The 5th Wife - by Maria Love [A Negan fanfic]

Chapter 5

"I'm sorry, come again ?" I asked my eyes wide like saucers.
"I understand that it might be a lot to take in at first, but hear me out" he began before I cut across.
"Woah woah wait, I thought you had a wife?" I asked recalling a conversation I overheard between two of Negans men that very clearly included the words "Negans wife" in it. He opened his mouth as if about to say something but all that came out was and obnoxious chuckle.
"No one told you ?" the rhetorical question caught me off guard.
"Told me what ?" I retorted with agitation.
"Alexa, I have four wives" he confessed almost too casually. "There's Sherry, Irina, Carmen and Amber" he listed off.
The utter shock I was in from the news caused me to do nothing except glare at him, like he had grown an extra head on his shoulder. This surely had to be a joke.
"Before you say anything allow me to explain, if you agree to become my fifth wife not only will you be provided with safety from me and my men- but you will also be free of any sort of manual labor. You won't have to work to earn points for your food or any luxury item you request. If you accept my proposal you will become my fifth and final wife" he finished. The whole speech threw me off completely.
"You can have a few days to get your head around this and make your mind up, in the meantime I can take you to see my wives and talk things over with them" he suggested. I nodded slowly with uncertainty.
"Right" I said beginning to process what he had told me, "so you're in a plural marriage, like the Mormon church?" I asked.
"Technically" he responded, "it's a difficult system to explain but it really works" he began. "I guess I am in a plural marriage, but it has nothing to do with religion" which seemed ironic to me, the man named the place a 'Sanctuary' and his platoon were the 'Saviors', yet religion had nothing to do with it?
"Think of it as the role you're assigned. But instead of working you will be my wife" he explained. His chosen system was strange, it really wasn't normal- but then again neither was this world anymore. As confusing as it was it did begin to make sense, I mean I have no family anymore- what did I have to lose ? My safety was guaranteed, not only from the dead but from enemies that we may cross paths with.
"I can give you time to think about it if you prefe-"
"I'll do it" I abruptly said cutting him off. If I took time to think about it I knew my rational self would decline the absurd offer, but with all the pros that came with being one of Negans wives I couldn't afford to decline it. The world was run down and full of danger, and if being his wife meant being protected from harm and danger then I would take it.
I didn't love the man and I'm sure the feeling was mutual, it was strictly business.
"God damn, you're the first woman to be so sure about this, before we go there's some papers I'll need you to look at. Don't expect a soppy ceremony though doll, not really how I role sweetheart" he said with his usual arrogance as he stood up.
"So. Do you want to come and meet my wives ?" he asked.
I looked up at him and slowly nodded.

Once again I followed Negan down these long corridors that were like labyrinths, we turned numerous corners, and climbed up many stairs until we reached the top floor of the Sanctuary. We ended up stopping at a door, the strong fragrance of the old wood assaulted my senses. He entered the room with confidence, myself following in behind.
And there they were, in the flesh, four breathtakingly beautiful women sat on a flower embroidered sofa. They all wore knee length black dresses.
"How are we, my lovely dear wives !" he bellowed with his infamous ego showing. "This here is Alexa Winters" he said extending his arm out as if I was his prized pony at a horse show. "She will be joining you lovely ladies very shortly as my fifth wife" he explained clasping his hands together with a loud clap, all four women raised their eyebrows in surprise but neither one of them spoke up.
"I brought her here to see you all in hopes of you giving her a little pep talk, about what life is like being my wife. Introduce yourselves, talk about some shit and I will return within the hour. Until then, ta-ta" he finished. They all simultaneously nodded like robots, and with that he left us.
"Hi, my names Sherry" a slim brunette woman said breaking the silence as she extended her hand out greeting me with kindness. I shook her hand gently with a shy smile.
"This is Amber, Irina and Carmen" she introduced.
Amber was a very petite girl with long blond hair, she looked very young- she couldn't have been that much older than myself, 23 maybe?
Irina was a gorgeous olive skinned girl, she had dark brown hair with matching dark brown eyes. Accompanied with full lips and long lashes.
And lastly Carmen, anyone could easily pass her off as a runway model. She was an African American woman with short shaved hair, she was slender and had very prominent features with a complexion that was utterly flawless. Each girl gave me a small wave and a smile.
I breathed out feeling slightly more relaxed than before.
"Please sit" said Sherry offering me a single leather arm chair. "Can I offer you anything ? Water, tea?"
"I'm good thank you" I said with a small smile.
"So Negan wants us to talk" said Carmen with a smooth voice, "is there anything in particular you wanted to ask?".
"Nothing particular" I began in a mousey voice.
"He said to talk about what it was like being his wife?" I suggested.
"Right, well I guess we should just start from the beginning" said Sherry.
Each wife gave me a very detailed low down on what it was like to be his wife, what to expect and the 'dos' and 'donts', sources had informed me that he had a bit of reputation for losing his temper. Which they had brought up with full warning.
They listed the things he likes and dislikes, his habits  and things that would please him. And most importantly his number one rule when it came to being his wife.
"Never cheat" said Sherry firmly. "There's nothing he loathes more" which I found rather ironic for a man with four wives, soon to be five.
I also learnt about each wife. Sherry was his first wife, then came Irina a year later, then Carmen the following year. And lastly came Amber who had been his wife for only six months.
I nodded silently taking in all the information.
I looked at the small clock that was sat on a marble mantelpiece, we had been talking for almost the given hour, and right on cue the door swung open, "times up!" announced Negan. All four of the wives stood up like trained dogs, I slowly stood up mirroring their actions. "You can leave now" he said referring to the wives who's eyes were all glued to the ground submissively, and one by one they all followed each other out, presumably to their respective rooms.
The door delicately shut, leaving me and Negan alone in utter silence.