A NEW WAY

The thought of anyone asking her out for a date or even a simple outing for a meal,was enough to throw Special off balance. But being in Derek's lap as she was right now, made her feel something she had never experienced all her life!

She felt as though she was truly extraordinary!

"You are perfect just the way you are" Derek told her, stroking her cheek. That act brought her back from the island of bliss and hope where she journeyed into for few seconds.

Setting her gently on her feet, Derek took her hand and led her outside. It was cloudy and dark, perhaps a storm was raging somewhere else he imagined. Holding her by the arm, they walked towards the cars parked in their regular order. Derek was thankful, the day was already dark, hence Special couldn't see the covered plate number and the royal seals engraved in each automobile. Uyi stood out with the opened door of the carin his hand. Derek guided her in before sliding in.

"Dinner at the Wells Restaurant" Derek said to Uyi.

"Yes sir"

"Would we tell Derek of our plan?" Special asked him the moment the car door was shut in a whisper.

"Which plan? Derek feigned ignorance. Drawing closer to him, she signalled for his ears as Uyi climbed into the front seat.

"Our plan, you know to be ..." Special couldn't find the right words.

"You mean our marriage?" Derek blurted out loudly. Special coughed as he said it a little too loudly for her taste.

"Yes" she whispered again.

"Uyi" Derek called out.

"Yes sir."

"I am married to Special from this moment on. I will get a court certificate within the week," He proclaimed.

"Congratulations sir. I will inform the household sir". Uyi responded.

"I don't want every one to know, you know because its not real." Special whispered again tugging on his arm. Derek seemed to enjoy the closeness of the body contact so he leaned in inhaling the lavender fragrance of her body wash. The scents was sexual and alluring.

"Uyi please kindly be discreet with the information."

"Done sir. I will only inform the inner security then sir for the ma'ams comfort and protection.

"Ma'am congratulations."

"Hmmm thank you Uyi." Special muttered feeling so shy.

They arrived at the Wells soon enough and immediately it felt as though a dam broke loose, the rain began to drizzle just as Special stepped out of the car.

Running back in to the car in a sudden haste startled everyone including the security who had large umbrellas in their arms to shield them from the rain drops.

Derek returned back into the car to watch her shiver and clean her body continuously as though something strange had fallen on her rather than just a few drops of the rain.

"Special are you alright?" He asked, calmly but alarmed at her behavior. She seemed so frightened and pail as though she had been seriously ill.

"It's just rain. Don't you bath with a shower, consider it a drop of the shower water" Derek said trying to lighten whatever was brewing up inside of her.

"I don't bath with a shower and I don't bath cold water." Special responded looking terrified and it began to worry Derek.

"Hey beautiful, look at me. You are safe, far away from any harm of water. I promise you. Am sorry I wasn't proactive, please forgive me." Derek assured her hoping she would look into his eyes and thankfully she did. He could see a trauma, even a phobia for split second. She nodded in response to his plea.

Uyi came back in the car to inform Derek that it would be a takeaway affair.

"Just do what you have to do Uyi. My wife won't come down from the car until we are at her home."

True to his words, Derek gathered Special in his arms whilst instructing the driver to increase the temperature of the car as she was shivering. Gradually the rain began to subside and he asked that they go home as soon as Uyi finished the purchase.

On getting to her house, the security teams in the other vehicle came down with so many big boxes. Special wondered what they were for. On entering her house, they began setting the boxes for a dinner with candle lights to match. In less than ten minutes, her sitting room smelled of appetizing aromas. Derek was already satisfied seeing the smile erupting from her face. He liked the fact that this act pleased her.

"This is beautiful" She complimented facing him.

"Not as beautiful as you are my wife!"

She laughed remembering their deal.

"You have been a good husband to me the last few hours" She teased him.

"And you have been an amazing wife. Now let's eat while you tell me what happened to make you scared of water drops." Derek ordered.

Sometimes he orders as though, he was some god but other times, he was gentle. He sounded very authoritative when speaking to his security team and she always wondered why that was the case or perhaps maybe his money was extremely much. They always bowed their head in respect to him and she was also puzzled about that.

Could he be so old in his age? Special wondered why a man who sells jewelry would be this commanding also.

Refusing to cave in to his demands, she sat down and began to fill her plate with food. Talking about the horrible times she had experienced with Hope her step mother would ruin her mood. That night was the best of her life. Special ate to her fill laughing at all the funny jokes Derek told her. He didnt pressure her to discuss her fears and she did not indulge him.

By morning, she felt somewhat better and confident of a good relationship with Derek even if it is just friendship because he made her feel Special.

Noon came and flowers followed with a note saying "We are signing our marriage license today. Get ready my Special Wife". She giggled at the note and danced dramatically with the flowers in one hand.

She dressed in a simple pink dress and awaited Derek's call. True to his words, he came before 6pm with documents in his hands. He was dressed in a dark blue tuxedo and Special felt slightly under dressed. She wanted to make a joke of it but she just couldn't summon herself to do so. Her worries ended when he looked straight into her eyes and gave her the best compliment ever!

"You look like my favorite flavored dessert in this amazing dress." Special smiled immediately.

"Be careful Lady Special, I could eat you and leave no left overs!" Derek whispered in her ears as he took his seat in her sitting room.

Special almost evaporated on the spot as her cheeks suddenly became to hot for her. Her hands kept arranging her dress as she felt naked. To drive home his point, Derek stared at her thighs Whenever the dress ran up. "I like them big and thick" He muttered quietly and Special heard it all.

They didn't have to go to the court to do anything. Derek had brought original court documents to initiate a fake marriage and that immediately scared her. He was signing the documents and arranging for her to sign also.

"I know you want to help me but these feels like original documents. I hope you know that it isn't a real marriage Derek. I don't have the strength or the capacity to deal with the aftermath of this, if we do it this way" She kindly objected biting on her lower lips. Derek watched her with so much admiration.

"What are you scared of Special?

Look at me and just tell me and I will yeild to you."

"I ...know you ..don't like" She stuttered.

"Like you?" he asked and she nodded.

"You are right Special, I don't like you" She nodded in agreement and her heart felt a probe like a needle passed through it. She was not expecting him to like her romantically but she wondered why she was disappointed that he didn't.

"I am falling deeply in love with you. I am a grown ass Man who wants to spend time with you and if I have to do that as a conditional husband, then allow me to reintroduce myself to you ma'am. I am legally married to Miss Special Nosa until she says otherwise". Derek grinned.

Special couldn't explain what she felt inside of her but it feels like her entire organs were having summersault inside of her. She hurriedly signed the dotted lines without reading the documents and somehow felt brave and ready to face Hope and her cruelty. But she wished she could just whisper to Derek a little of what to expect from Hope in a few weeks time.

They say when you are in love, time passes too quickly but you can never tell which day it is until you meet your lover. So it was with King Derek Osagie.

Uyi wondered what he saw in the lady called Special most times. But he could tell the king was absolutely smitten by the grace the lady exhudes. She was intelligent, yet humble, beautiful and still reserved. She haboured a certain fear that you can see when you give her a penetrating gaze. Queens are not known to be afraid, Uyi thought but then again, King Derek was making their union very private. Maybe he hoped to take another wife publicly.