THE DEAL

Eight

"My wedding is this Saturday"

The thought filled Ashanti's mind as she sat on the floor in her bedroom. "Today is Tuesday," she mumbled to herself. She felt distant.

Was she actually going to get married?

She had thought if marriage a handful of times, but she knew it'd be a long time before she got to that stage. She hadn't even graduated from school yet, not to talk if having a job. And now she's on the bus to a married life.

"Good job, Ash," she said to herself sarcastically. She felt so alone in her room but she guessed that it was what she needed.

The man she was betrothed to wasn't even making her feel like she belonged in his league. He made her feel inferior and useless. She even doubted her ability to be a good Donna.

"All this thinking is making me hungry," she said to herself as she stood up and walked out of her room. She was in the mood to bake.

After about an hour of stress baking, it resulted in a medium sized full chocolate cake. "I'm supposed to feel you with more Oreos," Ashanti said to the cake as she went to grab a knife.

She began to cut the cake when Marcel walked in. She nearly choked on her spit as she watched him unbutton his shirt. "Welcome back, boss," she said dryly. "Your humor is not needed at this hour," Marcel said with tiredness as he walked towards the fridge and grabbed a cold bottle of water.

"What made you all tired and shit?" Ashanti asked as she munched on her slice of cake. The Oreos melting on her tongue was enough to make her moan in satisfaction. She loved chocolate more than anything.

"I had to deal with business from both worlds," Marcel answered and gulped down his water. The fork fell from Ashanti's hand as she saw his Adam apple bob up and down. She blinked severally before averting her gaze.

Marcel noticed and a chuckle left his lips. She glared at him, "Don't comment on it." He let out a laugh at her feistiness. "She really is a handful," he wondered to himself.

She pointed at the cake that was in front of her. "Want some?" she asked. "Not today, I can't do anything right now," he replied and she pouted.

"Your loss," she said and continues what she was eating. Marcel chuckled. "Before it slips my mind, I'm going to have an interview tomorrow and you're going to be attending it with me," he said and Ashanti looked up at him.

"Why?" She narrowed her eyes at him.

"It's an announcement of our wedding. And everything I say, you must go along with it," he said to her. "As long as you're not going to belittle me there," she stated.

"And what if I do?" he challenged with a raised brow. Ashanti chuckled darkly. "I'd love to destroy your pretty face," she said with a sweet smile. Marcel smiled and shook his head before walking out of the kitchen.

"Douchebag," Ashanti muttered as she stood up with the leftover cake and went to put it in the fridge. There was still a little piece of cake on her fork which she held as she walked out of the kitchen.

Then she saw a woman in the living room as she walked in. The woman turned to face her with a frown. 

"Who are you?" she demanded rudely. Ashanti blinked in surprise. Then she took in her image with distaste. "What a waste of beauty," she thought to herself as she studied the woman.

"Answer me you fucking bitch. What the hell are you doing in my man's house?" The woman yelled. Ashanti stared back at her unfazed. "I'm the one meant to ask you that question, Miss," she said as she ate her last piece of chocolate in her fork.

"Who do you think you are?" The woman charged towards her. She was about raise her hand to slap her when Marcel walked in.  They both turned to see him shirtless in just a pair of joggers and wet torso.

"What's going on here?" he asked with a frown as he saw the two ladies. The woman was the first to approach him while Ashanti looked away in embarrassment.

"Babe, what is she doing here?" the woman pointed at Ashanti. Ashanti immediately forgot about her embarrassment and played with the fork in her hands dangerously. She so much wanted to stab her from behind.

"She's my fiancée," Marcello said to her without faltering. The woman blinked while Ashanti smirked.

"What about last night?" The woman asked him as she felt embarrassed and hurt. "You don't get the meaning of just for the night, do you? Anyways, I can't explain it to you so please you can take your leave," Marcello said with a sigh.

Even though Ashanti felt hurt by him, she still needed the woman to leave. "Take your leave, Miss," she said, coming off ruder than she intended. "Fuck you!" The woman exclaimed at them and left.

"Le donne sono stancanti," he mumbled and turned to leave. (Women are tiring).

Ashanti glared at him in anger. She didn't understand what he said but that was not what she was angry about. "You slept with her yesterday, didn't you?" she asked.

Marcel turned around to face her with a straight face. "So?"

Ashanti let out a sigh. "Keep a leash on your women", she said and walked past him. "Let me guess, you're going to sleep," Marcel said as he walked behind herm "You and your concubine have drained my life source," she replied as she approached her door.

Marcel rolled his eyes and grabbed her before turning her around and pinning her to the door. Ashanti's eyes widened as she realized how close their faces were. Her breath hitched as his minty breath fell on her nose. She was so much shorter than Marcel.

"You're jealous," he stated. Ashanti looked up to glare at him. "I'm not jealous, I'm just wondering how inconsiderate you are. You have a fiancée at home and you're sleeping with other women!" She gushed out in annoyance.

Marcel raised a brow at her. "You're jealous,  gattina," he whispered to her and she looked away. "Maybe I am jealous," she thought to herself.

"Just keep a leash on your bitches. It's better for them not to cross paths with me because they won't leave unscathed. I nearly stabbed this one," she told him.

"Sure thing, gattina. Have a good rest," he said with a chuckle as he let go of her and left. Ashanti let out a breath she didn't know she was holding.

"I hate the way he affects me," she mumbled and walked into her room.