Not A Cinderella Wife

Axel looked at Rachel with a look that was difficult to decipher. Seeing the anger in the eyes of the man who had become her lover for the last few years, Rachel tightened her grip again. Tried to keep smiling, hoping the anger controlling the man would subside soon.

"Next week I have to go to America, Axel," he pleaded pitifully. "You know how I tried to get this scholarship. So now? I graduated and can join the doctoral program as I dreamed of."

"How much longer do I have to wait? If you want, after we get married I can pay for your doctoral degree!" Axel glared at Rachel.

"No! I don't need your help. Besides, this education will be completed in one or two years, and after that, I promise we will get married.

Axel took a deep breath.

"Isn't that too long? You know that Mommy and Daddy have repeatedly urged me to get married."

Now Rachel moved her hand, gently caressing her boyfriend's cheeks which were starting to grow fine hairs.

"Even Damian isn't married yet. Then why should you be afraid?"

"But at least Damian is engaged and will get married shortly. Meanwhile, you refused when I asked you to get engaged," said Axel.

Rachel stared fixedly at the man, her idol.

"Oh come on, Axel. Besides, you are also enjoying your popularity as an engineer and a successful young entrepreneur, aren't you? I beg you to wait for me for another year or two. I really promise this time."

Axel stirred.

His eyes closed for a moment, struggling to consider whether this time he should give up Rachel again to go after his dream even though it was clear that at this time, her parents kept pressing her to get married at the age of almost entering her thirties.

"Okay, this time you can go. But you have to promise that when we return from America we will get married soon."

Rachel smiled happily at Axel's answer.

"I promise, and while I'm gone I beg you to wait for me."

Axel nodded briefly, then pulled Rachel into his arms.

****

Two months later.

Axel entered a famous cafe in South Kensington. The man looked around until his net caught the presence of three men who were waiting for his arrival.

"Sorry I'm late. The meeting with the investors from Switzerland took too long," said Axel, then sat down on the available sofa.

"Excuse me! We've been waiting for you for more than forty minutes already." Rayyen, the youngest man among them, seemed to grumble so annoyed.

Axel laughed sarcastically.

"Sorry, but I never asked you to wait, Ray. Even if you want to go home now, I won't stop you in the slightest."

Rayyen snorted in annoyance at Axel's words.

"Damian, see for yourself? How can you have a brother who is so annoying like him?" Rayyen pointed. "Did Mommy Veronica have wrong cravings when she was pregnant?" Rayyen continued in a mocking tone.

"Hey, don't take my Mommy with you, Ray. You are impatient. No wonder no woman wants to be your girlfriend. After all, who invited us to gather here on weekdays, like there's no other time," protested Axel.

Hearing Axel's words, which seemed to be mocking, Rayyen crumpled the tissue and then threw it at Axel. "There is absolutely nothing to do between Singles and impatience. If you forget, there is not even one woman who refuses to be the lover of a descendant of Drake, I'm the one who's been too picky all this time!" Rayyen argued.

What Rayyen said was true. Who does not know the Drake extended family? A family of Canadian descent who has a position and significant influence in business development in Japan, Singapore, and the Middle East. Drake Massen Company dominates the oil business, the medical world, the automotive industry, to shipping.

Damian, the oldest among them, shook his head seeing his younger siblings and cousins again arguing about unimportant matters. That's how the two of them are; there are always discussions that, in the end, make them mock each other.

"I asked all of you to gather here." The Damian finally spoke up.

"What do you want to talk about this time, sis?" Axel asked with a serious face.

Damian crossed his arms in front of his chest; it was seen that he took a deep breath before finally speaking again.

"You all know that next month I will get married. Like it or not, I have to take time off to prepare for the wedding. After all, after that I plan to go straight for my honeymoon to New Zealand."

"So?" asked Axel looking impatient.

Rayyen, who had been listening, smiled wryly at Axel. "Get used to listening to your parents talk first, Axel. Even Damian hasn't finished yet and you've already interrupted him!"

"Okay, I'm sorry, but I don't think Damian needs to beat around the bush. I mean just get straight to the point."

Damian looked at his younger siblings in turn.

"I want to ask you Axel to replace my position at the company while I'm taking leave. As for Rayyen, I'm tasked with helping Axel in case he has trouble taking care of several companies at once. For Asher, I ask you to go to the Santa Maria hospital immediately. They need your presence."

