Pamela
Two years later…
"So, here's why I think a rabbit is perfect for the logo," my best friend, LaToya, chirps from the other end of the screen. "It represents creativity. It's classy and simple."
"That's quite okay, but—"
"I know that look, Pam. And no, you're not about to change my mind. Rabbit it is "
"Remind me who the boss is," I joked, smirking.
"We're partners," she replied and I couldn't help but chuckle. Indeed, LaToya had become more than a best friend these past few months. We were working on the launch of my food chain, which at this point, I didn't know if it was going to be possible. For one, Kayla's death had left a huge scar in my life. It felt like I was doing something wrong by moving on.
"I'm so excited about this! You know, I've assessed our competitors and have put one…" She stopped mid-sentence to look at me, brow raised.
"What?" I asked, defensive.
"I get it. You miss her."
I would have denied if not that I've come to accept LaToya was good at reading minds. Plus, I did miss my sister. Her death was strange and painful. A boating accident that didn't turn up any corpses. In clear times, something had happened and a fire was started. We couldn't even recover her body.
I shrugged lightly, at the brink of tears. "It never really goes away, Tee. The pain and grief. And I feel like I'd be causing my dad more pain with this launch."
"Don't say that," she scolded. "You can't mourn forever. I'm sure Kayla, wherever she is, wouldn't want that either."
"But…"
"You're doing a good job, Pam. Believe me. This is your dream. Your life. You can't keep dwelling on the past."
"I know, it's just that—" Someone knocked on the door, interrupting me. "Come in."
A maid stepped in, holding a brown parcel. "Good morning, Ms. Pamela. You have a package."
"Okay. You can drop it." I returned to the video call with LaToya. "I should really get my ass off this bed. Talk to you later, Tee."
"Don't do anything I wouldn't," she replied. Chuckling, I logged off. Keeping my laptop aside, I stretched and proceeded to carry out my morning routine. I then decided to head out to the gym, simply to get in some cardio. I'd been in a rut, mentally and otherwise. LaToya's advice had come at the right time.
I was about to leave when my gaze fell on the parcel on my ottoman.
"Crap. I'd almost forgotten." Sensing that it could be something important, I picked it up and tore away the seal. Who had sent it across though?
I drew out a necklace adorned with a ruby pendant and an invitation card which read:
An invitation to the solemnization of matrimony between Eric Nickolas Galloway and Pamela Kathryn McKenney.
My name.
Confused, I rifled through the parcel for some form of explanation, but found none. I went in search of the maid.
The name Eric was familiar. What wasn't was my name written close to his in a wedding card.
"Where did you get this from?" I asked the maid as soon as I spotted her in the kitchen.
"Your father, Miss Pamela." She curtseyed. "He instructed me to deliver it to you."
Wheels turned in my head. By mentioning my father, I was sure this was no mere coincidence. It was intended, but why? Why would Dad do something like this?
I rushed towards his study upstairs, knowing that was where he would be. It took me a lot of self-restraint to calmly knock on the door. He didn't answer. I didn't relent and knocked again.
"Who is it!"
He hated to be disturbed, but this was a matter of urgency.
"It's me, Dad."
He still wouldn't reply, so I had no choice but to let myself in.
"I don't remember asking you in," he grumbled.
"Cheryl sent me this," I said, showing him the card.
"And what about that?"
I nearly scoffed at his reply. "Everything is wrong about it, Dad. What…how…what is the meaning of this? Eric? Of all people, it's Kayla's fiancé."
"Ex fiance. And don't you raise your voice at me, young lady. Have you gone mad?" he spat, his thick brows furrowing.
"I don't mean to disrespect you, Dad. I can never. But this isn't right. Tell me this is a joke because there's no way this can be true."
My family believed in arranging marriage, especially for the first child. And now that Kayla was gone, I accepted the fact I would be married off; it was only a matter of time. I didn't have to have any prior knowledge of the guy and that was totally fine by me. Anything to please my father and keep the family line going. However, this was a totally different case. Eric was Kayla's fiancé, and even her passing didn't change that fact.
