Jacqueline's Dilemma: Chosen By The Tycoon

Jacqueline's POV I felt the rough palms pulling me up. I had bumped into somethinga smooth pillar, I guess. Though, it was just a scratch on my arm.

I was forced to sit down on a chair. It felt like a wooden chair. The bag over my face was pulled up.

I squinted my eyes when I saw the bright lightbulb, hung above the where I was seated. I looked away and scanned the place.

The room was wide; had pillars at a measured distance and the end of the room was dark as some of the bulbs weren't on.

There wasn't any piece of furniture in sight, except the one I was sitting on. Just as I was about to look forward, a puff of smoke blew right in my face.

It caught me offguard and caused me to cough. Even with the gag over my mouth, it was difficult to breathe. "We've brought her, just like you asked." A man said.

I raised my head a little and looked at the man in front of me. He was tall, probably in his early thirties.

His facial expression was cold, unsettled as if he had lost something worth of value. He had no facial hair and took a puff at his lit cigarette.

His earring glinted to the light he stood under. He had a white shirt and a pair of black trousers on.

The sleeves of his shirt were folded at his forearm, not too far from his wrist. The button close to his collar was undone, partially revealing his tattoo.

He had a scar, close to his eye. He crouched down in front of me and looked at me blankly.

He flashed a glance at one of the men behind me and maintained his gaze on me. "Come!" He said firmly, signalling him with a nod.

The bodyguard glanced at the other beside him and swallowed hard.

He walked towards him. "Stretch out your hand." He said plainly, without making eye contact. "Boss?" The bodyguard stammered. He scowled at him.

He stood straight and forcefully pulled the bodyguard's arm and put out the cigarette on it. "Ahh!" The bodyguard groaned in pain.

He smiled slyly as he removed it and tossed it across the room. The bodyguard looked at his arm and saw the scald caused by the lit cigarette.

He grimaced in pain. "This will teach you not to do something this stupid." He said coldly. The other wanted to say something but refrained from doing so.

He didn't want to suffer the same fate as the former. He hung his head once his eyes met his boss'. "When I asked you to kidnap someone, you were supposed to do it right.

Instead, you returned with this chubby teenager." He scoffed. "Who are you calling chubby?" I muffled annoyingly, with the gag still on.

He furrowed his brow surprisingly and rolled his eyes. "Now, I see why you had her gagged." He said plainly. "Take it off." The bodyguard nodded and quickly lowered the gag. "Give me." "I'm not chubby.

I'm slightly overweight. And who are you calling a teenager? I'm at least twentyone, just say you know." I said confidently, looking at him. He didn't argue nor did he get angry.

He smiled at me. So demure yet dangerous. "Confident, outspoken and bold. Not bad." He said gleefully. The bodyguards looked at each other and smiled faintly.

I furrowed my brow confusingly. "Get her into the wedding dress. There isn't much time anymore.

The priest will be here any moment." He said as he put his hand in one of his pockets. He brought out a pack of cigarettes and took out a stick.

He lit it with a lighter and discarded the pack back in his pocket. "Wedding dress? What do you mean by that?" I inquired. He glanced at me and stayed mute.

He walked further into the room. Did he just ignore me? I stood up from the chair. Neither of the bodyguards stopped me nor said a word.

I walked towards him and stood at a distance. "You really like to play dumb, don't you?" I said.

He stopped, though he didn't turn round. "You brought me here without my consent, had your bodyguards forcefully gagged me and had a black bag over my face.

And now, you want me to wear a wedding dress?

Is this some kind of a joke to you?" I  vented my anger. "Um, I wouldn't talk to the boss like that if I were you." One of the bodyguards warned, in a low tone.

I turned round and looked at him blankly. "Or what?" I dared. "Turn round." He said steely. "Huh?" I slowly turned my head round and froze.

My blood suddenly ran cold as I felt the gun placed on my forehead. I swallowed hard and began to sweat, despite the temperature being cold.

Rex's POV "What? Cat got your tongue?" I mocked her. She stayed mute. Her body quivered at the sight of my gun.

I playfully moved the gun round her face and intentionally stopped at her neck. I put out the lit cigarette. "You want an answer, don't you?" I asked her ironically.

She closed her eyes frighteningly and bit her lips. The clacking of shoes got my attention. I lowered my gun and hid it at the back of my pocket. I glanced at her and smirked.

They had brought the priest along with them. His face was covered with a bag. I left her and walked towards the priest. I removed the bag over his face. "Finally! You made it.

I thought you weren't coming." I said, maintaining my smirk. "Rex, you." The priest said, speechless. "Yes, Father. It's me.

I didn't bring you here for another confession." I said as I walked behind him. I stopped and had my gaze at the lady in front of us. "I know this might be on a short notice.

