***
The following day, news that the CEO of Empire World Corporation, the richest man in Asia, and every woman’s crush, was getting married, was released. It travelled far and wide. It was the talk of Asia.
Women were jealous, men were now at peace, thinking their wives would stop crushing on him when he gets married.
“Is it Stephanie. . .?”
“Is it someone else who is as wealthy as him?”
“How come no knows who his bride is.”
“No! He shouldn’t get married.”
“Mine.”
The whole of Asia was in chaos as no one knew exactly who the lucky woman was.
The only thing everyone knew was the day the wedding would take place and that was the next day.
Everybody was eager to know who the woman he was getting married to was.
The Manchesters and the Chois spent the day planning on the wedding.
* * *
“Wow! The gown is so gorgeously beautiful!” Evelyn gasped as she watched Emily step out of her closet in a dazzling diaphanous flowing wine gown that fitted her perfectly.
The gown had tiny diamonds fastened on all part of it.
Emily blushed as she turned around for Evelyn to assess the gown to their satisfaction. “Jinjja?”
“Nde. ” Evelyn smiled.
“Kamsahamnida.” Emily heaved a sigh.
“You are a wonderful woman my dear, no wonder Joel fell head over heels for you. He is do lucky to have you.”
Thank you so much for thinking good care of Andrew in my absence, I am really grateful. I am sincerely happy to have you as an in-law.” Evelyn smiled tearily.
“Huh, Kumawoyo.” Emily smiled and the duo embraced each other in a big hug.
***
The wedding day soon came, and since they were already married, Joel decided the wedding party wasn’t going to take much time.
He fixed it to hold in the evening.
The Manchesters’ villa was filled with influential personalities and paparazzi even before the time the wedding was supposed to hold.
Pictures were being taken, and people were waiting impatiently to know who the bride was.
They were all happy when the time for the wedding struck and ceremony proceeded.
Becky was the MC and she sure did her job well as she amused people with wits and jokes.
As soon as it was time for the groom to make his way into the gathering, people couldn’t help but turn their head in his direction.
And there he came, walking elegantly, clad in white shirt and black tuxedo. He had black shinny shoes on, and his lips were pressed firmly against each other as he made his way to the front of everyone.
Some women cried at the thought of losing their darling to another woman, some laughed heartily as they wished their sweetheart a happily married life.
As soon as Joel had stood on Becky’s left hand side, it was announced that the bride to be would now walk in into the gathering.
That was a moment everyone was waiting for-to see the woman the CEO of Empire World Corporation had chosen to be his bride.
Everywhere grew silent as Emily walked out of the lounge and made her way into the gathering.
Even though she was taking her steps one after the other as she made her way to meet her husband, the burning gazes of the people made her uncomfortable.
Unknowingly, she stepped on the hem of her gown and almost went crashing on the ground, buy as quickly as she made to fall, Joel stretched out his hand hastily and caught her.
Emily heaved a sigh and looked up, into her husband’s eyes gratefully.
Joel sneered handsomely. “Clumsy as always. . .”
“And you saved me. . . as always.” Emily replied, grinning.
Joel smiled and slowly, he helped her up.
All this while, everyone watched the duo in bewilderment. Was Emily really the bride? They were unsure.
“You are not hurt anywhere, are you?” Joel asked in a whisper.
Emily shook her head. ” Ani.”
“Good.” Joel smiled and planted a soft kiss on her lips.
Cameras’ shutters were opened continuously and people gasped at the sight of what the CEO had done.
And only then did they start putting the pieces together. . . The CEO helping Emily from falling on the night of the anniversary, sharing the red carpet together with her, the dance. . .
Right then and there it was being posted all over the internet that Emily was Joel’s wife.
“Emily Choi, the wife of the CEO of Empire World Corporation!”
“Emily Choi becomes Emily Manchester”
” mNew popular broadcaster is Joel Manchester’s wife!”
The internet was set ablaze as the ceremony continued.
Emily blushed as Joel took her arm in his and walked over to Becky.
He collected the microphone from Becky and turned to face everyone. And without Joel telling them to, everyone went silent.
“I know most of you here are surprised. Well, you shouldn’t be. This woman right here. . .” Joel paused to take a look at Emily. “. . . is the love of my life. I am lucky to have her as my wife. She is my everything. . . I breathe for her alone.” He continued.
Emily chuckled and blushed as everyone ohhhed and ahhhed and awwned.
She looked into the face of many and saw that the puzzled look on their faces had now been replaced with happy ones.
“Ladies and gentlemen, can you please applaud my wife, Emily Manchester.” Joel stated.
Everyone jammed their hands together in applause for Emily, some even gave her standing ovation.
When everything had subsided, Joel turned to face Emily and took her left hand in his. “I love you, baby.”
Tears of joy escaped Emily’s face. Having Joel as her husband was a blessing, and for that, she was thankful.
Emily’s mother couldn’t help but join her daughter to cry tears of joy. Min Ah and Maria were also very happy for Emily. The Chois cheered for the couple, and other well wishers were extremely happy for them.
All the employees in EWC, Rachel included, were present at the party. Rachel almost couldn’t believe her eyes as she watched the CEO embrace Emily and kiss her forehead.
It was now all over. She dared not pull any stunt, Emily was now a possession of the CEO. She was now untouchable.
How she hadn’t noticed all of this surprised her. So, Emily didn’t lie when she said Joel was the one behind her after all. There was nothing she could do now.
After acknowledging few people here and there, without anyone noticing, the couple slipped away from the party and ran up the stairs, giggling like five year old kids.
“The moment I’ve been waiting for. . .” Joel grinned, gently pulling Emily’s face into his the moment they stepped into his room, Emily smiled.
Slowly, he tilted his head to a side and planted his lips on hers, squeezing her lips in his as he massaged them.
He continued for a few minutes before moving his head to the other side, opening his mouth wider till he easily extended his tongue into her mouth to massage hers.
He bit gently on her lower lip, squeezing her lower lip between his lower lip and top set of teeth.
He continued this for a while before moving his mouth away from her’s to her cheek, kissing it gently.
He kissed her ear, gently sucking on her earlobe as he tickled it with his tongue. Emily let out a low moan.
“Wet already?” Joel whispered huskily into her ear, blindly reaching for the zip of her dress.
Emily licked her lips and stared into her husband’s eyes, pulling away from him before he could unzip her dress. She walked over to a drawer by the bedside and picked up one out of the two glasses of wine that were on the top of the drawer.
Joel watched his wife with a puzzled look on his face, he shook his head. He knew what his wife was up to. Emily sipped from the wine glass and sat slowly on the bed.
“Your punishment for using me as a bait is that you will not be allowed to make love to me tonight.” She smirked deeply.
Joel opened his mouth ajar as he watched his wife sip her wine.
“Yah. . . Milly you can’t do this to me. . .” He protested, moving his feet towards Emily.
It had taken the whole of him to not touch her till that very moment and he was sure he couldn’t hold it in any longer. He boggled at the thought of not having her to himself tonight.
“It was a one time mistake, and I will never repeat it.” He pleaded, going down on his knees as he placed his hands on Emily’s laps.
“You don’t have to beg me, my darling . This is also a one time thing, and it won’t repeat itself again.” She winked.
Joel let out a gusty sigh as he looked into his wife’s eyes. He had indeed married the devil.
“Biahnae. . .” He apologized again.
Emily looked down at her husband and twitched up her lips. ” Fine. Go take a shower.”
Joel’s joy knew no bounds as he jumped to his feet and hugged his wife, smooching her cheek. “Kumawo.”