Chapter 2 Golden Handcuffs and Cold Wars

Open this door right now!" Rona yelled.

Mosby stood by the bed. He was furious. He looked down at Didi with cold eyes.

​"Get off my bed," Mosby hissed. "Right now."

​"Make me," Didi snapped back. Her hands shook, but she crossed her arms and refused to look scared. "Your mother locked the door. If you want me to stand on the cold floor all night, buy a better rug."

​Mosby took a step forward. "You think this is a game? You think you can walk into my life and act like a boss?"

​"I did not ask to be here!" Didi yelled, standing up on the mattress. She stared right into his grey eyes. "Your parents bought me like a bag of rice to pay my father's debt! Do you think I want to look at your angry face every day? I would rather sleep on the road!"

Mosby said, pointing at the door. "Go tell my parents you refuse the deal. Watch them throw your family out. Let us see how brave you are then."

Didi froze. He was right. Her father and her family needed her to stay.

​"Exactly," Mosby whispered, stepping close to her face. "So wipe that look off your face, and remember who you belong to now."

Before Didi could hit him, the doorknob shook hard.

​"Mosby! Open this door!" Rona shouted. "I know you are in there! If you are fighting, stop it. The press is coming tomorrow morning to see a happy couple!"

​Mosby backed away from Didi. He gave her one hard look.

​"Not a word," he growled.

He walked across the room and opened the door. Rona stood there with a cold smile.

​"I hope you two are getting along," Rona said. "Tomorrow at eight, reporters will be here. You will stand together, Mosby. You will look happy. If the press finds out this is a forced deal, your father stops school funding, and your family goes on the street, Didi."

​Didi grabbed the edge of the bed. "We understand."

​"Good," Rona said, and walked away.

​The door clicked shut again.

Mosby grabbed a pillow and a heavy blanket from the closet and threw them onto the leather chair.

" Take the bed," Mosby said coldly, his back turned. "I am sleeping in the chair. Do not touch my things, and do not speak to me unless my parents are here."

​Didi did not say thank you. She kicked off her shoes, pulled the blanket over her, and stared at the dark ceiling.

​Her mind did not rest. Mosby thought she was a gold digger. He had no idea what it cost just to stay alive.

​Three jobs.

​She needed money. The marriage paid her father's debt, but it did not buy her books or food. If she stopped working, she would lose her independence. She refused to let the Billy family control her mind.

​The next morning, at 4:30 AM, Didi's alarm went off.

​She slipped out of bed quietly. Mosby was fast asleep in the chair. Didi changed into her old work clothes and left the room.

​By 5:30 AM, she stood behind a greasy counter at a busy diner, tying her apron.

​Hurry up, Didi, she told herself, wiping tables while the cook yelled orders. You have a shift here, a shift at the campus bookstore after class, and tutoring tonight.

She did not care that she was a billionaire's wife now. The contract did not pay for her life.

By 7:45 AM, Didi ran through the doors of the university, out of breath. Her phone buzzed with a text from an unknown number.

Where are you? The press event starts in ten minutes. Get back to the penthouse or your father's business papers get shredded.

​​ Didi stopped in the crowded hallway. She looked down at her plain work clothes, and then up at the glass windows.

​She was trapped. But she was not going to give up. Didi ran out the door. She took a fast cab back to the big house. She got inside just in time.

​Rona stood by the stairs with many news people and big cameras.

​There she is, Rona said with a fake smile. The happy bride.

​Rona grabbed Didi's hand fast. She put a heavy diamond ring on her finger. The ring felt very heavy.

Mosby stood next to her in a dark suit. His face gave nothing away. He put his arm hard around Didi's waist so the cameras could see them close together.

Smile, wife, Mosby whispered in her ear. His expression watchful. Smile big, or I ruin your dad right now.

Didi offered a stiff,polite smile. Her pulse raced as anger took over.

​The cameras flashed bright white light. People shouted loud questions.

​Professor Billy! When did you meet?

​Is it a secret wedding?

