NATE POV
I stood close to the window bare-chested, with my tight shorts and hands placed inside my pocket. The long curtains slowly drifted sideways opening up a mesmerizing view below of a clear blue ocean shoreline. I also saw many tourists all dressed in their various beach wares. Their umbrellas placed in the sand covering them from the high sun as it reached peak. Children running around joyfully while others sat in the sand building castle. Not too far away, I could see perfectly tanned ladies with their flat tummies and curvy shapes in their bikinis playing volleyball, while some young guys were cheering on with so much enthusiasm. They obviously weren't too concerned with the scores but they were sure having fun enjoying themselves.
I mumbled quietly to myself. "Maybe in another lifetime, I could hang out with those guys, but now… I'm a married man." I said with my cheeks turned red blushing. Suddenly, I was interrupted by a soft, familiar voice behind me.
"I hope you're not looking at those cute ladies down at the beach?" That was the voice of my new bride, Elisa Harper. I turned around quickly with a pang of guilt as I tried to cover the curtain hurriedly.
"You know I have only have eyes for you dear, I can't believe we are now husband and wife." I replied back quickly in my feebly effort to change the topic. Sunlight entered the villa narrowly just enough for me to fully appreciate the young beautiful lady standing in front of me, she just stepped out from the bathroom with the vapor still fuming out. Her long brown hair was still dripping with water as she let it gently dropped on her shoulders. My full attention was now focused on her tall and slender figure. She was covered in a towel that barely covered her ample bosoms.
"I am the luckiest guy in the world." I thought to myself while fixated solely on Elisa as she lay down on the silk bed-sheet spread across the roundly shaped bed. It was the honeymoon suite reserved for only the hotel's VIP couples. I has been in love with Elisa ever since college. I was shy back then, thus found it very difficult making new friends, even more challenging talking to ladies. So, when the most beautiful girl in school started talking to me in class. I felt like a million bucks.
Elisa looked at me impatiently, stretched out her arms to me seductively inviting me to join her in bed. "So what are you doing so far away from me? let us begin our honeymoon." She said as she slowly started taking off the towel.
"You don't have to tell me twice." I responded and rushed towards her removing my shorts. I jumped on the bed, making her to quietly let out a short scream in shock. Elisa started laughing at I gently drew her closer to me. I closed my eyes and pressed my lips towards hers, then a loud knock was heard at the door.
"This is the police, open the door now or we will break it!" A strong male accent voice was heard, sounding angry and stern. I could hear police sirens all around the resort.
"A moment please, we are just getting dressed." I replied filled with several emotions as I had no idea on what was going on.
"You have 10 seconds or we are coming in. We have a warrant" the policeman shouted, I could hear some quiet whispers from behind the door. They kept knocking the door repeatedly.
"10..9..8...-"
The policeman counted very quickly, before he reached zero. I wore my shorts and ran to open the door. I saw two policeman dressed in a blue and black uniform and caps standing behind an average height man with a protruding belly. He looked at me in disdain as he seemed to be holding a white envelope.
"Are you Nathaniel Cross?" He asked with a sense of authority. I opened the door slightly to give Elisa time to run to the bathroom and dress up.
"Yes-"I said hesitantly as I tried to read their faces to get a hint on what went wrong. But they had cold glint in their eyes.They all looked very alert and vigilant with their hands closely pressed on the service weapons.
"Nathaniel Cross, you are under arrest for embezzlement and fraud." The policeman with the white enveloped shouted in a sharp voice as they pushed the door aggressively.
Within seconds, the policemen turned me around and restrained my hands tightly.
Elisa rushed out, after hearing the ruckus at the door now wearing a free flowing dress asked "Nate what's going on, why are they arresting you?" She said in a surprised yet scared voice. I was more worried of what she thought of me than my own safety.
"Honestly babe, I don't know what's happening. But I promise I'm innocent of all these crimes." I looked at Elisa with hope that she still trusted me, all I saw was doubt and embarrassment in her face.
"You useless scum, you thought you could run away with people's money and live happily ever after with this stunning lady right." The policeman as his gaze darkened. He seemed confused to Elisa was doing with me in the resort.
I stood confused as I tried to think what I did to deserve this humiliation, crowd gathered in the reception as I was dragged in my shorts across the room. People started taking pictures with their phones and posting on social media platform, there was also whispers from other tourists as I was dragged passed them.
All I could think of was the embarrassment Elisa was facing as she walked slowly behind the policemen, she used her designer bag to cover her face. I kept trying to look back to see her but she was behind the huge crowd who were cheering the policemen on.
"Elisa pls believe me, I'm truly innocent!" I cried out, I was placed at the back of the police squad car.
***
The court trial was very swift. In less than one month, the lawyers from the Harper Corporation presented absurd evidences. From emails, documents and even shell accounts that I have no knowledge of. All these were clearly fabricated. I mumbled to myself. Yet, it was so overwhelming. Victor and Elisa's mother Elena, came to courtroom and had a smug on their faces when the judge read my sentence out after a guilty verdict was announced.
5 years!
It pierced like a dagger to my chest. My mum and childhood friend detective rhymes lowered their eyes filled with tears of anguish. I kept looking around, but Elisa was no where to be seen throughout the hearing. A wave of disappointment washed over me. She never came to court to testify on my behalf. It was only Victor and Elena who had a smug on their faces as they glanced at me.They had expression of celebration as they chuckled between themselves. I felt something was off. I was dragged away to prison when I served my time for 5 years. During this time, my mother Maria kept visiting me.
"Don't give up Nate, I believe in you" Maria calmly re-assured me. She came everyday to visit. Then suddenly, she just stopped. I tried to get information if she was scared or too intimated but I got no response.
Later, I finally got a visitor and rushed with hope to see if it was my mother maria after a long time. My demeanor changed when I met a mysterious man in black tailor-made suit.
"Good morning Master Nathaniel, my employee apologizes for you going through all these setbacks, His willing to help you prove your innocence, are you interested?" The man asked with a puzzled look on his face.