8| Drenched in blood.

Ruby

"You can't wear that, Ruby. Its your dinner night, you'll be meeting lots of high class guests." Sapphire nagged at me again as soon as I put up a blue knee-length gown.

"This is one of the classy gowns Mrs Daniels got for me and it's the only one I like out of everything she forced on me." I said tired of searching.

"Why not wear one of the dinner gowns I got for you on your birthday? That red one especially, its sexy. You'll stand out, you have never worn those gowns." Sapphire said going to my closet while I crunched my nose in disinterest.

"No way! Its too tight and makes me look fatter." I said.

"You think so? I personally think you'll rock it." She sugar-coated.
After much persuasion, I ended up in the red gown but still refused to wear any makeup. The one I did in the morning still itched me.

Sapphire and I stepped into the large
elegant garden that was rented for the occasion. It was already filled with people lurking around.

"Well, you are right, Sapphire. I am standing out!" I snapped at Sapphire regretting ever listening to her.

While I was dressed in a red cocktail gown, everybody else was dressed in white and I mean everyone! Including Sapphire herself.

"I'm so sorry, I just thought since you're the bride, you need to have something on that makes you stand out in the crowd. And trust me, you are popping." Sapphire praised trying to calm my nerves.

Mrs Daniels walked up to me glaring daggers at me, if only looks could kill.
"I specifically told you to put on a white dress not red. I got you numerous white dresses and you still went ahead with this? You look like you got drenched in blood!" She whispered to me angrily trying not to attract attention to us.

"I am so sorry. I didn't think that there would be a colour code. You didn't tell me." Well, she skipped that part. If she had carried me along in the planning of it all, maybe I would have known.

"Clara, is this the famous Ruby, our beautiful bride?!" A high pitched voice said behind us.
We both turned back, Sapphire had disappeared into the crowd! That girl, she promised to stick with me throughout the night, I sighed.

"Oh, Mariam, Yes, it is her! I am so glad to see you." Mrs Daniels squealed hugging her while I rolled my eyes at all the affection. I recognized the woman as the wife of a state governor.

"She's even prettier in person!" the Mariam exclaimed even though it could be seen that it was all fake enthusiasm.
She is been overly unreal. Mrs Daniels left me standing to chat to chat with Mrs Mariam.

I stood alone awkwardly looking around like a fugitive, my 'husband' was busy chatting with his friends, he hadn't even noticed me. I looked around noticing all the high dignitaries that I would have to speak to and greet sooner or later.

The First Lady of the country was present, several state governors and their wives, lots of politicians and several owners of popular industries and companies. Some selected Rich Nollywood actresses and actors were also present, including popular artists. I couldn't believe that I'd have to say hy to most of these people.

I walked over to the table full of varieties of fruits and threw one of the strawberries into my mouth before someone interrupted me.

Yasmin.

"Oh Ruby! Those aren't real berries!" She said with a hint of mockery in her voice. I spat it out immediately. She was right, the berry was rubber. How on earth did they make it look so real? And why are there rubber berries on the tables?

"I didn't think you would still be dumb and stupid after all these years. Didn't you find your senses wherever you left them?!" Yasmin said in her sickly sweet voice. I could feel the hatred behind that voice.

Yasmin was always a bitch and a very mean person to me. She hated the fact that I had a richer family than she ever had, she didn't like the fact that I had something she didn't have, wealth. She always picked on me every damn time. I knew that might have intensified since I came from nowhere and got married to the man of her dreams. The bitterness and bigger hatred was understandable.

By the way , who invited her to my dinner party?

'Yeah, as if you were even asked or allowed to invite anyone, do you even have anyone to invite?' My inner voice taunted me while I just chose to ignore it.

I had no comeback for Yasmin's question.
I had my tongue tied. I always had difficulties talking back at people and giving them what they deserved and I never knew why. I let them talk whatever, not knowing what to say in return.
That was the case right there.

"Looks like you're still the mute that you always were. Well, I'm just here to let you know that Toby belongs to me and me alone. You may be married to him and all that bullshit but you and I know that it's strictly business... he has no iota of likeness for you and its understandable, I mean who would leave such a world class beauty like me for a trash like you!"

Tell me something I don't already know, Yasmin. I rolled my eyes.

And with that, she walked away gracefully on her extremely high heels, but really doesn't she even get scared that she might fall in those death traps?
Well, I guess it goes with the saying that birds aren't afraid to fly.

The evening went by slowly with us been introduced and playing some games, dancing and also me greeting judgmental guests and ignoring whispers about me.
'My husband' ignored me throughout the dinner.
So much for marriage.



Toby.

The dinner night was soon over and 'my wife' and I flew in one of the family's private jet to our honeymoon site, Dubai.
Like we would actually do anything.

The island was actually one of the best with high class security, great customer service and luxurious hotel rooms.

Newsflash, dad intentionally made sure it was just a room that was booked for both of us just so we can sleep in the same room, that man surely dreams a lot. Ruby and I didn't exchange as little as a 'hy' throughout the journey and I was satisfied with that, what would we even talk about?

I pulled off my tuxedo and shirt as soon as we got to the luxurious room while Ruby was still busy gaping at the beauty of the room, I rolled my eyes at her action and sat on one of the cushions to watch the TV.

Ruby rushed into the bathroom and after what seemed like forever, she came out fully dressed in a black gown...
Why did I think she'd come out in a more sexy material, silly me. She isn't even making any effort to seduce me? Not that I'd ever even sleep with such a bag of potatoes but still.

I walked into the bathroom to shower too only to come out after some minutes to see her lying at a side of the bed.

She was definitely asking for it if she actually thought that I'd sleep on the same bed with her. She was hallucinating! I charged towards her and dragged her roughly off the bed while she yelped in pain as her ass hit the cold floor.

"You have a lot of nerve sleeping on this bed, who do you think you are? Rags like you belong on the floor not even the couch, let me not see you on that expensive couch. Sleep on the floor!" I shouted angrily.

In all sincerity, I was just bluffing and I actually didn't think she'd listen to me and sleep on the floor, but when I saw her lay effortlessly on the floor without refusing or arguing, I was shocked and at the same time satisfied with myself.  I didn't think that she was still like that, never having the words to talk right back at bullies and just acting so stupid and gentle.
Very stupid one!


I laid down on the big bed and slept off immediately.