Three Days To My Wedding

CHAPTER 12

Marintia resumed to work after a two weeks festive break and the roses were there at her door as usual. For some reason she always read the card although the words were always the same. There was something about 'good morning beautiful' that filled her tummy with butterflies. Well today there was more than just 'good morning beautiful'. Marintia read aloud to herself, "Good morning beautiful, according to rumors your entire apartment is being flooded with flowers and you are afraid you won't have a place to sleep in some weeks to come", she paused with a short, sweet giggle and continued, "you looked ravishing at the annual party, I'm pretty sure  the colour red was made for you. Don't freak out, you'd find out who your secret admirer is at the appropriate time. With love". Marintia thought her heart would explode and quickly rushed into her office to do her joyful dance. The year had started on an awesome note for her already.

The Asantes sat down in silence, each to his thoughts. Mr. Asante was getting weaker by the day and his wife was getting desperate to get hold of his property. Chris was confused and anxious about everything that was going on. He didn't know what was going to happen next and could only follow his mother's advice to survive. Carlos looked quite relaxed and indifferent to everything that was going on and  was first to break the silence, "sorry, but what am I here for?".
Mrs. Asante glared at him with her bloodshot eyes. She hadn't had much sleep and her husband wouldn't allow things go smoothly for her. She thought Richard was going to make things easy for her but he proved to be unyielding. 'I underestimated him', she thought bitterly.
"What am I doing here?", Carlos asked again and still received no answer.He stood up, "I think I should leave".
"Would you sit down!", Mrs. Asante thundered, "if you have lost your manners at least feel sorry for your father".
"Did he feel sorry when he called me useless and disowned me? Did he?".
"Well that's because you are actually useless. He was right because you have clearly amounted to nothing".
"Well my business is doing well and I'm thinking of opening a second branch".
"Business indeed", Mrs. Asante scoffed. "Joker".
"Well if you called me here to insult me, then I don't see what I should be doing here".
"Sit down", Mr. Asante said feebly. "I don't think I have any time left. I just want to spend my dying moments with my family".
"I am not a member of your family. You disowned me remember?".
"Of course he disowned you. Richard I don't even know why you invited this fool to this meeting. This blockheaded dullard!"
"Don't call me that!", Carlos shouted
"I would call you that!", Mrs. Asante shouted back as she rose to face him. "I would call you that let's see what you would do".
"At this point, I don't have to use words to prove you wrong. Everything I have accomplished speaks for me. I am married to a responsible woman, I have a healthy four year old son, a thriving business and good investments. Within five years, I have been able to build from the scratch. I hope your favorite son, who cancelled his wedding and shamelessly entered a marriage of convenience to make money, is making you proud".
"Don't you dare bring my name into this!", Chris shouted.
"You think you have accomplished something? You call being a tailor a business? That low class gold digger a wife? And that bastard, your son?", Mrs. Asante laughed, "those are your achievements?".
Carlos did not know when he landed a slap across Mrs. Asante's face. The maid, who had been watching the unfolding events from the kitchen rushed in to separate Chris and Carlos. "Warn your mother not  call my son a bastard".
"Keep your hands off my mother!".
"And she called my wife a gold digger ? Who is more of a gold digger than you, Rose!", Carlos shouted. "You and your favorite son are the gold diggers!".
It was when Mr. Asante started coughing loudly they stopped and turned. Their father's white attire was stained with blood.
The Asante's mansion became like one of those haunted houses in horror movies. Even visitors who trooped in to see Mr. Asante were eager leave.

For three consecutive days, there were no roses for Marintia and she couldn't help but feel disappointed and sad.
On the fourth day, there was a package and a letter. Maybe her secret admirer wrote an apology letter to explain himself on why he didn't send roses  for three days. 'it better be a tangible reason", Marintia said as she picked up the letter and package and entered her office. The letter read: "third floor room seven, there is a flirt around you who was not taught how to greet where he's from. Apparently he's obsessed with you and wants to meet you in person. Meet me at 8:00pm, same elevator. With love".
Marintia literally froze to her seat for five minutes.
"I said it!!", Adele screamed in excitement. "I told you love would find you".
"Let me call my mom and give her update. Adele please call Wendy, help me pick a dress. It should be red please. Oh my God I'm shaking". She started jumping as she called her mom.
"Thank you Jesus oooo", Anne shouted, "I serve a living God, I serve a faithful God. James come and see what the Lord has done. James ...!"
Marintia had to end the call because she knew her mother would sing for hours.
The elevator opened and Marintia beheld the beauty of it. What made the decorated elevator even more beautiful was the tall handsome man with white sparkly teeth whose perfume made the atmosphere smell heavenly.
"Hi", Marintia said shyly as she entered. "Hello", he gave her the roses in his hands. As the elevator went up, the lights went off. That's when Marintia noticed the fairy lights, ugh, this was heavenly. They went as high as the tenth floor, when there was a candle light dinner prepared.
"Did you do all this is make me feel awkward or shy?", Marintia asked after they sat down.
"Excuse me, are you the same lady from the elevator?".
Marintia smiled. "Excuse me, are you the creepy rose guy?"
"I want to know more about you. Let's start from your name".
Marintia laughed, "you mean you don't know the name of the lady you were sending roses?".
"Oh I do! Her name is... Third floor, room seven".
They both laughed. "You do have a good sense of humour", Marintia said.
"That gives me five points. Ninety five points more and I'll win your heart, good luck to me".
Marintia laughed again, "this guy".