Undefiled Queen

Stephen’s POV

The next morning after I arrived into my office room, my driver helped me on the chair behind my office desk. I hate to be dependent upon others for every small thing but I cannot help it.

Because of expert medical care, at least today I am able to move my hands. Otherwise all these days I was like a piece of flesh always lying on the bed without a movement.

For six months I was only on a liquid diet with fluids reaching through a pipe from my mouth. Slowly I regained my lost health.

Maybe it was the power of my mother’s prayers. I almost reached the threshold of heaven and came back to live on earth. The driver of the lorry was drunk. He was coming from the opposite direction on the street we were in, though it was only one way.

He uploaded his vehicle onto my car’s bonnet breaking through the windshield.

Because of the airbags under our seats me and my driver were saved. The poor man is still on the hospital bed while I’m lucky to come out of it earlier than him.

*****

I adjusted my seat to the height of the desk and wiped the dust on the photo sitting on the corner of my work desk. My lips automatically stretched to a smile looking at the picture.

It was our marriage photo. Merlyn was smiling brightly to the camera. Her face was glowing red with happiness. She was looking like a fairy in the white dress and matching flower bouquet.

I was mesmerized by her beauty. Thus instead of smiling at the camera I was looking at her. My eyes threatened tears recalling the wonderful memory.

No matter how many days pass, I cannot delete Merlyn from my heart. My grandfather knows everything about me. Before the accident I stayed with him for six months for de-addiction of alcohol. Yet he wants me to get married to provide an heir for his business.

I know no girl would like to have a physically handicapped person as her husband. And if there happens to be one to apply for the advertisement, either she is in dire necessity of money or money hungry.

There was once upon a time when girls swooned the soil that I walked upon but today nobody even looks at me. Not that I am complaining. I have crossed that age and time and I have no more such fantasies. After my marriage with Merlyn, I’m no more interested in any girl other than her. She is the only one for me.

This accident is a blessing in disguise. Regarding the people who apply, I come to know how real they are or they are simply hankering for my money. To realize my grandfather’s request, I cannot keep my life at stake.

I will first interview all the candidates who apply and only then take a call. Just as the thought arose in me, my assistant knocked. “Sir, here is the list of girls who responded to our advertisement.” Kyara placed the white sheet in which the names were written along with their fertility reports.

“Okay, I will look into this.” I informed and dismissed her but she did not leave the place and looked down at her feet in hesitation. “What is it, Kyara?”

“Sir, there is one more application from a lady who is slightly higher in age than the other applicants. She sent me her details but not the fertility records. I did not know if I had to add or dismiss the application.”

I tapped my fingers on the neatly typed sheet in front of me. “Processing the applicants in hand itself will take a long time. And moreover you say she is not young. Age plays a huge part concerning fertility. Dismiss the application.”

One after the other meetings lined up and I went busy with the work. Soon it was lunch time. I needed a file which was very urgent but Kyara had left her desk. I went to her cabin to take the file when accidentally my eyes fell on the trashcan which had a torn application. On the envelope were bold letters neatly written in black ‘from Ms Merlyn James.

My world stopped just reading the name. I took the envelope from the dustbin and looked into the details to find if my assumption was right. And my heart made a leap. I could easily recognize those neatly crafted letters in cursive handwriting even in my sleep. It was her.

My hands trembled and my breath hitched. I began to cough restlessly. One of my staff noticed me in Kyara’s cabin and rushed to me with a glass full of water.

I drank the water like a thirsty crow and asked the staff to immediately summon Kyara. The girl was already trembling on her toes when she reached my room. I did not want to cause her more anxiety. Moreover there was nothing wrong on her part. She did as she was instructed.

I placed the discarded envelope on her table and pointed to it saying the words. “Cancel all the applications and send a notice to Merlyn James that her application has been considered and she needs to meet me here by next Monday.” My lips wouldn’t stop but to stretch. This is purely destiny. Every time one of us tries to leave the other, nature comes back and unites us again.

I hope this time her reason to reach out to me is big and she stays with me forever.

Merlyn’s POV

Shifting slightly in my seat made me realize that just thinking about him had brought back the throbbing in-between my legs and had also made my knickers very damp.

How was I going to manage being the wife of a different man? And it not only ends with marriage. It is obvious when they asked for my fertility reports, I have to bear him a child too. Knowing my PCOD history they would not even consider my application but maybe it was because of a favorable turn of stars I’m here flying here for the new job.

My aunt kept warning me not to opt for this new situation and I have already bore enough in my life. She said she would work 2-3 jobs a day, ask for a loan and somehow pay for uncle’s medical expenses. But I cannot see her running pillar to post for money at the age of sixty. On the other hand, I cannot risk losing my uncle. They are the only people left for me in this world apart from my brother and daughter. But the million dollar question is can I ever remove Stephen from my life?

I’m still to tell whoever this billionaire is, I already have a daughter and would be applying for a divorce shortly if I am selected as his bride.

For God’s sake Merlyn, think about something else. I mentally slapped my face, to shake myself out of my favourite pastime, dreaming of my Greek God with the stupid bloody name. Standing, I made my way to the toilets. After locking the door, I stared at myself in the small mirror, splashing water on my cheeks to take away the heat. I allowed myself to talk out loud. ‘Merlyn James, you really need to start living in reality land! You’re a grown woman and start acting your age unlike a blushing teenager hallucinating your ex.’© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.

Leaning forward onto the vanity unit, I stared into the mirror. The reflection wasn’t bad but not stunning either. Long brown hair, large, dark blue eyes, that were often commented on and a curvy figure. Not a model’s but half decent when compared to a woman’s body that undergoes many changes after delivery.

I think the contract is almost given to me and I will start living here since they have already decided to invest so much on my transportation. New York reminds me of him. It had been a long time since I had a man. The one and only man I had in my 28 years was gone and that was quite obviously the problem. It needed to be fixed fast.

Sitting back down, I concentrated on my flight to New York. The new job was exciting and I could hardly believe my luck, to have been headhunted for it. The salary and package was excessive, but then it needed to be a job that would only last a couple of months. Because according to my estimation, the paralyzed billionaire is only marrying for the sake of a child. Once the child is born, he will divorce me which is what I also want because I cannot live without my daughter.

The offer took into consideration leaving my city and family, well my daughter, my aunt and uncle and my brother behind. I hope it is good enough to spend so many long months. I picked up my novel, to while away the last two hours of the flight, but after trying for at least ten minutes to lose myself in a good book I gave up, and decided to sit and check out the opulence of my surroundings.

Who would have thought it, me Merlyn James flying first class? I had only ever had one trip abroad before when I fought with Stephen and ran to Dubai only to be caught by him again. I knew this was way beyond my usual means. We weren’t a well-off family, and although in the last to last year I had some lucky breaks with my ex this had to be the best break yet. I put my earpieces in and relaxed into my music.

May signing this contract be the best to ever happen for me.