"Say something, Dad."
He folded his newspaper. "Congratulations. You've finally gotten what you wanted "
I stepped back, shocked by his statement.
He smiled mockingly. "Why are you acting surprised? You've always wanted what's Kayla's. Now she's gone you might as well fill in for her "
Tears drop from my eyes. "How can you say that?"
But still, somewhere in his accusation laid a truth. I did feel jealous of Kayla, had wished to be in her shoes. But not the way Dad put it. I wanted the love Dad threw to her, wanted the ease that came with her life. That didn't mean I didn't love her or sought for her destruction.
"I'm not going to marry him," I deadpanned. That was my resolve. I stood, watching as Dad left his seat and stalked towards me. Next thing I knew, my cheek burned from the slap he sent my way.
Tears blurred my vision.
"There's more from where that came from if you try to disobey me. You will marry Eric and that's final."
Dad walked away, leaving me feeling every bit broken.
***
A woman's wedding day was meant to be the happiest moment in her life. Certainly not for me.
Staring gloomily out the window, I sat at the backseat of one of Dad's cars. The veil over my face concealed my bloodshot eyes. I'd pretty much become a weeping mess since last week Dad dropped the bombshell.
The car soon pulled up in front of a courthouse. Eric's family wanted a private ceremony, hence the reason there'd neither be a reception nor church wedding.
The driver opened the door, ushering me out but I remained where I was. Anxiety rattled within me, making it nearly impossible even to catch a breath.
Don't think of disappointing me, Pamela. I'll be watching.
Dad's voice echoed in my mind. I had no choice but to step out of the car, my knees almost buckling. Two witnesses sat in the foyer; there was no sign of Eric.
I quietly sat down and pondered on how drastic my life was about to change when Eric walked in.
I swallowed.
He was dressed in a black suit, and his hair, gelled in place. Nothing out of the ordinary except that this was Eric. I was acutely aware of the broad shoulder, the bulge of arms and lustre coating his hair.
Just like that, my belly flipped.
He walked past me like I wasn't there, towards the magistrate's office. Swallowing my shame, I followed him in.
Once the marriage licence was signed, the clerk declared us husband and wife. A declaration of doom.
Eric walked away; yet again without saying a word to me. This time, I didn't follow him. Something weighed on my mind. A crucial question.
"Is anything the matter, Mrs. Galloway?" the clerk asked, cutting into my thoughts.
I opened my mouth to speak, but then thought about it.
Smiling, I shook my head. "No. Thank you."
Dad's car was nowhere to be found when I stepped outside. However, a Rolls Royce stood at a distance. It honked once before a uniformed driver walked over to the backseat and held the door open.
Guess this is it, I said to myself, tightened my hold on my purse and went for the car.
Eric completely tuned me out, his eyes anywhere but on me. I couldn't blame him though; all through the drive, I thought of how to break the ice. The courage to speak came just as we drove through the massive gate of his home, but it vanished when a maid walked up to my side of the window.
Her sweet smile briefly caught my attention before the driver opened the door.
"Show her to her room," Eric said to the maid, disappearing into the enormous, colonial-style mansion.
"Good day, ma'am," she curtseyed. "I'm Alice, your personal maid."
I managed a smile. "Nice to meet you, Alice. I'm Pamela."
Her grin broadened, getting me a bit confused. Then, as if reading my mind, she sobered up. "Oh forgive my manners, ma'am. Shall we?"
"Sure. Thank you."
We climbed a flight of stairs before getting to the second floor. My room was the third one along the hallway. It was large enough to be a master's bedroom. Vintage-styled in beddings and furniture, it gave off a peaceful vibe. And I almost basked in that peace when it occurred to me that this used to be Kayla's each time she slept over.
From nowhere, a wave of agitation washed me over. I went looking for Alice and found her in the living room.
"Could you show me Eric's room, please?" I asked.
She led me to the west wing of the building. His room stood at the end of the hallway. Thanking her, I picked my steps towards it, raised my hand and was about to knock when the door opened abruptly.
His angry eyes were the last thing I saw before being yanked into the room.