Make You Mine(Redemption 2) - Episode 16

 

Phillip:

"She'll be right down." I inform Cheryl's father as I reach the last step, meeting him and the woman Cheryl and I met at the party last weekend. His wife I guess.
"You look dashing." The young woman closes the space between us and hugs me before I can avoid her. She giggles like a teenage girl before pulling away.
"Who would have thought that Cheryl has a man she's been hiding from us?" She touches my arm good naturedly and I shrug, uncomfortable with her touching me.
"What is taking her so long. My brothers are already at the dining room." Cheryl's father says and his young wife comes back to his side.
"You know how she is. She's most likely fussing around with make up and all of that." She doesn't sound bitter but I didn't like her talking about Cheryl like she's an airhead.
"Well, it's not easy to look as beautiful as she always looks." I give the couple a polite smile.
"That's right." Cheryl's father nods at me and smiles. I feel like that's a thumbs up for me but I shouldn't be feeling proud of myself. This is acting.
"Oh she's here." I let my eyes travel up the stairs to rest on Cheryl. Oh is she breathtaking. She has her weavon down, framing her beautiful face. The little black dress hugs her body perfectly accentuating her little curves. Her eyes brightens when she sees me and she smirks at my open ogling. I smile impishly.
"I better go escort my woman." I won't think about how that feels so right on my lips. I make my way upstairs and meet Cheryl halfway. I hook her arm around mine and pull her flush to my side.
"You look beautiful." I say truthfully.
"You're doing well. Ooin!" She says drily and I frown at her as we make our way down.
"It's a silly word I learnt from a comedy skit." She chuckles lightly at my ignorance.
"Dad." Cheryl leaves my side to hug her dad for a few seconds. She doesn't even spare the woman standing by him a glance as she comes back to my side and slides her hand into mine.
"I believe dinner awaits." She says.
"Yeah. Let's go. They have been waiting." Her father says before taking the hand of his wife and walking ahead of us.

****

Cheryl:

"Lizzy just bagged another degree! Isn't she marvelous. Her husband is so proud of her." My aunt gushes from the other side of the table and not for the first time this night, I feel like banging my head against the table. I just focus on my plate and play with the food on it.
"You aren't eating." Phillip whispers from my side.
"No appetite." I tell him.
"If your aunty continues on about her many children's achievements, I swear I would throw myself out that inviting window." He whispers in my ear and the laughter that bubbles in my stomach is too much to be held back. I kick my head back and let out a real belly laugh. It's unlike the ones I've been faking all night.
"Something funny?" My aunt's lips form a tight line, making her over made up face to break a little. I bite back my laughter.
"Oh no. I just reminded her about the third time I proposed to her. Funny story you see. Did she tell you how many times I tried to bag her stubborn heart?" Phillip covers up for me.
"Did she tell you that she's a divorcee?" The callous woman asks casually. I stiffen in my chair even though Phillip already knows about this little detail.
"Oh yeah, she told me about that. Can't believe the stupid bastard lost this gem. I'm not losing you, Bambi." He takes my hand and kisses it lightly. Cue the butterfly stampede. I can't seem to look away from his gaze.
"Thank you." I mouth to him and he smiles.
"Where's the ring?"
"What?" I look up to the step monster as she points her perfectly manicured fingernails at our entwined hands.
"The ring. He said he proposed a number of times." She relaxes in her seat as every eyes comes to rest on my white face. I can't believe I didn't think of that.
"She rejected it. Wasn't her style." Phillip drops my hand gently on my lap and faces my father.
"Your daughter is quite the picky bride." He says and my father chuckles deeply.
"I raised her. I know all about her picky habits. She's happy though. I can feel the sparks between you too. You're doing well, son. I can call you that right? Since you're going to be part of the family soon." My father beams at Phillip who nods. He goes to say something else but his phone starts chiming and he puts a finger up. He looks down at the phone and I see his features harden.
"I'm sorry but I have to take this. It's work." He gives me an apologetic look but I wave him off. I can survive a few minutes without him. As soon as he's out of earshot my aunty sighs audibly and my eyes snaps to her.
"I don't like him. He's below you." She says.
"He's not." I grind out, my anger rising.
"He doesn't have his own company. Damon is much better." She doesn't know when to stop.
"Why don't you marry your precious Maya to Damon then. She's very much single." I snap at her and she scoffs. Maya is the black sheep of her family. She's the oldest but has been through three divorces.
"You have no manners!"
"Well you are a narcissistic snub!" I snap at her.
"Cheryl!" The step monster gasps.
"You are no much better." I point to her.
"That's enough Cheryl." My father focuses tired eyes at me and I pout.
"I'm outta here." I pull the napkin from my lap and start to stand just as a head of dark hair peeks through the dining room door.
"Da__" I fall back on the chair as I stare open mouthed at him. He goes to my father and drops a bottle of champagne on the table.
"For the host." He says smoothly. I see my cousins straighten up their hair as he starts to walk around towards me. I want to run but I can't.
"Cheryl." He goes to put his lips on me but I pull away at the last moment. his lips graze my ear and I cringe.
"Your family is watching. Don't be so dramatic." He says into my ear as he plants his ass on the seat on the other side of me. Is this why that particular chair has been empty?
"I invited him. He's still part of the family." My eyes flies to the step monster. Her nerves just cripples me!
"He's no family of mine." I seethe. I look out the door but there's no Phillip.
"Dad, you knew about this? Is this why we're here? I have a fiancee for Christ's sake." My dad shakes his head mildly.
"I never invited him. But since he's here. We can't throw him out can we?" He looks more tired and I relent.
"Are you okay, dad?" I ask. He waves me off.
"I should just retire to bed. You'll be here when I wake up right? I want some time with my daughter." He says and I nod. I can't leave now if I want to.
"You want me to leave with you?" His wife stands with him, playing the ever loving wife and I look away from the sight of the snake.
"No. Enjoy your dinner. I'll just retire before you all." My father pat her hand and they look like father and daughter. She nods slowly and sits back down on her chair.
The table is still quiet minutes after my father leaves. My aunty is the one who breaks the silence.
"I think we should leave as well." I can't look too relieve or she might want to stay and torment me more. I focus my head at my plate of food. People start to push back chairs as everyone makes their way out of the dining room.
My step monster, the good host stands with them and walks them out while they chatter lightly.
  The room goes back quiet but the idiotic beside me doesn't make a move to leave. I bite down on my lips and push my chair back.
"Cheryl!" His hand catches my hand and I gasp at his touch.
"When are you going to stop this childish phase. You belong to me." My eyes flies up to his.
"You're disgusting." It's all I can say because when I look at him, all I see is an animal in human flesh.
"Let me make you better Cheryl. I know you still love me." His hand touches my wet cheek and I realize I'm crying. This is why he thinks he can trample all over me. He makes me feel so weak.
"Don't touch me!" I step back from him and his hand falls between us.
"You hurt me, Damon. Almost every day. You made me hate myself for so long! I changed so much to please you! You can't fix me, hell you'll only break me beyond repair. That's if you haven't already done it." I say. I turn to walk out on him but walk into the chair pulled out behind me. I lose balance and nearly plant my head in the ground.
"Cheryl!" Damon's hand comes around me to catch me.
"Get off me!" My hand goes flying without thought and the sound of my palm hitting his cheek is sickening. I don't spend more than a second staring at his angry face as I take to my heels and run out of the room. Phillip! Where are you?