Filed to story: Bring It On My Mafia Life Novel (Rhea & Lukas) >>
“He’s running a little late and in the meantime, I’ll be the one keeping you company. With that being said, have a dance with me,” He didn’t even offer rather compel her to the dancing floor where other couples were dancing.
“I don’t think this is a good….” Rhea was still saying when the man wrapped his hand around her waist and took her hands and kept it on his chest. Before she could even say jack Robinson, they were already swaying on the dance floor.
It took a while before Rhea could compose herself and when she finally did, she knew something was not right with this man or her husband to be.. She had to find a way to leave here before she became a casualty loss in this brewing war she could sense.
They waltzed across the floor as if they owned the place. To others, they looked perfect, however, the only thing that kept Rhea going was the thought that she couldn’t mess up. The butterflies in her stomach were becoming much stronger and it didn’t help matters that she was beginning to feel uncomfortable with the way Kenith’s hands were roaming her body.
At first, his hand had rested on her waist while hers were placed on his chest. However, with time it kept climbing and now his hands were tracing the curve of her back.
“Sorry,” Rhea apologized at once when she stepped on his foot, “My bad,”
“No, it’s alright,” Kenith waved it off with his charming smile, “I think this is the point where we end our dance,”
“Oh, ThankGod,” Rhea was so relieved she almost said that out loud.
However, the universe must really hate her because there was a subtle change in the atmosphere and she noticed everyone turning in the direction of the door. What was going on?
“It seems Big Joe has finally arrived,” Kenith informed her, composing himself; he readjusted his tie and straightened out the crease in his suit from their dancing.
“Smile,” He told her and did so himself.
Smile? Was that a mask everyone put on around here? But it dawned on her, her husband was finally here. Rhea didn’t know whether to be filled with anticipation or dread.
The door was opened slowly, almost dramatically and she rolled her eyes. Well, here comes the husband of the year. Hopefully, tonight doesn’t turn out to be her wedding night else she would have to kill herself and her dreams go to waste. Great – note the sarcasm.
And he arrived.
“You gotta be kidding me,” Rhea gasped in disbelief when her gaze fell on him. Whoever named him “Big Joe” must have been making a bad joke because that joke was wasted on him.
It wasn’t until Big Joe was six feet apart from her that Rhea realized she had been staring at him too much. It now made sense why Kenith nor the staff ever talked about her husband to be in her presence. They all knew, all except her.
May God help her soul because Big Joe was in summary, short. Yeah, the man standing in front of her was no greater than seventy centimeters tall – his height stopped directly at her waist.
Rhea felt like fainting, no, she wanted to faint, however, unlike what was portrayed in the dramas, it was hard to lose consciousness just like that.
When Kenith said she would make a good wife, he should have asked if Big Joe – no, short Joe would be a much more suitable title now – would make a suitable husband for her.
She didn’t want to marry a dwarf – no offense to fellow dwarf out there – but everyone had choices and preferences, what they liked and hated, and Rhea had never wanted to marry a short man. Fate must be messing with her.
No wonder Kenith has been overly nice to her, he must have pitied her. Sadly, Rhea was more angry than grateful, how dare he pity her when he was the one that put her in this situation in the first place? She really wanted to punch him right now.
“Umm… Hello sir?” Rhea wasn’t sure what to call him. It wasn’t like they were intimate enough to use affectionate terms on him – God, she’d cringe doing that.
Short Joe, no, Big Joe – for respect’s sake – didn’t answer, rather he simply snapped his fingers and his men went into action. Rhea watched as they placed a stool in front of him and then two able-bodied men lifted him, placing him on top of the stool that was strong enough to hold his weight.
The music had stopped the moment Big Joe entered and everyone’s attention was on them hence when a woman couldn’t hold in the laughter anymore and chuckled, everyone’s gaze landed on her the way a camera zoomed in on an image.
“Oh,” The woman said, finally realizing herself, “I’m sorry… I really didn’t mean it… It was just funny…”
The woman was still saying when two men approached her, grabbed her by the arm, and began to lead her out as she screamed, commanding them to let go.
Rhea knew they wouldn’t kill her. The woman was quite arrogant which meant she or her husband had quite an influence here hence they couldn’t eliminate her easily. But then this proved that Big Joe was quite sensitive about his height and she dared not run her mouth carelessly.
Rhea was still interested in the scene that a yelp escaped her throat when someone grabbed her chin quite painfully. Her face was turned and she saw that it was no other than her dwarf husband, Big Joe who was checking her out as if she was goods on display.
“Not bad,” He said to Kenith who looked quite delighted that his boss praised him.
Not bad? Rhea was close to combusting. Did he classify her as not bad? How many women out there would jump at the offer of marrying him? The only reason she was here in the first place was that her choice was taken from her. Rhea was sure she’d murder this man and then end herself if he dared to touch her.
Big Joe then announced, “Why did the music stop? Come on, this is my special day, Dance! Eat! Merriment!” He ordered and at once, everything went back to the way it was before he arrived.
Before her very eyes, Rhea watched as Big Joe was picked from the seat and to his feet. Her mouth almost fell open from shock, she would never get used to this.
“Now, come my bribe, let me get to know you,” He offered his hand to her that Rhea stared at as if it was a death trap.
Just slap his hand and run away from this hell, Rhea was tempted to do as her mind suggested. But who was she kidding, she would never escape here.
So she took the devil’s hand.
There was a throne at the center of the hall and that was where Big Joe was headed. To think that he was a king, the man must be suffering from delusion of grandeur.
The throne was so huge that he had to be lifted onto it by his men and then, there was a smaller yet luxurious seat by his side on the second step of the platform for her.
Their seating spoke lots of volumes. Rhea knew in his eyes that she was lower than him and that made her quite furious. The reason why she had worked hard to get into university was to get a well-paid job so no one looked down on her and marry a partner that accepts and respects her as an equal.
“You are very beautiful,” He pointed out and she had to fight against the urge to gag. Of course, her beauty was the only thing that he liked about her.
“Thank you,” Rhea still responded with a smile even though she was repulsed by his compliment.
“What are your hobbies?” He asked as if he was really interested to know.
“I love reading and exploring and it’s wonderful that the earth has so many possibilities that one can never catch on to till their time on earth is exhausted. I want to know as much as …” She was not even done speaking when he interrupted.
“It’s quite a pity that none of your hobbies fit none of my needs. But don’t worry, I’m sure you’d find new hobbies once we start a family,” He hinted at the fact that her role here was to be a child breeder.
“Take a deep breath, Rhea, do not do something stupid,” She tried to calm herself down.