Forced Marriage: Escaping Her Monster

"I can't wait for long," Jeremy tapped his fingers on the receptionist's desk.

The woman who seemed to be in her early twenties looked at him hiding her contempt. Surely her boss is not someone who considers meeting with someone wearing a flannel shirt and jeans a priority. He even drove a broken truck here.

Is he some kind of beggar?

"Sir, please wait for one more minute. I haven't gotten a reply from Mr.Millman's office yet," she said with her business smile.

"Sweetie, you've said that for the past five minutes. Now, call him directly," he wasn't willing to move.

"Sir, we have to follow our procedures. I cannot call our CEO directly," she said politely and picked up the receiver of the phone that rang.

"I don't have time for all your procedures," Jeremy pulled the receiver from her hand. "Get David on the line. Tell him Jerlina Hopkins' husband wants to meet with him. The name is Jeremy Fitzgerald."

The receptionist was startled by the crude behavior of the guy and called for security. He is just one guy, but he had such an imposing aura and his boorish behavior scared her. Jeremy wasn't backing off and proceeded to walk to the elevator. 𝘧r𝑒𝘦𝒘𝘦𝙗ｎovel.𝐜o𝒎

"I dare any of you to lay a finger on me!" with a smirk, he pointed his finger at the security guards while folding his sleeve with his other hand.

The security guards backed off seeing the tattoo on his arm. A fierce wolf with sapphire blue eyes and a moon in the background – he should be the CEO of Fitzgerald Lumber Corp. And also the leader of the Sapphire Wolf Gang.

Why is he here?

As the tensions were high, the elevator door opened, and out came David Millman.

"TJ Fitzgerald?" he paused and with half step out of the elevator, he froze.

"Careful, David. Your belly is gonna get stuck between the doors," Jeremy smiled mockingly.

"Ah, Titan Jay... Your humor is impeccable as always," David chuckled and tried to pat Jeremy's back but he moved aside.

"You run your office very well, David. They made me wait for five minutes," he smiled but his smile didn't reach his eyes.

"Who did? I'll fire them immediately! You don't have to wait. You could've walked-"

"Ah, never mind," Jeremy checked his fingernails. "Here I thought of sending my wellwishes to your son for getting membership in the NLBMDA (National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association)! Well, whatever!" he clicked his tongue looking around. "I've seen better offices. For a construction company, your decor is pretty lacking." He shook his head in disapproval.

"You used too much wood, it's over-saturated." He walked to the exit. "By the way, inform Trevor that I said 'Hi' to his alliterate friend."

Waving his hand, he left the building and David Millman held his chest staggering.

NLBMDA? Too much wood? Alliterate friend?

His son has plans to start a building materials dealership and how did Jeremy know about it this soon? Also, there aren't any wood decors in the reception except the table. And, what does alliterate mean?

David Millman was confused. Out of nowhere, the Titan of the Lumber industries on the West Coast, came to his office and said seemingly unrelated things?

No way they are unrelated!

"What happened here?" he walked to the receptionist.

"I-" she gulped. She was terrified to know that the guy whom she thought was some country bum is an important person. She worried if she'd lose her job.

"He said he was Jerlina's husband," she said.

"Jerlina? Jerlina Hopkins, who used to be my secretary?" David Millman was surprised. "She got married? Why wasn't I informed? I was told she stopped coming to the office?" he turned to look at his assistant and he shrugged.

"We couldn't contact her this past month. We didn't know she got married. Wasn't she dating a lawyer though?" the assistant got more confused.

"What does alliterate mean?" David asked rubbing his forehead. His head hurt due to stress.

"If someone's first name and surname begin with the same alphabet they are said to be alliterate ones."

"First and..."

Moses Mosely? Is Trevor still in contact with that thug?

David Millman gulped. He decided to have a word with his son. As for the other thing, he didn't have to wait for long.

Within an hour after Jeremy left, their company received a call from their wood supplier that they are holding their supply until he pays all the bills upfront. It was usual for them to pay a week after they receive the goods. This sudden change in the supplier's attitude only means someone powerful had been involved.

The construction business is very competitive and time is of value. If they don't receive the materials for the construction, they will face serious losses. And he didn't have that much money to pay immediately.

He asked his people to talk with other suppliers and they all said the same thing. David Millman knew it involves Titan Jay.

TJ! How did I offend you?

-----

Jerlina stared at the dog and it stared back at her. Ever since TJ left, she's been in a staring contest with this dog. She was scared of dogs, but this one looked cute and she liked it.

"It is boring to just stare, Do you want to listen to music?" she asked and the dog talked back.

"I have no idea what you're saying, but I will take that long answer as a yes." Jerlina shrugged and she got a long reply for this too.

"Do you understand what I say?" she asked and this time the answer was a lot longer with a very loud howl.

She found talking to that dog, interesting. Whatever she says, the dog will talk back and then he'd make interesting movements.

As she was passing time with the dog, her phone rang. She was surprised it was her boss calling her.

"Congratulations on getting married," his voice wasn't in any way congratulatory.

"Thank you, sir," Jerlina said, contemplating how her boss knew this information. As she spoke the husky started to talk back and she walked to her room.

"Your husband paid a visit. He told me to do what you want," He said and as someone who was his secretary for three years, Jerlina knew he was lying.

What happened for him to be this salty? Did TJ really visit him?

"Can I get my job back?"

Since he asked, Jerlina thought of taking a chance.

"I can't! My little construction company is too small for the Titan's wife!" he said and Jerlina could hear the sound of glass clinking on wood.

She understood he's at a bar and it would be useless to talk with him now since he'd get very nasty when he drinks.

Ugh! Like I had a choice to become his wife! What a bother!

Darn you TJ! What are you planning on achieving by announcing me as your wife?