Chapter 1
My name is Jane johnflow, the only daughter of Malik Johnflow one of the wealthiest family in the city, but my father did not look at me as a daughter or human being, I would say, but as a liquid assets.
Currently, I have been caged and locked in my room for three days now, phone and books have been confiscated by my father because I refuse to marry a man I have no feelings for and have only met twice during board meetings. All for the sake of my father’s greediness for profits and his company. my mother is no more and my brothers. Leo and Marcus had already been groomed to inherit the company boardrooms, the factories and the security fleets, while I had a specialized education; how to stand, sit and smile to any invited guests.
5 AM on the day of my wedding my room door was clicked open finally as I quietly walked to the window, pressed my forehead against the glass, looking down at the shipping containers being stacked by massive cranes. (just like me moved from one dock to another to balance ledger).
The marriage was scheduled for 6 o’clock, and I would be given off to Henry Musks son of the top tier wealthiest family. I looked at my hands, trembling, slightly, not from fear apart from fear, sub, skating weights of hairlessness
I looked at my hands, trembling, slightly, not from fear but from sheer suffocating weight of helplessness. in four hours, just in four hours and I would walk down the aisle signed and registered a marriage that will be sealing off a 20 year exclusive transport alliance with the Johnflow‘s name flowing into the musks Accounts.
Knock, knock, knock!!!
“Two hours Miss Jane”. The maid’s voice called through the door. “The hairstylist is here, Ma!”
Jane didn’t answer, but kept staring at the white dress hanging through the canopy bed like a ghost waiting to be inhabited.
She stood there, looking at the wedding dress for 10 minutes, thinking if it would be possible for her to escape that moment, but the reception is being held at the Musks family waterfront estate and the guards are standing outside the doors even her family was watching her closely.
“Fuck! I can’t even do anything” she furiously shouted, “okay calm down jean, calm down.”She breath in and out and thought to herself.
immediately the marriage contract is signed. definitely the atmosphere tension in the hall would drop, security and others would relax and eyes would turn away from her. That would be a perfect opportunity for her to escape. All she just needed is to play the parts of a submissive bride for the remaining a few more minutes.
“Come in,” jane called out, her voice perfectly calm as she looked towards the door. The maid entered followed by the stylist as jane offered them a practiced smile and they started dressing her up.
Minutes later, the atmosphere quickly shifted from quiet anticipation to a bustling celebration as a guest filled the space, signaling the official start of the weeding ceremony. The heavy oak doors of the hall swung open, the expectant murmur of the crowd died down to a sharp collective intake of breath as Mr Johnflows whispers to Jane “Do not ruin the family name Jane”.
I took a deep breath, my fingers tightened around my father‘s fabric sleeve, every eyes in the crowded room was on me. My father and I walked down the aisle slowly and finally reached the alter.
Henry eagerly, grab my hand away from my father push me towards him and learn slightly to my ears and said “smile, princess it’s our big day.”
Jane trembles in fear, her throat went dry, just one breath from her and tears will roll down her eyes.
The hall became quite as The Rev.father cleared his throat and began
“ Dearly beloved,” his voice echoing clearly through the hall.. “ we are Gathered here today to unite the family of Musks and jonhflow in the holy matrimony”. If anyone here knows any reason why these two should not be legally wed speak now or forever hold your peace.”
There was a fleeting, second of respectful silence, then immediately a defending crack of window glasses, shattered the quiet hall and a sharp violent of exclusive gunshots ripped through the air, followed by a heavy kick slam on the door, for one terrifying second, time stopped, and smiles froze on the faces of the guests then screaming began, a wild and noisy disorder erupted instantly as the terrified guests kicked over flowers arrangements, and trampled the wedding programs in a desperate rush for the exist.
“Get down”! Henry roared, his voice barely cutting through the noises as he rushed to shield his old man. Jane stood there frozen as she watched the so-called man she wants to marry, abandoning her to rescue his father, her eyes scanned the hall for her own family as she saw that they were lying down flat on the floor, none of them was looking her way. Her hands still trembling and without hesitation she immediately bundled her wedding gown up into her fists, jumped down from the altar and run as fast as she could towards a half hidden heavy velvet curtain that led to the rear courtyard. To her this wasn’t a tragedy but an exit strategy.
she sprinted through the quiet residential street away from the sirens and noises that was already wailing towards the Musks family estate.
Passerby stared in absolute bewilderment at the side of the bride, running at full tilt.
I finally got to the family house ( heavy breathing)
I rushed inside my room my hands shaking so violently as I pulled out a backpack from my wardrobe and started grabbing things that mattered; passport, emergency cash she saved, her mother‘s photo. She run to her father’s office and grab her phone. Then quickly shoved myself into a pair of dark jeans and a black hoodie( clothes she had prepared for her escape)
10 minutes, she had just 10 minutes before Henry or her father realized she hadn’t just been swallowed up by the panicked crowd, but that she was gone for good and they would definitely come looking for her when the messes cleared. Jane zipped her backpack shut, looked at her reflection in the mirror one last time then cut her hair into a shoulder length bob. she quietly slipped out from the back exit of her family‘s building, avoiding the cameras in the hallway.
