oh well she went out with a friend and won't be back tonight," she answered quickly.
"okay then," she responded.
Cordelia was stabbing the food with a fork, she hadn't taken a bit since they started eating.
" Why aren't you eating," he asked.
" Well I'm not hungry, dad," she answered.
He then nodded at her and resumed eating.
" Ahem," she cleared her throat.
" Well I have news for you guys," she informed them.
Both Lady Cecily and her father looked up, waiting to hear what she had to say.
" I'm married," she delivered.
The smile on Lady Cecily cracked a bit but it came back quickly. Her father looked at her, his eyes widening in disbelief.
" Is this some sort of stunt you're trying to pull?" He asked.
" No Dad, this isn't a stunt or a prank. I am married," she said.
" Lia darling, you just broke off your engagement with Philip a few months ago and you're married now?" She asked.
The doorbell rang.
" Yes I am. And he's here and he's exactly what you need to get back on top Dad," she said. As she stood up to go open the door.
" Thank you for showing up," she said as she closed the door after he got in.
"Mmm," he hummed.
" Well follow me," she instructed.
As she walked back to the dining room, with him tailing behind her.
" Well Dad, meet my husband," she spoke.
Their eyes widened when they saw who the person was.
Lady Cecily stood up.
" Mr Norman Black!!!," she shrieked, breaking off her calm facade.