7|A Solution

The nerve of that man to join this dinner!

My father wears a passive look. The way he pressed his lips into a thin line is my only sign that he is in for business. This is what I was afraid of. After this night, a rift will give enough distance to the unbreakable bond of the Walker and Luciano clan, two of the most wealthy and powerful families in New York City.

We exchanged pleasantries. It surprised me to see Xavier gracing us with his presence. He never comes to any family gathering, ever… so why is he here?

“They forced me to come and wear this,” he said, answering my mother’s compliment about the gray suit he’s wearing.

He looks good indeed. The Luciano brothers are quite an alluring sight dressed to the nines. Xavier has that hot and rugged yet smooth vibe going on, with his shoulder length brown hair combed back to perfection. While Calvin… Well, I didn’t even pay any attention to him.

My mother gave my thigh a gentle squeeze under the table, a signal that I have to stop drinking my wine now. I gave her a gentle smile. The appetizer, main course, and dessert passed like bliss. Everything was blunt in my taste, apart from the wine.

Pier and Francine are on their hype, talking about the business expansion throughout the entire dinner. That’s the only time I paid attention to Calvin. His head bowed down, eyes staring deep into his plate as if he could see an endless pit there, and he wanted to discover where it leads. He can’t look me in the eye because he didn’t tell his parents any shit about what happened to us.

What a coward.

“What about the honeymoon?” Francine, damn oblivious of the bomb that’s about to explode in her face, inquired gleefully. “Have you decided on where you want to go, Zia? A tour around Asia would be nice, don’t you think?”

“About the wedding.” My father looked at me. I just stared back at him, giving him all the right to decide for me. I trust his decision, his judgment. “Calvin?”

Damn. I didn’t see that coming.

Cavin raised his head, eyes frantic because everyone, apart from Xavier, was looking at him... waiting.

“Is there something you want to say to your parents, boy?”

Shit. Levi Walker is mad. I’ve never heard him speak this way before. His voice is so cold and intimidating.

Pier’s brows arched questioningly, passing glances to my father, me, and to his son who’s sitting quietly between Francine and Xavier.

“What?” Francine butted in, still wearing a sweet smile on her full lips.

Calvin’s Adam’s apple bobbed up and down before he stared straight into my eyes, pleading. I shook my head, disappointed that he couldn’t even have the decency to come out clean with what he did. “Can I have a word with you, please?”

I rolled my eyes, scoffing, lifting the glass of wine to my lips.

“What did you do, Ragazzo?” Pier’s voice came out deeper, clearly losing his patience. (boy)

“Zia…”

“Calvin!”

“I cheated on her, Papà,” Calvin blurted out, stunned by his father’s voice. “Zia, please, I’ll make it up to you, I promise.”

“You’re delusional if you think I’ll allow my daughter to marry you after what you did,” my mother surprised me - all of us - with her distant tone. She’d always been fond of Calvin and for her words to come out like that. I don’t even want to ponder how deep her anger is.

“I’m sure we can talk something out,” Francine mumbled, panic rising within her as she reached for her glass of wine.

“What about the agreement, Walker?” Pier addressed my father by his surname, pulling his menacing gaze away from his younger son.

My father sighed. “I’m with my wife in this matter. Your son promised his other woman to divorce my daughter after five years into their marriage.”

“Oh mio Dio,” Francine mumbled, hands reaching up flat above her heart. (Oh my god)

“I cannot forgive that, Luciano, no matter how good our relationship with your family is.”

I don’t understand shit about this agreement, but the way Dad and Pier look at each other in the eyes, using their surnames instead to address one another, it’s as if they are bidding goodbye to their friendship, ready to enter a war.

“What is this agreement, Dad?” I dared to ask. My curiosity is getting the best out of me again.

“It’s nothing you should worry about.” Mom squeezed my thigh once more.

It must be the alcohol because I probed. “Dad?”

“It’s an agreement made by our fathers, Zia,” Dad sighed. “Nadia and Xavier’s wedding was supposed to seal the deal. And with your sister’s death, the burden was handed down to you and Calvin. If no wedding is to take place, all partnerships between the two companies will cease. And right now, both companies are on the brink of bankruptcy.”

“What?!” It seems like I’m the only one at this table who looked surprised.

Even Calvin knew about it?

A deafening silence conquered the entire lounge. It’s so loud; I could hear a silent ringing sound if that even makes sense.

I gulped down, hard and deep, feeling so little moisture dampened my parched throat.

Bankrupt? Our billion-dollar company? I didn’t even know Dad was dealing with this kind of problem.

Cold sweat drenched my skin. My heartbeat sped up within seconds. The weight of this situation just held its toll on my head, pouring iced water over my entire body. The metallic taste of blood that came from my hard chewing on the inside of my cheeks made my face scrunch.

The truth left a foul taste in my mouth. Dizziness overcomes my better judgment.

“What if a wedding still takes place?” I mumbled under my breath without contemplating what I’ve spoken.

“No, honey-”

“No, Mom… Dad, I have a solution.” I babbled out, gazing over the only person in this room who looked as calm as the morning breeze, sipping his wine silently. “Xavier? Will you marry me?”