POTENTIAL LOVERS

CHAPTER FOUR

POTENTIAL LOVERS

JENNIFER POV

I suddenly thought he wasn't  just being irritating, he was stupid too. Very stupid to have made such an utterance.

I realized that so late as I brushed his hand from my hair. I thought his hands were so filthy to touch my flawless hair. 

He was smiling and was still doing that mischievously.

 My hand was still holding film to the silk cloth I had used to cover up the remnants of my skin. His presence was really and so much irritating to me.

 "Can you leave now Mr. Frederick or whatever it is that you are being called and can you also do it now Please?" I finally found my voice, trying so hard not to make it sound a melancholic timbre or worse of it, make it sound frightening because I was trembling within me.

 I knew I was afraid, very much afraid of whatever his actions might be because we were upstairs and in my room. I knew that maybe and probably before I could scream at the top of my voice and my parents downstairs hear my voice to come to my aid upstairs, he might have been done with doing whatever it was that was on his mind. But I trusted Frederick, regardless of the fact that he was the world's weirdest fellow I've ever met all my life. He was still so unpredictable but never in the wrong perspective.

 I knew he couldn't hurt a fly. I just knew that no matter how angry he was, from the little I've known and heard about him, he wasn't just the type of person to hurt anyone.

"I'm sorry my lady" he reluctantly blurted out, leaving me guessing what his next action would be. I guessed right.

He sat on my bed and beckoned me to come sit with him. I rolled my eyes.

"What do you want from me Fredrick?" I asked, this time I was more composed than ever since he came into the room. His eyes were now fixed on the painting of a black woman on the wall. It was one of my favorite paintings, I had spent a whole grand on getting it.

"Don't ask me what I want, rather ask me what you can offer me my lady" he smirked.

I sighed again, this time I didn't think he was only being stupid and irritating, I thought so hard that he was foolish too. Or should I say a low budget dimwit of an individual?

After some minutes of awkward silence, he figured out that I wasn't ready for the silly game he was playing, then he continued. "Well, Jennifer" that was his first time of him calling me by my name, or rather we weren't that acquainted with each other for me to remember him doing that.

Our family was the only reason we knew each other's name.

"I came here to seek your opinion on the potential emotional mayhem our family is going to cause us and also proffer a solution that will suit both you and suit me too" I looked at him, for the first time since he came to the room, he was making sense. 

After some minutes of staring at him, I then reluctantly dragged a side stool and sat beside him, careful not to make our bodies collide with each other.

"Well" I coughed mildly, clearing my throat. "I'm as confused as you are Fredrick because I'm not in love with you and I can't imagine myself in bed with you, waking up to see your face everyday" I cursed mildly, I knew he knew that I was making fun out of him.

He then smiled again, making for a pack of cigarettes beside my lampstand, lighted it up and then puffed out the smoke into the air above his head.

"That wasn't a nice compliment to give me Jennifer" he paused. "But that's not the worst I've heard all my life, I mean you telling me that you don't love me and can't imagine yourself in bed with me isn't the worst compliment but I think I'm not in love with you neither and I would prefer a wolf suck my dick than you put that bad mouth of yours here"

"At least I'm a better sucker than an animal" I cut in, he laughed.

"Well, Jennifer, in order not to waste much of your time and adding to the already wasted time, I think I've a suggestion that will be of benefit to me and to you" he made a last drag of the cigarette and kept it aside. "I think since we both aren't ready for this, in order to please our patents, let's marry but it would strictly be a contract marriage. After a child we go our separate ways, the child will be the legacy they have always demanded for" 

For a minute or so, I sat speechless, I was mesmerized by such a brilliant idea from the least person I expected that from. That was indeed a very brilliant idea. Without wasting any time, I immediately succumbed to it.

"Like, wait Frederick" I started, my facial expressions couldn't hide the enthusiasm that was written all over it. "Do you mean that we both will get married, like I will get married to you but before we do, we would have to sign a contract that after producing a child in the marriage we both, that is me and you can now go our separate ways and under a mutual terms and conditions of the contract we had earlier signed?"

"Exactly" he nodded, still smiling. I immediately thought he loved showing off how perfect his dentition was and how charming it might be to other ladies because definitely there was nothing attractive about him to me.

"I think this is arguably the best news I've heard ever since our parents, your father and my father talked about us and their children getting married and I just can't hide the happiness as I feel so oddly elated about this" I continued.

He smiled. I smiled. We both smiled.

He then stood up, extended his palm for a handshake, and I took them smiling. His palms were twice whatever softness the palm of Phillips were.

"Cheers to a happy contract marriage with you Jennifer" I blushed, bending my head and twisting my toes on the floor.

 "I will have to go now dear. And just know that you know, It was actually my father that had arranged this meeting. It was his initiative and he had told your parents to say to you that it was an important family meeting because maybe they were thinking if they had said it was me that wanted to see you, who knows? You might have probably turned down the request and I doubt if I would have wanted or longed to see you-

"You are right Frederick" I  interrupted. "You are very right because I wouldn't have given you any room of familiarity with me" I  added.

"But thank goodness I had figured out this contract plan and hence made arrangements to see you" he threw his arms in the air.

"Yes Frederick, it was a very brilliant idea I must confess" I added

" Like I said earlier Jennifer, I will have to go now please do have a good day Jennifer, I'll give you a call on any development and I will definitely update you with every one of my actions in regards to the contract" I nodded in affirmative as he made use of the door.

"Uhm wait for a second Frederick" I announced just as he was about to turn the door knob. He halted and turned back to look at me. "What is it?" He asked

"Are we telling our parents about this?" He shrugged off his shoulder and said, "Whatever you think is right for you then do, if telling them is the best option for you then go ahead. And if keeping them in the dark till after our wedding because I know definitely they would want to lavish enough Benjamin Franklin on our wedding, if that is also an option then fine, can I go now please Miss Jennifer?"

A smile appeared on my face as I nodded in affirmation to him. He smiled and muttered a thank you before turning the door knob the second time.

I heard his footsteps as they descended down the stairs.

I jumped and leaped in joy. My face brightened with a smile. I was going to tell my parents about the plans and then tell Phillips, even though that was going to be a hard thing to do, a very hard thing telling the only man I've ever loved that I was going to get married to another man just to sustain and maintain both families legacy and relationships. 

Then I suddenly thought of his reaction when I broke the news to him. I silently prayed for God to give him the fortitude to bear my absence for a while until I got pregnant for him, and he should also give him, Phillips, the grace to endure and still love me knowing that it was all going to be a planned marriage.