The Billionaire's Torment

Chapter 6. Heartbreak

Nora

On Sunday morning, my best friend Cathy, brought a salon to my house. The whole works. By the time the lady finished, my usual lackluster hair gleamed with health like Max’s. 

The makeup lady would come tomorrow morning before I got married. “ So, how does it feel to marry a total stranger.?” 

I boxed her ears," don't start, you know why l'm doing it.” 

“ l know but, knowing doesn't make me wonder less. Where is granny's dress?.”

“ Move your ass, you are squashing my dress. Use your head, granny is very sick. Max's mother has invited us to her restaurant after the signing. You can't come, family only.”

Cathy pouted,“ but l'm your family, l will stand in for granny.”

“ Nope.”

“So, tomorrow night, please check everything and report back to me. From size to style. I want the dirtiest details.” 

I put on my earrings, looked at Cathy’s face in the mirror, “find your own man, get married, l'm not the kiss and tell type.”

Cathy pursed her lips in disappointment. Intimacy between couples should never be for public consumption, no matter how close you were as friends.

 After we finished our preparations, we went to a local bar. We picked some wine, came back home and got drunk. I needed it, my nerves were shot. Max's personality gave me anxiety, l found it hard to read him. 

The tabloids said he was a giver. He never waited to be invited if there was a problem, he just pitched up and helped financially. The picture did not gel with my observations so far.

On Monday, Max's car fetched me. He waited for me at the steps, handsome as ever. My heart skipped a beat. In a few hours l would be under this man. Was he a good or lousy lover? I would find out soon. My intimacy record sucked, l did it only twice in my life, not by choice. My former lover ran faster than the wind when he discovered my family's background. I ran around with rich kids at college and he assumed l also came from money.

Max's intimidating stare made self conscious, his eyes roamed on my entire body then, “ not bad.”

Jesus, was that a compliment? No kiss, just a peck on the cheek? No worries I would enjoy myself nonetheless. My marriage ceremony was the most boring event on earth. 

After we got married we went shopping, my husband's generosity astounded me, l got everything l wanted, no expenses spared.

We then went to the Ratliff Restaurant. The place was decorated with beautiful assorted flowers. As we took our seats Marylin remarked, “now start the baby making process, make me proud son.” 

Max eyed me side ways , “ always mum.” 

Marylin clapped her hands, “ don't waste anytime, start tonight, l'm in a hurry. My age mates have grandchildren, l'm the only one left. It's embarrassing.”

“ Mum, it's our marriage, we know what to do, when.” l looked away, embarassed.

Max's sister, Martha Ratliff and his older brother Ron Ratliff, were there. Ron was a sweetheart with soft kind eyes, their sister the opposite. She did not say a word to me after the introductions. Her attention was on her phone. She kept giving me sharp glances throughout the meal.

I played with the napkin, my cheeks burned with mortification. The band the Ratliff 's hired for the occasion outdid themselves.

Max and l danced until we were out of breath. When he pressed my body to his, my mind went to the gutter. His bulge on my stomach tormented my loins. 

My breath came in short gasps. I hoped he read it as me being tired from the dancing but, the glint in his eyes told me he was on to me. His cologne assaulted my senses, made me needy. I wished to go home right now and commence my marriage. 

In the evening, we went to my new home. My initial impression of Max's house was opulent elegance. The white house looked breath taking with black majestic columns and big bay windows. I stood staring at it in awe. " Come on, you have plenty of time to ogle the house. It's yours. Let's go to bed, l'm tired." Max propelled me towards the wide double doors. Max showed me around his huge, beautiful house. Then we went upstairs hand in hand. Well, this was a great beginning, my thoughts went to the lingerie l bought today, what if he hated it? I schooled my features into a demure smile. I got this. When we completed the upstairs tour, we stopped by the door of one of the rooms.

My husband then uttered words that broke my heart into a million pieces, utter heartbreak. I would never forgive Maxwell Ratliff for dragging my already low self esteem even lower, to body shame me on my wedding night was cruel.

I felt worthless, unattractive. 

No wonder he refrained from kissing me. He could have stopped at telling me his baby would be through artificial insemination but no, he had to humiliate me. 

I entered his room to retrieve my belongings but the starch went out of my limbs. l threw myself on his bed, my head on my forearms and cried for my wasted youth.

Oh granny, your sickness became the albatross around my neck. The embarrassment, the humiliation.

 “ Stop with the drama, it was a long day, be quick.” 

Max's angry voice sounded over me. What did l get myself into? I turned on my back and peered at him through a sheet of tears, “ why? What did l do to you?.”

Max tugged at my arms, l sat up abruptly. “ Nora, you did nothing wrong, l want a baby, just not in the normal way. Run along now, l want to sleep.”

I crossed my arms on my chest, “ what prevented you from saying this in the beginning, instead of body shaming me?.”

I sniffed, wiped my snort and tears with the inner part of my dress. His expression changed into a scowl, “ you do have a fat butt, don't you? How am l body shaming you? I was just telling you my preference, that's all.”

He picked my bags and went out of the room. He repeated the process until he got everything out.

I went back to sprawling on his bed, completely tired, broken and shattered. 

“ Now you are testing me.”

I was hauled off the bed, roughly pushed through the door which was shut in my face with a bang.