Temporary Bride

Chapter Nine

They married in New Zealand. Two of Erika's friends acted as witnesses. Although it was for show only, it was oddly beautiful in its own way. Mika wore a white body-hugging, beaded, sleeveless white gown. Her glossy brown hair, arranged in a bun, was shining in the sunlight as they stepped out of the little church. Erika wore an androgynous cream silk suit.

The American had given the Filipina no time to be either afraid or to change her mind, and Mika realized she is now securely trapped, her unusual job a secret that only she and Erika shared. The latter also kept her away from her friends until the actual wedding. That was why she was completely surrounded by strangers at the ceremony and at the reception afterwards.

The wedding breakfast was held at a very expensive Wellington hotel. Dora Crest, the wife of Erika's friend Gil, seemed to notice her nervousness.

"I know how you feel, Mika." She said in a low voice as Erika and Gil talked to the other guests. "It must be absolutely overwhelming to have to fly out to America and face a life as Erika's wife after the quiet and peace of your country. It would be a shock in any case. But becoming a relative of Bret Sanford would have me shaking in my shoes."

Everything in Mika came to attention, her mind chasing itself around as she tried to react normally to what she imagined she just heard.

"I suppose that Erika will introduce me to her relatives in a while." She said cautiously. "There is no hurry."

"No hurry?" Dora Crest almost exploded with laughter. "Mika! Erika has married here, in New Zealand!... To a non-American! She has no other relative other than Bret Sanford. If you think that Bret will take kindly to being kept away from the wedding of his only granddaughter and heir, think again! Bret will want to know exactly who this person is--- who is going to be Mrs. Linder and will be by Erika's side when she finally takes over Sanford Petrochemicals."

It was probably the biggest shock that Mika had ever had in her life. How she manage to shrug it off, she would never know. Erika helped, of course. She turned at that moment and took one look at her face and was beside her instantly.

"Come over here, baby". She said softly, her arm tightly around her waist. "You are neglecting some of your guests."

Mika's heart skipped with the use of the endearment.

Erika never asked what was wrong, but she knew that something was. Mika pulled out all the stops, smiling and talking, although she felt sick with shock and for some reasons, fear. Brett Sanford, the great American oil king, was Erika's grandfather. She knew know why Erika said she was rolling with money. It was oil money! She felt utterly betrayed, and so lost that she hardly knew what she said anymore.

Dora's final whisper as they left the hotel did nothing to help.

"Just watch your step when you get into Erika's world. There are always temptations who flock around rich people. Erika Linder, although she is a lesbian, is so darned good looking. There would be plenty of women, even men, who would try to woo her--- married or not." Mika had been left in no doubt about that. She already had a firsthand experience of that tidbit of information.

They had already booked into the hotel the day before and Mika kept silent until they were finally in their suite. She had been going over her mind sheer enormity of it all, and she spun around to face the American as the door closed behind them, a very wild aggression on her face.

"OK! Let us have it, all guns at once." The blue-eyed bit out, tossing the keys on to the table and walking into the sitting room to turn and face her. "What did Dora tell you that had you near collapse?"

"You lied to me! Everything that you have said is a lie! You are the grandchild of Bret Sanford! You said you were an accountant for Stanford Petrochemicals. You are Sanford Petrochemicals!"