Chapter Seven (Adventurous Honeymoon I)

Nelson held the door, sticking his head into the room. Tasha forgot to lock the door. Her entire system tremors as she ruffled her phone under the duvet. She wiped her face with the back of her hand, trying to hide her tears.

She bent her head as she look at the floor. Maintaining eye contact with Nelson at this moment will mean trouble and another round of slandering utterances. An awkward moment of silence spurted through the four edges of the room. Nelson walked towards Tasha - eyes fixed on her. He was irritated moments ago when he first walked in, but now the disgruntled look on his face could terrify a lion. He stood a few inches close to her.

"You...!" A sinister grin curled on his spherical lips. He leaned close to Tasha - his height same as hers as he spotted beside her. "You hate me?" He screeched. His words sounded more like a statement than a question.

Tasha had her heart wafting on her tongue, not knowing what reply to give. It was flagrant that he eavesdropped on her conversation with Virginia. That outburst on the phone could be infuriating. The fact that Nelson heard everything she said made it seem so complicated.

"You're so disgusting and repulsive" Nelson spat. His face shrunk into a frown - eyes blaring shots of rage. "You think you're special. Fuck No! You're just some piece of shit. A fucking gold digger. You're a hungry dog, and I'm doing you a favor by throwing bones at you. But you're such a dumb ingrate"

Nelson paused to catch his breath. He tightened his feet and gritted his teeth.

"I hate you too, bitch. This marriage is a mere business bargain. And I'm playing my role. You should play yours as well. I'm only doing this to give your miserable family a life. So you're my property, because they sold you to me. You will always play by my rules because I call the shots here. So you see that your hatred for me is a mere fable" he added.

He shot her a deadly glare. He bit the tip of his lips, deepening Tasha's fright. He turned to walk away. "You have fifteen more minutes to get dressed. Else we'll miss the flight. You don't want to feel my stings on your skin" he said without looking back. He slammed the door behind him.

Tasha gripped the bedspread tightly, her head spun as she tried to process all that just happened - in the last two minutes. She buried her face in her palms, sobbing with a heart thumping rapidly inside her chest. She fell backward on the bed. Tiny strands of her hair spattered on her sweaty face. Every word Nelson uttered tore her heart into fragments.

The remaining shackles of her heart vanished when he called her family 'miserable' and tagged her a 'hungry dog' who should be grateful for the bones hurled at her.

Ironically belittling.

Shrills of regret streamed into her veins, it was all her parent's antics. And maybe the word 'miserable' was a vivid description of their selfishness. Their predicament subjected her to this mess in the first place, and now she'd have to suffer the consequence - mayhap till the day after eternity.

Tasha rose on her feet, every part of her system seethes with fear and a pinch of regret. She walked towards the bathroom, every step trudging in anxiety. Soft breaths evaded her lips as she undressed. Tasha switched on the shower and she gasped as cold water docked on the surface of her skin. The water contorted her tears in its flow.

She walked back into the room with a towel tied around her chest, and dribbles of water spewed all over her.

What do newlyweds wear when they're going on their honeymoon? Is it red lingerie? Blue pajamas, or short sweatpants?

Tasha adorned herself in a blue skimpy gown, her face was slightly decorated with makeup. She parked her hair in a ponytail. A hairstyle her mother taught her when she was twelve. It is funny how she fell in love with it, even when she used to claim it for the old folks. Her eyes were red like fiery coals - a requisite for the long sobbing.

She parked her possessions in a bag - ready to go.

Eons of thoughts ran through her. mind as she walked down the hallway of the hotel. She didn't use the elevator.

It has been a moment of mayhem with Nelson. Her heart cringed at the thought of spending an entire day with him. The entire honeymoon arrangement sounded a bit suspicious. Regardless, she's a mere hungry dog. It is a necessity that she plays are role perfectly well.

Nelson and his bodyguards were already waiting outside the hotel when she got there. The rejuvenating morning sunlight hit the surface of her skin, as she walked the path that led to the driveway.

One of Nelson's bodyguards rushed to her. He took the luggage in her hand. He walked her to the car - a black Rolls Royce. The guard spotted her luggage in the trunk. He walked back to the side of the car. He opened the back door for Tasha.

"You kept me waiting" a voice thundered as she got into the car. The familiarity in that voice made Tasha shut her eyes as her throat went dry. She was seated beside her worst nightmare. It became significant that this dreadful adventure in the disguise of a honeymoon will be the most horrible of its kind.

"I... I'm sorry" Tasha stuttered as she swallowed the lump lurking in her throat. "...but, I ..."

"Just shut the fuck up" Nelson yelled. His green eyes fixated on her. "You're so pathetic"

Tasha dug her fingers into her palms - head hunched in morbid fear. Her legs trembled, as she drifted to the other edge of the car, leaving a spacious gap between her and Nelson.

"You look horrible as well," he said. His lips bared into a frown. "Don't mess this up" he said, giving her a blank stare.

"Drive to the airport," he said to the driver.