Claimed By the Billionaire

15 Getting Ready

Why couldn’t he just let her be?

Was he going to kill everyone who came near her?

Lina? Okafu looked around her and saw her standing there, looking like a lost puppy. She was so shocked her eyes were huge. And then she remembered that she hadn’t told her about any of this. To her it looked like the most notorious man in their town was kidnapping her. She didn’t know he was her fiancé, because she hadn’t told her.

This must look like a nightmare to her. She felt tears prickle her eyes as she knew her world will never be the same.

Not after this. Ren Amatapa has successfully taken over her life.  

Ren deposited her in the car, and closed the door with a resounding thud that sounded so final. He walked calmly around to the other side of the car as if nothing has happened. Even didn’t acknowledge the people who were taking videos of them.

For him it was a normal day, even though he’d almost killed a man with his bare hands.

Okafu faced out the window as he sat next to her. Her tears kept coming. Once the flood gates were opened there was nothing to stop them.

After he got in the care drove off, taking her to worlds unknown. The car drove for a few minutes and no one said anything. The silence in the car was stifling. Okafu could feel a  heavy weight on her shoulder. Ren sat next to her with a few inches separating them, but she could feel him too. He was an overwhelming presence beside her that was very hard to ignore. But she tried all the same by keeping her eyes focused to the outside.

“You have to accept this,” Ren said his voice a whisper, for her ears only. He placed his left hand on her jean encased thigh, his long fingers tightening around her flesh. He caressed the outer side with his thumb in a dizzying circular motion. Okafu’s breath hitched in her throat and her whole body turned hot at his touch. Her whole body flamed as it craved his touch. All she could think was more as his thumb continued its circular motion over her thigh.

How can a simple touch feel so good? It was as if she didn’t have control of her body where he was concerned.

 She froze not letting on how much he affected her.

She inched away from his touch, scooting closer to the door, giving herself some much needed space. Ren’s hand fell away. She could hear the growl of displeasure he let loose at her behaviour.

 But he let her go, even though she knew he could force her if he wanted. Okafu wondered how long he was going to let her dictate the pace of whatever this was between them.

Silence reigned between them for a few minutes. And the Ren sighed as though he was bored with her behaviour. He dismissed her completely and pulled out his cell phone. His fingers moved over the screen as he concentrated on whatever he was doing. He looked up only to give directions to his driver. 

Okafu only heard partial information of their conversation. She stared out the window feeling numb and somewhat in a haze that made everything feel so unreal – something about a boutique and 6 pm. Nothing that made sense to her.

She wanted to go home. But she Ren was not taking her there.

Okafu confirmed her suspicions as the car came to a stop in front of the store Lina and her loved to frequent every time they visited the mall even though they couldn’t afford the clothes there. In their times of trolling the mall, they left the store for last. It was a treasure trove of beautiful dresses, shoes and handbags a girl could only dream of.

Okafu stared at the store front. She couldn’t believe she was here.    

“Go inside someone is waiting for you.” Ren finally turned to her. He stared at her with his dark bottomless eyes.

He waited for her to move.  Okafu didn’t move.

She didn’t know what was going on. Ren just stared at her, and didn’t offer any more information. The door on her side was opened.  Feeling hopeless, Okafu got out and followed one of Ren’s bodyguards to the door. He opened that door too. Okafu felt like a kept woman.

Was she going to be that from now on? Okafu shook her head. She wasn’t sure how she felt about that.

She felt so numb inside. She wasn’t capable of any other emotions.

As she stepped into the clothing store, a woman rushed to her with a bright smile on her face. She looked kind and welcoming that Okafu had no choice but to smile back at her. There was no reason to be rude to people just because they were associated to a man she loathed with all of her being.

No.

She didn’t exactly hate Ren. She just…she didn’t understand why he was doing what he was doing.

“He said you were beautiful. But this…you’re stunning!” Okafu turned to look behind her, because surely the woman was not speaking to her. She was not beautiful. And Ren didn’t find her beautiful. He never said she was beautiful.

Well, he didn’t exactly say much. They haven’t had a conversation that didn’t involve her wanting to be set free and him proclaiming his claim over her.

“What?” she asked confused.

“Oh, look at me. I’m forgetting my manners. I’m Madeline, but everyone just calls me Madam,” she said guiding Okafu to the back of the store, where there was a well decorated dressing room fitted with everything a girl would need to look like a princess. “Come we have to get you ready.”

“For what?” Okafu asked without thinking. She bit her lip. Ren wouldn’t have asked such a stupid question. She was so out of her depth. She didn’t fit into Ren Amatapa’s world.

What exactly did he see or want from her?

“Ah…” Madama clasped her hands together. She half smiled at Okafu, clearly unsure of her next words. Okafu was sure she wanted to say something but she didn’t want to overstep or offend her. She guided her to a chair that faced a well-lit mirror.  She waved her right hand in the air and three young ladies appeared and gathered around the back of the chair.

Okafu’s eyes widened as she looked at herself in the mirror. She was a teary mess. Dried tears streaked her face in grey tracks that connected at her chin. Her hair had finally given up. It was ready to pack its bags and leave her head. It stood on her head, pointing in different directions.

Ren Amatapa found her beautiful, Okafu repeated Madam’s word in her mind.  She stared at her ugly face. She looked like she had been in a fight with a watering hose and the hose won.

Okafu started to laugh hysterically, more tears streamed down her face.

And she had no strength to stop them.