Xara: His beautiful unwanted bride.

Xara lay on her worn-out mattress starting at the ceiling waiting for the day of her cursed marriage. She had tried severally to change her parent's mind but to no avail. She didn't want this kind of life for herself.  She wanted to graduate, find a job, find true love and then settle down with the man of her dreams.

I guess that ain't happening anytime soon. She thought to herself.

Why hadn't she run off just like her sister Mabel did? She just didn't have the guts to do so. She had always put her family first before another thing and this is what it had landed her into.

“Maybe it won't be that bad, at least I get to continue my education and mom and dad live a better life." She tried to convince herself. She heard a knock on her door as her best friend Alianna entered.

“Bad time?" She asked her.

“Does it matter anymore?" She sighed as her friend sat beside her. Alianna came from a well to do family. She lived in Park slope, one of the richest neighbourhoods in Brooklyn, NY and Xara lived in Brownsville, the poorest neighbourhood in Brooklyn, yet they were best of friends.

“I'm sorry you have to go through all this, I wish I could help," Alianna said.

“ I guess it's my fate now Ali, thanks for everything you've ever done." Xara caressed her friend's hand.

"When is the dreaded wedding?" Alianna inquired.

“Two weeks from now." Her friend sadly smiled.

Xara had always been there for Alianna, she was rich and lonely but when Xara came into her life, she brought happiness, and peace and now her best friend is subjected into an arranged marriage to a man she barely knows.

“Hey, let's step out for fresh air," Alianna suggested as Xara changed her clothes and they walked out to her room.

“And where are you girls off to?" Her mom's voice asked behind them.

“Out," Xara told.

“No, you can't your wedding is tomorrow." Her mom said as Xara turned to her in shock.

“I thought it was in two weeks!" She screeched as her friend watched on sadly.

“The date has been moved forward, Kai is travelling on a business trip this weekend, so you my dear are getting married tomorrow." She sternly told her.

“This is pathetic and unfair!" She screamed as her mom slapped her.

“Don't you dare raise your voice at me, now get back to your room. You need to have a rest for your big day." Her voice boomed as Xara run to her room with Alianna in tow.

Xara sobbed into her best friend's arms. She thought she had a couple of days left to enjoy freedom but that wasn't the case anymore.

“Hey, it's going to be fine. We would talk every day, maybe meet up sometimes and we would see each other in school when it reopens." Her friend tried to console.

*************

Xara, Alianna and other girls on her bridal train that she didn't know were in the hotel room having their make up done. She only requested on thing from her to be husbands family, and that was to let Alianna be her maid of honour and it was granted to her which she was grateful for.

Her father walked her down the aisle as the bridal March song played. Kai stood in front waiting for her to get there so he could get on and over with this crappy marriage.

“Just skip to the I pronounce you husband and wife." Kai impatiently added as the priest did so. He didn't even kiss his wife when he was asked to do so. The couple walked out as pictures were taken. They headed out to a different location for the reception. As soon as they got there, Kai left her and went to mingle with his friends.

“Hey, Mrs Maximilian." Alianna teased her friend walking close to her.

“Oh, my name still remains Xara." She nudged her.

“Mrs Maximillian, your husband requires your presence immediately in his office." The Secretary said.

“Okay, let's go then." She said as she followed the man with Alianna. A few minutes later, they had arrived at Kai's office. Her parents almost bumped into her with bags of cash as they happily went out. She entered the office alone as her friend waited for her.

“I just wanted to give you these." He said as he kept a scholarship form in front of her and a bag containing a new phone and laptop. She was stunned and grateful for his gesture.

“And, have this money for a change of wardrobe, and to keep for yourself. Your bank cards would be ready next week, that's all you can leave now." He rudely added.

“Thank you for this kind gesture, I really appreciate it." She smiled and left the office.

Kai was shocked, he thought she was some loud-mouthed money-loving bitch but she was different.

Whatever she's still a peasant. He thought to himself.

“An early wedding gift huh?" Alianna teased happily for her friend.

“Yeah, I'm just grateful for these and I hope things get much better, I really do," Xara told her friend.

Alianna and Xara spent the whole time together as Kai moved around with his friends, talking about businesses, life and women in general.

“Ma'am, it's time for you to go home." His Secretary added.

“ Just a minute, " She smiled at him.

“Alianna, it's my cue to leave, we would meet on campus and I will call you once I get home." She hugged her friend and left with her husband's Secretary.

I hope she fits in, I really do. Alianna shook her head as she walked to her car and drove off.

The car parked in front of a beautiful mansion in Park slope, Alianna's neighbourhood.

At least I could come out to visit Alianna when I am bored. She happily thought to herself as she followed the elder man into the house. It was beautiful, the most beautiful thing she had ever seen.

The maids, servants and drivers stood in the hallway waiting to welcome her.

“ Welcome Ma'am, these are the servants of the Maximilian household and they are ready to serve you anytime, any day and any moment." Caleb, the secretary introduced.

“Thanks, Caleb, and thank you all for welcoming me. I wish to have a good time here with you guys." She said.

“Thanks, Ma'am." The chief servant responded.

“Please call me Xara and can anyone direct me to my room?" She asked worn out.

“Sure, this way." Amanda, the chief servant said as she followed suit.

“Welcome to your new home." Amanda smiled at the young wife as she entered her room. The room had purple and white walls. The queen-sized bed was situated at the corner of the room. It had a large walk-in closet that contained a lot of new clothes, shoes and lingerie. It was as if she was brought to a palace.

“I would be in the kitchen, is there anything you want me to do for you?" She asked drawing her out of her self induced trance.

“Yeah, I'm famished, I need food to eat please." She politely said.

“What food would you want?" Amanda asked again.

“Anything you have in the kitchen." She smiled as Amanda walked out of her room.

Xara took off her wedding gown and hanged it in the closet and headed off to have a warm bath, relaxing her tired bones and body. Within a couple of minutes, she emerged from the bathroom in her robe. She walked into her closet and picked a black spaghetti-strapped top and lose bum shorts revealing her long sexy legs and curves.

She took the laptop out of her bag as well as the new Iphone and began to set up her account. She immediately registered for Netflix on her laptop then began to watch movies while waiting for her account to be set up and her food to be brought.

Amanda came in and placed a plate of shrimp fried rice, steak and a glass of red wine on her table for her.

“Thank you, Amanda, that would be all for now," Xara said to the woman.

“Enjoy your meal then," Amanda replied about leaving when Xara asked,

“Is my husband home?" 

“No, not yet I guess he would soon be back," Amanda assured as she walked out of the room.

Xara watched her movies with a feeling that this was going to be the beginning of her emotional traumas.

Kai arrived home late as usual. “ Is Xara in her room?" He asked Amanda.

“Yes Sir." She answered as he walked up to her room and knocked on the door.

Xara rubbed the sleep off her eyes and walked to the door to see who it was.

"Come in." She told Kai who was mesmerised by her beauty.

“Naah, I just came to see if you're fine, and I can er, see you are. So good night." He turned on his heels and walked to his room, leaving her in uttermost shock.