​Mosby held her tight. We do not talk about our private life, Mosby told the crowd. Thank you. We are done.

​He pulled Didi away from the cameras and back up the stairs fast.

​One hour later, Didi walked into her school room. The whole room went quiet.

​All the students stared at her. They looked at their phones. The phones showed big news on the internet: Cold Rich Professor Mosby Billy Marries Poor Girl Didi Fisher!

​Brenda walked right up to Didi. Brenda was rich and thought she was the best. She hated Didi.

​Look who is here, Brenda said loud. I guess sleeping around got you to the top, Didi. What cheap trick did you use to catch him?

​Didi looked right at Brenda. I worked hard for everything, Brenda. You should try it instead of crying over a man who does not care about you.

​Before Brenda could talk back, the side door opened.

Mosby walked down the aisle in his dark suit. His mood changed instantly.All the students sat down fast and were very quiet.

​Mosby went to the board. He took a piece of white chalk and hit it hard on the wall.

​Open your books to page fifty, Mosby said. His voice was cold. Read for five minutes.

Didi opened her book. Her hands did not shake. She knew everyone was whispering behind their books, asking how the poor girl got the meanest teacher in the school.

Mosby walked slow down the row. He stopped by her desk. He did not look down at her, but he spoke low so only she could hear.

​The ring changes nothing, Miss Fisher, Mosby whispered. In this room, you are just a student. Learn to shut your mouth.

​Didi turned a page. She looked right up at him. And you need to learn that your book is wrong, Professor.

Didi sat alone at a lunch table in the big school hall. She had a simple tray of rice and soup.

​All the students stared at her. They put their hands over their mouths and whispered.

​Brenda and her rich friends sat at a table close by. They laughed out loud and pointed at their own fingers to make fun of Didi.

​Didi felt very sad inside, but she kept her face hard. She ate her food. She did not let them see her cry.

​When her last class ended, Didi ran to the school bathroom. She took off her school clothes and put on her work shirt and pants. She tied her hair back fast.

​She took a bus across town to the NGO kitchen. She spent hours cooking big pots of food for people who had no homes. The heavy work made her tired, but it kept her mind off her bad life.

​Late at night, after work, Didi took a bus to her parents' small house. She pushed the door open and looked at her father.

​Why did you do this? Didi asked, her voice shaking with anger. Why did you force me to marry that cold man? I told you I could work three jobs to pay the debt! Even if it takes ten years, I can do it!

​Her father looked down at the floor. Tears came out of his eyes. He said nothing. He knew he broke her life.

Didi turned around and walked out into the night. She had to go back to the big Billy mansion.

When she walked through the front doors of the mansion, Rona and Sam stood by the big table. Their faces twisted into pure rage. Their phones were in their hands.

Look at this! Rona screamed, shoving her phone screen right into Didi's face.

​Didi looked at the phone. A WhatsApp message from an unknown number sat on the screen.

​Your new daughter-in-law is out scrubbing pots at a cheap NGO kitchen and serving food to poor people. What a shame for the great Billy family.

​You work? Sam yelled, his voice shaking the walls. You are a Billy now, and you work in a public kitchen like a street beggar?

​Didi stood tall. I do what I want. Your money did not buy my soul.

​Stop this right now! Rona shouted. Everything you need is paid for! You will not shame us in this city again!

​Mosby walked down the stairs. He wore a dark shirt with the sleeves rolled up. He looked at his parents, then at Didi. His face was cold like stone.

​Father, Mother, Mosby said, his voice deep and calm. Tell me the truth right now. Why did you force me to marry the Fisher daughter?

​Rona and Sam looked at each other. Sam crossed his arms.

​We had to do it, Sam said. We need a woman we can control in this house.

​Mosby stepped closer. Control?

​Yes, Rona said. We paid their big debt so her family would be weak. They will not chase our money or our assets like the rich girls do. She has no power.

Didi stood very still. The reality of it finally settled in. They did not just buy her; they brought home a prisoner.

Mosby stared at his parents. His eyes darkened. He looked at Didi, and for one second, his expression slipped .