Elsa pov

He left without even staying an hour with me. Was I a pest or a disease he feared been plagued with?

I was just the substitute, I finally realized. I tried all I could to make him see that I was perfect for him. I did his laundry, I cooked him meals.

I always what him to share his day with me but all he did was push me to the wall.

I didn’t ask him to marry him, he and his family decided I was the perfect wife for him. When his business was about go down the drain, his family want him to get a wife who could stay in the hidden.

I was the perfect person for the task. I have always been good at staying hidden right from a little age. Right from when my step sister took all the love in the house.

I never complained, I just watched in silence. But Claire never seemed to give up on taking what belongs to me.

When my mother died, it didn’t take my dad a month to get over her and bring home a woman and a child who I was two years younger than.

It was at that point I realized that my father never loved mom like he claimed he did. He was only after her money, he even went as far as taking the family heirloom and inheritance my mother left for me.

I wonder what I did to the universe to make the same thing that happened to my mom marriage repeat itself in my marriage.

I cleaned the tears that had flowed like running water down my cheeks and entered the bathroom to get ready for woke. I tried to apply a considerable amount of makeup to hidden the dark circle around my eyes.

I didn’t want to get unnecessary questions from my colleagues.

“What happened to you.” Linda asked once I arrived at the office. I wondered if she could see through my makeup.

“I wasn’t feeling well.” I said and went about arranging my desks.

I waited for hours to see if Alvin would come out of his office to demand that I do anything for him. But I waited for three good hours.

No one knew about our marriage. To everyone in his company, we were just boss and secretary and to family we were husband and wife.

I inquired from Linda if the boss was around but she said no and my suspicion was finally confirmed.

I went about my work for the day and went back home. Showered and ate.

After one hour of restlessness, I dailed his number but it was switched off. Tears welled in my eyes, how could he hurt me like this? Treat me like a trash when all I did was love him?

I didn’t have anyone to complain to about the way he treated me. The one time I told his mother, he scolded me and didn’t come back for two days.

It was his way of punishing me.

My stomach began to rumble and I found myself racing into the toilet. This is the third time through out today that I had thrown up.

I rinsed my mouth and head back to bed where I layed with my mind creating scenes of what Alvin and Claire might be doing.

Stop thinking about them, think about your kids.

At the thought of my kids, I wrapped my hands around my stomach in a protective way. They were my life now and I was ready to do anything to protect them.

Footsteps around the room woke me up, I could smell a perfume that wasn't mine. When I opened my eyes, I found Alvin trying to change up and likely shower.

“You didn’t come home neither did you text as always.” I said hoping he would tell me the truth behind why he wasn’t home.

“I went for a business trip.” He said as he pulled down his trouser and I tried hard not to get distracted. Alvin had a killer body. A body that any woman would beg for. Maybe that was the reason why Claire was after him.

“You left me for Claire, you didn’t even tell me that she she was back.” I said finally sitted and armed crossed.

He was shocked at first but then his expression changed into anger.

“And what if I didn’t tell you? She came back yesterday and told me to come pick her from the airport.”

“And you stayed the whole night with her? Don’t dare lie to me because I can smell her perfume on you Alvin.” I said before he could say anything to defend himself.

“Why are you even been dramatic Elsa? Don’t you dare act all innocent like you weren’t the one who told Claire to stay away from me or you’ll hurt her.”

I stared at him in shock before walking towards him.

“What are you talking about? I never did such a thing.”

“There you go again. You never admit to your wrong doings Elsa. Do you know what you are? A selfish human. All you do is think about yourself.” His words hits me like a blow in the chest and I grabbed my shirt to calm the pain.

“I am your wife Alvin. All I’ve done was love you, I accepted this marriage because I love you.”

“No Elsa, you accepted this marriage to hurt your sister. You always knew that I loved her and not you but you went ahead to accept the marriage.”

I couldn’t hold back my tears anymore, all the words he just said to me were so brutal that it felt like physical blows to my body.

How could he say this to me after all I tried to do for him. I tried as much as possible to satisfy him in bed, where did I go wrong?

“Remember, I’ve never loved you and you are not my real wife. We are just married based on the contract.” With that been said he stormed out of the room without glancing back at me.

Elsa pov

I worked into the office, five minutes late and I didn’t care if my boss would get mad at me and deduct my pay. None of that matter to me right now.