I had no idea I was to get married until last night. I would've come to the parish for the official arrangement.

Do most of the paperwork, go through the procedures and stuff like that.

But I didn't trust anyone." "I need you to officially pronounce my bride and I as husband and wife." I added. "You do know that doesn't work that way.

The lady has to give her consent in order to be your wife.

Marriage isn't something that needs to be rushed." The priest said feebly. "But she has, haven't you?" I said, seeking her opinion. She looked at me timidly.

She fidgeted her fingers and had her eyes on the floor. I knew she was about to ruin things. I walked towards her and grasped her arm. "Go on.

Tell the priest that you've agreed to be my wife." I said plainly, looking at her blankly. She flashed a glance at me and then the priest. She remained silent.

I waited for her to say something but the result was the same as earlier.

I groaned impatiently and pulled out the gun again. "For the last time, tell the priest you've agreed to marry me." Her eyes became teary. She stalled again and replied in a nod.

I raised her chin using the gun. "That wasn't so hard, was it?" I said coldly. "Rex, you shouldn't have dragged this innocent lady into this." The priest said. "I didn't drag her.

She came on her own. I wanted someone else but I guess she is the angel sent from Heaven." I said, "I apologized for not being in full outfit.

You see, my bride had second thoughts about the wedding." She bravely broke off from my grip. She looked at me angrily. From her eyes, I could see so much bitterness.

Her weak state only made me to snigger at her. I looked at her and shrugged off the thought. "Let go of him." The bodyguards nodded and let him go.

The priest lost his balance and fell down on the floor.

I slapped my face in disappointment. "I said let go of him and not drop him." These fools can't tell between a simple instruction and an order. Why did I hire them in the first?

They helped the priest stand on his feet.

I walked towards him and brushed off the dust from his clothes. "Now, you're ready for the ceremony." "You're making a big mistake, Rex." He warned me.

I have been hearing those words all my life. It made no difference now. I walked away and got hold of my bride. I held her hand but she pulled it out.

I let out a sigh and grasped her arm again. We stood in front of the priest. "No long sermons. Just skip the boring part." I said plainly.

The priest looked at the lady with a pitiful look. I rolled my eyes. Damn! He is too soft! "Move on with it." The priest stalled for a minute and glanced at the ceiling.

I moaned annoyingly. He looked at me and then the lady. "Do you, Rex Northman, take this lady to be your wife? To love." He said, saying the words off heart. "Yes.

If I didn't, you wouldn't be here." I scoffed. He turned towards the lady. "Do you, my dear, take Rex to your husband? To love and take care of him, in sickness and in health?

Whether rich or poor, in good or bad time until death do you apart?" She flashed a glance at me and broke down again. Can't she do anything else asides crying?

I am beginning to miss the bold lady I met minutes ago. "My dear?" He called her softly. She looked at him tearfully. She sniffed.

I leant closer. "If you don't say yes within the next minute, you and that innocent priest will be force to go an unplanned trip to the netherworld.

You wouldn't want that, would you?" I threatened, whispering to her ear. Her eyes widened and she looked at the priest.

She glanced at me and sadly looked away. "30 seconds gone." I reminded her. "What's your answer, dear?" He asked coaxingly. "II." She stuttered. "I, I do." He hung his head.

He glanced at me, seeing the smug smile I had worn. He let out a sigh. "By the power vested in me by the church, I pronounce you husband and wife." He said.

It seemed it was going to be like forever. "Thank you, Father. I guess your job here is done." I said plainly.

I signalled the two bodyguards beside him. "Take him back to the parish." They nodded and pulled the priest away. At least, I'm done with this. I took out the pack from my pocket.

Two sticks gone because I wanted to get married. I lit another stick and took a puff at it. I turned round and heard an annoying sound.

I looked at the direction where it came from and moaned. It was just my wife's sniffs.

Can't she at my be grateful that I saved from living the rest of her life as a single woman. "What now?" "I hate you!" She said bluntly, not hiding her anger. "Really?" I said jovially, purposely to annoy her.

I got hold of her arm and pulled her closer. "Look at your eyes. You've strained them with these tears." She tried to break free but she couldn't.

She tried consistently until she gave up. I had my arm wrapped round her. "You shouldn't waste your energy. It is worthless. You're married to me, Cupcake.

You belong to me." I said. "I'll never be yours." She objected boldly. "Character; you never seem to amaze me. I beginning to like you." I said, caressing her face with my finger.

I moved it close to her lips. I let go of her.

I stood a distance away from where she was and took a puff at my cigarette. "Take her back to the house." "Which house, Boss?" One of the bodyguards asked. "Are you that dumb or what?" I snarled, "My house." The bodyguards nodded and walked towards her.

