Forced Marriage: Escaping Her Monster

Jerlina with a sigh bowed her head. 

Well, I tried!

Was she happy he refused to help? No. But she understood him. 

She wanted to give it a try as she promised and she did. But she had a suggestion and she would have been happy if he listened to it.

But... well, I can try later.

"Jerlina," he stopped at the door. 

He didn't feel good for using that tone on her. He was not going to change his mind, but he can explain it to her.

He was harsh with her, but it is for her own good. And if she can't understand that...

"What?" Jerlina got up and walked to him. She wondered if he forgot something.

"You're not mad?" he asked looking at her face. He was surprised.

She asked something and he harshly refused her, but she still looks at him normally?

Why can I never understand her? 

Is it because it doesn't directly involve her she can act normal?

"No, why would I be mad? I am a little disappointed... but I am not mad," Jerlina spoke from her heart.

Jerlina looked at his surprised reaction. "I know I got mad at you before when you stopped me from going out to meet David Millman, but I was in a different place back then. And it was something personal and it made me..." She rubbed her forehead.

"This is personal for me too, but... I get it. There are many nuances in this issue. There are years of resentments and deals which I don't know much of. I honestly don't know anything about these gangs and the issues behind them, so I will defer it to you."

She looked at him and he had a smile.

She's disappointed? She uses the term parents use on their kids and it makes me feel bad.

This woman! 

"You're right. There are a lot of nuances. If I get involved, there will be fights and blood on the street. And then those who wanted our help will say that we destroyed their town.  Been there, done that. So they should help themselves. And if this comes directly from Wyatt, I won't hesitate to spend my own money to improve their town, but it is not, is it?"

  "No, it isn't..." Jerlina understood it a bit. 

It seems like the "turfs" as they say may be compared with national borders. So one country cannot interfere in another country's affairs without meeting with military force.

"I understand..." she nodded. "I saw how different Peyton is from ten years ago and I thought you can help Kiara's town too. But I get it. You cannot involve yourself. So..."

"Do you have a suggestion?" he placed his hand at her back and led her back to the seat.

She looked like she had one.

"Yes, how about using the politicians? The local representatives and senator..?" she asked. 

"Do you think they care?" Jeremy shrugged. "I thought they would and even spent a lot on the campaign of a newcomer to overthrow an old representative. But the moment he entered the congress, he started singing the same tune as the other politicians. No one will help this place unless we help ourselves," Jeremy said dryly.

Jerlina saw the exasperation in his tone and she felt bad for him. 

He is trying really hard for the betterment of this place. He must have faced a lot of failures before achieving the success he has. 

He is amazing!

"But we can push the politicians..." she raised her eyebrows. "Using the media!"

"Hmm..." he rubbed his beard. "What do you suggest?"

"Isn't there a fundraiser arranged by our representative that you are invited to?" She pressed her lips and smirked. "So..."

She explained her plan and he was impressed. He thought by seeing her pure heart that she cannot scheme, but she is a clever person it seems. 

Wow! She is the best!

"What do you say?" She wriggled her brows. 

"I'll bring you with me then, Honeybuns..." he rubbed her ears. 

  "Okay," she shrugged. 

"Do you do this often?" he asked. 

In a way scheming people are scary. 

"No... sometimes for Millman I have... He's dumb. There were a couple of times when the company almost went bankrupt but I needed the job and so..." she shrugged. "Are you scared of me? I am not all colorful petals and pleasant frangrance, you know? I have thorns too, " she looked at him.

She knew he'd understand her. She wished he'd understand her. Although he survived with his brute strength and his influence, he must have to be cunning too to maintain everything he has till now. 

In this world, anyone wanting to survive will have to do one thing or another for survival. And she has principles that she never breaks, but she sometimes does stuff to protect herself without breaking her principles. It takes a lot of careful thinking and execution, but she never hurts anyone in the process. 

Jeremy did remember hearing about Millman going bankrupt, but then rumors started circulating that land acquired by his company was increasing in value because of an upcoming highways near it. Millman sold that land to a higher price than the market value to an international corporation, getting him out of his bind. 

But no highway was built near the land and the value of the land dropped. The international corporation managed their losses and they built a mall there which was profitable to them. So no damage was done.

But she calculated all that?

"That rumors about the upcoming highway... did you..?" he looked at her with astonishment.

"Aww... you knew about that?" She shrugged. "Drunk men brag a lot to their women and wives like to brag about their husband's wealth with other women and smart wives collect information for their husbands and rumors spread."

"You naughty..." he pinched her cheek. 

She created a rumor in one of Millman's "meetings" and spread it among the women? And women told their husbands and that's how that rumor came to be?

He remembered at one party how the hot topic was Millman became the prospector who found gold.

She did that?

He was more and more impressed with her. But it is a given. She got where she is by her own efforts without any influence. He knew she is a hustler.

God, I love her!

"So, tell me, my smart Jerlina... You insisted on hiring a PR firm for our company and you're looking for one for your company too. Why is that?"

"That... is a precaution. I have an instinct that there is going to be a lot of misinformation and slanders on your name and on your company... Mine too. We'll need a PR firm to handle that." Jerlina's eyes got serious.

"Rumors in the town can be handled by browbeating and by other means. But rumors about the company should be handled delicately. You cannot strong-arm them for long. And this involves the livelihood of others-"

"Is this about Emma?" He interjected her and she looked at him and took a deep breath.

He's smart and he got what she meant.