“Elsa!! Jeez, you look like you had a bad nightmare. Are you sure you’re fine.” Linda asked. I wasn’t one who was comfortable in sharing my problems with anyone so I just nodded a yes to her and grabbed my chair.

“Mr Alvin wants you to deliver his coffee. I insisted that he let me bring it over for him but he declined saying he want you to.” Linda said almost feeling sorry that I had to work even in my miserable state.

It seems Alvin finally calmed down and realized that he really hurt my feelings. I felt a bit of joy in my heart but my joy was short lived once I enter his office.

The back of a woman with brown sleep curly hair with a red backless dress sat facing him. His hands were on her laps while they passionately kissed.

I was familiar with the woman that was what hurt the most. With shaking hands I quickly dropped the coffee on the table and that brought them both back to reality.

“Are you fucking serious? Can’t you knock.”

“You seem to having hearing issues miss Claire because I knocked before coming in to see this.” I replied her trying as much as I can to keep my cool.

Claire took a sip from the coffee and then spits it on my white shirt which surprises me. I turned to look at Alvin guessing he would scold her for it but he didn’t even look my way.

“I don’t like this coffe, you were suppose to add milk and two spoons of sugar into it.”

“If you have any complains you should send it down to the cafe not me Miss Claire. I was only directed to bring this coffee to this office.”

“This has always been your problem sis. You never like to take corrections maybe that why you haven’t been promoted and you’re still stucked at been a secretary.” Claire said with a smirk on her face.

I looked at Alvin but not a single word did he spill out to defend me. That when I realized that I was never the woman he liked.

The name of his company should have made this clear to me already. A man who name his company after his name and that of his lover, how could he have any feelings for me?

“Don’t give me that face Elsa. Well, why don’t you show me to the rest room. This building is big and I know you won’t want to let me get lost right.”

“Of course not, follow me.” I said as I walked out of the office. I knew Claire was up to no good when she said she needed the restroom.

Immediately I got inside, she rushed in and pushed me to the wall.

“You think you could steal my man away from Elsa?”

“He is my husband. And let me rephrase that statement, you have always stolen what was rightfully mine from the start. First you took my favorite doll, then you took my mothers room, my father, all the love and even now you plan on taking my husband. If you really wanted to have him , why didn’t you agree to the marriage? Why run away and allow me clean up your mess?”

“It’s none of your business why I left. Now I am back and I’m going to take what rightfully belongs to me. Alvin belongs to me.”

“I already have him. Where do you think he was last night? Where did you think he was on the day of your anniversary. He was with me.”

“You’re lying.” I said to her, hands already trembling. She pulled out her phone and showed me photo of her and Alvin having fun.

I pushed her away from me, switching on the tap and sprinkling water on my face to calm my nerves

“I can’t blame you. You’re always think you can have something even when it doesn’t fit you. Just like your mother took my dad away from me.

“How dare you?” I asked stepping closer to her.

“And guess what? You’ll end up like…”

SLAP

“Don’t you dare speak about my mother ever again or you’ll regret it.” My fingers still tingling from the effect of the slap and then I heard footsteps.

“You’re in for trouble.” Claire Fingers into her arms till blood began to drip then scattered her hair. Everything happened so fast before Alvin opened the door.

“What happened.” Alvin asked as he pulled Claire to himself, he didn’t even care to check on me first and that’s when it became clear.

Claire had won again.

“Don’t blame her Alvin, I was trying to beg her to forgive me and accept me as her sister but it seems I stepped on her toe.”

“She’s lying. She spoke wrongly about my mother Alvin please believe me.”

“Enough Elsa, I had seen enough. Look what your jealousy made you do to your own sister.”

“I didn’t do anything.” I pressed on but he his heart was hardened towards me. I watched as he checked Claire injuries before planting a kiss on her cheeks.

Something he never did with me, not even when we got intimate. My eyes were hurt from all the tears I had to hold back.

“Apologize to Clare.” Alvin said to my surprise. His face held no emotions.

Why couldn’t he see through the veil of lies? I was the one hurt here and now he demanded I apologize to my sister.

“No.”

“It’s okay Alvin, I’m fine she doesn’t have to apologize.” Claire declared with a smirk on her face while she caress Alvin’s chin.

“You would apologize to Claire or else..”

“I said no and that’s final.”

“If that’s the case, you’re fired.” The words came out of his mouth effortlessly.