They got hold of her. "Be careful with her. If I see any scratch on her skin, you'll pay for it." I said airily, without making eye contact. "I hate you!

I hate you!" She screamed as she was pulled away by them.

Jacqueline's POV

I sat down at the back of the car, with my eyes at the window. I watched the buildings and people we had driven past. I moved away from the door and leant against the soft seat. I turned to the side and glanced at the bodyguard, who was sat close to me.

Though he sat at a distance, but being close to him left like torture. A complete nightmare. I diverted my gaze to the window again. My eyes slowly began being teary. The thought of being close to that nut job, who calls himself my husband, frightened me even more.

I had no thoughts of getting married, especially not to him. A simple task has turned to an everlasting nightmare. Oh, great! I became someone's wife within an hour. An hour! If I could turn the hands of time, I would've stayed home and preferred being insulted by my landlord again.

The car drove on a bump, which made me to jerk and hit my head on the headrest of the driver's seat.

"Ow!" I moaned in pain, as I rubbed my temple with my fingers.

I turned to my side and caught the bodyguard looking at me. His facial expression was blank. He let out a sigh and shook his head. I wonder what he could be thinking of. The driver sounded the horn as we pulled up in front of a wrought gate.

The gate wasn't that tall but overshadowed the building from the outside. Soon, it began to wheel open. The gatekeeper stood at the side, holding a remote. The driver switched gear and drove in. He drove towards the garage and parked right at the entrance.

The bodyguard seated beside me got out of the car. I watched him as he walked over to the other side and stood at the door. He pulled it open.

"Get out of the car!" He said coolly.

I sluggishly got out. I turned my head around and flashed a glance at the gate. It was still open. Maybe I could run away and finally be free from this mess. Maybe I could convince them that this is all a big mistake and I was misunderstood as someone else.

"Mrs Northman!"

The bodyguard's voice snapped me out of the trance. I looked at him. He stared at the gate for awhile and signalled the gatekeeper to close it. I turned my head around again, watching the gate close automatically. There goes my escape plan.

"Follow me." He said firmly.

If I had meant Rex, I would've mistaken for the boss. Both arrogant and cold people. I let him walked a few steps ahead of me while I walked behind him. He rang the doorbell and waited for someone to answer. I stood at the door and admired the building. It was a duplex, though some of the walls were glass.

The door creaked open and a maid stood close to it. She held it open and waited for us to enter. We entered and she closed the door behind us. The bodyguard stood and scowled at her.

"Have you lost your manners?" He asked her.

She furrowed her brow confusingly.

"That's the boss' wife." He introduced me to her.

She looked at me. She scanned me from head to toe and guffawed. Usually, I would normally be upset but I'm already used to this. I like my body and clearly wouldn't change because of peoples' opinions. I rolled my eyes.

"Are you done?" The bodyguard said plainly.

The maid managed to control herself and replied in a nod.

"Show her to her room." He ordered.

The maid glanced at me and sniggered. How many selfcentred people live here? Isn't there a normal person in this house? A normal and slightly kind person. Is it too early to request for a divorce?

I followed the maid. Though, I was a few stairs behind her. I had my eyes on the floor as I climbed up. I could partially see the living room, if that was it. We got to the landing. She walked towards a door and pulled it open. She stood at the entrance.

I stalled for a minute and walked in. It was dark, though the corridor's light partially reflected in.

"It's dark in here." I said plainly.

"You've got hands. Turn on the lights yourself." She scoffed.

Did she just? I furrowed my brow surprisingly. I clenched my fist and bit my lower lip. I groped the wall, looking for the switch. I stumbled on a wooden shelf and knocked down something. It landed on something.

"Be careful not to break anything." She replied.

It would have been a lot better if she had just helped. She is already used to being here. I finally found the switch and turned on the lights. The room looked a lot bigger and better than in the dark.

"I don't want to be too nosy but..." She said.

I looked at her. She had a smug smile on her face. It was obvious what she was about to say would only piss me off.

"...you should try going to the gym. Maybe, lose a few pounds or more. That way, my boss will find you attractive. Just like his exfiancée, Samantha. I still don't know why they broke up but she would've definitely been in the best position to be his wife."

I wanted to give her a piece of my mind but a part of me held me back. She sniggered as she left the door. I quickly walked towards it and closed it. I turned the key in the keyhole until it was locked.

My eyes leaked as I let go of the key. Being forcefully married wasn't enough, now I'm being insulted by some maid because of my weight. I never wanted this. Hasn't life been cruel enough? First my mum left me, Dad died and I was forced to stay in an orphanage throughout my childhood. No one came to claim me, not even to adopt as theirs.