ARTIFICIAL

T R I C K S

Nathaniel

I am replete with curiosity of what Ravina has decided to cook up with this scheme. I am aware that I have the option not to entertain it but for some reason, I want to see it through. She has asked me to invite my cousin's devil wife in our home. I thought she would be the last person she should want here, seeing as she is the one responsible for the scandal at our engagement party.

The first time she and I went public and it wasn't supposed to drag unnecessary attention, like it did. It almost jeopardised our whole engagement.

She's very opinionated, I wonder how the weekend will be knowing I have to hear her from across the whole house, being... her. I admit I was clueless as to what Ravina's intentions were, until she used the black card on me. She seized a moment of me trying to ensure she's comfortable so she stops fighting me at every wake.

If I must be honest, I like her fighting spirit. But I never thought she would be capable of manipulation. And as expected she's ridiculously bad at it.

She's hiding something. And by entertaining whatever it is she's trying to achieve, I will be keeping a close eye.

I suspected she should show the nature of a soft-spoken, tame, agreeable and minimised opinionated wife. Or at least I expect she would keep that front until our wedding day but she surprised me by being so brazen.

I'm not blind to the fact that Ravina puts on a mask because the first day we met, she had me meeting two types of people wearing the same face. She represents every woman of socialite as expected.

She shows confidence in her beauty.

She knows what to say and when.

She changes her personality all too well.

One wonders between the two versions of her, which one she really could be. A girl with a mind of innocence or a woman with a mind of determination. Should her family not have held her back, I can only assume she would have been greater than she is now.

On my side, she still has that opportunity but I thought she would at least wait till our wedding is official for her to be so loud about her manipulation.

Or maybe.. there's some pressure.

I've never found such an interest in a person in my life. Woman or male, I have never cared for another person unless they are to bring me money.

"Sir? Mr Wader, are you with us?" I avert my eyes from the piece of paper before me back to the current meeting.

A handful of investors with the idea to receive a share on my currently new adventure in business. I own many businesses and many of them offer me good money, the underground businesses simply are for joy at this point. Well, my cousin enjoys them.

Most of my business may be legitimate but some are just fronts. But recently I have bought land and plan to either build a parking lot or a mall, whichever brings more money.

In the past I would have to hunt for investors but my status in the clean world was good enough to attract some. But my engagement announcement has attracted many more, mostly from the clean side of the business.

A mere engagement does not mean I get the favour of many, no matter how much people lie about starting a family being a real goal that investors and customers want to see. But my fiancé makes the best conversation and has such a warm smile that people get dragged into it. Gullible I should think, when in fact it's working on me.

"Yes?" I reply with a question even though I don't even know what it is about.

"We were hoping for your input on the area considered. The small stores have little to no income generated, therefore the board agrees to make use of their land. We can get contracts from big businesses by opening a mall or shopping Centre." Explains Ralph Mc'Kane as he points to a mapped out screen projector picture on the board.

Ralph Mc'Kane has been in the business of building and/or sponsoring the construction of shopping centres and malls. I admit it brings good money, especially in a new area. In a world this advanced, people can find malls everywhere.

"What of the people that are currently in use of the land?" I question.

"Well, they would have to find work elsewhere. People who don't understand the changes of the world have no place in it obviously." He replies with arrogance and a chuckle, an action that is clearly performance as some of the people in the room join him.

"For a man who calls himself a philanthropist, that's a very interesting take." I reply, the room grows silent.

"I never thought you of all people would care about such-" One of the members attempts to speak but I shut him down.

"I'm a business man and I make business with people who only believe in that term, business. Small businesses can make me money as much as bigger businesses, hence I am not so quick to cancel them out." I explain.

"I invested in a chef looking to start a restaurant and let him take charge, because of that he's now a Michelin star chef with three restaurants, whose money comes straight to my bank account. Until you're all ready to stop misplacing your privilege, then we shall do business. For now I will be looking at other investors. We hire those shops or take your business elsewhere." I shut down the meeting with a close of the field Ralph distributed.

A waste of my time.

As soon as I exited the office, I received a call that I had been dreading to hear about. The devil has entered my home.

Three more days, three more days and I get married so all of this online nonsense stops.

I'm not dreading marrying Ravina but I am getting sick and tired of losing focus. I tried to ignore her, it didn't work. I tried to make her feel uncomfortable to the point she doesn't want me around but I'm still drawn to her. I even dream of her for heaven's sake. She's definitely a thorn in my life.

Or rather my life is filled with thorns and she's the one thing that just isn't natural for me. A force filled with blooming flowers, fresh honey, newly emerged butterflies. Everything that represents purity and yet there is nothing pure about what I want to do to her.

It has been frustrating to feel this way, I'm starting to wonder if it is really worth not giving myself what I want. But is it also a good idea to go ahead and finish the race when I seem to enjoy it...

She is my wife after all. I will be stuck with her if I satisfy my desires. Something tells me she would let me. Unfortunately, until she wants to I wouldn't even try. Because then it would feel like duty to her more than fun.

I believe in mutual agreement more than trying to satisfy my ego by flashing my authority. It wouldn't be the same.

On the bright side, Xavier returned today and at least he speaks more than Cole. I am a man of few words but I believe Cole just acts mute to avoid any and all conversation. I respect it, but I'm also used to Xavier.

Surprisingly, even Cole who hates anything that utilises oxygen to survive- my fiancé managed to get through him. She surprises me everyday.