Unique you

Chapter 47

The seemingly lifeless plateu was suddenly brimming with activities.  Lights flooded the courtyard where Mark had parked his vehicle. Doors slammed open and even as I scrambled out of my seat to step out into the open hands that were reaching for me enveloping me into a soft fragrant hug. I pulled back after a suffocating bit to stare down at the plump and friendly visage before me with a bemused surprise.

"You must be Sherri! Mark has told us so much about you," said the excited lady fanning my already bewildered state further.

"I..I..uh..um pleased to meet you, " I mumbled out finally.  I hadn't a clue who she was. I thought this was supposed to be a business trip.

But the lady seemed not to care by my apparent inability to return the favour of recognising her.

"Mona lets just go in first shall we, " said Mark by my side. I shivered.

But then his hand was firm at the small of my back leading me forward authoritatively.  I didn't linger but shuffled on hurriedly trying to get away from Mark's disconcerting touch. But his hand remained persistently on my waist curving about to settle in almost possessively.

Which was strange cause Mark didn't do possessive. Least of all with me.

But then I found myself thinking back in time.  Not a single office mate ever flirted with me. And them men in Mark's employ were not unlike him, they flirted with any skirt to cross their path. I couldn't help wonder if Mark had his hand in that too. Had they along with every other potentials in my life been warned away from me?

I glanced up at the quiet man beside me seemingly sophisticated and above all regular emotions emitted by ordinary mortals but perhaps he wasn't that different. ..then again he could have simply been keeping his investment safe. It was apparently time to collect on the rewards now. Or it soon will be once our marriage is finalised.

One month was what he had said.

I had one month left to be me. To do all I have ever wanted to do before I turned my life over to Mark Gatwick to be governed by him for a billion dollars.

I stumbled gasping for a breath as the shock of the amount of money involved hit me anew.

"You alright? "

I looked up into Mark's green hues and was a little surprised to see something that resembled worry flit across it.

My heart bit picked up its pace and my breath grew rapid.