ELSA POV

“You’re fired.” Those words rang in my ear like a bell. I couldn’t believe I just got fired from my job because of my sister.

This job was everything to me. I remembered how I got a letter stating that I been offered a job at Baron and Claire, I was happy because this was an opportunity to be near Alvin.

But he never considered me as anything till this very day. I was the perfect wife to pretend at day that we were just a boss and colleague and them perform my wifely duties at night.

I didn’t pay attention to the road as thoughts ran through my head until I bumped into someone. I almost fell but the person was quick enough to grab me and when I stared into the eyes of whose hands I was, I froze.

Gabriel Mcmilian.

What was he doing in New York?

“Hello Elsie.” He said with a smile as he watch me try to find my balance. I comported myself not wanting to see how surprised I was to see him.

“Surprised?”

Of course I was. Grabriel and I had been classmate right from high school down to college. He had tried so much to prove that he was a better guy than Alvin but I never gave him the chance.

Now, I’m filled with regret as I stare at this handsome man with chiseled jaws. His hair, low and dark as always. He really looked like a model.

“You know my name is Elsa and not Elsie.”

“Of course, i just like seeing your reaction whenever I call you Elsie. It’s been long, how have you been.”

“You’re still annoying.” I said with a small smile.

“Yeah. Where are you heading to? I can drop you off.” He said already gesturing to where he parked his car. I did want to turn him down but one mind kept telling me to give him a chance.

After all, what could be the worst that can happen. Already, the man that I love is in his office enjoying with my sister.

“12b avenue road. That where I’ll be stopping” I didn’t give him the exact address because I didn’t want him coming over as he pleased.

I speak from an experience. Grabriel was one in a million who would do anything to get what he wants. I wished Alvin was like that.

“So did you end up with Alvin?” He said once he started the ignition. I knew this question was coming.

“Is that why you offered me a lift? To prey on my personal life?”

“No, don’t get me wrong Elsie. I just wanted to know if your happy with him.” He said I could that he was genuinely concerned but I refused to say anything.

The drive was quiet and awkward for a while before I finally spoke up.

“My marriage is fine, thank you for asking.” I said and looked out the window not wanting to breakdown or get asked other questions.

“I’ve got a business proposal. You know how you loved to make jewelries? I’ve got a position and I wanted someone skilled to handle it.

“And you think I am skilled enough?”

“Cmon Elsie. I want you as a partner to grow my new company. Just come to the art studio when you get the chance to and see some designs I created.” He begged.

I nodded in agreement because for once, someone realized what I liked.

I once used to create drawing of jewelries but my stepmother kept burning them and my father didn’t want me to have a job of my own.

To him, being the perfect house wife was better. Even when I accepted the job offer from Alvin’s company he was pissed but Alvin managed to calm him down.

“Here is my card, call me anytime you are free.” That was the last words he spoke before I stepped down of his car. I watched as his car speed off.

Riel Jewelry Collection.

That was the name of his company. But why go into the jewelry business. I could recall that he had the biggest oil company in New York and across the globe.

Well, it wasn’t good to keep all your eggs in one basket, I told myself.

I went about my usual routine when I get home from work. Once more, I took the test results from my bag trying to convince myself that it was time to tell Alvin about the children.

“Who were you with outside the company building today?”

I scrambled to hide the test results back in my bag at the sound of Alvin’s voice.

“What are you trying to hide?” He said as he strolled around the back of the sofa to face me.

“It’s none of your business.” I said to him not even looking his way.

“Well, you didn’t answer my first question.”

“Why is that your problem? You can worry about who I move with but I can’t?”

“Stop this Elsa, I have every right because you are my wife.”

“You’re contracted wife Alvin don’t forget.”

“Don’t act like you didn’t know what you were getting yourself into when you signed the contract.”

Every blood in my vain froze. So, really I was just a game to him.

“If you’re so much interested in who I was with then listen, that was Grabriel and he just gave me a job offer.”

“You can’t accept it.”

“You can’t be serious Alvin. Remember I lost my job today and I need another job. I’ve gotten one and so, you should be happy for me.”

“You can’t work with him.” He said again with a frown on his face.

“You don’t get to dictate my life anymore. I’ve found a job that clicks with my passion and I won’t be giving it up. Not for you especially.” My stomach began to rumble again, I grabbed my bag and run down to the toilet.

“What are you hiding from me Elsa.” I heard Alvin shout out from behind me as I ran.