Trapped In Beastly Desires

“To Qynvilee!”

Glasses clinked in the air.

In a restaurant, five women sat at a table filled with many kinds of delicious food and alcohol-free drinks. There was a state of euphoria in the air, an efficacious ecstasy that left a brilliant smile tarrying on the ladies’ faces. All five moneybags gussied up splendidly, no doubt a man could drool at first glance.

“You know what, Kayla. I jumped out of my bed when I heard your company finally hit 5.6 billion dollars today. My man thought I'd gone crazy. If Qynvilee fashion company keeps thriving like this, it will be celebration all the way,” an African American lady raised her glass to the air, swaying it as she danced.

“Guess what, guys. I found a 16-carat diamond ring in Corey’s pocket yesterday, and today his sister told me Corey's planning to propose,” said a ginger-haired woman, and proudly raised her fingers.

The ladies hollered in ecstasy, clinking their glasses once again.

“That reminds me, Kayla.” a brunette lady glanced at a cinnamon-brown-haired lady who seemed a bit withdrawn. “Your anonymous dude, when is he going to put a ring on it? I mean, you're done with the Master’s degree program you said you won't get married until you finish with it. More so, you've got all you want, you're twenty-seven and ready for marriage. Or has Mr. Anonymous decided to wait until you're thirty?”

Except for Kayla, four other ladies couldn't resist the urge to laugh as the brunette’s last statement was hysterical. The ginger-haired almost spat the drink in her mouth, but she closed her mouth with her fingers and giggled.

“Oh, no. Kayla’s family wants her to get married to Nicolas Hudson for her family business. Right, Kayla?” an ash-blond-haired lady asked Kayla.

Kayla was at a loss for words, she gazed at the ash-blond, confused what to say. Then again, her friends gazed at her, expecting to get an answer from her as regarding her relationship.

How could she guarantee her friends that she’d get married when she did not want to marry Nicolas, and the man she loved left her undecided because she only saw him on social media? All Kayla prayed for at that moment was for a miracle to happen so that she escaped the question. Lucky enough, her phone rang.

“I’ll take this.” She left the table. Later, she returned to carry her bag. Hanging the bag over her shoulder, she said with a regretful tone, “Guys, I'm so sorry I have to go. You know, my mom has been out of the country for eight fu— months, and I must see her today when she finally comes home.”

“Never mind, sweetie — just go,” the ginger-haired said and offered Kayla an assuring smile.

“Do enjoy yourselves. I'll be on my way.” She waved them goodbye, and they waved back to say,

“Bye.”

Kayla got to the parking lot. She stood at the front car door, closed her eyes and heaved a deep sigh of relief. She escaped her friends again, all thanks to God.

Opening the car door to enter, her phone rang. She looked to see who was on the phone.

A smile curled on Kayla's lips when she saw it was ‘Chax’. Chax was her social media boyfriend, Mr. Anonymous as everybody calls him. She got into the car and picked up.

★★★

All members of Jonathan family gathered in the large, opulent sitting room. Three ladies sat on one couch, Kayla and Sam, a raven-haired boy, sat on another couch, while Mr. Jonathan, their father, sat on the single sofa. There was absolute silence in the room, the faces of the three ladies creased with jealousy as they listened to their mother’s voice speaking through the phone which laid on the table.

“I’m not letting Kayla marry some billionaire I barely know, Jonathan. This family business rather collapses,” June, their mother, said on the phone.

“What!” the three ladies whispered to themselves, stunned to have heard June say such a thing.

“Special girl,” a brown-haired lady spoke with perceptible jealousy, and tilted her head to the left with her brow quirked.

“I recognize your voice, Maria. I’d love it if you go ahead and marry Nicolas,” June said to the brown-haired lady.

“June. The problem remains that Nicolas requests to marry Kayla precisely. Giving him another of our daughter will be pointless. Or do you have an alternative?”

“What is it with you and this man, Jonathan? We all know the sad story about my father's company getting bequeathed to someone else today, yet I’m not worrying over spilt milk. Nicolas is only there to fund Linksway and not Asrijet, so why is he making choices in my house? Jonathan, I'd advise you tell Nicolas to pocket his money and let my daughter be.”

“She keeps using the word ‘my’, Dad. And you do nothing about it,” the tomboyish girl complained.

“Shut your mouth, Tally. If it pains you that Nicolas wants Kayla and not you, then you're welcome to replace Kayla. At least I won't see you again in my house,” June told the tomboy who just spoke.

“But what if Kayla wants to marry Nicolas? Maybe we can begin the arrangement.” Jonathan glanced at Kayla.

“Kayla, would you like to marry Nicolas Hudson for the sake of Mom and your siblings?” June asked Kayla.

June's question placed a frown on Tally's face. ‘Mom and siblings. No Dad’.

Kayla became edgy to give an answer to June's question because her sisters shot her that shrewd gaze that could seize her breath. If Kayla follows the height of fear her sisters induced, and the anger that her friends were getting married before her, she might end up agreeing to marry Nicolas.

Kayla's sisters had always been jealous of her because of June's love for her, and her achievements.

“Kayla, are you there? Is anyone daunting you? Or is Jonathan discreetly trying to convince you?” Anger grew in June's voice because of Kayla's silence.

“No, Mother. I — I won't marry Nicolas,” Kayla's voice quavered as she answered.

Everyone closed their eyes in disappointment, Maria wagging her head —Kayla refused; the business would keep declining.

“That's my daughter. Should Pinky have been Kayla, I know she'd agreed to marry Nicolas.” a hint of excitement graced June's voice.