Contract Marriage; Fated Love

Behold, it was Noah Harper!

“Greetings Master Harper. I feel honoured to have you in my house. I hope my family hasn’t offended the great Master Harper in any way?” Williams said carefully when he finally found his tongue.

“Emily, get up and come here,” Noah called out to her. The voice was cold, domineering and filled with authority. Emily obeyed without hesitation. She stood up and went to him that instant. Noah was a man of few words. He scrutinized everyone and said,

“Stay away from her and trouble her no more.” He turned to Emily and said,

“Let’s go.”

The family members were too shocked and scared to speak. Emily picked her bag from the table and followed him out.

“What? Wasn’t that Noah Harper?” Rose spoke first breaking the silence.

“I hope we have not offended the first master in any way, else, we will be doomed,” Williams said in fright.

“I pray so too,” Olivia added.

They never believed Noah would defend her and even warn them to stay away from her.

Jayden was in his own world. How? Emily and Harper? How did she get thus far? He knew his family was no match for the Harper’s family. He knew he must quit now or he would regret it. Harper was a merciless fellow and could destroy his family at the snap of his fingers and in a twinkle of an eye.

“Emily will never get away. But she has a strong man backing her. Nevertheless, I will deal with her my own way,” he swore and walked away more furious than he had been in the beginning. He had never been insulted and belittled as he was today. He was completely relegated to the background the moment Noah Harper appeared.

“Emily will definitely pay,” he muttered again.

“Thank you for saving me,” Emily said to him the moment they were out of earshot. He didn’t reply. He pretended not to hear her. He opened the door and got in. He had driven himself to the house. Emily followed suit and entered the car.

She smiled in satisfaction as the car drove off. It was a goodbye from her hell of a home. She had known no peace and happiness there in her 21 years of existence. Growing up, she was despised by her parents. She was always discriminated and she suffered from autism when she was three years old. When she got the illness, her parents didn’t care about her. They sent her to an orphanage where a certain Governesses was said to look after kids with that kind of disease. Emily found a mother in Governesses Shields. She took care of her like her own child. Her biological parents forgot about her and seldom came to visit her. When she was seven years old, she was sent back home as she had recovered. From that day, things returned to normal. She didn’t know parental love. She wanted to go back to the orphanage. She didn’t even get to visit Governesses Shields often. She only saw her once and sadly, the governesses relocated when she was 15 years and she never heard of her.

The ringing of a phone disrupted the serenity in the car and pulled her out of her thoughts. It couldn’t be daydream. She had no pleasant memories of home.

He slid his slender and pretty fingers across the screen and answered the call. Emily found this act mesmerising. She looked at him closely this time. He was indeed a very handsome and sexy youth. The thought of this handsome man driving his whole length into her last night made her wet. She was really taken to cloud 9 the previous night. She could swear she wanted more.

“What has come over me? How can I be thinking of such?” she quickly chastitised herself.

“Good evening dad,” Noah spoke calmly to the caller. It was his father, Joshua Harper.

“What is it I hear about you son?” he asked.

“Nothing, father.”

“See me tonight,” Joshua instructed.

“Okay father,” Noah replied and ended the call.

His voice was still cold. Emily couldn’t figure out what sort of relationship he had with his father.

The car stopped in front of a magnificent building. They stepped out of the car and Emily took in the glorious sight. The house was really beautiful. The surroundings, the well planned walkways, the garden and so many other things.

“Won’t you go in? Or will you stand there gawping?” Noah chided her.

“I am sorry,” she quickly apologised and moved on.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

He opened the door and she followed him into the house. The house was bigger and better than she had imagined. The exterior was nothing compared to the interior. Emily’s jaw almost dropped but she quickly stopped herself on time.

Emily was surprised to see no household servant in sight.

“They only come during the day,” Noah explained guessing her thoughts correctly.

He liked a life of solitude and lived one. He didn’t want anyone meddling in his private affairs. He had a reticent nature and didn’t want anyone to know anything about him. The servants only came during the day to discharge their duties and left at night. He lived alone in that big house.

Noah walked up the stairs with Emily following closely behind. Everything was in place in the house. It was a first class house. Noah stopped and pointed at a door.

“This will be your room from now. Everything you need will be sent over tomorrow but your basic toiletries are in there for now.”

“Thank you,” replied Emily.

“Dinner is set downstairs. Heat it in the microwave if you want.”

“Okay, thank you sir,” Emily said again. She was sincerely grateful.

Noah turned and walked away.

“Mr Harper,” Emily called halting him.

He turned and glanced at her.

“I am sorry. I hadn’t planned any of these. Believe me please. It wasn’t intentional. I was drugged and sent to your room last night. It was supposed to be Jayden’s room but there was a mistake. It wasn’t premeditated,” Emily tried to explain again.

“Lies. I won’t believe any of those your despicable lies. Listen, stay away from me and don’t be found wanting. We have signed a contract,” he hissed and walked into one of the rooms at a farther end. He slammed the door shut.

Noah lay on his bed and stared at the ceiling. His room was well furnished and was everything a standard room should be. A large bookshelf was at one end of the room. It was always filled with the latest novels. He stretched his hand a picked the novel on his bedside table. He usually read novels to pass time. He finished one every night and it was replaced with a new one in the morning by the servant. Unknown to anyone, he had insomnia. He seldom slept , hence, he used the novels to pass time. As he took the book, a photo fell out.

What was that and where did it come from. He looked at the picture and he froze momentarily. Behind the picture, the name of the person was written. A name that was forbidden in Noah’s world.