Hearing the words of the Damian who planned to place him in the main office with his eternal rival, Axel shook his head disapprovingly. It was not the right choice, in his opinion.

Not because Rayyen could not help him but because his cousin, apart from working as a lawyer, also could run a business. Even Rayyen's father's company proliferated under Rayyen's leadership.

It's just that Rayyen's behavior, who likes to annoy and criticize him, makes Axel think twice. They never really got along with each other.

"Why? You don't agree to be my business partner?" asked Rayyen when he began noticing Axel's uncomfortable movements.

Axel sneered.

"Of course, Ray. I'm too lazy to have to be with you in the office. You're too talkative for a man. Even I think maybe you should have been better born as a woman. Try to act like Asher who doesn't talk too much."

Hearing his name being called, Asher, the man who had been silent the most before, just shook his head as he saw his two cousins fighting again.

Rayyen laughed wryly at Axel's words.

"You say I'm talkative? Keep in mind, every time you need a friend to confide in, why am I always the one you're looking for, huh? You weird cousin!" Rayyen replied no less fiercely.

Again Damian could only stroke his chest, seeing the behavior of his two younger siblings.

"Come on, stop fighting between you two. What is certain is that from the day after tomorrow you will have to move to the main office," Damian ordered.

Inevitably the two men involved in the argument fell silent and agreed to the Damian's orders.

Not long after, Axel's cell phone rang. Glancing at the name on the screen, he immediately picked it up.

"Hello, Mommy?"

"Hello, Son. Can you hurry home? It's almost evening. Mama has prepared dinner for you too. You are with Damian, Asher and Rayyen, right? Invite them all home."

"Okay, right now Axel is home."

"Mommy is waiting for you all."

"Okay, Ma," said Axel, then turned off his cell phone.

"Is Mommy looking for you?" asked Damian when he heard the word Mommy coming out of Axel's mouth while he was on his phone.

Axel nodded.

"He was looking for all of us, to be more precise. Mama asked us to go home quickly," Axel replied. "And you two, if you want a free meal, hurry up!" Axel continued giving orders to his two cousins, who answered with a nod.

A tradition upheld by the Drake Massen extended family is having dinner together. No matter how busy they are, since childhood, they have been accustomed to when dinner time arrives, everyone must gather and eat food together at the dinner table. There is no excuse or refusal for this one except for the position of those who are out of town.

Usually, on the sidelines of the ritual meal, they exchange stories. This is a way to get closer to each other.

Axel got up from his seat. Just as he turned around and was about to step forward, he accidentally bumped into a woman in the opposite direction.

"Gosh," the woman screamed because the drink she was holding fell, so its contents spilled out on the floor.

"Sorry ... Sorry ..." A moment later, Axel immediately helped pick up the drink cups scattered on the floor.

The woman raised her face, and a second later, she froze in her position until she finally unconsciously spoke.

"Bee..."

Axel averted his gaze. He seemed transfixed because, as far as he could remember, in this world, only one person called him 'Bee.'

"Laura?" Axel guessed hesitantly.

The woman nodded slowly. "Yeah..." then smiled slightly at Axel. A smile that looks a little forced.

"Oh my God, I can meet you here," said Axel, a little in disbelief.

As Axel recalled, maybe he and Rachel had not seen each other for more than ten years. And now, suddenly, they could meet in an unexpected place after a long time apart. Axel feels like fate.

It's not an exaggeration, considering that Laura was a childhood friend until she grew up; they used to be like a pair of teenagers who couldn't be separated, sticky like a postage stamp. Wherever Axel is, Laura is there. If only Axel had not continued his undergraduate and graduate studies abroad, they might not have been separated until now.

Damian, who noticed his sister, became slightly surprised and asked, "You know each other?"

Axel nodded.

"This is Laura Anastasia. Laura who used to stay at home often. She often helped Axel when he was fighting with his schoolmates."

The Damian frowned.

"Laura? You mean this is your tomboy friend Laura, right?" he asked.

She nodded.

"Yes, this is Laura."

"Where have you been all this time?" Axel asked again.

Before Laura could answer, she heard a man not far from the exit calling her name.

"Laura, let's hurry. We'll be late!" the man ordered from a distance.

Laura turned her gaze back to Axel and his siblings.

"I'll go first, Bee."

Axel just nodded in response. Not long after Laura's shadow had disappeared entirely, she tapped her forehead lightly.

"Why did I forget to ask for his cell phone number."